For Xochitl Gomez, America Chavez is a star-making role literally.
“In this movie, there’s a lot of heavy stuff going on.
You have to remember that you are a kid.
Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’.Jay Maidment/Marvel Studios
You’re allowed to make mistakes, and we’re all learning.”
Then, months later, Marvel invited her to audition again.
“She has a little bit of a flippant quality to her, which I really like.
Xochitl Gomez at the Hollywood premiere of ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’.Jon Kopaloff/WireImage
She’s got a lot of spirit.”
“Michael Waldron got to write her a new introduction.
It was kind of fun taking the version from the comics and making her younger and less experienced.”
“You always see it,” she adds.
“I really like that.
It just shows how much Marvel is devoted to growing their diversity.”
“She did give me great advice,” Gomez recalls.
At first, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, really?
I don’t know, okay.’
But I did take her advice, and it was really rewarding.
Sam would be like, ‘Let’s do it!'"
That’s what was so great about Sam.
If it doesn’t work, at least we shot it.
We gave it a chance.’
That was really positive for a 13-year-old girl to hear."
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessis in theaters May 6.
