The Superbowl trailer for Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness had just enough new footage to give Marvel Cinematic Universe fans a ton of things to theorize about. One of those is whether the comic book team of the Illuminati will be present in the movie. In the comics, the team is made of some of the best minds in the world, representing different factions of powered people from around the planet, who get together periodically to exchange information to help them all keep the peace. Keeping the peace doesn’t always work, and the group rarely gets along, but it’s a nice thought.
In the trailer, Doctor Strange is taken in handcuffs to stand before shadowy figures and a row of chairs. The set up reminds a lot of comic book fans of the Illuminati meeting in a secret location. Originally proposed with seven members, it usually has a rotating membership of six as people come and go. If the group is present in this particular movie, however, those rotating members might not be all from the MCU, but rather from the extended multiverse that has begun to break through in projects like Loki and Spider-Man: No Way Home. That opens up the possibilities for just who could be in the Illuminati to some very interesting characters.
Baron Mordo
The last the audience sees of Baron Mordo, he’s increasing his own power and trying to rid the world of magical beings. It was initially theorized that he would be the primary antagonist for Doctor Strange in any kind of movie sequel, but that might not be the case here. It looks like there are two different versions of Baron Mordo in the trailer - one has long hair. Either of those versions could be a variant from another timeline.
One Baron Mordo specifically tells Doctor Strange that he is the biggest threat to the universe, which makes it sound like he’s actually trying to protect the universe, not just take power for himself as the audience might have once believed. That’s why if there’s a group of Illuminati, he would make a good candidate to be on it, exchanging information about magic across the multiverse and trying to hold the broken shards of his own universe together.
A Variant Of Captain Marvel
There has been a lot of speculation as to just who the being covered in pure energy/light/flame might be that goes after Wanda Maximoff in the trailer. While some think the character is the Human Torch of the Fantastic Four, others think it might be a version of Carol Danvers or Monica Rambeau. The fact that the figure is flying and bathed in light makes it hard to see any distinguishing features.
It seems likely that the figure will be a variant of the Captain Marvel the audience knows given the power involved. That doesn’t mean it has to be Carol Danvers. Considering that Monica and Wanda have a history after their encounters in WandaVision, that would certainly make for an interesting encounter. Fans have also hoped to see more of Maria Rambeau, Monica’s mother. There could be a universe where she ends up with the Kree and develops Captain Marvel’s abilities instead of Carol. Any of those women from another universe would make for a welcome member of the Illuminati, especially since the original members were all male.
Namor
Namor has long been rumored to appear in the MCU as a supporting player, but until recently, the screen rights to the character were held by another studio. Fans have been expecting that the character would debut as part of the Black Panther movies since his kingdom of Atlantis and the kingdom of Wakanda come into frequent conflict in the comics. It’s possible that the character has already been cast for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but Marvel hasn’t officially confirmed anything.
Teasing the existence of the character in Doctor Strange 2 could be a good way to introduce the audience to him. Whether he’s the Namor from the main timeline or a variant from another universe, introducing him as part of the Illuminati would be a good way for the audience who knows very little about the character to meet him. Namor is one of the original members of the Illuminati in the comics, but he’s also a character who is more worried about the interests of his own kingdom than he is the rest of the world, which could make for an interesting dynamic in the group.
A Variant Of Doctor Strange
It’s clear from TV spots and the trailer that there are at least three different versions of Stephen Strange in this movie. One of them is the prime universe Doctor Strange that the audience knows from the MCU. Another appears to be an evil version, or at least a darker version similar to the one seen in Disney Plus’ What If…? series where he draws power from different supernatural creatures. The third version sports a ponytail and a new outfit.
It seems likely that the third version of Doctor Strange, from another reality, is a member of the Illuminati. It’s unclear if this version of the character is his reality’s Sorcerer Supreme or not, but it would make sense that versions from different realities would see the incursion of the multiverse coming. It could even be a version of Doctor Strange who brings the Illuminati together.
Christine Palmer
This particular pick might seem surprising, but the Rachel McAdams character has a surprising look in the new trailer as well. She appears to be wearing her own version of a superhero suit, in blue, while she’s traveling with America Chavez and Stephen Strange. The trio, standing in a doorway, look to be traveling the multiverse.
It’s also entirely possible that this person isn’t the Christine the audience knows, but a variant of her, or even someone who simply looks like her. Plenty of comic book fans have speculated that Clea, a powerful sorceress from the Dark Dimension who trains with Strange, could appear in the movie. Rather than creating a whole new character, making Clea a version of Christine could simplify the character introduction.
Captain Carter
Captain Carter made her debut in the animated What If series premiere to a lot of fan love. It appears that there could be a few characters from the animated series, like the dark version of Doctor Strange, and the tentacled monster (that the MCU is not using the comic book name Shuma-Gorath for) appearing. That’s prompted speculation that Captain Carter could as well. Some fans even think they’ve spotted pieces of her shield in the shards on the movie’s promotional poster.
Hayley Atwell has repeatedly said she would be game to play Peggy Carter again if there was more to do with the character, and she did return to voice her for the animated series, so it’s not completely out of the realm of possibilities. The question is whether she would lead the Illuminati as she led the multiversal Avengers, or if she would be a supporting player.
Charles Xavier
The main reason that so many fans are quick to point to the Illuminati appearing in the movie as possible at all is because of Charles Xavier. Professor X, founder of the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters, and the mentor to the X-Men in the comics, is one of the original members of the Illuminati. He was played by both Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy in FOX’s X-Men movies. Stewart’s voice appears to be in the trailer, speaking to Strange, though the actor is never seen.
Stewart, of course, wouldn’t be able to comment on whether he appears in the movie because of the rules concerning secrecy, but that hasn’t stopped interviewers from asking him about it. He’s staying quiet, but fans are hoping he’s bringing the Illuminati to the MCU so that the X-Men won’t be far behind.
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness lands in theaters on May 6, 2022.
