Brie Larson Circling 'Captain Marvel' Superhero Movie

Brie Larson, who won the best actress Oscar for her work in Room, is the favorite to star in Marvel Studio's Captain Marvel, the company's first film to star a female superhero.

The movie doesn’t have a director yet but does have a script by Nicole Perlman, who co-wrote Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy, and Meg LeFauve, who co-wrote Pixar's Inside Out.

Marvel has been on the hunt for a female filmmaker to helm this most female-centric of their properties, with names like Niki Caro (Whale Rider, McFarland, USA) and Jennifer Kent (The Babadook) surfacing as contenders, according to sources.

It is unclear where talks stand with Larson, but sources say she has emerged as the choice for the part. One source says negotiations may be underway.

Marvel is the hero name of Carol Danvers, an Air Force pilot whose DNA is fused with that of an alien during an accident. The resulting alteration imbues her with the super powers of strength, energy projection and flight.

The character was an Avenger and in recent years has had her own comic book that has garnered acclaim.

Larson seems to be balancing tentpoles with dramatic turns. The actress next will be seen in Legendary’s monster movie Kong: Skull Island, which she recently wrapped, and she also is reuniting with her Short Term 12 director Destin Daniel Cretton for the drama The Glass Castle, which shoots this summer.