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The latest MCU film starring the superhero trio of Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and Ms. Marvel experienced a lackluster start at the box office, recording the lowest opening weekend in the franchise. Including many aspects of the film, criticism has now also been directed at the movie’s antagonist, Zawe Ashton’ Dar-Benn, a Kree warrior trying to restore her homeland.
However, her likeness to Ronan the Accuser fromGuardians of the Galaxy,among many other things, has sparked an online debate among fans, with many criticizing the character for the same.
Read More:“I just had chills rolling down my spine”: Tom Hiddleston’s Fiancé Zawe Ashton Left Everyone on The Marvels Set Speechless With One Moving Scene
Zawe Ashton’sThe MarvelsCharacter Panned Amidst MCU Debut
Making her MCU debut withThe Marvels,Zawe Ashtonhas become one of the focal points of the movie’s criticism. The actress portrays the role of Dar-Benn, a Kree warrior who is trying to restore her home after Carol Danvers destroyed the Supreme Intelligence.
However, several aspects, including her likeness to Ronan the Accuser, have resulted in mass insults for Ashton’s character. Fans took to Twitter to share the same, as one user said,“She wants to be Ronan so bad.”The criticism doesn’t end here as others argued that she could be the“Worst MCU Villain”so far.
Shes just there
— Bobby (@BjornLodbrok_)July 07, 2025
She wants to be Ronan so bad 😭pic.twitter.com/8HmSZrVeoU
— Mando (Spider-Man Era) (@TheMando178)August 05, 2025
I watched The Marvels last night. I didn’t think it was that bad. The editing was a little weird, the villain was kinda lame, (no disrespect to Zawe Ashton) but I did like Brie, Teyonah and Iman together. I thought their scenes were fun with the switching. I laughed a few times.pic.twitter.com/7pCqiwvjut
— Adam Chaney (@TheAdamChaney)June 21, 2025
Zawe Ashton has a thankless job playing undercooked villain Dar-Benn in THE MARVELS but she did a great job given the limited opportunities the script provided.pic.twitter.com/lmpfrxtTDm
— David Walton (@BenReilly149)June 01, 2025
#TheMarvelswas a fun time! I went in with middle level expectations. I enjoyed a good chunk of it. A few scenes fell short and the villain fell flat, tho well done by Zawe Ashton with what she had. The trio had great chemistry. Kamala/Iman STOLE every scene. She is the future!!!pic.twitter.com/swVKQtr4y2
— Nat🍂🍁 (@nattheawknerd)August 04, 2025
The villain, as seems to be par of the course with Marvel mostly, was really disappointing & just incredibly bland which seemed such a shame of Zawe Ashton’s talents. Took a lot of listening to understand what her motive was.
— Elliott Thompson (@Ell_Thompson)August 15, 2025
Fans also pointed out how having such a bland character has been a waste of having a talented actress like Zawe Ashton, as they praised her performance, noting that her commendable performance couldn’t compensate for the lack of depth in her character.
Read More:“This is a game changer”: Return of a Powerful MCU Villain Confirmed in Brie Larson’s The Marvels
Zawe Ashton’sThe MarvelsVillain Does Not Resonate With the Audience
StarringBrie Larson,Iman Vellani, andTeyonah Parris,The Marvelspremiered in theaters last week to a disappointing box office reception. Along with its lackluster box office performance, the movie has also received criticism for several aspects.
Critics stated that the sequel did not live up to expectations. One notable point of criticism has been the movie’s villain Dar-Benn, portrayed by Zawe Ashton. Many stated that the character was quite weak to be the lead antagonist of the film.
Despite her pivotal role in seeking revenge and wanting to restore her homeland following Captain Marvel’s attack on the Kree Supreme Intelligence AI, the movie barely delves into Dar-Benn’s struggles or backstory. The criticism extends to the abrupt character arc is also stated to be the reason for the criticism surrounding the character.
From a revenge-driven Kree warrior attempting to revive Hala, she undergoes a sudden transformation, leading to her self-destruction at the movie’s conclusion. The quick shift and a potential end to her story, leave room for the audience to establish a deeper connection with Dar-Benn.
The Marvelsis playing in theatres.
Read More:MCU’s Future Heavily Depends on Tom Hiddleston and His Partner Zawe Ashton as Fans Await For Loki Season 2 Finale and The Marvels
Laxmi Rajput
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3450
Laxmi Rajput is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, with over 3,300 articles published covering film, TV, and pop culture. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism and over three years of experience in content writing, she pivoted to entertainment journalism because let’s be honest, superheroes, sitcoms, and Netflix binges are way more fun. Laxmi frequently covers Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and popular TV shows, offering both fan-first enthusiasm and thoughtful analysis. Her work often dives into Marvel theories, revisits the genius of The Big Bang Theory, or unpacks the Netflix phenomenon of Stranger Things.
