Would King Khan be a part of Marvel's Indian content?
Goes without saying, Marvel has had phenomenal success in India. 'Infinity War' remains the highest grossing film in 2018, despite big Bollywood releases. In an interaction with Indian Express, Stephen Wacker, Marvel's Vice President of Creative Development, opened up about their plans to strengthen their foothold in India. They plan on creating heroes based in Indian context, and want SRK to be a part of the cast.
A bit about why Marvel's content appeal to global audiences
Apart from 'Infinity War', Marvel's 'Black Panther' was a box office hit too. Further, their television shows, especially the ones on Netflix, enjoy enormous fan following. Part of the reason why Marvel's content appeals to people across cultures is due to their aspirational nature. The films and television shows all come with a relatable message that there is a hero in all of us.
A different degree of relatability
According to Wacker, given Indians' enthusiasm, Marvel wants to be more inclusive of Indian fans. Therefore, they are planning to make characters that are deeply rooted in Indian culture. Not only will this make the characters more relatable, but will also make the American and global audiences aware of Indian culture. With Marvel's penchant for authenticity, they are keen to work with Indian actors.
Add SRK's star power to the mix
Marvel is not shy of casting big names in big budget movies. And there is no bigger name in Bollywood than Shah Rukh Khan. Realizing this, Marvel will definitely want to have SRK as part of their cast if they make any Indian content. Notably, of late, Marvel has been hiring actors from the countries their characters are based out of.
The Black Panther of India
Wacker realized how 'Black Panther' had opened up the world of Africa to a global audience. With the attention to clothing, accents, architecture and cultural practices, it became a study in Afrofuturism, while being a beloved superhero movie. Realizing that Indian fans would love to see a Marvel hero running around their familiar neighborhoods, he said that India needed its own version of Black Panther.
