The Marvel Cinematic Universe has an epic opportunity to introduce a version of the Illuminati far more powerful than Earth-838’s.
Avengers: Secret Wars has the opportunity to introduce a far better version of the Illuminati than the one seen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Marvel’s clandestine council of its cleverest characters made their live-action debut as a part of Earth-838, but received rather mixed reactions in their first appearance. Thankfully, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has yet to unveil its main version of the Illuminati on Earth-616, though such an event seems likely to take place before the end of the Multiverse Saga. In fact, Secret Wars offers the best method for Marvel to create an effective Illuminati that can exist for years to come.
The Illuminati’s MCU return is inevitable, especially given the group’s extreme importance in certain recent comic book events. The group of superhuman geniuses was first created by Tony Stark in Marvel Comics as a way to prepare for calamity before it happened in hopes of saving countless lives. While the group more or less fulfilled this vision, it has certainly been active in comics since its inception. Marvel’s Illuminati has been involved in almost every major comic book event since its creation, including World War Hulk and Secret Invasion, making them one of the most important superhero teams ever, and absolutely necessary to the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Why Multiverse of Madness’s Illuminati Doesn’t Work
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduced an Illuminati team that doesn’t work in the MCU. Consisting of the Earth-838 variants of Reed Richards (John Krasinski), Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), Monica Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), Blackagar Boltagon (Anson Mount), Baron Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), the Illuminati failed in its one purpose: to safeguard its universe from otherworldly threats. In only a matter of moments, the entire team, with the exception of Mordo, was summarily murdered by the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), proving that they could have never succeeded in protecting Earth-838 from larger cosmic threats like Kang the Conqueror or the Beyonder.
The heroes of Earth-838 suffered from hubris and distrust, leading to the Illuminati’s quick and painful death. The group of superhumans clearly thought too highly of their own abilities, shrugging off Doctor Strange’s warnings about the Scarlet Witch until it was too late to stop her. Moreover, the group remained disgracefully apathetic toward one another, barely hesitating to kill Earth-838’s Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) when he used the Darkhold to defeat Thanos. Because they shared no trust among their comrades and failed to heed dire warnings, the Illuminati of Earth-838 died gruesome deaths that could have easily been avoided had they not been so full of themselves.
In fairness to Earth-838’s Illuminati, they could have never survived the threat that the ultra-powerful Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) poses to the multiverse, even if they had overcome the Scarlet Witch in Multiverse of Madness. No single world has enough power to defeat Kang and his variants, even if their heroes overcome the flaws that spelled the Illuminati’s doom. Kang has been conquering realities for eons, regardless of how many heroes attempt to stop him. If there is ever a chance of defeating Kang, it won’t be through a single world’s heroes, even if they comprise a better-functioning Illuminati than that of Earth-838.
The MCU Needs To Assemble A Proper Multiverse Illuminati
A better Illuminati would be comprised of heroes throughout the multiverse. Although Marvel has hinted at introducing Earth-616’s Illuminati in the near future, their power alone wouldn’t be enough to stop Kang the Conqueror and his variants from taking over the multiverse. Instead, Doctor Strange would do well to learn from the failings of those on Earth-838 and assemble an Illuminati that is not confined to a single world. The MCU’s next Illuminati should be comprised of a host of variants from multiple worlds, all throughout the multiverse. With the specific purpose of conquering enemies that threaten the fabric of reality, a Multiverse Illuminati can succeed where solitary teams failed.
While it is true that forming a new multiversal Illuminati is the best chance of beating Kang, it can also persist beyond the Multiverse Saga to combat other threats that may arise in the future. Up until now, the multiverse has been a dangerous and unforgiving place, with entire worlds dying as a result of incursions. However, the installation of a governing body of like-minded individuals who wish to protect innocent life could bring peace to the multiverse at last, putting an end to world-ending incursions and sharing knowledge between realities without fear or distrust. Each universe would be better off as a result of the Multiverse Illuminati’s new rule.
How A Multiverse Illuminati Can Shape The MCU’s Future
The Multiverse Illuminati would have several unique ways to shape the MCU’s future beyond Secret Wars. Its most important purpose would be to restrict multiversal travel to a bare minimum, with the exception of their own meetings. With fewer travelers hopping between dimensions, the risk of creating incursions or other multiversal anomalies would drop drastically, creating a safer environment for every reality. This would also quell real-world concerns that the MCU will rely too heavily on the multiverse moving forward, lessening the impact of major events or deaths in the franchise. With key restrictions imposed by the Illuminati, the use of the multiverse could be limited without destroying it completely.
Moreover, a Multiverse Illuminati could allow many iconic pre-MCU characters to appear in future projects without fear of overshadowing newer versions of their characters. Already, franchises like Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy and Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man movies have been made MCU canon in the Multiverse Saga. Following suit, Deadpool 3 is slated to do the same with Fox’s X-Men universe. However, these franchises certainly won’t get much attention beyond the confines of the Multiverse Saga, especially in the case of the X-Men, who will soon be rebooted in the MCU. Even so, select beloved characters could continue to appear in a limited capacity as members of the Multiverse Illuminati.
Who Could Be On The MCU’s New Illuminati?
Since Secret Wars is already making non-MCU franchises canon, the film also has the opportunity to set up a Multiverse Illuminati that consists of characters from throughout Marvel’s cinematic history. In addition to many non-MCU characters, the group’s governing body will certainly include certain individuals from Earth-616. Doctor Strange is an easy choice to join the group, given his history of traveling the multiverse and other Illuminatis. Furthermore, other potential candidates include Namor the Sub-Mariner (Tenoch Huerta), Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), and the forthcoming MCU version of Reed Richards, who will certainly be a major part of any Illuminati lineup that makes an appearance in the franchise moving forward.
Other non-MCU characters in the multiverse can fill out the ranks of the Multiverse Illuminati. It is with these characters that Marvel Studios can have the most fun, drawing from the company’s extensive cinematic history for fun cameos that don’t require long-term contracts with returning actors. Beloved characters like Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man, Sir Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, Wesley Snipes’s Blade, and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine are all extremely likely candidates to fill these positions. Moreover, variants of deceased MCU heroes like Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow or Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark could fulfill long-held desires to see their characters returned without cheapening their deaths by resurrecting them.
Finally, the Multiverse Illuminati will need a leader, most likely someone who is a Nexus being. The perfect, yet perhaps unexpected choice, is the Scarlet Witch. WandaVision revealed that the Scarlet Witch’s destiny is tied to the multiverse–either to rule it or destroy it. The Multiverse Saga can fulfill this prophecy by installing Wanda Maximoff as the leader of the new Illuminati, and therefore the de facto ruler of the multiverse itself. After learning the dangers of interdimensional travel in Multiverse of Madness, Wanda would hopefully govern the Multiverse Illuminati with wisdom and candor, ending Avengers: Secret Wars as a hero once more.
source: screenrant.com
