Iman Vellani, 18, is ‘speechless and excited’ to play MCU’s first Muslim superhero Ms. Marvel

Newcomer Iman Vellani confirmed on Wednesday that she will make her acting debut as the MCU’s first-ever Muslim character, Ms. Marvel, in a new Disney+ series.

Iman, said to be the 18-year-old daughter of Pakistani Muslim immigrants, gushed on Instagram: ‘Speechless and excited! Wish me luck. #msmarvel’

Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and Meera Menon will direct the show centered on a shapeshifting 16-year-old Pakistani-American from Jersey City called Kamala Khan – according to Deadline.

Created in 2014, Kamala develops ‘Inhuman’ genes in the aftermatch of the ‘Inhumanity’ storyline and assumes the mantle of Ms. Marvel from her idol Carol Danvers after Danvers becomes Captain Marvel.

Hugo Award-winning writer G. Willow Wilson – who penned the relaunched Ms. Marvel comics – tweeted of Vellani: ‘She is the real deal.’

The president of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige, reportedly plans on using Iman in both the series and future Marvel films which might mean fans get to see Oscar winner Brie Larson play Captain Marvel in her show.

‘I just saw they cast Ms. Marvel and legit got teary eyed,’ Oscar nominee Kumail Nanjiani – who’s also a proud Pakistani-American Muslim – tweeted.

‘Congratulations Iman Vellani! Your work is going to mean so much to so many people, myself included. I can’t wait.’

Not much is known about the teen sensation, who directed two short films (available on Vimeo) and served on the Toronto International Film Festival’s Next Wave Committee last year.