Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau in ‘The Marvels’.Photo:Marvel / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Courtesy of Everett
Marvel / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Courtesy of Everett
Teyonah Parrishas a message for those quick to crossThe Marvelsoff their watch list: “Give it a fair shot.”
A follow-up to 2019’sCaptain Marvel, the movie debuted in theaters Nov. 10, just one day after theactors' strike(which prevented stars Parris,Brie LarsonandIman Vellanifrom speaking about the project beforehand)came to an end.
For Parris, 36, who joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Captain Monica Rambeau inWandaVisionduring the pandemic, this meant another chance to promote her “dream role" had been thwarted.
“I haven’t actually done a full press run where I get to engage one-on-one, in person, face-to-face with fans,” the actress tells PEOPLE. “I wanted to be a part of that and feel that.”
In 2019,Captain Marvelopened to $153 millionat the domestic box office. In its opening weekend,The Marvelsmade just $47 million. And just about everyone seemed to have a theory for the fizzle.
Iman Vellani, Brie Larson and Teyonah Parris in ‘The Marvels’.Courtesy of Marvel Studios
Courtesy of Marvel Studios
“I think there was a lot of talk, and people hadn’t seen it. So that’s frustrating, when people comment on things they haven’t actually experienced,” says Parris, adding that “there’s a lot of people who put a lot of their time, spirit and talent into bringing this forward.”
The actress asks that people “show grace” — after they actually watch the movie, that is.
‘The Marvels’ poster.Courtesy of Marvel Studios
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
When it comes to widespread superhero fatigue — the burn-out moviegoers are experiencing from the genre’s frequent releases — Parris can’t help but “wonder.”
“So I don’t know,” she continues. “I think we say that because it’s easy to just say, ‘Oh, superhero fatigue,’ but I think we want — because I watch them as well — I want good stories with great characters, and that mean something and have something to say.”
And the critics? Well, Parris knows they have something to say too.
“I think that you’re going to have people who have something to say about everything,” she says. “What I try to do is remember the work that I put into it, the heart that I put into it, the crew who’ve given over a year of their lives to make this happen, their excellence, and what it felt like to just be around good people who are super, super talented.”
Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau in ‘The Marvels’.Marvel / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Courtesy of Everett
TheWandaVisionstar also reminds herself of the sacrifices that her husband, James, andtheir 1-year-old daughtermade so she could “step into this Black woman’s super shoes and super suit and save the world.”
“My family sacrificed a lot too, for me to be able to go away for a year,” she says. “So I think about those things and try not to engage in things that aren’t positive, because there’s a lot going on in the world. Alot. I have to protect my peace.”
As for Monica’s return to the franchise, Parris says she doesn’t “know anything officially, unfortunately.”
But should her story continue, the actress wants to return to the “heart” of storytelling. In other words, the narrative qualities that charmed MCU fans in the first place.
Iman Vellani, Brie Larson and Teyonah Parris in ‘The Marvels’.Marvel / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Courtesy of Everett
“We’re at a transition time where the people creating the stories have to get back to the heart and the root of what this is,” she says. “And this is ordinary people who become extraordinary and are in extraordinary circumstances, and watching them struggle and get to and through those experiences.”
“I think if we remain true to that, people will stay engaged and interested,” she adds.
The Marvelsis now available to stream on Disney+ and available to purchase on DVD and Blu-ray.
source: people.com
