The Marvel Cinematic Universe is in a great position to bring back one of the most important superhero teams from the comics, with a bevy of options to fill out the roster. First appearing on-screen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the Illuminati are a classic team consisting of the best and brightest of the Marvel universe. Thanks to The Leader’s comments in the post-credits scene of Captain America: Brave New World, it seems as though more Marvel heroes from throughout the multiverse will be taking on the main timeline, possibly including a new Illuminati.
The Illuminati we meet in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness exist in Earth-838, a reality in which Doctor Strange went mad with power in the fallout of the Infinity War. The Illuminati roster included Earth-838’s take on all sorts of previously existing Marvel heroes, from returning actors like Patrick Stewart as Professor X to new castings like John Krasinski’s Mr. Fantastic. Upcoming additions could be native to Earth-838 or arrive there from other dimensions still, possibly creating an interdimensional version of the team and expanding the options for new initiates even further.
7
Namor
Played by Tyler Hoechlin
One crucial element to the Illuminati from the comics that was missing in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was Namor the Sub-Mariner. In the MCU, Namor is introduced as the protagonist of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, played by Tenoch Huerta. As great as Huerta was, the Namor actor’s controversial recent history put him in a delicate position to ever return to the franchise. Even if Huerta is found not guilty of the charges, the MCU is quite likely to drop him as they did with Jonathan Majors.
Regardless, it would behoove the series to recast the Earth-838 version of the character anyway to better separate him. Tyler Hoechlin is a popular fan choice for the role. Though he’s famous for playing Superman on TV, Hoechlin’s work in movies like Road to Perdition or Palm Springs prove he’s capable of more nuanced and antagonistic characters like Namor. This version of Namor could further distinguish himself from Huerta’s by using the old comic origins of the character that see him rule the underwater city of Atlantis, rather than Talokan.
6
Mr. Fantastic
Played by Miles Teller
By the time Avengers: Doomsday releases, the MCU will have shown off the existence of two Mr. Fantastic variants and implied the existence of a third, with Chris Evans’ Johnny Storm mentioning Ioan Gruffudd’s Reed Richards in addition to John Krasinski and Pedro Pascal’s versions. The only Fantastic Four universe not to be mentioned by the MCU so far is the 2015 Josh Trank movie, which presents a unique opportunity to foster the series’ next big bad after Doom.
In the comics, the Ultimate version of Mr. Fantastic becomes a horrifying mastermind villain called The Maker, giving in to Reed Richards’ worst personality traits. The new roster of the Illuminati could be the first time audiences see Miles Teller’s Mr. Fantastic from 2015’s Fantastic Four in over ten years, setting him up to become The Maker later on. After all, it’s not hard to sell any version of Mr. Fantastic as an interdimensional explorer who ends up in Earth-838 only to soon become one of the smartest people living there.
5
Black Panther
Played by Michael B. Jordan
Lately, it seems as though the MCU has been considering recasting T’Challa after leaving the role dormant out of respect for the pᴀssing of the great Chadwick Boseman. After a proper mourning period beautifully rendered in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, it may be time for the series to finally allow a new T’Challa to step into the limelight, and the roster of a new Illuminati could be the series’ last chance to do so. If there’s one actor who could do the job while staying respectful to Boseman’s legacy, it’s Michael B. Jordan.
Obviously, Michael B. Jordan was phenomenal as Erik Killmonger in Black Panther, and even briefly brought the villain back from the grave in the sequel. But his acting skill, reverence for the role, and close personal relationship with his Black Panther co-star might make him the only acceptable choice for a new T’Challa Black Panther. In the comics, Black Panther is a reluctant but important Illuminati member, which would give his role even more significance.
4
Doctor Strange
Played by Benedict Cumberbatch
After the death of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and the retirement of Chris Evans’ Captain America, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange is perhaps the biggest leading MCU hero currently active. He’s shown up in a supporting role in a wide variety of other heroes’ films, such as Spider-Man: No Way Home and Thor: Ragnarok, making him an integral part of the established universe. Including a new Doctor Strange variant in a second Illuminati would be quite the obvious pick, but it wouldn’t be a bad one.
Considering Earth-838’s own Doctor Strange is out of the picture, it would be simple enough for the group to include a new multiverse-hopping Strange in their roster, though they may be reluctant to do so. However, a more interesting idea might be to have the main timeline’s Doctor Strange simply join the organization. Perhaps his guidance would be requested after his warnings about Scarlet Witch weren’t heeded, and pitting Strange against the mainline universe as a traitor could be a great way to raise the stakes of the conflict.
3
Black Bolt
Played by Alexander Skarsgård
The leader of the Inhumans and the only Illuminati member to have no direct equivalent in the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Bolt is the only member perhaps best known for his appearance in the group. Known for his powerful voice that necessitates absolute control over his vocalizations, Black Bolt is an imposing figure that the franchise would do well to bring back. In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Black Bolt is played by Anson Mount, who actually reprised the role from the critically lambasted Inhumans TV show.
If this new version of Black Bolt is meant to stick around, it might be best to think about recasting him. Alexander Skarsgård would make for an excellent pick, having carried a mute character with facial expressions alone once before in the Netflix movie Mute. He was also amazing as the hero Amleth in Robert Eggers’ The Northman, playing the character with an almost alien, ethereal Nordic quality that would suit Black Bolt well.
2
Amadeus Cho
Played by Ian Chen
One of the coolest modern Marvel characters yet to get even a mention in a Marvel movie, Amadeus Cho would be a brand-new addition to the Illuminati and the MCU as a whole. A boy genius, Amadeus Cho is a hero born with a staggeringly high IQ, able to instantly perform and implement complex calculations in his head. Obviously, this makes him a shoo-in for the Illuminati, which he joins as one of the most powerful Marvel heroes ever in terms of raw intelligence. Cho eventually gains a Hulk-like gamma mutate form, becoming the hero known as Brawn.
Cho could be played by Ian Chen, and up-and-coming young star known for his role in the sitcom Fresh Off the Boat. Chen also has some superhero experience already, showing up in the “Shazamily” in DC’s Shazam! duology. Ian Chen as Amadeus Cho could inject a valuable infusion of charisma into the MCU, adding a new Hulk hero in the form of Brawn and perhaps later rounding out the Young Avengers. He could even be the same Amadeus Cho from Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, connecting yet another Marvel property to the main movies.
1
Beast
Played by Kelsey Grammer
Beast exists in a unique position as the only potential new Illuminati member to have already been teased and shown off once in the MCU. The post-credits scene of The Marvels saw Monica Rambeau interact with Kelsey Grammer’s Beast in a new universe, setting up future appearances from the fuzzy blue X-Man that have yet to be fulfilled. Considering Dr. Hank McCoy is a regular member of the Illuminati in the comics, as one of the most intelligent people on the planet, a new version of the team would be the perfect place to finally pay off this tease.
Patrick Stewart was previously the X-Men rep for the old version of the Illuminati, but the precedent for Beast is perhaps greater. The Illuminati is meant to be an alliance of the planet’s brightest minds, and Beast beats Professor X out in that category even if he isn’t as strong of a leader or mutant. Beast’s appearance in a new Illuminati could also be yet another vector by which the X-Men can finally exist in the MCU main timeline.
Upcoming MCU Movies
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Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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Spider-Man Homecoming 4
- Release Date
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July 24, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
- Release Date
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May 7, 2027
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