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The Marvels star Brie Larson may soon hang up her Captain Marvel cape as a new report claims she's "disillusioned" with playing the superhero after negative backlash following the titular 2019 film.
An excerpt from the MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios book reveals Larson "grew disillusioned" with playing Captain Marvel after receiving online attacks and abuse following the acclaimed eponymous movie. The claim, which was backed by one of the book's writers, Joanna Robinson, in a recent interview on The Watch podcast, suggests Larson has been considering giving up her role as Carol Danvers for some time. "[Marvel Studios] put Brie Larson in [a prominent place in the MCU]. I don't know if Brie Larson was the wrong person for the role, necessarily. But the toxic backlash means that Brie Larson doesn't want to play Carol Danvers anymore," Robinson said.
In The Reign of Marvel Studios, the extent of Larson's unhappiness playing Captain Marvel is detailed, as well as the strife other MCU actors faced throughout their time representing the cinematic universe. "The future of those Marvel icons was unclear. The departure of franchise anchors like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Scarlett Johansson had already taken its toll, as had the shocking loss of Chadwick Boseman, but other MCU stalwarts were heading for the exits. The Guardians of the Galaxy cast went on a farewell tour, Brie Larson grew disillusioned, and Marvel tussled with Sony in a custody battle over Tom Holland," the excerpt read.
Captain Marvel proved a major critical and commercial success, earning over $1.13 billion at the global box office. However, the audience reception to the film was mixed at best, garnering a 45% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many MCU fans taking to social media to bash Larson and the movie while others criticized Marvel for its presentation of the central character. The comments were so divisive that Captain Marvel co-star Samuel L. Jackson launched a staunch defense of Larson against "incel" fans for their social media attacks. Larson also portrayed Carol Danvers in Avengers: Endgame before an extended absence from the MCU.
Ahead of The Marvels, the long-awaited Captain Marvel sequel, Larson and her co-stars have again had to deal with online criticism before its premiere. The film responded slyly to the social media trolls in a trailer released this past April, using lyrics from The Beastie Boys to clap back at Larson's critics. Directed by Nia DaCosta, The Marvels boasts the shortest runtime ever for an MCU movie at 1 hour and 45 minutes and cost just under $275 million to make, according to Disney.
Carol Danvers Gets Some Assistance in The Marvels
The Marvels sees Larson star alongside Teyonah Parris (Monica Rambeau), Iman Vellani (Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel) and Jackson (Nick Fury). The film's story sees Carol, Monica and Kamala's powers constantly intertwine as they investigate a wormhole linked to the Kree, leading the trio to wonder why they keep swapping places when using their superpowers. Jackson teased that Larson is one of three Captain Marvels in the MCU, a hint of what fans can expect to see in the sequel.
The Marvels opens in theaters on Nov. 10. Meanwhile, Captain Marvel is available for streaming via Disney+.
Source: MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios and The Watch podcast
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