Deadline reveals that as pre-production on Captain Marvel 2 gears up, Marvel Studios has found the sequel's lead villain. Fresh Meat's Zawe Ashton has been cast as the unnamed baddie, and this is definitely her big break after a critically acclaimed performance in 2019's Velvet Buzzsaw.
As the trade explains, "While the exact character is unknown, sources do say Ashton will be the main villain, though as we know with all Marvel films, there is always a chance the another antagonist may remain hidden till the very end of the film."
We could speculate all day about the identity of this character, but Skrull Queen Veranke (a key player in Secret Invasion) seems likely.
Nia DaCosta, the director of the Candyman reboot, will helm Captain Marvel 2 from a script which was penned by Megan McDonnell (a story editor on WandaVision). Other confirmed cast members include Ms. Marvel star Iman Vellani and Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau.
That's an impressive trio, and it sounds like this sequel will be huge in scale. Captain Marvel grossed over $1 billion in 2019, so Marvel Studios is likely expecting another hit.
Ashton's other credits include Wanderlust, Doctor Who, and most recently, Betrayal opposite Tom Hiddleston on Broadway.
Captain Marvel 2 is set to be released on November 11th, 2022.