Jude Law joins Captain Marvel as mentor to Brie Larson's superhero

Jude Law is set to take a leading role in upcoming Marvel Studios blockbuster Captain Marvel, opposite Oscar-winner Brie Larson. Law is reportedly in talks to play Walter Lawson, a doctor who helps Brie Larson's Carol Danvers figure out her newfound super powers.

The character is known to comic book fans by another name: Mar-Vell, the original Captain Marvel. He held the mantle from his debut in 1967 until 2012, when Danvers took up the title.

There's a chance then that we may see the British star suit up as Marvel's Silver Age hero.

News of the ongoing negotiations was broken by Variety. If true, Law will join Larson, Ben Mendelsohn as the film's villain and Samuel L Jackson, who is expected, but not confirmed, to reprise his role as Nick Fury.

Set for release in 2019, Captain Marvel will be directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Half Nelson, It's Kind of a Funny Story), from a script by Meg LeFauve, Nicole Perlman and Geneva Robertson-Dworet.

Earlier this year Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige revealed at San Diego Comic Con that the film will be set in the 1990s, long-before the Avengers assembled, and that it will introduce villainous, shape-shifting alien race the Skrulls to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Captain Marvel's release falls between next year's Avengers: Infinity War and its untitled follow-up in May 2019. In both films all corners of the MCU will unite to face off against Josh Brolin's Thanos.

Larson is set to appear in latter film, which will take place more than 20 years after her solo movie origin story.

Captain Marvel will mark Law's second foray into a major blockbuster in as many years. In 2018 he's set to play a Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter prequel Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

Law's look as the iconic wizard was revealed last week in a cast photo released alongside the announcement of the film's title.

Captain Marvel is set to be released in March 2019.