Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduced a whole new team to within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): The Illuminati. This iconic comic book team takes on a whole new form in Sam Raimi’s film. Six characters far removed from their training in the paper stories. Obviously, this article will contain SPOILERS regarding Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. You are still here ? So let’s go !
WARNING: the spoiler starts here.
Who are the illuminati ?
In the comics, The Illuminati were created in 2005 by the talented Brian M Bendis and cartoonist Steve McNiven. It’s about a tiny group of Earth’s greatest heroes who come together in secret to make sweeping decisions about the future of our world. It is therefore necessary that this team like no other is made up of different fractions of the Marvel universe.
It is in this logic, that in the comics, the Illuminati are composed of Tony Stark (member of the Avengers), Charles Xavier (mutant leader of the X-Men), from Mr Fantastic (brilliant scientist chief of the Fantastic 4), of Namor (king of Atlantis), of Black Arrow (King of the Inhumans) and Doctor Strange (Sorcerer Supreme and defender of reality). The six of them make decisions behind the scenes. It was they, for example, who decided to send the Hulk to Sakaar or lock up Sentry in the RAFT. It should also be noted that Black Panther refused to join this groupthat Charles Xavier left him after the events of House of Mand Amadeus Cho and Le Fauve then joined their ranks.
In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the Illuminati have a very different makeup than the comics. Only half of the Illuminati from the comics are back in Sam Raimi’s film. Thus, the fans find well Charles Xavier, Black Arrow and Reed Richards as members of the Illuminati. The rest of the team consists of Captain Carter, a variant of Captain Marvel played by Lashana Lynch and Baron Mordo as a substitute for Dr Strange.
And if this team remains very attractive, many characters could have had their place with the Illuminati. so here’s a list of 8 characters who could have been members of the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
1) Bucky Barnes
And yes, if Captain Carter is in the game, another version of Captain America could have been added to the story. Marvel Studios has decided to bring Hayley Atwell back as Peggy Carter. The actress, who camped Agent Carter in Captain America: First Avenger and in the series Agent Carter is therefore back, this time in the skin of Captain Carter, a character introduced in the series What If…?. However, Marvel could have chosen another variant to feature Captain America.
In fact, in the comics, Bucky Barnes, aka The Winter Soldier, becomes new Captain America after Steve Rogers dies. But the MCU preferred to go to another horizon by offering Cap’s shield to Falcon at the end of Avengers: Endgame. A completely commendable choice since Faucon also becomes Captain America in the comics. But, since at the end of Falcon and the Winter SoldierSam Wilson becomes the new Captain America, Bucky Barnes will probably never have the opportunity to endorse the star-spangled banner. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would have been the perfect opportunity to offer fans the vision of Bucky Barnes in the costume of Cap. Shame.
2) Iron Man Tom Cruise version
This rumor swelled on the net during the long weeks leading up to the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Many fans thought they were seeing the comedian Tom Cruise as Superior Iron Man, a variant of Tony Stark. The presence of the Ultron Sentinels reinforced the idea that Iron Man was going to be on board. It is ultimately nothing. And Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness passed by the possibility of seeing Tom Cruise in the skin of the iron man. Marvel Studios preferred to completely exclude the character of Iron Man from the equation.
3) Quicksilver
Scarlet Witch’s brother only had a short stint in the MCU. Indeed, the character played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson dies as soon as he is introduced in Avengers: Age of Ultron. In addition to having one of the worst deaths in the MCUthe character was underemployed and never returned (except in Wanda Vision via an unexpected sleight of hand). Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would therefore have been the opportunity to bring back the character and the actor, and thus offer a meaningful and emotional confrontation between The Scarlet Witch and her late brother. It would have been the perfect way to highlight the character and motivation of the heroine, ready for anything, even to kill a variant of her brotherto find his children.
4) Hulk
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would also have been the perfect way to bring Edward Norton back as Bruce Banner. After all, the comedian is the first face of the Hulk’s alter ego in the MCU. In The Incredible Hulkin 2008, he camped Dr. Banner, before being replaced, from avengers, by Mark Ruffalo. We would have loved to see the return of Eward Norton on the occasion of Sam Raimi’s film.
5) Miss Red Hulk
Still at the time of The Incredible Hulk, actress Liv Tyler played Betty Ross, the great love of Bruce Banner in the Marvel universe. She is one of the very few characters to never returned to the MCUunlike his father, General Ross, played by William Hurt in different films of the license like Avengers: Infinity War or more recently Black Widow.
In the comics, General Ross becomes Rulka red version of the Hulk. His daughter becomes Miss Red Hulk. And we would have liked to see one of these two versions in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. It would have been a good way to familiarize fans with the existence of these two characters. But now that William Hurt has passed awayGeneral Ross will certainly disappear from the equation. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would have been a good way to bring Liv Tyler back to the MCUto give her another role than the girlfriend in danger: that of Miss Red Hulk!
6) Ant-Man
From the first movie Ant Manthe famous Hank Pym is introduced as Michael Douglas. The character then returns to Ant-Man and the Wasp and in Avengers: Endgame. Still, Hank Pym isn’t actually Ant-Man since he passed the torch to Scott Lang. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would therefore have been a good way to present Hank Pym in a different light, and thus to offer him a little screen time as Ant-Man.
7) Gamora
The green heroine embodied by Zoe Saldana since the first opus of Guardians of the Galaxy could totally have been part of it. In effect, the most dangerous warrior in the galaxy played a leading role in the series What If…?. Recruited by the Guardian, she helps Captain Carter, Dark Strange and many others fight against Ultron. Its importance within the animated series could have allowed a return of this emblematic protagonist in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
8) Killmonger
The main antagonist of Black Panther played by Michael B. Jordan could also have joined the Illuminati. Not in the role of Killmonger, but good in that of Black Panther obviously. It would have been a way to pay tribute to Chadwick Bosemanbut also to create, as with Gamorra, continuity with the series What If…?. Even though Killmonger is a dark version and enemy of Black Panther on our Earth-616, these alternate versions of our heroes could have allowed Killmonger to have his first heroic version.
Nevertheless, the cast proposed by Marvel Studios is already optimal. See again Anson Mount as Black Arrow, Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier and introducing John Krasinski as Mr Fantastic are absolutely brilliant ideas. However, we leave you with these alternative proposals. And don’t hesitate to tell us in the comments your dream cast for the Illuminati.
