TheQuartering [9/26/2023]
For several years now, Brie Larson has played a valuable role in the development of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t faced with scrutiny.
In 2019, Brie Larson stepped into the shoes of Carol Danvers, a former U.S. Air Force pilot who becomes Captain Marvel, a powerful superhero with cosmic abilities. She made her first appearance as Captain Marvel in the film Captain Marvel (2019), which is set in the 1990s and explores the origins of the character. Larson’s portrayal of Captain Marvel was celebrated for its strength, charisma, and representation of a strong female superhero in the MCU.
Captain Marvel’s introduction was crucial to the overarching narrative of the MCU, as her character played a pivotal role in Avengers: Endgame (2019). Her character was instrumental in helping the Avengers defeat the formidable villain Thanos, solidifying her place as one of the central figures in the MCU.As the MCU said goodbye to iconic figures like Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man/ Tony Stark) and Chris Evans (Captain America / Steve Rogers), the expectation from Disney was that performers like Brie Larson would carry the storyline successfully moving forward. That, unfortunately for the company, hasn’t come without its fair share of challenges. Since putting a bow on the original cast of The Avengers four years ago, the company has experienced some trouble in introducing new characters to the screen, both in theaters and on Disney+.
Outside of Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 (2023) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), the last couple of films and television shows to be released by Marvel have been considered failures, even by the most optimistic of fans. They’ve been hit with controversy and, like it or not, have given the company something to think about as it moves forward with the MCU, regardless of previously announced plans.
In a world full of social media trolls, it should come as no surprise that Brie Larson has been under attack by many in the fanbase. “Cancel Brie Larson” was one of the trending hashtags several days ago on Twitter (X), and many fans have called for the actress– who also just starred in Fast X (2023)– to be replaced in the franchise. Others have expressed their distaste for her portrayal in the role.
Despite her last movie earning over $1 billion at the box office, Critical Drinker placed Larson front and center in its discussion over the “death of the superhero,” which has since received well over 1 million views.