The upcoming sequel to Doctor Strange features Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular character, but it could also feature another actor playing his nemesis, Stephen Strange. Actor John Krasinski, best known for starring in A Quiet Place and This Is Us, has been rumored to play Strange since early 2017. Now, he might actually make it happen.
Krasinski recently joined the cast of Avengers 4 alongside Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper, Danai Gurira, Elizabeth Olsen, Samuel L. Jackson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Tom Hiddleston, Josh Brolin, Frank Grillo and Bradley Cooper again. He plays a supporting role in the movie.
Now, there are rumors that Krasinski will take over the role of Strange in Doctor Strange 2. If true, it would give him a chance to show off his acting chops while still being able to work on projects like A Quiet Place 3.
Here’s what Doctor Strange 2 really means for the Fantastic Four
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness is set in another dimension called Earth-838. In the film, we learn that the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) has been studying the mystic arts since she left her home dimension over a century ago. She has spent much of that time traveling across dimensions and collecting powerful artifacts. When she arrives on Earth-838 she discovers that it is under attack from some unknown force. What does this mean for the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
We know that there are many different realities existing within the multiverse. There are multiple versions of our favorite superheroes like Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, etc. These alternate universes are known as “Earth-X,” “Earth-Y,” “Earth-90210,” and so forth. We’ve seen glimpses of these worlds in films like Ant-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but they haven’t been fully explored.
In Doctor Strange in the Multiversity of Madness, we’re introduced to a mysterious group of people referred to as the Illuminati. They are members of a secret society who use magic to protect the Earth from threats both magical and mundane. However, we don’t know exactly how big their network is or whether they’re just one part of something bigger. This could lead to some interesting developments down the road.
But even if the Illuminati aren’t the biggest players in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they still play a huge role in the story. Their presence in the film gives us clues about what’s coming next for the franchise. For example, the name “Mordo” is likely related to the villainous character played by Chiwetel Ejiofor in Doctor Strange in the Multiversum of Madness. If he’s involved in the movie, it makes sense that he’d want to recruit Benedict Cumberbatch’s Stephen Strange into the fold.
And while it’s fun to speculate about what might happen next, it’s important to remember that Doctor Strange in the Multiverso of Madness isn’t canon. So don’t read too deeply into the connections between the film and the comics. Still, it’s exciting to think about what the future holds for the MCU.
Who are the Illuminati in the MCU?
The Illuminati are a group of rich, powerful men who secretly meet every now and again to discuss world domination. They don’t exist in real life, but in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they’re a de facto Avengers team — they’ve been around since the beginning, and their existence is well documented within the comics. But what about the rest of the MCU? Are there any clues to the Illuminati’s true identities? We’ll break down the evidence to see if it points to anything.
Is John Krasinski officially Reed Richards?
The cast of Avengers: Infinity War finally got around to talking about the future of the MCU on the red carpet at Comic Con 2018. In fact, they revealed some pretty big news regarding the next film in Phase 4. And while we don’t know how much longer Tom Hiddleston’s Loki will stick around, one thing is certain: he’ll be returning to the fold sooner than later.
At least, that’s according to director Joe Russo, who told Entertainment Weekly that the actor will make his comeback in the fourth installment of the franchise. “He’s coming back,” Russo confirmed. “We’re working out the logistics now.” He added that his character will definitely show up in the movie, even though he won’t be playing a major part.
While it’s great to hear that Loki will be making an appearance in Infinity War, it does beg the question: Who else might be showing up in the sequel? Well, according to Russo, there are plenty of familiar faces in store. “There’s a lot of stuff I’m excited about,” he said. “I think people are really gonna enjoy it.”
Of course, no one knows exactly what’s in store for the MCU moving forward, but it seems safe to assume that the foursome of Captain America, Black Panther, Thor, and Hulk will be sticking together for quite awhile. So, who else could possibly join the team? Let’s take a look at five possibilities…
1. Doctor Strange
In addition to being one of the most powerful sorcerers in existence, Stephen Strange is also a brilliant neurosurgeon. This makes him the perfect candidate for a leading man in a superhero blockbuster. Plus, he’d be able to help Cap save Bucky Barnes’ life during Civil War II.
2. Rocket Raccoon
If you’ve seen Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, then you already know that Peter Quill has a little buddy named Rocket. The furry alien would fit right in with the rest of the gang, especially considering that he can talk like a human.
3. Tony Stark
Tony Stark is the head honcho behind Iron Man, so it only makes sense that he’d be the leader of the Avengers. Plus, he’s played by Robert Downey Jr., which means he’d be able to bring his trademark wit to the table.
4. Scarlet Witch
Wanda Maximoff was introduced as a member of the Avengers in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. She’s a talented mutant who can control her powers through meditation. That’s just the kind of power that the Illuminati need.
5. Vision
Vision is a robot created by Ultron, so he’s technically not from Earth. However, he’s still a genius inventor who can create all kinds of cool gadgets. Plus, he looks like this guy.
What about the rest of the Illuminati?
Because the Illuminati were limited to earth-838, and since they’re torn up by Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) in Avengers: Infinity War, it’s unlikely they’ll affect Earth-616. However, there’s always that slim chance they could, and understanding what the Illuminati are capable of could hint at how they might manifest in the MCU once again.
In the comics, the Illuminati consists of 12 members — including Doctor Strange, Black Panther, Captain America, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Falcon, Winter Soldier, and Wasp. In the movies, we’ve seen some of those names pop up, like Cap and Black Widow, while others haven’t been mentioned.
The most recent mention of the group came in New Avengers #7, which saw Thanos’ snap destroy half of the team, leaving just six members left. After that, a few new faces joined the ranks, such as Moonstone, Rocket Raccoon, and Noh-Varr. Of course, none of those people are actually part of the original twelve, but they do play into the story.
So why does the Illuminati even exist? Well, according to writer Brian Michael Bendis, it’s because “the world needed heroes.” And he elaborated further in his interview with ComicBook.com:
“They’re not necessarily superheroes. They’re not necessarily good guys. There’s no real moral code. If you look at the classic Illuminati…they had a set of rules, but they didn’t really adhere to them. So I think that’s why they lasted so long. People wanted something simple; they wanted someone to tell them what to do, and they wanted someone to protect them. And that’s exactly what the Illuminati did.”
Of course, if the Illuminati were to return in the MCU, it wouldn’t necessarily mean that every member of the group would show up. For example, Tony Stark isn’t technically a member, though he does work closely with Steve Rogers in the comics. Plus, the group doesn’t seem to have much use for him anymore.
But if the Illuminati were to come back together, it seems likely that they’d want to recruit some new members. While we don’t know who they’d pick, it’s possible that they could bring back some old favorites, like Thor, Hulk, or Loki. Or maybe they’d go for someone completely unexpected, like Spider-Gwen.
Who are the Illuminati?
The Illuminati were formed in response to the Kree-Skrul War. They were a group of scientists and heroes who wanted to prevent another war like that one. Their goal was to find a way to stop the Skrull invasion without destroying the Earth. To do that, they needed to understand what happened in the war. So, they banded together and began working out of a mansion in Greenwich Village. They called themselves the Illuminati because it sounded mysterious and powerful.
They had a few rules. First, no one could know about the existence of the Illuminati. Second, they couldn’t reveal their identities. Third, they couldn’t use their powers outside of the mansion. Finally, they couldn’t interfere with anyone else’s lives.
There were five members of the Illuminati. Each member represented a specific power. Dr. Stephen Strange was there to represent magic. Reed Richards was there to represent science. Tony Stark was there to represent technology. Black Bolt was there to represent the mystical. And Charles Xavier was there to represent psychology. Together, they tried to figure out how to save the world.
The Illuminati disbanded in 2007, though some of them remain active today.
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