SPOILER ALERT: This story contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
As Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness continues to dominate the box office this weekend, writer Michael Waldron has explained a little more about the thought process that went into creating the Earth-838 version of the Illuminati and how they differ from the MCU’s Avengers. While Marvel’s new phase has mainly ignored the Avengers following the events of Endgame, instead concentrating on introducing the multiverse and a new slew of heroes, Multiverse of Madness delivered a new group of superheroes who seem to have taken over the Avengers’ role in an alternative universe.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
In Doctor Strange’s new adventure, the former Sorcerer Supreme finds himself thrown headfirst into the multiverse, thanks to the arrival of America Chavez, a multiverse traveling new addition to the MCU who is being hunted down by Wanda Maximoff as she attempts to steal America’s powers in order to be reunited with her children in another reality. In escaping Wanda, Strange and America find themselves in the Utopia reality of Earth-838, where Thanos was defeated without the Blip ever occurring and a secret group of heroes watch over everything, including the multiverse. That group is the Illuminati, consisting of Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Captain Carter (Hayley Atwell), Maria Rambeau/Captain Marvel (Lashana Lynch), Black Bolt (Anson Mount), Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), and Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic (John Krasinski). Speaking to Inverse, Michael Waldron explained how the Illuminati has one main difference from the Avengers. He said:
“The Avengers have a line they wouldn’t cross. The Illuminati is there to do the things the Avengers can’t. To make the hard decisions. That’s why they operate in the shadows and hope they never have to meet. They’re willing to play in the gray.”
The Illuminati Were Wasted, According to Some Fans
Marvel Comics
Everyone has different opinions regarding the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s handling of certain characters and groups. While this is usually primarily positive, the introduction of the Illuminati has left some feeling that the group was a wasted opportunity in Multiverse of Madness. The main reason for this is that barely fifteen minutes after being introduced, everyone other than Mordo had been quickly dispatched by Scarlet Witch despite being hailed as an all-powerful group of heroes.
However, this is not the Illuminati of the MCU timeline but instead an alternative reality iteration. As well as changes such as Captain Carter existing in that universe instead of Captain America and Maria Rambeau having become Captain Marvel, the world in which they inhabit has clearly had a smooth and mostly untroubled rub of the cloth since the defeat of Thanos, and that has led to them becoming arrogant in their belief that Scarlet Witch doesn’t pose much of a threat to them. For that reason, their disposal shouldn’t come as much of a shock.
If we see the Illuminati again in another form, it will likely be a much different group. That, however, is the biggest tool the multiverse brings to Marvel’s future. As long as there is a doorway to the multiverse swinging open, there are plenty of ways for the writers and directors to play with certain characters without having to stick precisely to the rulebook. While we will see Reed Richards and Professor X again somewhere down the line, how they will differ from the versions seen in Multiverse of Madness is something we can only wait to find out.
