Actress DeWanda Wise has been building an impressive body of work over the last few years, appearing in Netflix films such as The Harder They Fall and Fatherhood, along with the lead role in the Spike Lee series She’s Gotta Have It. Wise will next be part of one of the summer’s biggest films in Jurassic World Dominion, but she was almost part of another massive franchise just a few years ago.
When Captain Marvel was in pre-production at Marvel Studios, Wise was tapped to Carol Danvers’ best friend Maria Rambeau. However, she had to drop out of the role just a few months later due to scheduling conflicts with the second season of She’s Gotta Have It. In speaking with Gizmodo, Wise reflected on missing out on the $1 billion+ smash hit Captain Marvel:
The role of Maria Rambeau ultimately went to Lashana Lynch, who recently returned to the MCU as an alternate version of Maria in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Lynch’s performance in Captain Marvel also catapulted her to another blockbuster franchise, appearing in No Time to Die opposite Daniel Craig last year. Wise may have seen that same sort of success had she been able to join the cast of Captain Marvel, but she’s still found herself in a major summer tent pole film…which she says may not have happened had she played Maria Rambeau.
“I did not choose to leave. Like, I would never make that choice for myself, that sounds ridiculous. 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.”
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Being in Captain Marvel Would’ve Prevented Wise From Joining Jurassic World Dominion
Wise is playing Kayla Watts in Jurassic World Dominion, a fighter pilot that shares some similarities with Maria Rambeau. As the actress told Gizmodo, taking on the role of Maria would have precluded her from joining the Jurassic World cast:
Jurassic World Dominion is the biggest project Wise has been a part of, and it’s the type of film that can springboard actors and actresses into other high profile work. Wise joins returning members of the Jurassic World ensemble such as Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, along with Jurassic Park legacy actors Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, and Laura Dern. Directed by Colin Trevorrow, Jurassic World: Dominion will be stomping its way into theaters on June 10.
“Maria was a pilot, and…I don’t repeat performances. So If I had played in Captain Marvel, if I’d already played a pilot, and then Colin [Trevorrow] 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.’ I just think everything happens in the timing that it’s meant to happen, and I’m very thankful to be here now.”
