Iman Vellani Discloses On MCU’s Young Avengers: Their Potential, Iron Lad & More

Lucas Aquino
Nov 29, 2023
Nov 30, 2023

While The Marvels itself isn’t performing so well at the box office, its ending hints at at least two new ambitious projects in the MCU. Firstly, Fox’s X-Men is finally introduced to the MCU via the post-credit scene, and secondly, Ms. Marvel, one of the protagonists, is planning to form the Young Avengers team.

In Marvel Comics, the Young Avengers are a team consisting of superpowered individuals in their teenage years, who strive to save the world while honing themselves to make it to the first team. The ending of The Marvels sees Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel recruit Kate Bishop, and potentially Cassie Lang/Stature for the team.

Speaking with Screen Rant recently, Iman Vellani, who plays Ms. Marvel in the MCU, shared some interesting insights regarding the new team, who she wants Kamala to interact with the most, and a potential new Kang variant.

#1. Vellani Believes The Young Avengers Can Bring Something New To The MCU

Source: Marvel

In her interview with Screen Rant, Vellani happily discussed the Young Avengers’ potential in the franchise. The actress believes that the team has something that the “older Avengers” don’t, both perspective-wise and ability-wise. As diehard fans of the original Avengers, the movie can see the team trying to live up to their predecessors’ expectations and influence.

“They have perspectives that the older Avengers don't, especially because they've had to deal with the repercussions, but they're also a fan of the older Avengers. So I think they can really make this team-up something new. I think it'll be way more functional than the Avengers even were. I think Kamala being in charge might also set the tone in a really wonderful way. I think she's a natural-born leader,” said Vellani.

#2. She’s Also Confident That Kamala Khan Is The Worthy Leader Of The Young Avengers

Source: Marvel

If the Young Avengers comes to fruition, the team will have some significant changes to the lineup. Firstly, Vellani’s Kamala Khan will be the leader of the team instead of Iron Lad, and the team will include Stature and Bishop right from the start. The actress, however, believes that Kamala is up for the task.

“She is not only the glue of the Marvels, but could be the glue of the younger Avengers group because she is mature and she is intelligent, and she also has all this knowledge about being superheroes and teamwork and how to do it in a way that's ideal and works for everyone.”

Source: Marvel

“And she's probably learned so much from being on the Marvels, so she can bring that into the Young Avengers,” Vellani continued.

To sum things up, Vellani emphasized that the Young Avengers will “definitely be a group that a lot of the younger audiences can resonate to and relate to way more”, and that the movie will delve further into how they will deal with their relationships and daily lives, as well as any incoming threats.

#3. Vellani Also Revealed Two Young Avengers She Wants To Interact With The Most

Source: Marvel

In Marvel Comics, the Young Avengers is an expansive team with more than a dozen members in its entire run. Some of the team’s members have already appeared in the MCU like Cassie Lang or America Chavez, while some others, like Iron Lad or Prodigy, are probably waiting for their debut.

In the interview, Vellani also revealed two Young Avengers members she personally wants to work with the most: America Chavez and Patriot. Both these characters have made their MCU debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, respectively

Source: Marvel

“I just want to see them interact. I think they've left so many of the younger character stories open-ended, and to see fans start shipping people together, it would be something like, I want to see Kamala interact with America. I want to see Kamala interact with Patriot, I don't know. Just all these random people. And so yeah, I think there's so many different avenues you could take with this,” said Vellani.

#4. Vellani Wants An Iron Lad Storyline In The MCU

Source: Marvel Comics

The young performer also expressed her desire to see Iron Lad, a young version of Kang the Conqueror, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the comics, Iron Lad is the founder of the Young Avengers, and the lover of Cassie Lang/Stature. While being a younger variant of Kang, Iron Lad is horrified by what his future selves have become, and does anything in his power to change his future.

As shown in the post-credit scene of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the Council of Kang is the next bad guys the Avengers have to defeat, with countless different versions of Kang from multiple universes. This is the perfect chance for Marvel to introduce Iron Lad to the team, as a variant of Kang who disagrees with how the Council operates, and join the Young Avengers instead.

Source: Marvel Comics

In conclusion, Iron Lad is an incredibly complex character that has a lot of room to explore. He could also be the direct inheritor of the Iron Man mantle after Tony Stark’s death, besides Ironheart/Riri Williams. Iman Vellani also thinks the same way, and she believes that his appearance in the MCU would make the franchise even more interesting.

“It would be interesting if they did an Iron Lad type thing because that's still Kang and that feels like it could work. Have Nathaniel Richards be a part of the Young Avengers at some point, and then they realize, "Oh my God, wait, he's like a Kang, but is he a good guy or a bad guy?" I feel like dealing with that would be fun in the direction that the MCU is headed,” said Vellani.

What are your expectations about the Young Avengers? Will Iron Lad be part of the team just like in the comics? Share your thoughts below in the comments.

Iman Vellani Discloses On MCU’s Young Avengers: Their Potential, Iron Lad & More

#1. Vellani Believes The Young Avengers Can Bring Something New To The MCU

#2. She’s Also Confident That Kamala Khan Is The Worthy Leader Of The Young Avengers

#3. Vellani Also Revealed Two Young Avengers She Wants To Interact With The Most

#4. Vellani Wants An Iron Lad Storyline In The MCU

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