During the course of its storyline spanning more than a decade, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has included a large number of active organizations. The Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, also known simply as “The Avengers,” is the first group that comes to mind. Then there were organizations like as SHIELD and SWORD, and even AIM at one point. Fans can now add one more character to the list, and it’s all thanks to Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel series that’s airing on Disney+.
Caution: the remaining content of this page may reveal plot details from Ms. Marvel Season 4 Episode 4.
In the fourth episode of Kamala Khan’s quest, she traveled to Karachi in an effort to get more information about the new bangle she had purchased. When the young hero finally arrives at the location, he is confronted by an altogether new order of guardians known as the Red Daggers.
The organization, which has been existing for centuries and has been assisting Pakistan in defending itself against outside aggressors and being directed by a guy named Waleed, To be more precise, they have been charged with guarding the bangle itself from the Clandestines, who are attempting to prevent the gang from tearing the curtain that separates realms.
The actor who portrays Waleed agreed to a sit-down interview with The Direct in which they discussed his character as well as the mystery new organization.
Farhan Akhtar Talks Red Daggers & Avengers Crossovers
Ms. Marvel actor Farhan Akhtar, who plays Waleed in the new series, opened up about his character’s debut in Episode 4, the organization he leads, and what they might think about the Avengers in an exclusive interview with The Direct’s Russ Milheim. Akhtar plays Waleed in the new series of Ms. Marvel.
The name of this shadowy new organization, which is being commanded by a figure played by Akhtar, is the Red Daggers. From what I can gather, they defend Karachi against all kinds of dangers, most notably those coming from other dimensions, such as the Clandestines.
What exactly differentiates them from, for example, the Sanctum Sanctorum and the many sorcerers that work there? The identity of the individual behind Waleed has been revealed, and he claims that the goal of the Red Dagger is somewhat less obscure, as well as significantly more explicit and personal in relation to Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan:
“Well, I mean, if I recall very vividly… I suppose the answer that was given in Doctor Strange was a lot more obscure… I believe that Waleed is a little bit more clear in his explanation to Kamala of what it is that she needs to be doing, you know, and what it is that her purpose is, and what it is that the bangle can potentially do if it is taken over by the Clandestines. I think this is because Waleed is a little bit more familiar with Kamala’s situation. Therefore, I simply want to say that, in my opinion, this maybe has a little bit more clarity…
He proceeded by making it very obvious that their “goal is defending the bangle at all costs,” and he added that if they have any other intentions, “time and excellent writing will tell:”
“Well, as far as I can tell, their mission is to safeguard the bangle in any way possible. That is the more important goal that they have. Because they do not wish for the Clandestines to be let loose on Earth, in the actual world. Therefore, this serves as one of the purposes, and it is the one that stands out to us the most. Exist any other applications for them? I suppose that only time and well-written books will tell.”
But where were they when Thanos eradicated half of all life in the universe? Akhtar made a joke about how “[they were] honing [their] swords” and how they were casually waiting to join in on the fun if they failed, which, in the end, they both did and did not.
Along with making their debut, the Red Daggers also showed off their impressive headquarters, and it was clear that they put a lot of effort into making it seem good. The actor said that “it was created from the ground up,” and he also stated that “every single crew member wanted to [check out the hidden door in the kitchen]:”
“We started from scratch and worked our way up. A soundstage was where it took place. And just so you know, the whole thing is just gorgeous, but the whole kitchenette area in particular is the type of thing that makes you want to push in and move in. Every single member of the team expressed interest in giving that a try.
Waleed Red Dagger Ms. Marvel
It should come as no surprise that Waleed’s squad is not the only one keeping an eye on Earth. So then, what are their thoughts on some of those other teams, like the Avengers, for example? It has come to light that Waleed is interested in a crossover.
It was a joke from Akhtar that “if anything, Waleed wants to be a part of the Avengers,” and he made it plain how he does not feel that the Avengers look down on Earth’s Mightiest Heroes at all:
“No, I don’t… I don’t believe any of us hold a contemptuous view of the Avengers. If there is one thing that Waleed wants more than anything else, it is to be a member of the Avengers. I believe it is the point at which he is thinking, “I’ve been doing this for such a long time; why aren’t they recognizing me?”
He went on to state that he believes Waleed most admires Thor, especially considering that he made a reference to the God of Thunder during one of his speeches to Kamala:
If I had to choose one, I’d say Thor. In addition to that, he makes a reference to him in the episode… I mean, ordinarily, when you speak about someone, when you pick an example and speak about someone, it’s usually about someone who you look up to and like.
How long has this squad of bodyguards been operating out of their base in Karachi? The actor claimed that they “weren’t given like any official number[s],” but that it has undoubtedly been “a couple of hundred years:”
“No, we weren’t given any official number as such, but I mean, as far as the history that they constructed, I mean, he even did go back a few of hundred years,” she said. “No, we weren’t given any official number as such.” I guess what I’m trying to say is that not all of the happenings during that time period were recounted in great detail. But I mean, that truly was the history because I mean, the history of, of India and Pakistan, the Partition played a tremendous role in his life. I mean, that really was the history. All of the information was available in the history…
The majority of Ms. Marvel was shot while the epidemic was at its peak, particularly all of the sequences that were shot outside of the United States. So, how exactly did you feel when you were going through that?
Akhtar provided the following explanation, stating that “it had become the new normal, thus it didn’t feel unusual [at the time]:”
“You know, strangely enough, I mean, like they claimed it had become the new normal, so it didn’t seem odd at all,” she added. “You know, curiously enough, I mean, like they said it had become the new normal.” You know, at that period, I mean, I believe that today, when things have returned to the previous normal, you know, if you were suddenly asked to do that, again, you moan a lot more. You know what I mean? However, there wasn’t much of a choice available, and the fact that you were still able to work was already a huge plus. It was a pretty novel experience to have to be isolated in your hotel room for fourteen days before being allowed to leave the room in order to interact with other people. Yeah, but you know, but it teaches you things you know, I mean, if nothing else, you just learnt that [people] take so many things for granted. Yeah, but you know, but it teaches you things you know. It’s possible that everything will suddenly vanish like that.
In the early part of this year, the program also underwent a sizeable number of reshoots. Has any of Waleed’s content been modified in any way? “What [audiences] see in the [fourth] episode was done pretty much in the first [batch of filming]:” This is what the actor says the audience will see in the episode.
“No, there was… a little bit of… there were some pickups that were done a little bit later,” she said. “There was a little bit of… there was a little bit of…” However, the majority of what you see in the episode was completed during the very first [round of filming].”
The Motivating Force Behind the Avenger
Within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there is room for more investigation into the concept of various community organizations and supergroups. The Red Guardian was Black Widow’s signature weapon, and now Ms. Marvel has given us the Red Daggers (they seem to like the color red).
Even more intriguing is the way in which the gang appears to have been influenced by the Avengers. It is not unexpected per se, but many times these organizations carry at least a slight degree of animosity towards the more popular groups; yet, the Red Daggers appear to be very secure in both themselves and the reason for which they exist.
The fact that Akhtar thinks Waleed wants to join Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is a clue that may point to where the character will go in the end. Although it appeared like Waleed had passed away in the episode, there is always the possibility that the death was a ruse on the part of the show’s producers. In a future Marvel Cinematic Universe crossover, Akhtar’s character may make a comeback and finally receive some attention from the Avengers that he richly deserves. It seems as though Waleed would be an excellent companion for Thor to have on his next journey across space, given the information that has been provided.
Even though it appears that Waleed has passed away, his organization will continue on. If it were up to Shareem Obaid-Chinoy, the director of Ms. Marvel, they would move on to participate in future events in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) sooner rather than later. Although it may appear that the organization is just concerned with the Clandestines, there is definitely a lot of opportunity to investigate their more general aim.
