by Diamond White, the star of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, talked with The Direct about who she would like to play the role in the MCU and what she thought about the second season of her popular animated series.
The idea behind Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is absurd: a 13-year-old with one of the highest IQs on Earth and a pet T-Rex who, according to the comics, can alter forms.
What many believed to be impossible, Marvel’s brilliantly animated series accomplished by making the character approachable, sympathetic, and very endearing.
Diamond White Discusses Moon Girl in Detail
Star of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Diamond White, who also voices Lunella Lafayette, talked about the character’s possibilities in the MCU, Season 2, and potential crossovers in an exclusive conversation with Russ Milheim of The Direct.
Moon Girl is currently a character that the MCU has never dealt with or even mentioned. However, the 25-year-old White fervently “hope[s] it’s [her]” who can bring the role to life in live action when that day comes:
“I mean, I hope it’s me. That would be cool. I mean, I would have to grow my hair out a little bit. But, um, I hope it’s me. I mean, I know I’m a little bit older, but hey, we can [make it work].”
Apart from Lunella, the actress said she would “be grateful for any” job that Marvel Studios may eventually offer:
“Honestly, I’d be grateful for any of them. Because, like, I, I started off acting as a way to kind of, you know, help my family and things. And I’m just grateful for whatever I’m blessed with. I’m not a picky person. I’m just excited to be seen. That’s all.”
Despite not having been in the MCU herself, White collaborated with Laurence Fishburne, a well-known figure from the vast world who portrayed Bill Foster in the films Ant-Man and the Wasp and What If? The actor provides the voices of Bill Foster and the cosmic figure The Beyonder in Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.
White acknowledged that “working with Lawrence has been cool,” noting that “he’s an icon:”
“Working with Lawrence has been cool. He’s such a nerd when it comes to the comic book stuff. And he loves the comic book stuff. I remember at one Comic-Con, he had his daughter going around the convention, picking up all the little comic books that he wanted from different shows. But he’s insane to work with. Just by him being Laurence Fishburne. I mean, he’s an icon.”
As the program progresses, the actress says she truly “enjoy[ed] witnessing [Lunella and The Beyonder’s relationship show]:
“But it’s been an incredible [experience]… I enjoy watching [Lunella and The Beyonder’s] relationship grow because it’s started off a bit rocky, and now they’re becoming friends in a way. But working with Lawrence is really cool. He geeks out on the comic books. You can tell he’s really passionate about the show.”
According to White, the well-known actor once told her a remark that resonated with her: “If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.”
“And he said one thing to me, like, ‘If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.’ And that’s what Moon Girl kind of represents… One girl can make a difference. Just the diversity in the show is amazing to see. So I’m happy that it’s getting a good response.”
It’s important to note that Diamond White didn’t just collaborate with Fishburne on the program; in Season 1, she also had some time with Cobie Smulders’ Maria Hill.
Although Moon Girl isn’t a member of the MCU, the show likewise stays away from including a lot of well-known characters. However, White firmly stated that she would “want to see Spider-Man” and maybe even “Miles Morales” if the program were to have some bigger names:
“I want to see Spider-Man. I’m a big Spider-Man fan. Big Miles Morales fan as well. I would love to see that collab happen.”
In response to the question of which superheroes Lunella could find difficult to get along with, White paused to consider her response before writing, “[doesn’t] think there would be:”
“I mean, I don’t think there would be one because she started off on bad terms with The Beyonder, and they got to a place of understanding. So, if she can conquer The Beyonder relationship, I feel like she can do anything. And she can. I believe that she can.”
Although White isn’t currently collaborating with other superheroes, she did discuss her in-person recording session with co-stars Libe Barer and Alfre Woodard, which isn’t as often as it ought to be:
“I’ve gotten to record with Libe [Barer], who plays Casey in the show. She’s in New York. I’m in LA. We’ll go over Zoom and record. And I also got to record with Alfre Woodard, and that was incredible. She walked in, ever so calmly, got her bearings, and was like, ‘Alright, you ready to play?’ And we just bounced off of each other. It was really fun.”
The Direct made care to ask Diamond White what she believes to be the most distinctive aspect of these new episodes because Season 2 is almost approaching.
The actor paused to explain that this time, “Lunella, aka Moon Girl, is really falling into being a superhero” and that “she really starts to believe that one girl can make a difference:”
The most unique element of season two… I think it’s the way that Lunella, aka Moon Girl, is really falling into being a superhero. She was sort of wobbling a little in season one. She didn’t really know like, ‘Okay, should I do the superhero thing? Like if it’s not me, then who?’ I think she really starts to believe that one girl can make a difference. And it shows. I also really liked the relationship she’s building with The Beyonder. That’s also one of my favorite aspects of Season 2.
The PTSD Lunella is experiencing as a result of surviving her trauma following the Season 1 finale is one of the primary plotlines that will be introduced in Season 2 of the animated series.
“Mental health” is “something that I’m very passionate about,” White opened up, “so it was cool to see Moon Girl go through” those struggles:
“Well, when it comes to mental health, that’s something that I’m very passionate about. So it was cool to see Moon Girl go through things like the anxieties as well, as she’s still 13. It’s like, she’s an impulsive, you know, kid. She really is a kid. But I think that mental health is something that everybody deals with and goes through, and I’m just excited to open up the conversation about it.”
The fact that Moon Girl has a gigantic, crimson pet T-Rex is among her most distinctive character traits. But why is Devil Dinosaur the ideal companion for a 13-year-old exceptionally smart kid?
In her opinion, “it’s their common understanding of each other,” White said.
“I think that it’s their common understanding of each other. Like Lunella takes the time to learn his language and really, like, understand him. Because Hehe is the muscle behind her, you know, like, imagine seeing, you know, a 13-year-old girl and then—BAM, there’s a dinosaur right behind her.”
“What makes the two a dynamic duo for the ages,” continued White, “is their friendship” and “their love for one another”:
“I think that it’s their friendship. It’s their love for one another and knowing that, like, all they have is each other. That’s like a common theme in the show is love and, family and friendship. And you get that between, you know, Lunella’s family and her relationship with Devil and Casey.”
Regarding the duration of her commitment to the program, White declared with the assurance that she is “trying to do this show until the wheels fall off:”
“Oh, you know, I’m always hoping for—I’m trying to do this show until the wheels fall off. I adore this show. I think that it’s so important just to see the diversity in the representation finally on, you know, in a cartoon-like this. I’m hoping for a Season 3, we don’t know.”
White provided the following arguments for why viewers should give Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur a try in case they haven’t already:
‘I would say if you want a show that’s about love, family friendship, that is exciting, that is colorful, that has great music. You can turn it on for your kids. You can watch it alone. There’s no real age range. You can see yourself represented in a show like this. And it’s just all around a great show. And if that doesn’t tell you enough, we already got nominated for eight Emmys, and we took home five, so.”
How Would Moon Girl Be Adapted in the MCU?
Ironically, the animated Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur series has already avoided the character’s Inhuman ancestry, which is something the MCU would likely want to accomplish with her.
They may also turn Kamala Khan into a mutant, much like they did with Iman Vellani’s character.
Though many may believe the figure is too extravagant for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, keep in mind that talking trees and raccoons are among the most well-known characters in the franchise, so everything is truly conceivable. It’s nothing to throw a T-Rex into the mix.
Additionally, the character could be a lock for any upcoming Multiverse antics. If Battleworld—a patchwork universe composed of several realities—becomes a reality for Avengers: Secret Wars, the MCU could be able to casually and quickly introduce Devil Dinosaur and Lunella Lafayette.
If nothing else, it’s entertaining to think of the cartoon series MCU as complementary, as the makers have done. It functions nearly too flawlessly.
The actors recently got together to commemorate the character at a roller skating event in Atlanta, GA, ahead of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur’s comeback.
Stars Libe Barer and Diamond White even had the opportunity to meet Lunella LaFayette in person!
On February 2, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Season 2 will debut on Disney+.
What is Lunella’s PTSD?
It’s the kind of situation where Lunella’s persona is taking shape. She encounters a foe early in the season who she is unable to vanquish with her superpower—her brain—and as a result of that event, she suffers PTSD. Therefore, we most likely wouldn’t have addressed that in Season 1.
Which Marvel Moon Girl is the most intelligent?
Not only is Lunella Lafayette the brightest person alive, but the nine-year-old prodigy has a large red dinosaur for a close friend and ally whom she can mind-meld with.
Could Moon Girl get a third season?
Producers Steve Loter and Rodney Clouden of Disney’s animated series Devil Dinosaur and Moon Girl have disclosed that should the program be renewed, they intend to make a third season. This series, which is based on the Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur characters from Marvel Comics, is unexpectedly well-liked by both critics and fans.
Can Moon Girl outsmart Tony?
The fact that Amadeus Cho calls her the “smartest person in the whole world” suggests that she is smarter than all the other geniuses in the Marvel Universe combined, including Reed and Valeria Richards, Bruce Banner, Tony Stark, Hank Pym, Victor Von Doom, and Cho himself.
