Warning! This article contains spoilers for Captain America: Brave New World.
After years of not being addressed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
, the frozen Celestial has finally been addressed in Captain America: Brave New World
, and they play a significant role that will shape the future of the MCU. Captain America: Brave New World covers several major topics that will affect the MCU moving forward. In addition, it also serves as a sequel to some earlier projects, tying up loose ends that appeared to be ignored for much of the Multiverse Saga.
This includes a significant portion of the movie dealing with the fallout of the Eternals stopping the Celestial, Tiamut, from completing his emergence, and destroying the planet in the process. Now, the frozen body of this Celestial sits in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and as usual, the countries surrounding the body all have interests in claiming it as their own. However, the range of countries to lay claim on the Celestial may not be immediately apparent, or the ongoing effect that harvesting it’s resources could have on the MCU.
What Countries Are Involved In The MCU’s Celestial Island Treaty And Why
The International Relations Are Tense In Captain America: Brave New World
In Brave New World, four countries are primarily involved in establishing a treaty which would allow each to access and claim some of the resources from the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Celestial. The dominant power in the conversation over Celestial Island also happens to be one that is geographically the furthest away, the US. America may not be located near Celestial Island, but it does have a significant interest in claiming a resource that will likely change the landscape for whatever nation has access to it, similar to how Vibranium has helped to shape Wakanda as a leading nation that is incredibly advanced.
Also participating in the treaty talks are the leaders from India, France and Japan. India understandably feels some sense of ownership, due to the Celestial appearing in the Indian Ocean. However, with that in mind, Japan is similarly positioned nearby in the Philippine Ocean, and the inclusion of the country is unlikely to be problematic. France is somewhat more of a wildcard, though it was likely chosen due to its position as one of the leading states in the European Union, and the fact that it has claims over several island nations in the Indian Ocean.
Celestial Island’s Adamantium Was An MCU Retcon From Eternals
Adamantium Was Not Intended To Come From The Celestial
But of course, the single biggest reason that any of these countries are interested in laying claim on Celestial Island is more to do with the resources that it contains. Celestial Island is made up of the literal body of the now deceased Celestial Tiamut, and as such, digging beneath the surface has proven to yield interesting results for researchers. The body of Tiamut is actually a rich source of Adamantium, a new resource with properties that are yet to be fully understood or explored in the MCU, though it’s clear that people like President Ross understand the potential that it contains.
I mean, look, we made that movie because I love those characters and we wanted to figure out a way to get ’em to the MCU. I think the end of that movie was very cool, and then it’s a, ‘Hey, if we’re going to revisit that idea that there’s a celestial in the ocean, what’s the best version of that? How do we make it so it both is an homage to that film, but also feels forward looking?’ So when we started building Captain America: Brave New World, we realized there was an opportunity to bring it back and be sort of the nascent spot for where Adamantium was found. We thought that was really cool because again, you get to revisit a place that you’ve seen before, but it also speaks to what might come in the future.
But initially, there was no plan for the Celestial Island to be a source of Adamantium in the MCU according to Marvel producer Nate Moore. Fortunately, by creating this connection in the MCU, Celestial Island has found its way back to prominence, and the resource provides an important tool for the world to take steps forward in harnessing a metal with properties unlike anything else on Earth. And with Adamantium’s prominence in the Marvel Comics, it’s hard to imagine this won’t have a huge impact on what comes next.
Adamantium’s Future In The MCU Explained
Adamantium’s Appearance Likely Signals The X-Men’s Imminent Arrival
Adamantium is a powerful metal substance that is most famous for being the metal compound that is fused to Wolverine’s skeleton, and for being the substance which Captain America’s shield is made of in the comics. However, the MCU has clearly adjusted the timeline of events, with Cap’s shield being made from Vibranium, and Adamantium now being considered a brand-new discovery and resource.
With this in mind, it is almost certain that mutants like Wolverine do not exist in the 616 timeline, or at least not in the way that fans know them best. Adamantium was a man-made resource in the comics that was utilized to experiment on humans like James Howlett. But with America now in possession of Adamantium, and the treaty providing the resources to several countries, it will certainly have a part to play in upcoming stories, and the future Mutant Saga. As a result, Captain America: Brave New World clearly sets things in motion for the next chapter of the MCU.
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