Slowly but surely women are earning more representation in the superhero realm. But the weight of expectation is on Brie Larson. Playing Captain Marvel in her standalone debut ahead of a mooted 2019 release, the Trainwreck star understands the responsibility of being the first woman to have her own motion picture in the Marvel superhero world. And just the second in recent history after DC's Wonder Woman opens this June.
Out on the media circuit to promote her part in the MonsterVerse title Kong: Skull Island, the 27-year old California native revealed to The Sunday Times that she wants her interpretation of Carol Danvers to be something much more than just another hero in tight pants. Deriding the lack of female representation on the big screen when it came to icons, Larson argues that society has moved on from old stereotypes. And it is only a matter of time before Hollywood catches up.
CM To Act As Sledgehammer to Glass Ceiling
For Larson, the movie will be so much more than a couple of hours fighting evil. It will allow women to be confident and comfortable taking the slot that has always been dominated by their male counterparts.
"I want to create this symbol of strength and humour for women that I really wish I had had growing up," she remarked. "It feels so valuable. We need to break through that glass ceiling, women go to the theater to see a movie with a male lead, and men will go see a film with a female lead. We're all equals here."
While Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman appear to be a changing of the guard, she outlines that the transition is far from over.
"I love that we're seeing stronger women on the screen, but I don't think that's the end of this conversation. Because I think that we're more than just being strong or just being mothering - (and) I think there's a whole lot that goes on in between for us to explore. I think the best place to start would be more female film directors - more female filmmakers of every different type of race - and we need to get out of these binary ways of thinking."
Brie Branching Out For More Stronger Female Characters
Larson is set to take on the part of Victoria Woodhull in an untitled production, playing a feminist icon who was a pioneer in rallying against female oppression long before societal change would take place. The first ever woman to run for President of the United States, Woodhull campaigned for the highest office in the land on three separate occasions starting in 1872 then again for 1884 and 1892.
Winning an Oscar for her performance in Room, Larson has been a strong advocate for victims of sexual violence that coincided with the film. The actress is said to double her duties behind the camera as a producer alongside Lloud Braun and Andrew Mittman.
Source: Digital Spy, Sky News
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