Doctor Strange 2’s Cut Captain Marvel Designs Would’ve Ruined A Phase 5 Link

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness opened the floodgates in the MCU when it came to setting things up for Phase 5 and exploring alternate variants of characters, not the least notable of which being Maria Rambeau as Captain Marvel. Imagining a world in which Maria rather than Carol Danvers inherited the mantle of Captain Marvel was less of a leap of logic than the inclusion of the likes of Charles Xavier and Reed Richards, who had yet to be featured in the MCU. But when it came to the costume choice for Earth-838’s Captain Marvel, the art team behind Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness had several compelling choices on their hands. These other concepts for Maria Rambeau’s costume hold some merit, but the colors she wore in the final product help solidify a Phase 5 parallel.

As one of the most powerful members of Earth-838’s Illuminati – the closest thing that universe has to The Avengers – Maria Rambeau was exposed to the same cosmic Space Stone radiation as Carol Danvers, granting her the same powers. While on-duty, her uniform has similar iconography to Carol Danvers’ Captain Marvel suit, though with a sleek black and silver color scheme. Yet concept art released from the Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – Art of the Movie book shows that this Captain Marvel suit almost went in a different direction, crucially missing out on a clever nod to The Marvels.

Doctor Strange 2’s Other Captain Marvel Suits Avoid The Marvels’ Suit Parallel

The art book showcased a suite of possible looks for Maria Rambeau’s Captain Marvel. These concepts pulled clear inspiration from a variety of sources, namely, Carol Danvers herself. The classic red, white and gold color scheme evoking the original Captain Marvel was a sure inclusion, complete with multiple hairstyles and facemask variants. In the end, the film opted to not go with the mask, a wise move considering it made audiences able to quickly and easily appreciate just who stepped up to fill Captain Marvel’s shoes in Earth 838.

Other color schemes include the teal, black and silver color scheme the Kree are known for, recognizable from the first act of Captain Marvel. The final color palette presented doesn’t seem to have a clear inspiration, featuring a snazzy white over black color palette that really stands out. While this final option is the most similar to what made it to screen, it still doesn’t quite nail the brilliant setup to a future film the final design pulled off.

Why The Marvels’ Illuminati Suit Parallel Is The Right Decision

What makes the version of Maria Rambeau’s Captain Marvel suit that made it to screen so special is its connection to Maria’s daughter, Monica Rambeau. Monica is to feature heavily in The Marvels, fighting alongside Carol Danvers herself and Khamala Khan of Ms. Marvel fame. Sure enough, Monica’s superhero costume will echo her mom’s in the Illuminati’s alternate version of earth. Not only that, Monica’s hero name, Photon, was her mother’s callsign during her time as an air force pilot, further linking Phase 5 to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The parallel of mother and daughter established in the multiverse is an emotionally satisfying choice for the costume, going beyond a simple reference to Carol Danvers or the Kree.

With the introduction of multiversal travel set up as a big component of Phase 5, this bond between characters only becomes more interesting. While Earth-838’s Captain Rambeau may have fallen at the hands of Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the possibility of Monica meeting another version of her mom out there in the multiverse isn’t insignificant. The opportunity to see mother and daughter reunited over the same colors will make the choice for Maria Rambeau’s suit to call forwards to her daughters all the more perfect.