Official tie-in merchandise for Marvel Studios' The Marvels confirms that Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) will be known as Photon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward.
For some time, there has been a bit of uncertainty regarding Monica Rambeau's codename in the MCU. However, IGN has now revealed the details for the latest wave of Hasbro's Marvel Legends action figures, including toys based on the three main characters of The Marvels: Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani) and, of course, Monica Rambeau. The box for the Monica figure confirms that The Marvels will see the hero take on her comic-book moniker of Photon. In the context of the MCU, this also serves as an homage to Monica's mother, Maria Rambeau, a fighter pilot with the callsign "Photon."
The Many Names of Monica Rambeau
Created by Roger Stern and John Romita Jr., Monica Rambeau first appeared in 1982's Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16. Monica was originally introduced as Captain Marvel. In fact, she was the second-ever Captain Marvel, having taken up the mantle from the late Mar-Vell. However, Monica has assumed a number of other superhero identities over the years. It was in 1996 that she first adopted the name Photon. Then, in 2005, she became known as Pulsar. Monica again switched codenames a few years later, becoming Spectrum in 2013. Most recently, in 2022, Monica dropped the Spectrum name and began going by Photon once more.
A young version of Monica made her MCU debut in the '90s-set 2019 film Captain Marvel, in which she way played by both Akira and Azari Akbar. The film co-starred Lashana Lynch as Maria "Photon" Rambeau, Monica's mother and a close friend of Larson's lead protagonist, Carol Danvers. (In the comics, Carol was the original Ms. Marvel, and is the seventh and current Captain Marvel.) A grown-up Monica later appeared in Marvel's 2021 Disney+ series WandaVision, with Parris taking over the role. WandaVision revealed that Monica had fallen victim to Thanos' snap, and that Maria had died during her five-year absence. That said, Lynch did return for the 2022 film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In the Doctor Strange sequel, Lynch played an alternate-reality version of Maria, who was the Captain Marvel of Earth-838.
The Marvels Premieres in November
The Marvels is slated to debut later this year on Nov. 10 as the third feature film in Phase Five of the MCU. Directed by Candyman helmer Nia DaCosta, the film serves as both a sequel to Captain Marvel and a follow-up to the 2022 Disney+ series Ms. Marvel. To that end, in addition to Larson as Captain Marvel and Parris as Photon, The Marvels sees Vellani reprise her role as Kamala Khan (Marvel Comics' fourth and current Ms. Marvel). The film centers on the three heroes as their cosmic abilities become entangled, causing them to swap places whenever they use their powers.
Marvel Studios' The Marvels flies in theaters on Nov. 10.
Source: IGN, via The Direct