MCU’s Biggest Missed Team Opportunity Imagined In Comic-Accurate Live-Action Art

Marvel Studios introduced a new team to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Phase 4, but new fan art has given this MCU team a comic-accurate line-up that likely won’t be seen in live-action. In recent years, Marvel Studios has teased the formation of several new superhero teams in the MCU, though focus has still been primarily given to the upcoming line-up of the New Avengers for Phase 6. Nevertheless, teams like the Thunderbolts, as well as unannounced teams like the Young Avengers and the Midnight Sons have been set up, and Phase 4’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness debuted yet another team, though Marvel Studios missed out on introducing the team’s Marvel Comics roster.

After traveling to Earth-838 in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange came face-to-face with a version of the Illuminati. This team consisted of Professor X, Mister Fantastic, Maria Rambeau’s Captain Marvel, Baron Karl Mordo, Black Bolt, and Captain Carter, with Marvel Studios changing the team’s line-up from Marvel Comics. New fan art shared by Hazzaa Jarrar imagines what a comic-accurate version of the team might look like in the MCU.

The comic-accurate team features Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Professor X, Mister Fantastic, Black Bolt, and Namor. However, this line-up likely won’t be seen in the MCU, despite several of these superheroes having recently been introduced.

Why The MCU Probably Won’t Ever Have A Comic-Accurate Illuminati

Marvel Comics’ Illuminati first appeared in 2005’s New Avengers #7, formed from the leaders of the Marvel Universe’s separate superhero groups who hope to share information between them to avoid catastrophic future disasters. The original Marvel Comics line-up included Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Professor X, Mister Fantastic, Black Bolt, and Namor, with Black Panther refusing to be involved. While it would have been great to see Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness adapt the original version of the team, it will be difficult for this iteration to be adapted into the main live-action universe, suggesting the MCU’s official Illuminati team will also comprise a different set of heroes.

Tony Stark’s Iron Man sacrificed himself during Avengers: Endgame, so there’s no hope for the armored Avengers representative to be included on the Illuminati team. The MCU’s main continuity also hasn’t introduced Inhumans, so Black Bolt won’t be involved. Namor has only just been introduced to the MCU, and although Reed Richards and Charles Xavier will be introduced soon, it will perhaps take some time before they’re ready to join the Illuminati. It seems the only member of Marvel Comics’ Illuminati who will be included on the team’s roster in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Doctor Strange, who is speculated to be forming the team after his Phase 4 adventure.