It’s fair to say that, after trumping her latest opponent Bethe Correia in a mere 34 seconds, Ronda Rousey has brought the MMA to a standstill. Now, on the heels of a Reddit AMA, the fan-favorite is riding the crest of a wave all in the hope of landing the coveted title role in Captain Marvel. Earlier this week, Rousey shared a collection of fan-made concept art that depicted her in the famous guise. Fast forward to today and Mallrats director Kevin Smith has thrown his support behind the talent, stating that her casting is a no-brainer at this point.
Smith argues that not only does Rousey have the physicality to portray a convincing version of one Carol Danvers, but in a recent interview with TMZ, the scribe-cum-director believes that the MMA star harbors the personal qualities required to ground a tentpole superhero flick and, ultimately, make it believable.
[zerg]Casting for Captain Marvel remains a mystery, though the fact that the standalone film – the first of Marvel’s to be frontlined by a female hero – isn’t due until 2018 is likely the reason behind this. With the likes of Emily Blunt reportedly eyed for the part, Ronda Rousey faces stiff competition, though Smith champions her as one of – if not the – best candidates for the part.
“See her in that picture? Come on! You don’t even need to think at this point. There’s an image; we can see it. She looks amazing. Lord knows she’s one of the only people who would play a superhero that could actually beat the [censored] out of somebody. I would like to see it happen. She seems like she’s got a good head on her shoulders. She followed her dream and, holy [censored], she’s an ass-kicker. If that doesn’t sound like a superhero, I don’t know what is.”
In terms of Rousey’s film career, the brawler has had minor roles in both Expendables 3 and Furious 7. Across both of these, the budding actress showcased her likening to action-oriented roles as opposed to her dramatic chops. Will Marvel take a risk and cast her in the title role? Time will tell.
Captain Marvel is set to open on November 2, 2018.