Marvel Studios recently let the cat out of the bag about the introduction of the Illuminati in its upcoming blockbuster, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
The secret society of Marvel characters were teased to be making an appearance in the upcoming sequel, ever since the movie received its first teaser trailer. While the trailers showcased one of its members in Sir Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier earlier this year, the most recent TV spot gave fans an opportunity to hear about the Illuminati’s arrival in the Doctor Strange sequel.
But, what is the Illuminati, and how are they going to be a part of the MCU?
The Illuminati was introduced in Marvel comics following the Kree-Skrull war, during the Sentry arc in New Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis. The group was formed following Iron Man’s plans to create a new team of superheroes that overlook any threats that might come their way. While a full-blown team never materialized, the group decided to meet every now and then in secrecy to discuss and exchange information.
In the comics, the group consisted of members like Iron Man, Charles Xavier, Black Panther, Reed Richards, Namor, Black Bolt and Doctor Strange. As of right now, the only confirmed member that will make an appearance in the movie is Charles Xavier, who will be played by a returning Sir Patrick Stewart. Other characters such as variant versions of Iron Man and Doctor Strange are currently massive rumors, that’s been circulating on the Internet.
The Illuminati will have major implications on the MCU, as the group will bridge the gap between the Marvel universe and other iconic comic book properties that haven’t been introduced. With the presence of Reed Richards and Charles Xavier, it wouldn’t be long before the MCU get their own versions of the Fantastic Four and Mutants, respectively. Moreover, Namor is rumored to be making an antagonistic turn later this year for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
With these cameos, it’s very likely that Marvel Studios will open doors that have never been opened before, which further allows them to develop projects under the umbrella of X-Men, Fantastic Four, Inhumans and many more, and this is why fans are quite excited on what the group has to offer, when Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness releases next month.
