Marvel Rivals: Why Milana Vayntrub Playing Squirrel Girl is a Big Deal

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As a long-time Marvel fan with a soft spot for the quirky and unconventional, I can’t help but feel a deep connection to the recent announcement of Milana Vayntrub as Squirrel Girl in Marvel Rivals. You see, I was one of those fans who were heartbroken when her live-action version of Doreen Green was canceled way back in 2019. So, seeing her voice Squirrel Girl in a video game is like a dream come true—albeit years later than expected.

In an unexpected turn, Marvel Rivals has been presenting a lineup of lesser-known Marvel figures, and one character that took many fans by surprise was none other than Squirrel Girl, also known as Doreen Green.

It’s quite interesting that Milana Vayntrub provides the voice for Squirrel Girl, but one might wonder why her obtaining this role is so significant. Interestingly, she shares a unique bond with the character, similar to Channing Tatum and Gambit from the X-Men series.

Milana Vaynytrub as Squirrel Girl

Initially, Vayntrub gained fame as the endearing AT&T Girl in advertisements; however, she was poised to embody Doreen Green in a live-action role on Freeform’s New Warriors series.

In 2017, Vayntrub was appointed as the main character for the series, with a projected release date in 2018. However, Freeform struggled to accommodate the show within their broadcast schedule and opted to explore potential distribution to other television networks. Regrettably, no network expressed interest, resulting in the cancellation of New Warriors in 2019 before it had a chance to premiere on air.

Fans were thrilled at the prospect of Vayntrub playing the eternally optimistic character, Doreen. However, it was disappointing to learn that her Squirrel Girl series wouldn’t even have a single season run. The cancellation of Vayntrub as Squirrel Girl ranks high among the most frequent fan laments, similar to Edgar Wright leaving Ant-Man or Colin Trevorrow not directing Star Wars Episode IX.

The Unbeatable Milana Vayntrub

Despite not getting the chance to portray Squirrel Girl in live-action, Vayntrub lent her voice to the character across various platforms before ‘Rivals’. She’s appeared as Doreen in the animated series ‘Marvel Rising’, and also voiced her in a podcast called ‘Marvel’s Squirrel Girl: The Unbeatable Radio Show’.

Without a doubt, Marvel Rivals will be the most prominent stage for Squirrel Girl to date, and many fans eagerly anticipate that this could lead to an increase in Squirrel Girl’s fanbase – potentially resulting in a Squirrel Girl series or even a live-action portrayal. Given the buzz surrounding a potential second season of Ms. Marvel, Doreen Green might be an ideal secondary character to join the Young Avengers. Marvel could leverage this opportunity without needing to reintroduce her since Marvel Rivals is expected to attract a global audience.

More Obscure Characters in Rivals

Currently, fans are thrilled by the prospect of enigmatic characters joining the cast of Rivals. Apart from Squirrel Girl, there’s a lot of anticipation for upcoming reveals featuring modern-day champions such as Gwenpool and Ms. Marvel. It’s quite surprising that Squirrel Girl was included in the roster before more renowned figures like Captain Marvel, Luke Cage, or Deadpool.

There’s no question that NetEase will take full advantage of their Marvel IP. Given the franchise’s lack of success in the video game market for quite some time, _Marvel Rivals_ is certainly a welcome addition for gamers who are also Marvel enthusiasts. After all, it’s not just Spider-Man who can be an entertaining video game character!

On December 6th, when Marvel Rivals officially releases for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms, Squirrel Girl will make her debut in the game.

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2024-12-05 04:15