Iman Vellani

Iman Vellani (; ; born August 2002) is a Canadian actress and comic book writer. She starred as Kamala Khan in the Marvel Cinematic Universe productions '' Ms. Marvel'' (2022), ''The Marvels'' (2023), and ''Marvel Zombies'' (2025). Vellani has also appeared as Khan in other Disney productions and has co-written two '' Ms. Marvel'' limited series.

Early life

Vellani was born in August 2002 in Karachi to a Sindhi family. She moved to Canada when she was a year old, and was raised as an Ismaili Muslim. She graduated from Unionville High School in Markham, Ontario. Vellani was selected as a member of the TIFF Next Wave Committee at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. Before being cast in '' Ms. Marvel'' at the end of her last year of high school, Vellani had planned to attend the Ontario College of Art & Design University with a focus on integrated media.

Career

Acting

In September 2020, it was revealed Vellani was cast as the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero Kamala Khan for Marvel Studios and Disney+'s streaming television miniseries ''Ms. Marvel''. Vellani's aunt had forwarded her a casting call for the role; she submitted a self-tape before being asked to audition in Los Angeles; and eventually had two screen tests: in-person in February that year, and virtually over Zoom in June. Kamala Khan co-creator Sana Amanat—who served as an executive producer on the series—said Vellani revealed in her Zoom screen test that she, like Khan, is an Avengers fangirl. Amanat said, "She showed me every corner of her room, and it was covered with Avengers. Then she said, 'Oh, wait; I'm not done', opened up her closet, and there was more Marvel everywhere".

On June 8, 2022, ''Ms. Marvel'' premiered on Disney+, marking Vellani's onscreen debut. Both the series and her portrayal of the title character received widespread praise. Kathryn Porter of '' Paste'' wrote that Vellani "shines" in the role and that there was "no way to explain how great she is in this other than to say that she embodies the true spirit of Kamala Khan". Mohammad Zaheer of ''BBC Culture'' called her "an adorable bundle of charisma" in a role "tailor-made for her", while Angie Han of ''The Hollywood Reporter'' said that Vellani's full of "youthful verve and irresistible moxie" in her role. The miniseries concluded on July 13, 2022, consisting of six episodes. For her performance in the program, Vellani won a Saturn Award and received nominations for an Astra TV Award and a Critics Choice Super Award. From July 2022, Vellani appeared in '' Disney Wish''s CGI—immersive interactive experience, '' Avengers: Quantum Encounter'', reprising her role as Khan.

Vellani reprised her role as Kamala Khan in the 2023 film ''The Marvels'', a sequel to the 2019 film ''Captain Marvel'', which also serves as a continuation of ''Ms. Marvel''; it was released in November. The film received polarizing reviews from critics; however, Vellani's performance was regarded as the standout amongst the cast. Amelia Emberwing of ''IGN'' declared that she "predictably steals the show", Helen O'Hara of ''Empire'' praised her humor and emotional depth with the "two older heroes." whilst Christian Holub of ''Entertainment Weekly'' noted Vellani as a "shining star" despite his lukewarm review of the film.

Vellani will voice an animated version of Kamala Khan for Disney+'s ''Marvel Zombies'', which is the series adaptation of the fifth episode of the animated series, '' What If...?''. On November 25, 2024, Vellani was cast in '' Shiver'', her first non-Marvel acting role. By April 2025, Vellani had been cast in ''Mouse''.

Writing

In August 2023, Vellani made her comic writing debut with the four-issue limited series '' Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant'', co-written by Sabir Pirzada, who wrote the limited series '' Dark Web: Ms. Marvel'' and an episode of the ''Ms. Marvel'' show. It features Ms. Marvel exploring her newfound dual heritage as an Inhuman and a mutant and becoming a member of the X-Men. Lia Williamson of ''AIPT'' praised Vellani's handling of the character's new status quo as " erknowledge and love for the character allow her to make lemonade out of the lemons she's been given"; the writer opined that Vellani's "robust love and passion" for Kamala Khan "shines throughout her writing". After the conclusion of ''The New Mutant'' in November 2023, it was announced that the series would be followed by a sequel four-issue limited series titled ''Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace'', with Vellani and Pirazda returning as writers; the first issue was released on March 6, 2024. Alex Schlesinger, also for ''AIPT'', praised the final issue of ''Mutant Menace'', commenting that "Vellani is a Marvel superfan, so she knows how important Kamala's identity and power set are to her readers, and her and Pirzada do a wonderful job of introducing Ms. Marvel's MCU ability while keeping her polymorph powers."

Vellani wrote several more ''Ms. Marvel'' issues with Pirzada, including ''Ms. Marvel Annual'' #1 (July 2024), which is part of the connected ''Infinity Watch'' storyline, and a short story which is part of the anthology one-shot ''Marvel 85th Anniversary Special'' (August 2024) commemorating Marvel Comics' 85th anniversary.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theme park attractions

Bibliography

* '' Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant'' #1–4 (with co-writer Sabir Pirzada and illustrators Carlos Gómez and Adam Gorham, 2023) collected as ''Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant'' ( TPB, 120 pages, March 2024, )
* '' Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace'' #1–4 (with co-writer Sabir Pirzada and illustrator Scott Godlewski, 2024)
* ''Ms. Marvel Annual'' (2024) #1 (with co-writers Derek Landy, Sabir Pirzada and illustrators Giada Belviso and Sara Pichelli, July 2024)
* ''Marvel 85th Anniversary Special'' (with co-writer Sabir Pirzada and illustrator Kaare Andrews, anthology, August 2024)

Awards and nominations

Notes

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vellani, Iman
2002 births
Living people
21st-century Canadian actresses
21st-century Pakistani actresses
Marvel Comics writers
Actresses from Karachi
Actresses from Ontario
Canadian actresses of Pakistani descent
Canadian Ismailis
Pakistani emigrants to Canada
Pakistani Ismailis
People from Markham, Ontario