Marvel has potentially cast a major star as "new" MCU villain

Glistening from her latest step-and-repeat at the 2024 Fashion Awards inside London's prestigious Royal Albert Hall, Rita Ora may have made headlines for a completely different reason. According to UK tabloid The Sun, Ora was enjoying casual conversation when something other than fashion talk was overheard.

“A friend of mine was rubbing shoulders with the singer at the British Fashion Awards when they overheard Rita chatting about her new role,” the article reads. “They told me: ‘Rita was dressed like a baddie from a Marvel film, and when someone commented on it, she let slip she has a part in a new Marvel film. She confirmed she had landed the role of someone evil and that she was super excited about getting stuck into it.’”

The potential reveal has definitely caught some fans off-guard, as no Marvel Cinematic Universe outing has yet to confirm Ora as part of its cast. But is it only a matter of time until that announcement is made, and for which project could she be a part of?

Rita Ora potentially playing a Marvel villain

Although this headline may catch many off-guard, it should not be terribly surprising. Rita Ora came into this world singing, making records, getting famous, and now judging other people singing, making records, getting... well, you get it. From 2004 to 2015, she was featured in many music videos but also some uncredited luxury roles. For example, in Fast and Furious 6, there was an anonymous "race caller." That was her.

Then, the soft-core adaptation of 50 Shades of Grey arrived, much to the chagrin of husbands in marriages over 20 years. Our lovestruck and fetish-ridden hero, Christian Grey, had a sister named Mia. And playing Mia was Rita Ora. This was her true Hollywood wake-up role.

People took notice, and some countries' reality shows like X Factor and The Voice asked her to be a judge. During that time in 2019, she was Dr. Ann Laurent in Pokemon: Detective Pikachu. That, and her TV scrutinizing regalia, led to 2022 when she was the voice of "Wandering Blade" of Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight. Most recently, her acting chops landed her on the Disney hit Descendants: The Rise of Red as the diabolical Queen of Hearts.

She has since signed on with Henry Cavill, Daniel Quinn-Toye, John Kim, and Sterling K. Brown with the live-action surprise Voltron.

Ora also has something of a connection to the Marvel Cinematic Universe already. She is married to Taika Waititi, director of the celebrated Thor: Ragnarok and the beleaguered Thor: Love and Thunder.

That leads your favorite comic sleuths at Bam Smack Pow to this...

What in the Waititi is Rita Ora doing with Marvel?

Rumors are not usually reliable. When they appear in a tabloid, they may be suspicious but are usually thought of twice. Yet, Waititi's connection may reassure fans that this Marvel rumor about Rita Ora could be authentic.

Disney, the parent company of Star Wars and Marvel (among other things), enjoys the mercurial wit and acquired taste of Taika Waititi. Despite how the fourth Thor movie imploded, he is still attached to roles and directing positions like Lightyear, Next Goal Wins, Free Guy, and The Mandalorian. Although he is the director behind Love and Thunder or Super City, Taika Waititi is also the genius behind Flight of the Conchords, What We Do in the Shadows, and his Oscar-winning Jojo Rabbit.

Even George Lucas had the prequel Trilogy, The Coen Brothers wrote The Ladykillers, Steven Spielberg did Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and James Cameron helmed Piranha II: The Spawning. No one bats 1.000 in Hollywood.

That said, Waititi's star is still bright within the Disney family. He is set to direct Tower of Terror for the theme park owner and an "indefinite hold" untitled and unheard Star Wars film for Lucasfilm. They like him and appreciate his work and wit. Suffice it to say, the authorities at Disney like his taste in a spouse, too.

As to what Rita Ora may get her spandex suited for, who knows. The slate looks interesting in 2025.

• Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Disney+) - January 29
• Captain America: Brave New World (Marvel Studios) - February 14
• Daredevil: Born Again (Marvel Television) - March 4
• Thunderbolts* (Marvel Studios) - May 2
• Ironheart (Marvel Television) - June 24

And that's just the end of Phase Five. Of course, Phase Six (still part of the uncertain Multiverse Saga) kicks off on July 25, 2025, with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. From there, we're looking
Avengers: Doomsday, Spider-Man 4, Avengers: Secret Wars, and Blade, while anticipated television series include Eyes of Wakanda, Marvel Zombies, Wonder Man, and the Vision series.

Could Rita Ora have a role in one of those projects, or are she and Marvel collaborating on something that has yet to be announced.

Editor's Note: As long as Taylor Swift isn't asked to become Dazzler or Blonde Phantom in the MCU, Marvel can poach those singing reality shows all day.