Audiences appear to be liking Ms. Marvel on Disney+ far more than first discussion would have predicted. Despite some significant changes to the character’s origins and power set, Kamala Khan’s first film has received positive reviews from both critics and audiences. The character would later join forces with Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel in next year’s The Marvels, but the most recent episode of Iman Vellani’s show revealed a different ally.
Since “Ms. Marvel” just debuted, there isn’t much information available regarding how the hero’s adventure will proceed after this first season. Sana Amanat, the co-creator of Kamala Khan in the comic books and a writer for “Ms. Marvel,” nevertheless, spoke to ScreenRant about her expectations for additional seasons:
“I certainly hope so. It’s designed to be a limited series, after all, so she can move on to other things. It undoubtedly makes her out to be a hero. That’s kind of there because she will be entering Marvels next. All I have to say is, let’s hope there will be a Season 2! I hope we contribute to that.
Spoilers for Ms. Marvel Episode 4 are present in the remaining portions of this article.
Kamala Khan encountered Aramis Knight’s Kareem, also known as Red Dagger, in the most recent Ms. Marvel appearance. In addition to being a local vigilante in Karachi, he also happens to carry a very significant title that has endured for many years.
What path did he take to arrive at the setting for this fourth installment? And what might the character’s future hold? Fortunately, The Direct was able to sit down with the actor who plays the Karachi vigilante and talk to him about bringing Kareem to life.
Red Dagger and Ms. Marvel
Aramis Knight, who plays Kareem in the show, opened up about his character’s introduction in Episode 4, the enigmatic organization he represents, and what his future in the MCU might entail in an exclusive conversation with The Direct’s Russ Milheim.
So how long have there been Red Daggers? They have been operating “for hundreds of years” and have “always been working for a safer Karachi,” according to Knight.
“I believe the Red Daggers have existed as a society for many centuries. And I believe that the mantle has been transferred quite a bit. I believe that Kareem follows Waleed, and then I believe that someone else follows Kareem. Our cause hasn’t really altered throughout the years, in my opinion. I believe that we have consistently fought for a safer Karachi. The [Clandestine’s] domain has undoubtedly existed forever, in addition to, you know, preventing crime. Furthermore, we have studied it for many centuries. Therefore, I believe that this is a culture that has existed for a far longer period of time than what you are currently witnessing and will continue to exist for many more centuries. We fight for this cause because it is so vital. I therefore believe that there were many before us and that there will be many after.
Even series star Iman Vellani is excited about a future solo adventure, even if only to advocate for a few “Inhumans” easter eggs. Of course, things are still up in the air. According to the actor, she lobbied hard to have Lockjaw, an intelligent Inhuman dog who protects Kamala in the comics, play some sort of role in “Ms. Marvel.” Even though she eventually was unsuccessful, Vellani would “love” to introduce the character to the MCU very soon, perhaps even in season 2 of “Ms. Marvel.” If there is a second season, Vellani continued.
The actor stated that he thinks “the Clandestines are one of their number one things…,” even if the group probably also focuses on other dangers. [to] research and would like to know about:
“I would say that one of the top topics they study and are interested in learning about is the Clandestine. Additionally, I believe Kamala’s arrival in the Red Daggers is somewhat serendipitous because she is learning so much about herself from us. After all, we are far more knowledgeable than she is about her talents, heritage, and background. Therefore, when she comes to us, we’re able to, in my opinion, really, like, put some light on some things that seem to be beyond her comprehension.
He proceeded by saying that in his opinion, “Kareem grew up as a Red Dagger,” and that assuming the mantle requires “years and years of training.”
“I believe Kareem was raised as a Red Dagger. I believe he evolved into the Red Dagger. Most likely within a few years of when you actually need him. Without a doubt, Waleed is his mentor. He is without a doubt his strongest supporter and ally. However, I believe that being a Red Dagger takes years and years of training, and since Kareem is sort of the head Red Dagger, I believe he has been active for a while.
In the comics, Kareem did go to Jersey City at one time to help keep an eye on Kamala’s domain while she is out and about. What are the chances that the audience will witness that happen?
Knight believes that Kareem might be able to enter the United States, but “first [they] need a green light for season two:”
“I really believe that Kareem will have a chance of entering the United States. Obviously, that’s not my decision… Although I personally would want to work with everyone, we’ll have to wait and see. I do believe it’s a possibility, though. The approval for season two is necessary before we can begin to make assumptions.
When it comes to his preparation for the part, he says that “tons of dialect training” was a key part of it because he “wanted to make people have to google whether I was American or not”:
Since I was born and raised in California, I definitely need a lot of dialect training because it’s an entirely new dialect for me. I had to, you know, genuinely put myself in the position of a Karachi native in addition to learning a new accent. I also wanted it to seem quite genuine. I wanted people to have to check on Google to see if I was American or not. Actually, that’s what I was aiming for. Fortunately for me, each Karachi accent is distinctive. There are numerous varieties of Karachi accents. Therefore, it was like coming up with a very realistic one for me. And Kareem, as you may know, attended an English-language education system and is likely highly educated. Therefore, the accent has a strong English impact. However, I believe that just being aware of Karachi’s culture actually [aided] me in becoming the role.
Kareem was able to participate in a large-scale chase through the streets of Karachi at the end of the episode. The actor who played the role of the man in the red scarf said that the entire scene “took [them] a week to shoot all of it,” and that the experience “certainly made [him] feel like an action star:”
Since June 8th, 2022, Ms. Marvel episodes have been released on Disney Plus, and they have already left fans wanting more.
The sitcom centers on the exploits of Kamala Khan, a 16-year-old Jersey City high school student who idolizes superheroes like the Avengers and Captain Marvel to the point where she creates fanfiction about them.
Khan, played by Iman Vellani, has always had trouble fitting in, but when she learns how to harness cosmic energy, she finds herself instantly engulfed by the fan-fictional universe of her imagination.
Oh, that entire week was incredible. We shot all of that over the course of a week. Additionally, a lot of it was realistic. For example, the truck, the flip, and several of the crashes were all realistic. I had the feeling of being a real action star. Gary Powell was in charge of our action unit. He is a renowned action hero. He created James Bond and Jason Bourne. Thus, he was doing appropriately. And he unquestionably gave me the impression of being an action star that day—or, I should say, that week.
Does Red Dagger Have a Fu ture in the MCU?
Hearing how eager Aramis Knight is to make a comeback is fantastic. He appeared to be fairly certain that his Red Dagger may someday adopt the comics and decide to send him to New Jersey to guard Kamala’s domain while she is away.
After all, the upcoming Marvels film will probably have the young hero spending some time in space. She certainly seems to want someone protecting her territory. Kamala might return to her hometown in a future Ms. Marvel season 2, where Kareem has grown accustomed to serving as the city’s defender.
Kamala Khan will undoubtedly be a part of a Young Avengers team-up that will unavoidably happen. Despite the fact that Red Dagger will eventually want to return to Karachi, this may easily keep him occupied while he is in the United States.
Since he and his organization both keep an eye on numerous realms and other things, they might naturally begin engaging with Doctor Strange’s side of the universe, especially after the Multiverse begins to fall apart for the alleged Secret Wars project. After all, the Sanctum Santorum is easily accessible by train from New Jersey, should Kareem find himself there.
A similar statement was made by Vellani to The Wrap during the “Ms. Marvel” premiere. It’s possible that discussions about a second season have already started, but it’s also possible that the actor is only dreaming. We won’t have to wait too long to see Kamala Khan again, either, since “The Marvels” is scheduled for release in November 2022.
