'Ms. Marvel' star Iman Vellani set for new climate thriller by Zarrar Kahn

Iman Vellani, who first rose to prominence as the lead of Marvel's Ms. Marvel, is set to headline Suffering Is Optional, a climate thriller produced as a Canadian co-production. The film has been written and will be directed by Zarrar Kahn for CityLights Media.

The role and its storyline

Vellani will portray Noor Rahman, a 20-year-old drama student who lands the lead role in an India-set stage adaptation of Hamlet. Under pressure from a demanding director to channel her personal grief into the performance, she simultaneously finds herself visited by the ghost of her deceased partner — a figure who arrives bearing an ominous climate prophecy.

Caught between her artistic aspirations and the abuse of institutional power, she must navigate both forces at once. The film examines themes of power, coming of age, and moral corruption, with campus culture wars and climate grief positioned at its centre.

Director's background and script development

Kahn made his feature debut with In Flames, which had its world premiere at Cannes in 2023 and was subsequently chosen as Pakistan's official submission for the Academy Awards. He developed the script for Suffering Is Optional, drawing on firsthand testimonies from individuals who had lived through climate disasters.

Production details and financing

Principal photography is scheduled to commence in early 2027, with filming set to take place in Hamilton and Montreal. The project has received financing from Telefilm Canada and is a co-production involving CityLights Media, LBG Films, Other Memory Media, and Couronne Nord.

The film is produced by Lindsay Blair Goeldner (I Like Movies), Anam Abbas (In Flames), and Julie Groleau (The Decline). Executive producers are Karen Harnisch (Infinity Pool) and Kaleem Aftab (Memory of Princess Mumbi).

Vellani's other screen credits

Beyond her breakthrough role in Ms. Marvel, Vellani's screen credits include The Marvels, Animal Farm, and Tales From Woodcreek.