The Marvels’ Potential Impact On The MCU
Oct 19, 2023
THE MARVELS opens November 10
While the concept of a shared universe had existed before, none had ever boasted such a complex undertaking of interconnectivity like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Each installment of the franchise – which has lasted a decade and a half and even includes TV shows – has had an influence on what takes place in subsequent entries. Thus, we are curious what will be in store after the release of THE MARVELS.
Director Nia DaCosta’s upcoming sequel to 2019’s worldwide smash hit, CAPTAIN MARVEL, which is also the 33rd MCU film and opens in AMC Theatres on November 10th, is bringing three powerful heroes together – Carol Danvers (Academy AwardⓇ winner Brie Larson), Monica “Spectrum” Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and Kamala “Ms. Marvel” Khan (Iman Vellani). Given what we know about the members of this trio and what they are capable of on their own, we can only imagine what sort of explosive moments we are bound to see in THE MARVELS and how those moments could impact future installments. With that in mind, the following are some of our predictions and speculation about how this highly-anticipated 2023 comic book movie could affect the MCU.
Carol Danvers and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) go way back, having first met in the mid-1990s when the Kree warrior crash-landed on Earth and turned to the then-much greener S.H.I.E.L.D. agent for help. Unfortunately, we never saw them officially reunite after Fury blipped back into existence in 2019’s AVENGERS: ENDGAME, but it looks like THE MARVELS will make up for lost time.
Furthermore, the film’s trailer suggests that this could be a refreshing new chapter in their relationship, based almost entirely on the conversation they share over phone, during which Captain Marvel reflects on the loneliness she appears to experience while traveling through outer space. Could this mean Carol’s return to Earth will lead to a more permanent residence this time with more frequent team-ups with Fury to come?
THE MARVELS marks the first feature-length appearance of Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau – first portrayed as an 11-year-old by Akira Akbar in CAPTAIN MARVEL – following the DEAR WHITE PEOPLE actor’s debut in the role in the Disney+ series, “WandaVision.” I think it is safe to say that this will be the first of many movies featuring the former S.W.O.R.D. agent.
Monica – who can literally see and absorb various forms of energy – has already proven to be a strong, dynamic, and very entertaining character who likely could become a driving force in the MCU moving forward. In fact, there’s a good chance that, in a sort-of reversal of her history with the Captain Marvel moniker in the comics, she could be Carol’s successor one day.
By the end of her Disney+ series, teenage Kamala Khan – under the guise of Ms. Marvel – became something of a local celebrity in her New Jersey neighborhood for her mutant ability to convert light into solid matter. Now that she is teaming up with Carol – her personal idol – and Monica, the odds are high that her celebrity status is about to blow up.
Future installments – including a solo movie of her own perhaps? – could see her truly become the widely beloved superhero icon she always dreamed of being as her powers take her further around the world, and beyond. In no time, she may join the latest incarnation of the Avengers or become a leading member of an all-teen branch known as the Young Avengers.
In addition to being a CAPTAIN MARVEL sequel, THE MARVELS appears to be serving as a continuation of another recent Disney+ series, “Secret Invasion,” which ended with Fury preventing a global takeover by an evil group of Skrulls before reuniting with the surviving members of the alien race he calls friends. This new film could be the intergalactic shapeshifters’ chance to make up for the events of the TV show.
A previously released image from THE MARVELS sees a group of Skrulls standing behind Carol – a former enemy of theirs before discovering her adoptive people, the Kree, were the true enemy. This suggests they will be supportively involved in her, Monica, and Kamala’s conflict with Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton) and hopefully can rebuild trust on Earth as a result.
The Skrulls are also a key component to S.A.B.E.R. – a covert operation that Nick Fury runs with the shapeshifters from a station in outer space, as we first caught a glimpse of at the end of SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME. We also know from the end of “WandaVision” and the trailer for THE MARVELS that Monica left S.W.O.R.D. for the organization, meaning that it clearly pays a large part of the film.
That being said, as THE MARVELS marks the most we have seen of S.A.B.E.R. in action yet, it could also be the first sign of the organization playing a large part of the MCU going forward. Following S.H.I.E.L.D.’s exposure as a HYDRA front in CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER and S.W.O.R.D.’s dulled reputation after the events of “WandaVision,” S.A.B.E.R. could become the home base for the franchise.
Of course, these are only theories as to how THE MARVELS could influence the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward. We’ll start just by watching the movie, which will soon be available at an AMC Theatres location near you!
THE MARVELS opens November 10
