Brie Larson became a big target for online abuse from toxic fans after being cast as Carol Danvers in Marvel Studios' Captain Marvel, and the negativity only seemed to intensify after the movie came out.
Rumors of the actress being somewhat difficult to work with, along with some interview clips (largely exaggerated or taken out of context) that did the rounds during the promotional tour for Avengers: Endgame made Larson public enemy #1 for a a certain online contingent.
Though the Academy Award-winner has previously brushed off the backlash ("I don’t have time for it"), in the recently-released MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios book, author Joanna Robinson indicated that it did take its toll on Larson, who was reportedly being positioned to lead the MCU as part of its new "trinity" at one point.
"The future of those Marvel icons was unclear. The departure of franchise anchors like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Scarlett Johansson had already taken its toll, as had the shocking loss of Chadwick Boseman, but other MCU stalwarts were heading for the exits. The Guardians of the Galaxy cast went on a farewell tour, Brie Larson grew disillusioned, and Marvel tussled with Sony in a custody battle over Tom Holland."
While chatting on a recent episode of The Watch podcast, Robinson went a step further by claiming that Larson doesn't want to play Danvers any longer.
"[Marvel Studios] put Brie Larson in [a prominent place in the MCU]. I don't know if Brie Larson was the wrong person for the role necessarily. But the toxic backlash means that Brie Larson doesn't want to play Carol Danvers anymore."
Larson will return as Captain Marvel in next month's sequel, The Marvels, but if these assertions are accurate, there's a chance she is simply fulfilling her contracted appearances and intends to hang up the suit as soon as possible.
It might be worth noting that, when asked about potentially returning as the space-faring superhero post The Marvels in a more recent interview, Larson did sound a little uncertain, responding: "I don’t know, does anyone want me to do it again?"
"In Marvel Studios’ The Marvels, Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol’s estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau. Together, this unlikely trio must team up and learn to work in concert to save the universe as The Marvels.”
The film also stars Zawe Ashton and Park Seo-joon. Nia DaCosta directs, and Kevin Feige is the producer. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Mary Livanos and Matthew Jenkins serve as executive producers. The screenplay is by Megan McDonnell, Nia DaCosta, Elissa Karasik and Zeb Wells.
The Marvels will begin its international rollout on November 8, and was recently granted a China release on November 10, day-and-date with North America.
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