There is a lot to take in from the Brie Larson interview in In Style, but the moment that stuck out the most to me was her comparison of Carol Danvers to Indiana Jones. There is a fun kind of snark to Carol in the second trailer of the film that really brought to life the kind of hero we’re getting in the movie.
For years, many of us women have looked to characters like Indiana Jones and wished we could see ourselves in them. There really wasn’t a female character that was a badass, a nerd, and very much a smart-ass all rolled into one, compared to how frequently that character type pops up for men. As Larson puts it, we had Ellen Ripley, who, while great, wasn’t the same as Jones.
To see Carol Danvers embodying a very similar tone is wonderful and exactly what I wanted out of Captain Marvel. Larson also went on to talk about the future of cinema and what she hopes for in regards to filmmaking and diversity:
“There are so many great jobs. You like the weird alien blasters? You could be the one who makes them. We need young people to carry on this tradition in moviemaking, and it would be so great if we had more diversity coming in through that. I don’t want to be successful surrounded by a bunch of people who look like me. That doesn’t feel like success at all.”
She’s one of the good ones, focusing her energy on making Hollywood (and the world at large) better for women, people of color, and those who have been consistently sidelined by the male-dominated business. And, when asked how she “manages it all,” a question that usually makes my blood boil, Larson had a wonderful point about “balance” and our ideas of trying to level out our lives: “Balance is sort of a ridiculous concept. It’s not like you find balance and you’re done. You’re always trying to find it.”
She isn’t perfect; she’s human, just like the rest of us, but Larson has an air about her that is refreshing from a young Hollywood starlet. She’s not afraid to admit her fears, she’s open with how she wants people to her who she is, and she is high-key relatable in her meltdown cure (she orders Postmates and has a lot of pizza). So, she may be playing Carol Danvers, but I’d say that Brie Larson herself is one of my favorite heroes—just a woman trying to do her best and I can respect that.
Captain Marvel hits theaters this March 8th. It is going to be incredible to see Carol onscreen, taking on the Skrulls. She’s the first woman to lead a Marvel movie and, while it has been a long time coming, at least we’re finally going to have Carol Danvers in the MCU.
(image: Marvel Entertainment)
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