Wait - has the 2018 Captain Marvel movie been secretly cast?

Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, will star in Marvel’s first female-led movie in 2018 which has prompted many to ask; when will she be introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe? That question may have its answer! A new rumour (via Latino Review) suggests that the studio has already cast an actress in the role ahead of her debut in... Avengers: Age Of Ultron.

Via the swirling hotbed of insider chatter, it’s thought that by the end of Ultron the current line-up of Avengers will disband (which seems plausible, considering the set up for Civil War) and a new roster will be drafted in, led by Captain America and Black Widow. One of those new members, all of whom will be spotted in a post-credits sequence, will be none other than Captain Marvel. This sneaky appearance will set up the character for her spinoff film that is apparently ‘blocked out’ in terms of plot and story.

According to the site, one writer whose stint on the Captain Marvel comic has been well received - Kelly Sue DeConnick - is eager to script the standalone movie. Jim Starlin, who revived the character in the comics, is expected on board in an advisory capacity. While site tipster El Mayimbe stresses that all of this is unconfirmed it’s still exciting to wonder who might have already nabbed - and FILMED - the part.

Could it be Jessica Chastain who previously hinted at a secret Marvel meeting? Or what about Jennifer Lawrence? After X-Men: Apocalypse she’ll be footloose and franchise-free...

Avengers: Age Of Ultron arrives in UK cinemas on April 23, and in the US on May 1. The Captain Marvel movie is scheduled to land on November 2, 2018.

For more great comic book movie news, subscribe to SFX.

Gem Seddon

Gem Seddon is GamesRadar+'s west coast Entertainment News Reporter, working to keep all of you updated on all of the latest and greatest movies and shows on streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Outside of entertainment journalism, Gem can frequently be found writing about the alternative health and wellness industry, and obsessing over all things Aliens and Terminator on Twitter.