‘Ms. Marvel’ Directors Explain ‘Batgirl’ Similarities and John Hughes References
09.06.2022 - 22:51
/ variety.com
Jordan Moreau Even superheroes have to pass their driver’s ed classes, and nobody in the Marvel Cinematic Universe feels that more than “Ms. Marvel” herself, Kamala Khan.Played by 19-year-old Iman Vellani, Kamala learns how to control her mysterious, energy-projection powers while balancing the challenges of high school guidance counselors and traditional parents who won’t let her stay out too late.
If that sounds like a cross between a typical Marvel movie and a coming-of-age John Hughes movie, that was exactly the plan.“All the John Hughes movies, like ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day,’ are obviously a reference,” director Adil El Arbi told Variety. “The TV show ‘Parker Lewis Can’t Lose,’ which is based on the John Hughes movies, Tom Holland’s ‘Spider-Man’ movies, all the American high-school TV shows, like ‘Saved by the Bell,’ ‘Boy Meets World.’ We tried to convey that style.” With his directing partner Bilall Fallah, the duo make up Adil & Bilall, who previously helmed 2020’s “Bad Boys for Life,” starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.
On “Ms. Marvel,” the two directed the first and final episodes of the superhero show, which premiered on Disney+ on Wednesday.“Ms.
Marvel” director Meera Menon — who helmed episodes of “The Punisher,” “For All Mankind,” “Outlander” and more — cited recent young-adult, slice-of-life films like “The Edge of Seventeen,” “Lady Bird,” “Booksmart” and “Easy A” as inspirations. For Episode 2 of “Ms.