The first trailer for The Marvels not only gave fans the cinematic debut of Kamala Khan and of the grown-up Monica Rambeau but also revealed more about the Marvel film's villain.
Played by Zawe Ashton, the villain of The Marvels has been kept under wraps since the casting announcement back in 2021. In fact, Ashton herself was "terrified to say anything" when Ms. Marvel was airing since she was not sure her involvement in the Captain Marvel sequel had even been announced yet.
A trailer for the movie premiered at D23, and that trailer was, until now, the only official look at Ashton's character.
The Marvels Villain Revealed
In the first trailer for November's The Marvels, fans got a glimpse at Zawe Ashton as the movie's antagonist.
Decked out in dark colors and surrounded by Kree, Ashton's character is holding a staff that looks almost identical to the one held by Ronan the Accuser in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy.
Powerful and confident, Ashton looks like she belongs in this story full of strong women characters and will make for a formidable foe.
Given the staff, the powerful air she gives off, and the seeming reverence the Kree surrounding her extend her way, it is likely that Ashton is playing the new Accuser, following Ronan's demise in the first Guardians movie.
Unlike Ronan, Ashton's character is not a blue version of the Kree but the human-passing kind.
Near the end of the trailer, Ashton can be seen going at it with Iman Vellani's Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel). It seems Ashton is shooting a Captain Marvel-esque blast from her wrist gauntlet, implying her power comes from her tech and armor.
A close-up look at the design of Ashton's suit was also seen, with the intricate detailing on the dotted outlines up her chest and down her arms in view.
Who Is Zawe Ashton Playing in The Marvels?
Zawe Ashton only appears briefly in the first trailer for The Marvels, giving fans little to work with, though Marvel has confirmed she will be playing Dar-Benn, a genderbent character from the comics.
The staff Ashton wields — known in the comics as the Universal Weapon — has been held by various Accusers in comics history. As such, it is very possible that Dar-Benn has taken on the Accuser mantle after Ronan was defeated years back.
If that is the case, it would make sense that she has the respect and reverence of the rest of the Kree, given it has been about a decade since the mantle was vacated.
The Marvels hits theaters on November 10.
Gillian Blum has been a writer at The Direct since 2022, reporting primarily from New York City. Though she covers news from across the entertainment industry, Gillian has a particular focus on Marvel and DC, including comics, movies, and television shows. She also commonly reports on Percy Jackson, Invincible, and other similar franchises.
