Actress Brie Larson became a household name with her portrayal of Carol Danvers a.k.a., Captain Marvel in Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actress first appeared as Captain Marvel in 2019’s Captain Marvel, which marked the studio’s first female-led film. The movie became the first female-led superhero movie to pass the billion-dollar mark.
Larson reprised her role in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame and then for 2023’s The Marvels which served as the sequel to Captain Marvel. The Marvels underperformed at the box office and received a mixed response from the audience and critics. Brie Larson’s recent response upon her return as Danvers had her fans question her character’s treatment in the MCU.
Is Brie Larson considering giving up her role as Captain Marvel?
Brie Larson was highly appreciated by the audience and critics when she portrayed Carol Danvers on-screen in 2019’s Captain Marvel. The actress had reportedly trained for nine months of judo, boxing, and wrestling training and interacted with service personnel at the Nellis Air Force Base.
It’s no longer a hidden fact that Larson was skeptical about taking up the role as during an interview with EW, she had shared that she was intrigued by the character but hesitant to say yes. She said,
“I never saw myself doing something like this, mostly because I like being anonymous. I like disappearing into characters, and I always felt like if I was out in the public eye too much, it potentially limits you in the future.”
The actress who had won the Best Actress Award at the Academy Awards for Room had also emerged as one of the strongest advocates and voices during the #MeToo movement. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige had also shared at the time that Brie Larson is already an inspiration to many in her real world and then they get to witness her in an iconic costume and give her the powers for big-screen.
But not everyone was thrilled to see Brie Larson portraying the character on-screen. According to reports by ScreenRant, the fact that Captain Marvel was a female-led movie along with Captain Marvel being known as the universe’s most powerful hero resulted in a pushback from the audience. Some fans criticized the character for being ‘too cocky’ & ‘too egoistic’ as a superhero. Her interactions with her co-stars during interviews didn’t exactly help her either as fans pointed out that she seemed like she was better than everyone even though she was a freshman in the MCU.
Fans started to despise the actress after her speech at the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards went viral in 2018. She had mentioned how she does not need a 40-year-old white dude to tell her what didn’t work about her movie A Wrinkle in Time. She in her speech cited that only 2.5 % of top critics were women of color. Larson however later clarified that with her speech, she didn’t mean that men should be excluded but only wanted to make a point for including the ones who have been historically marginalized. This led to a hate campaign against Captain Marvel and Brie Larson.
A section of the community started a petition asking the studios to fire Brie Larson and recast someone else for the role of Captain Marvel. An excerpt from MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios book via CBR revealed that the actress grew disillusioned with playing the character after receiving hate online.
Book writer Joanna Robinson also shared on The Watch Podcast last year that the toxic backlash affected her and she does not want to play the character anymore. She noted that the actress has been considering giving up the role for some time now. However, she reprised the role for 2023’s The Marvels.
Brie Larson’s cryptic response on returning as Captain Marvel
At the SAG Awards 2024, Brie Larson during a red carpet interview with Extra was asked about her potential return as Captain Marvel after The Marvels tanked at the box office. She said,
“I don’t have anything to say about that.”
Listening to her response, her fans came in for her support blaming the studios for writing her character badly and not treating the actress the right way. A user mentioned online that it’s sad because Larson’s honestly been great in the role.
It's sad because she's honestly been great in the role.
— Dillon Mays (@Dillon_Mays) February 26, 2024
Shit if I was her I wouldn’t ..she was hated from the start reasons for her hate I don’t know but the marvels was so badly written and had so many unnecessary scenes I would just walk away with my money if I was her she can truly act though
— XofSwords (@KACB126) February 27, 2024
Honestly marvel should’ve hired better writers for the cast they had. Insane that they throw away wasted potential.
— Brain Soup (@brainsoup86) February 27, 2024
Another user noted, ‘Shit if I was her, I wouldn’t…she was hated from the start reasons for her hate I don’t know but The Marvels was so badly written and had so many unnecessary scenes I would just walk away with my money if I was her, she can truly act though.’ The fans who were positive mentioned that she is going to return but she cannot talk about it.
I wish the writing allowed her to really show her talent, she’s amazing
— Justin (@jwhk123) February 26, 2024
She needs a more involved role in the next avengers so people can see her vibing properly and becoming a leader
— 🐚 Kyle (@ShelledKyle) February 26, 2024
I feel bad for her honestly
— Caleb Hawn (@hawn_caleb) February 27, 2024
A user wrote that the studios should have hired better writers for the cast they had adding that it’s insane how they throw away wasted potential with others hoping that she’d return as Captain Marvel. Fans added that the actress needs to be more involved in the upcoming move so that the audience can see her vibing and becoming a leader.
The Marvels is streaming on Disney+.
