Mary Livanos, the mastermind behind some of the most significant productions in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sat down with ETimes for an open conversation about her latest project, ‘The Marvels.’ In this discussion, the executive producer delves into the complexities of crafting blockbuster films and their interconnectedness within the broader cinematic universe. As the highly anticipated release of ‘The Marvels’ approaches, fans eagerly anticipate insights into how the movie fits into the larger Marvel narrative.
Taking place after the events of Avengers: Infinity War, the film features the return of Brie Larson as Captain Marvel. While this marks her first on-screen appearance since 2019, her co-stars Teyonah Parris, also known as Monica Rambeau, and Iman Vellani, portraying Ms. Marvel, were introduced to the MCU through the web series WandaVision (2021) and Ms. Marvel (2022) respectively. Given the characters’ standalone series, we questioned Mary about whether fans would need to catch up to fully understand the character dynamics in the film.
“Well, firstly, what’s exciting about ‘The Marvels’ is that it stands independently,” Livanos began. She emphasized, “These characters have a rich history, but let’s face it, what great character doesn’t have a rich history when we first encounter them in a film? This is about characters coming together and meeting for what feels like the first time. Audiences get to experience that alongside our characters. So whether you’re a devoted fan or a newcomer, there’s a lot to enjoy because it’s a roller coaster on its own.”
Directed by Nina DaCosta, ‘The Marvels’ revolves around Carol Danvers, alias Captain Marvel, reclaiming her identity from the oppressive Kree and embarking on a vengeance journey against the Supreme Intelligence. Unintended consequences force her to bear the burden of a destabilized universe.
With a track record of films and web series featuring strong female characters, we inquired about the impact Mary hopes the women of ‘The Marvels’ will have on the MCU. She expressed, “It’s a complete privilege, honor, and thrill to continue telling stories of incredible heroes and female heroes on screen at Marvel. To honor the incredible characters from the comics on film is wonderful. Continuing the trend of fair representation means a lot. I love that these three characters are so different, and I feel fortunate to have contributed to bringing them to life on screen.”
Being one of the first MCU films released amid the Hollywood strike, we asked about the cast’s reaction to being restricted by the SAG-AFTRA from promoting their film. Mary stated, “As the crew, we truly wish we could celebrate the release of this film alongside our incredible cast. We hope a fair deal is reached soon so that we can celebrate together and return to creating the stories we love.”
Reflecting on working with the trio, she added, “We feel privileged to spread the word about how incredible our cast is. Ultimately, ‘The Marvels’ is about the chemistry between these three amazing women portrayed by Brie, Teyonah, and Iman. They work diligently, showcasing their love and deep understanding of the characters, resulting in a fantastic on-screen team-up.”
The film, set to release this Friday, also marks the MCU debut of Korean star Park Seo-joon, who takes on the role of Prince Yan. As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand, ‘The Marvels’ promises to be an exciting addition, offering fans a distinctive blend of character dynamics, compelling storytelling, and exhilarating adventures.
