Gemma Chan has famously played a rebel android in Humans, and now she'll transform into an alien scientist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The British actress will be joining the cast of the forthcoming Captain Marvel to play Marvel Comics character Doctor Minerva, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Doctor Minerva is a geneticist of the Kree race of hostile aliens and a frequent nemesis of Carol Danvers's (Brie Larson) mentor Mar-Vell, played in the upcoming movie by Jude Law.

Marvel Comics

(Doctor Minerva)

The involvement of a key figure from the Kree is intriguing because Marvel has already announced that the movie will also introduce the Kree's shape-shifting arch-enemies, the Skrulls. Carol herself also has Kree DNA.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story's Ben Mendelsohn has previously been tipped to be playing the leader of the Skrulls when he signed up for the film last year.

Newcomer Gemma Chan is probably best known for playing the synthetic android Mia in Channel 4's Humans, and has also popped up in Sherlock, Doctor Who, Bedlam and Shetland over the last few years.

Colin Hutton/Kudos/Channel 4

The 35-year-old has previous experience playing intergalactic baddies, having brainwashed Optimus Prime to destroy earth as Quintessa in Transformers: The Last Knight. Her feature film credits also include Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.

Brie Larson will make history in Marvel's first female-led superhero movie when Captain Marvel hits cinemas on March 8, 2019 in the UK and the US.

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