A Glimpse into the Captain Marvel Family: Press Junket Recap

For All Nerds

On Friday, February 22, ForAllNerds were invited to the official Captain Marvel press junket in Los Angeles. Many times we  hold some apprehension for these events since women and people of color are often underrepresented. So it was refreshing when we walked into the event space and saw a sea of difference.

We expected a room full of mostly white men but saw rows of women, and people of color—even a kid correspondent. The panel, led by the
knowledgeable and fun moderator Jacqueline Coley, an editor at Rotten Tomatoes, consisted of Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige, Lashana Lynch, Brie Larson, Jude Law, Samuel L. Jackson, Gemma Chan, Clark Gregg, and the directing/writing team of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.

The conversation ranged from what drew Brie Larson to the role of Captain Marvel to how the 90s setting of the film inspired the cast and crew and made them more than nostalgic for more simpler and colorful times. Brie Larson shared how her training for the film paralleled with her character, Carol Danvers, “…it’s very emotional when you’re stirring up something very vulnerable and raw inside of you and you’re also learning that it’s just for you; there’s nothing for me to prove….when we’re talking about Carol’s strength, what I learned from her is that I’m stronger than I realized”. The very strength Brie spoke on was personified during a set visit, where DJ Benhameen reported the cast watching video Brie “push a truck up a hill”. The mental and physical command required for such a feat inspired the cast to continue pushing boundaries and even shocking co-star Samuel L. Jackson who marveled at how he wouldn’t be able to follow up her training regimen. Still, he noted how his focus for portrayal of a young Nick Fury was meant to be a “kinder, gentler, no so cynical…chip-on-shoulder Nick Fury”, so he got to have fun and not have the be the “all knowing, angry, persuader” that Nick typically is.

One of the strongest points of Captain Marvel is the relationship between Maria Rambeau and Carol Danvers. Lashana Lynch who plays Rambeau shared with Larson how their character’s background helped to solidify their tight relationship “They both come from male-dominated environments…and both able to represent every facet of what a woman represents today…[such as] being a kind, good person while being funny and sarcastic. They’ve been friends in and outside of the military experience…and lean on each other for support and recognition”. The edge that Danvers and Rambeau display in the film were matched by their counterpart Gemma Chan who plays Minn-Erva. Gemma added how she “had to learn to crawl with a rifle, do drills…and tap into the ‘mean girl’ side” in order to deliver a performance that was world’s away her role in Crazy Rich Asians.

Newcomer to the MCU Jude Law shared how he knew his involvement measured “quite high on the Richter scale” and how “it’s a very good sign” that his kids and younger generations have shared how they want to go to multiple screenings of the film. Clark Gregg echoed that sentiment, sharing “I’ve gotten the thrill of taking my young daughter to a bunch of Marvel movies, but a now 17-year-old young woman to see Captain Marvel next week and I’ve never been more excited to take her to anything ever.”

Towards the end of the junket, we had a chance to ask questions to the panel. Fortunately I was given a chance to ask what their biggest takeaway or lesson they received after wrapping Captain Marvel. The diversity of answers were both fascinating and thoughtful.

Lashana: “Mine was my forever appreciation of single mothers who don’t get enough light shined on them ever…this opportunity to represent…women and black women and say a universal thank you for your work…to say you’re absolutely enough was really special”

Jude Law: “I think you always take away the experience of meeting new people. That’s always a blessing”

Brie Larson: “I realized I was stronger than I realized, which is crazy”

Samuel L. Jackson: “I walked away thinking my friends [Captain Marvel cast] are now movie starts crossing over into a new space that’s going to be really awesome”

Gemma Chan: I now know that if you’re going to play a blue character you have to go to work at 3:00 a.m. “

Clark Gregg: “I’ve had a long journey—11 years I think…so for me to come back around to a very innocent, excited space, an origin moment was…I found it really moving”.

Anna Boden (co-director/co-writer): “…Over the course of making this movie…the whole process has helped me be more confident in my voice and just be more comfortable in being seen.”

Ryan Fleck (co-director/co-writer): “I have always sort of known this, but I learned just how kick ass my directing partner is. She’s awesome” Kevin Feige: “I think what Jude said, it’s about meeting new people, and it’s about seeing people grow and evolve…and bringing an unbelievably powerful female characters to the screen”.

Be sure to catch Captain Marvel, out in theaters everywhere and read up on our Captain Marvel review, right here on ForAllNerds.com!

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