Back in August 2019, The Hollywood Reporter reported that writer and comedian Bisha K. Ali was set to be the showrunner for an upcoming Ms. Marvel Disney+ series. This was the first indication that Marvel's first Muslim hero was getting her own dedicated show.
Since then, it has been officially announced, Marvel cast Iman Vellani in the titular role, and filming has already completed. Kamala Khan is a new Marvel character, first appearing in 2013 while the MCU was already in full swing. The teenage hero and Captain Marvel fangirl is set to give audiences a unique ground-floor look at the MCU and possibly lead to an eventual Young Avengers project.
While Ali is leading the Ms. Marvel series, there is another Disney+ project she has just confirmed her involvement in.
MS. MARVEL SHOWRUNNER HELPED WRITE LOKI
In a recent series of tweets, Bisha K. Ali confirmed her involvement in the Tom Hiddleston-starring Loki Disney+ series. Ali began by responding to Loki director Kate Herron, sharing her excitement for the series' June 11 release date:
⬇️🗝🕰
— Bisha K. Ali (@bishakali) April 5, 2021
😍 https://t.co/m5SQMYbALd
Then, Ali further indicated that she has been aware of the Loki series and maybe had some involvement since her interview with Marvel in 2019:
Whenever I say Loki Time, I sing it to myself to the tune of Closing Time by SemiSonic. I have been doing this in my head since I went to interview for my first job at Marvel in March (!?) 2019. Time... flies. 😉https://t.co/6rJfVwBgsZ
— Bisha K. Ali (@bishakali) April 5, 2021
Ali then confirmed she interviewed with Loki showrunner and lead writer Michael Waldron about the project:
Also one of the nicest interviews I’ve ever had. @michaelwaldron and the team said they wanted to add a storyteller who was also an A++++ sci fi nerd - I said hold my Samarian Sunset. @iamkateherron ‘s crafting of her vision... it’s breathtaking. Can’t wait to see it in the world
— Bisha K. Ali (@bishakali) April 5, 2021
THE DISNEY+ CONNECTION
Is this another sign of an interconnected universe or just an interconnected studio? The answer might be both.
Disney+ series' are brand-new concepts for Marvel Studios, and they have brought in a lot of new talent to lead these projects. For example, Loki showrunner Michael Waldron also wrote Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and according to Deadline, signed a long-term deal with Disney that includes writing Kevin Feige's Star Wars film. Ali is another example of Disney and Marvel Studios using their creative talent for multiple projects.
It is unclear if Ali's involvement means that these two series will be connected in any significant way, but the MCU can often connect in ways that fans never expect. For instance, WandaVision proved to not only serve as a set-up for the Scarlet Witch in Multiverse of Madness but also was the origin story of Monica Rambeau's powers that will continue in Captain Marvel 2.
This also wouldn't be the first time in recent memory that directors and showrunners of different MCU projects worked together in some capacity. WandaVision showrunner Jac Schaeffer was in communication with Spider-Man: No Way Home director Jon Watts and Multiverse of Madness director Sam Raimi whilst writing the series. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is expanding, and the addition of many Disney+ series will only lead to an even more intricate universe.
The Tom Hiddleston-led Loki is set to begin June 11 on Disney+, and the Iman Vellani-starring Ms. Marvel will reportedly start sometime in late 2021.
