Captain Marvel actress Lashana Lynch says that her character, Maria Rambeau has a “superhero quality” of her own in the upcoming film. In Captain Marvel, Lynch plays the role of Carol’s friend and fellow pilot, as well as the mother of Monica Rambeau, who in the comics is the second character to carry the mantle of “Captain Marvel”.

Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, Captain Marvel will serve as the first movie in the MCU to feature a female superhero as the main protagonist. Set in the 1990s, the film will tell the story of Carol Danvers, an Air Force pilot who possesses remarkable abilities. The movie thrusts Carol into center of the Kree-Skrull War, one of the biggest events in Marvel Comics history, and will bring back existing MCU favorites like Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), and Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace), while introducing new characters, such as Lashana Lynch’s Maria Rambeau.

In a visit to the set of Captain Marvel, Lashana Lynch talked with Screen Rant about her character. Though Maria doesn’t have any real superpowers, Lynch explains that her background as a black single mother and a fighter pilot is “absolutely her superpower”.

Maria is expected to play a key role in Captain Marvel. Brie Larson, who plays Carol, has previously talked about the importance of the dynamic between Carol and Maria to the story.  According to Larson, Maria is the “representation of love” in the movie. However, it’s unclear how Carol’s deep bond with Maria will impact the plot. It’s possible that Maria will help remind an amnesiac Carol of her ties to Earth.

It’s just she’s strong, she’s bold, she’s a Black single mother. She doesn’t argue about it. She has raised an amazing child and now this child is probably going to turn out to be a superhero because she’s been raised by one.

The importance of Maria’s character could extend far beyond Carol Danvers and Captain Marvel. Maria’s daughter is integral to the Marvel Universe in the comic books, and could end up becoming a key player in Phase 4 or even Phase 5 of the MCU. Fans of the comics know that Monica actually preceded Carol Danvers by almost thirty years to become the first female character to use the name “Captain Marvel”. She currently goes by the name “Spectrum”.

As Lynch points out, what Monica will eventually become has a lot to do with the strength of the woman who raised her. It makes sense that some of Maria’s qualities will rub off onto Monica and help shape her into a superhero. So even if Maria doesn’t appear in another MCU movie, she could leave a legacy that will have a lasting effect on the MCU.

More: Every Marvel Movie & TV Show Coming In 2019

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