<p>Marvel Studios has tapped newcomer Iman Vellani to play Ms Marvel aka Kamala Khan, their first Pakistani-American teen superhero.</p>.<p>The Canadian actor, who hails from the Toronto area, will headline her own Disney Plus series before appearing on the big screen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.</p>.<p><em>Bad Boys for Life </em>helmers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, a two-time Oscar winner in the documentary short category, and Meera Menon, who has worked on shows like <em>The Walking Dead</em> and <em>The Punisher</em>, will direct the series.</p>.<p>Bisha K Ali, a scribe and stand-up comic known for her personal, political comedy, will serve as head writer on the project.</p>.<p>Insiders told <em>The Hollywood Reporter</em> that Marvel had been testing actors throughout the summer and had zeroed in on Vellani by late August or early September.</p>.<p>A year ago, the upcoming actor took part in a Toronto International Film Festival committee that helped highlight films that speak to teenagers.</p>.<p>She focused on <em>Hala</em>, a film revolving around a Pakistani American teen pulled between her family and life in the West - themes that are echoed in the 'Ms Marvel' comics.</p>.<p>Ms Marvel, who debuted in 2014 as Marvel's first Muslim character to lead a comic book title, follows the New Jersey-based teenager Kamala Khan who tries to find her own way as a Pakistani American living in a religious family.</p>.<p>The character, who possesses the power of shape shifting and healing factor, was created by G Willow Wilson, artiste Adrian Alphona, and editors Sana Amanat and Stephen Wacker.</p>
<p>Marvel Studios has tapped newcomer Iman Vellani to play Ms Marvel aka Kamala Khan, their first Pakistani-American teen superhero.</p>.<p>The Canadian actor, who hails from the Toronto area, will headline her own Disney Plus series before appearing on the big screen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.</p>.<p><em>Bad Boys for Life </em>helmers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, a two-time Oscar winner in the documentary short category, and Meera Menon, who has worked on shows like <em>The Walking Dead</em> and <em>The Punisher</em>, will direct the series.</p>.<p>Bisha K Ali, a scribe and stand-up comic known for her personal, political comedy, will serve as head writer on the project.</p>.<p>Insiders told <em>The Hollywood Reporter</em> that Marvel had been testing actors throughout the summer and had zeroed in on Vellani by late August or early September.</p>.<p>A year ago, the upcoming actor took part in a Toronto International Film Festival committee that helped highlight films that speak to teenagers.</p>.<p>She focused on <em>Hala</em>, a film revolving around a Pakistani American teen pulled between her family and life in the West - themes that are echoed in the 'Ms Marvel' comics.</p>.<p>Ms Marvel, who debuted in 2014 as Marvel's first Muslim character to lead a comic book title, follows the New Jersey-based teenager Kamala Khan who tries to find her own way as a Pakistani American living in a religious family.</p>.<p>The character, who possesses the power of shape shifting and healing factor, was created by G Willow Wilson, artiste Adrian Alphona, and editors Sana Amanat and Stephen Wacker.</p>