The upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars is set to be one of the biggest crossover events in Marvel history, bringing together heroes and villains from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its vast multiverse. For Iman Vellani, the actress who plays the teenage superhero Ms. Marvel, the possibilities are endlessly exciting. Vellani recently revealed her dream picks for non-MCU Marvel characters she hopes to join in the climactic Avengers film.
Which non-MCU Marvel star does Iman Vellani want to see in Avengers 6?
In a recent interview on Phase Zero, Ms. Marvel and The Marvels star Iman Vellani said she hopes the film’s “insane budget” could make room for some non-MCU Marvel stars.
“I want to say someone from Bryan Singer’s X-Men, but like, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine because I feel like that started a lot of my love for Marvel,” Vellani said. “I think I watched X-Men probably before I watched any Avengers film.”
Iman Vellani on who she would love to work with in ‘AVENGERS: SECRET WARS’:
• Hugh Jackman as Wolverine,
• Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man.
• Topher Grace as Venom.
• Anyone from the Raimi universe.(via @PhaseZeroCB) pic.twitter.com/VtpsPiq7kR
— Cosmic Marvel (@cosmic_marvel) November 19, 2023
Vellani didn’t stop at Wolverine. “And then Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man, oh my God or Topher Grace, imagine!” she continued. “Anyone from that Raimi universe, I would love [to act with.] I grew up with those movies. That’d be amazing.”
Bringing in stars like Jackman’s Wolverine or Maguire’s Spider-Man would be a major draw for fans. Jackman played Wolverine in the X-Men films from 2000 to 2017, while Maguire first brought Spider-Man to life in Sam Raimi’s trilogy from 2002 to 2007.
What did Iman Vellani learn from working on The Marvels?
Of course, Vellani already got the multiverse crossover experience in The Marvels, which hit theaters earlier this month. In the film, her character Ms. Marvel teams up with Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel and Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau.
According to Vellani, the experience of working with established heroes has matured Ms. Marvel. The actress told The Hollywood Reporter,
“Well, I do think that she’s not going to put people on a pedestal as much. Kamala and I are on a very similar journey. I’ve gotten a lot better at not holding celebrities to the highest standard possible.”
It seems that journey will continue in Avengers: Secret Wars, hopefully alongside Vellani’s dream non-MCU heroes. Whether or not Jackman and Maguire appear, the film is primed to be an epic Marvel crossover event when it debuts.
Also Read: Iman Vellani’s Recreated Iron Man Scene in The Marvels Originally Had More Young Avengers Cameos
Frequently asked questions
Which four non-MCU Marvel stars did Iman Vellani say she wants in the next Avengers crossover?
On the Phase Zero podcast, the Ms. Marvel actress named Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man, and Topher Grace as Venom, and added that she’d love to work with ‘anyone from that Raimi universe.’ She framed all of these as personal dream picks, not confirmed castings.
Did Iman Vellani confirm any of these actors are actually cast in the Avengers film?
No. Vellani was sharing a personal wish list, not insider news, and Marvel Studios had not confirmed any of these returns at the time of her comments. Treat any reported casting of Jackman, Maguire, or Grace in the film as a fan hope or rumor unless Marvel officially announces it.
Why did Iman Vellani pick stars from the X-Men and Raimi Spider-Man movies?
She said those older Marvel films shaped her fandom. Vellani noted that Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine ‘started a lot of my love for Marvel,’ and that she ‘grew up with’ Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies, which is why their actors top her dream-collaborator list.
