Why Marvel's Young Avengers Movie Is Casting Controversy-Free
Discover why the Young Avengers movie won't face any casting hurdles.
The potential Young Avengers movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has managed to dodge some major casting hurdles. At the conclusion of The Marvels in 2023, the first three members of the Young Avengers were revealed. Iman Vellani's Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel reached out to Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop, indicating her intention to form a superhero squad. This directly paves the way for a Young Avengers film in the MCU, with hints suggesting that Kathryn Newton from Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania could also make an appearance as Cassie Lang.
The Young Avengers is among the highly anticipated projects in the MCU's upcoming lineup of movies. The prospect of these three characters teaming up adds to the excitement, as it brings a fresh dynamic to the MCU separate from the original Avengers of the Infinity Saga. Nevertheless, along with the excitement comes the pressure for both the film and its cast to establish the team as a permanent fixture in the MCU. Despite this pressure, the confirmed cast members for the Young Avengers have managed to sidestep several potential casting challenges.
The Young Avengers' Leads Won't Age Out Of The Roles
Marvel's casting makes the timeline pressure of the Young Avengers a less-pressing issue.
Kamala Khan as Ms Marvel looking surprised surrounded by her power and Kate Bishop in Hawkeye in the foreground looking on - Marvel's casting makes the timeline pressure of the Young Avengers a less-pressing issue. - The Young Avengers' Leads Won't Age Out Of The Roles
Iman Vellani and Hailee Steinfeld, who play the main characters in the Young Avengers, are not at risk of outgrowing their roles. Similarly, Kathryn Newton, who portrays Cassie Lang, also avoids this issue. Vellani is 21 years old and Steinfeld is 27, both older than their characters. This means Marvel Studios doesn't have to worry about them looking too old for their roles.
If Marvel Studios had chosen Julian Hilliard (Billy Maximoff aka Wiccan) and Jett Klyne (Tommy Maximoff aka Speed) from WandaVision to lead the Young Avengers team, there would have been pressure to film the movie quickly. Hilliard and Klyne are younger than Vellani and Steinfeld, so they would have aged out of their 10/11-year-old characters faster due to how quickly teenage boys visibly age. However, with Ms. Marvel and Kate Bishop, Vellani and Steinfeld will not age as drastically.
Expected Young Avengers Line-Up | MCU Debut |
|---|---|
Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan | Ms. Marvel (2022) |
Kate Bishop/Hawkeye | Hawkeye (2021) |
Skaar | She-Hulk (2022) |
Billy Maximoff/Wiccan | WandaVision (2021) |
Tommy Maximoff/Speed | WandaVision (2021) |
Eli Bradley/Patriot | The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) |
Riri Williams/Ironheart | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) |
The Young Avengers’ Two Leads Avoid A Cap & Iron Man Problem
Ms. Marvel and Hawkeye will not be expected to replace Cap and Iron Man.
Kamala Khan looking up with a slight smile in Kate Bishop's hideout at the end of The Marvels - Ms. Marvel and Hawkeye will not be expected to replace Cap and Iron Man. - The Young Avengers’ Two Leads Avoid A Cap & Iron Man Problem
By having Vellani and Steinfeld lead the Young Avengers team in the film, a potential issue has been avoided. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there is a trend of needing to replace Iron Man and Captain America with new characters in each superhero team. Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans were so beloved in their roles that any new team members would inevitably be compared to them. If less talented actors were chosen to lead the Young Avengers, these comparisons could have been unfavorable due to the iconic status of Iron Man and Captain America.
Both Iman Vellani and Hailee Steinfeld have been praised as some of the best casting choices in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Vellani's performance in Ms. Marvel and The Marvels has been particularly impressive, while Steinfeld has seamlessly matched the original Avenger Jeremy Renner in Hawkeye. Overall, both actors and their characters are standout additions to the Multiverse Saga, avoiding unfavorable comparisons to Captain America and Iron Man.
The Young Avengers’ Leads Put Less Pressure On The Rest Of The Team
The other Young Avengers can shine as its two leads remove the burden of expectation.
All actors who could be playing the Young Avengers in the MCU - The other Young Avengers can shine as its two leads remove the burden of expectation. - The Young Avengers’ Leads Put Less Pressure On The Rest Of The Team
Custom Image by Simon Gallagher
Finally, the casting of Iman Vellani and Hailee Steinfeld for the Young Avengers team takes the pressure off casting the rest of the team. In a way, it also connects back to the original six Avengers. In the Infinity Saga, Captain America and Iron Man were the main pillars of the team. This made the casting of Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans more crucial to the success of the MCU than the other team members.
The recasting of Hulk did not cause any issues, and Avengers like Hawkeye and Black Widow did not receive as much attention as the team leaders. With Vellani and Steinfeld as the key figures of the Young Avengers, there is less pressure on the rest of the team to have top-tier casting. By establishing Ms. Marvel and Kate Bishop's Hawkeye as the leaders of the Young Avengers, it reduces the expectations on other characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe team, similar to how the original Avengers were cast in Phase 1.
Editor's P/S:
The article provides an insightful analysis of the Young Avengers' casting hurdles and how Marvel Studios has successfully navigated them. The casting of Iman Vellani, Hailee Steinfeld, and Kathryn Newton ensures that the team's core members will not age out of their roles prematurely, avoiding a potential pitfall that could have hindered the franchise's longevity.
Furthermore, the choice of Vellani and Steinfeld as the team's leaders alleviates the pressure on the rest of the cast, allowing them to shine without the burden of constant comparisons to iconic characters like Captain America and Iron Man. This casting strategy mirrors the original Avengers lineup, where Captain America and Iron Man served as the central pillars, allowing other characters to develop and contribute without overshadowing the team's leaders. Overall, the article highlights Marvel Studios' careful planning and execution in ensuring that the Young Avengers have a strong foundation for success within the MCU.
