Every cinematic origin story needs a good mentor, and sure enough, Doctor Walter Lawson (AKA Mar-Vell) is about to become the all-wise confidant for Carol Danvers as she begins to wrangle her superhuman powers under control in Captain Marvel.
It’s a role that has since been earmarked for Jude Law, star of Sherlock Holmes and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, though Marvel boss Kevin Feige is now beginning to tease a slightly reworked version of the character.
Asked if he ever considered angling Captain Marvel to be Walter Lawson’s origin story – remember, Mar-Vell donned the famous Captain Marvel mantle in the comics – the Marvel Studios president told Uproxx (h/t CBM) the following:
I knew some about him, but it was definitely Carol Danvers who was most interesting to us and why we choose her. But as that character connects to the origin of Carol Danvers’ Captain Marvel? We’re pulling from some of that for inspiration.
Truth be told, Lawson’s backstory is difficult to parse, so it’s small wonder why the Powers That Be ultimately gravitated towards Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers. That, and it presents a golden opportunity to deliver the MCU’s first female-led standalone movie.
And as if that isn’t exciting enough, it appears Captain Marvel is coming together “extremely well,” after Kevin Feige took a moment to recognize the stellar cast and crew that’s bringing the 2019 solo flick to life.
Per Variety:
You’re going to get the most powerful superhero we’ve ever introduced and what I think is one of the most unique and inspiring origin stories. We are a little less than halfway through filming now. It’s going extremely well, and it’s a great cast on that film.
With a ’90s setting on the cards and a pretty sizeable role for the young, post-Cold War Nick Fury, Captain Marvel will take to the skies on March 8th, 2019.