Since winning an Academy Award in February for her acclaimed performance in indie drama Room, actress Brie Larson surely has her pick of roles these days. She may be in the running for a major one as news is circulating that Larson is Marvel’s top choice to headline their upcoming Captain Marvel. Variety was the first to break this story and while we may be only in the beginning stages here, reportedly both Marvel and Larson are interested even if we’re likely far out from outright confirmation. 

Captain Marvel is one Marvel Comics’ most popular female superhero creations – the character was created by Gene Colan and Roy Thomas back in the late 1960s – and may prove an important vehicle for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, considering criticisms in the past revolving around under-representation of female characters (they are still “committed” to making a Black Widow movie). The upcoming standalone film adaptation – which is currently being pegged for a spring 2019 release – centers around air force pilot Carol Danvers. She is granted powers of strength and flight after her DNA becomes fused with an alien.

While no director is aboard the project yet, Meg LeFauve (Oscar nominated for penning Inside Out this past year) and Nicole Perlman (Guardians of the Galaxy) and penning the screenplay. There was a sense that part of Marvel’s plan may have been to cast a leading lady some time before Captain Marvel heads in front of the cameras in a possible attempt to help tease and flesh out the character in earlier Marvel movies. Nothing is confirmed on that end and if Larson does indeed join the Marvel fold, news will likely be made.

For now we wait and see. In the meantime, Larson has two films already in the can that are expected to open sometime this year: the musical romance Basmati Blues and Ben Wheatley’s upcoming crime thriller Free Fire. Next year, we will see our first glimpse of Larson in blockbuster mode as one of the stars of Kong: Skull Island. She is currently filming the drama The Glass Castle alongside Naomi Watts, Woody Harrelson and Max Greenfield. That film is also due sometime next year.

What do you think? Would Brie Larson make a good Captain Marvel?