Captain America: Brave New World’s Post-Credit Scene May Set Up the MCU’s Most Dangerous Team

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Captain America: Brave New World is a momentous event in the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline. Following Sam Wilson as he takes his place as Captain America, the Phase 5 film features a world still in chaos after the Blip. Tensions rise at the discovery of Adamantium, a metal even stronger than Vibranium with limitless possibilities. With President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross desperate to ratify a treaty that will evenly distribute Adamantium among members of the United Nations, a new villain arrives with plans to destroy his reputation–even at the cost of plunging the world into a third World War.

Much of Captain America 4‘s marketing hinted at Sam Wilson finally rebuilding the Avengers, who have been underground since the end of the Infinity Saga. Initially commissioned to rebuild the team by President Ross, Sam’s plans are quickly undercut when the Leader’s scheme comes to fruition. The film ends without the Avengers’ return, though Sam implies that he is still looking to gather Earth’s Mightiest Heroes again. However, the MCU may be hinting at the debut of another major superhero team from the comics, one that could have an even greater effect on the future of the franchise than the Avengers.

Brave New World Could Set Up the MCU’s Real Illuminati

The Leader’s Words May Have Struck a Chord With Sam Wilson

In the post-credits scene of Captain America: Brave New World, Sam Wilson visits the Leader in the Raft. The incarcerated supervillain rants at the hero, claiming that he isn’t as high and mighty as he may claim to be. The Leader reveals that he knows something Sam doesn’t, referring to other Earths in the multiverse. When they come, he claims, Sam and the other Avengers will prove less heroic than they seem. If it comes down to them or “the others,” the Avengers may need to make a drastic–and unforgivable choice. In an interview, with The Wrap, director Julius Onah dodged a question about whether or not this scene pertained to the introduction of the Illuminati. In Marvel Comics, the Illuminati forms to make tough decisions like the ones the Leader refers to in Brave New World. Traditionally, the group consists of six members: Iron Man, Black Bolt, Doctor Strange, Mister Fantastic, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and Professor X. Black Panther also acts as a sporadic member of the council, with other members filtering in and out over the years. The Illuminati meets secretly and makes world-changing decisions, such as banishing the Hulk from Earth or declaring war on the Skrulls. Now, the clandestine council may be prepared to make its debut on Earth-616.

Audiences got a sneak peek at the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The council consisted of heroes from Earth-838, including Professor X, Karl Mordo, Captain Carter, Mister Fantastic, Captain Marvel, and Black Bolt. Inspired by Doctor Strange encountering this team and the events of Captain America: Brave New World, the heroes of Earth-616 may finally be ready to put together their own Illuminati. In a surprising diversion from the comics, it could be Captain America who first brings this team together after his conversation with the Leader in hopes of avoiding the cataclysmic events to come. The team may make its debut in Avengers: Doomsday as an incursion looms over their universe, forcing Sam Wilson and his compatriots to make a difficult decision about their future–and the future of another universe.

How the Illuminati Could Factor Into Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars

The Illuminati May Be Earth-616’s Best Chance at Survival

The Illuminati may play a significant role during the events of Avengers: Doomsday. The group, formed to preserve Earth-616 at all costs, will be faced with a dire decision as an incursion imminently faces their universe. As Doctor Strange discovered in Multiverse of Madness, an incursion occurs when two universes collide with one another, destroying them both. However, if one universe were to be destroyed before the incursion fully takes place, the other might yet survive. The Illuminati may be forced to choose between destroying another universe to save their own and risking utter extinction to maintain their heroism. The dire future that the Leader had foreseen would finally come to pass, proving that he was right when he predicted that Sam Wilson and his fellow heroes would make the necessary sacrifice when it came to protecting their own world.

However, this could also be Doctor Doom’s plan. If Doom hails from Earth-616’s rival universe, he may plan to destroy the Sacred Timeline to preserve his own. Doomsday may then be a battle between the Illuminati and Doctor Doom for the survival of their universes. If the two factions fight to a standstill, with neither side prevailing, then they will both fail at the end of the film as their two universes collide in a destructive incursion event. This would lead to the events of Avengers: Secret Wars, wherein the universes must battle for the right to survive.

Who Could Join the MCU’s Illuminati?

The MCU’s Illuminati Lineup May Look Different From the Comics

There are plenty of interesting characters to choose from when building the MCU’s version of the Illuminati. If Captain America: Brave New World was indeed setting up the team, then Sam Wilson would certainly be a member thereof, perhaps acting as a representative of the Avengers. Typically, the other members of the Illuminati represent certain factions within the Marvel Universe. In the comics, Doctor Strange represents the Masters of the Mystic Arts. As the only person from Earth-616 to have encountered a version of the Illuminati before, he would be a natural choice to join the team. However, Wong is currently the Sorcerer Supreme in the MCU and, with Strange seemingly missing after Multiverse of Madness‘s mid-credits scene, might be a more likely choice to join Earth-616’s Illuminati. Reed Richards is also typically a member of the team, representing the Fantastic Four. However, Pedro Pascal’s character may not be a founding member of the MCU’s Illuminati, as he hails from a different universe that may not collide with Earth-616 until after the events of Doomsday and Secret Wars. His place could be taken by another genius-level hero like Bruce Banner or even Hank Pym.

The rest of the Illuminati would be made up of representatives of other powerful factions from Earth-616. The nations of Talokan and Wakanda would most likely be represented. As the ruler of Talokan and a member of the Illuminati in the comics, Namor would be a natural fit to join the new team. Either Shuri, the sworn protector of Wakanda, or M’Baku, Wakanda’s new king, would be the best fit to represent their powerful nation in the Illuminati. Additionally, with New Asgard now set up on Earth, the Asgardians would most likely be represented in the Illuminati lineup as well. As the Asgardian king, Valkyrie could represent the interests of her people in the Illuminati. While they are typically represented in the Illuminati in the comics, mutants, and Inhumans are not yet prominent enough in the MCU to justify having a spot on the council. Instead, the Eternals might snag a position, with their leader Sersi joining the team. Finally, Earth-838’s Illuminati included a team member who served as the “defender of the cosmos,” indicating that Captain Marvel could fill a similar position in Earth-616’s council.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is building up to the introduction of its most powerful team yet–the Illuminati. With a host of characters to choose from, Sam Wilson can build a strong council of heroes who will prove to be of paramount importance in the battle to come. The Illuminati may be Earth-616’s last chance at survival as a threat looms ever nearer in Avengers: Doomsday.

“}]] Captain America: Brave New World may be more than a tease for the next Avengers movie–it may set up an exciting new team in the MCU.  Read More