DeWanda Wise Says Missing Out On ‘Captain Marvel’ Led To ‘Jurassic World’ Role

Wise went from one mega franchise to another!

DeWanda Wise Kayla Watts Jurassic World Dominion Captain Marvel

DeWanda Wise, who is set to appear in Jurassic World Dominion later this year, has talked about missing out on the role of Maria Rambeau in Captain Marvel.

Maria Rambeau was introduced in 2019’s Captain Marvel as one of Carol Danvers’ close friends and a fellow US Air Force pilot. Before Marvel Studios cast Lashana Lynch in the role, DeWanda Wise was originally set to appear as Maria, who recently reappeared – in another universe, where she was Captain Marvel – in this year’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

DeWanda Wise was unable to take up the role of Maria Rambeau due to scheduling conflicts. Wise was already under contract for Spike Lee’s Netflix series, She’s Gotta Have It, which would have clashed with the Marvel Studios project and so she had no choice but to turn the role down. However, she is now set to appear in her first blockbuster in the form of this year’s Jurassic World Dominion.

From One Pilot To Another

In Jurassic World Dominion, DeWanda Wise plays Kayla Watts. Like Maria Rambeau, Kayla is a pilot, albeit one who has left the Air Force to pursue a less legitimate line of work. In a recent interview with io9, Wise spoke about having to turn down Marvel and how she feels this led to her role in the Jurassic World franchise.

When asked about what it was like to walk away from a role in Captain Marvel, Wise revealed:

“I did not choose to leave. Like, I would never make that choice for myself, that sounds ridiculous. You know, you sign a contract for a TV show and it’s in first position, and that’s just a responsible… you have audience members who are like ‘I would’ve taken a lawsuit.’ Good for you! I don’t wanna be sued! Not trying to be sued by Spike Lee and Netflix. So, you know, at the time it was very disappointing, and also difficult in that context, you know.”

However, while missing out on a role with Marvel was clearly disappointing, Wise went on to explain that she did not feel she would be appearing in Jurassic World Dominion if things had gone differently:

“I don’t repeat performances. So, if I had played in Captain Marvel, if I’d already played a pilot, and then Colin called me for this and he’s like ‘Guess what? She’s a pilot,’ I would’ve been like ‘I’m so sorry, I don’t believe in capitalism. You’re gonna have to find someone else,’ you know? So, I just think everything happens in the timing that it’s meant to happen and I’m very thankful to be here now.”

It sounds like DeWanda Wise is happy to be starring in the Jurassic World series and would not have necessarily been doing so had she taken on the role of Maria Rambeau in Captain Marvel. Given the stellar work Lashana Lynch has done as Maria Rambeau, it sounds like things worked out for the fans too, who now get to see both these actresses in two major Hollywood franchises.

Here is the synopsis for Jurassic World Dominion:

This summer, experience the epic conclusion to the Jurassic era as two generations unite for the first time. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are joined by Oscar®-winner Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Sam Neill in Jurassic World Dominion, a bold, timely and breathtaking new adventure that spans the globe. From Jurassic World architect and director Colin Trevorrow, Dominion takes place four years after Isla Nublar has been destroyed. Dinosaurs now live—and hunt—alongside humans all over the world. This fragile balance will reshape the future and determine, once and for all, whether human beings are to remain the apex predators on a planet they now share with history’s most fearsome creatures. Jurassic World Dominion, from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, propels the more than $5 billion franchise into daring, uncharted territory, featuring never-seen dinosaurs, breakneck action and astonishing new visual effects.

Directed by Colin Trevorrow from a script he co-wrote with Emily Carmichael, the film stars Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, Mamadou Athie, Scott Haze, Dichen Lachman, Daniella Pineda, Campbell Scott, Isabella Sermon, Justice Smith, Omar Sy, DeWanda Wise, and BD Wong.

The film opens on June 10, 2022. Be sure to continue following Heroic Hollywood for all the latest news on the film and DeWanda Wise, and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more original video content.

Source: io9