The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is just about poised to introduce more of its heavy-hitters in The Marvels. This Phase 5 film, slated for its big-screen debut on November 10, 2023, promises to be a fresh addition to the MCU saga.
Bear in mind that that release date could still be pushed back or delayed and that there might be small variations in the exact date depending on the region.
In any case, we deem it necessary to go into the details surrounding The Marvels, covering its release date, plot, cast, and the potential impact it might have on the future of the MCU. That’s because the MCU is getting even harder to track these days with so many new faces.
The Marvels was originally scheduled for July 8, 2022, but it encountered delays before finding its current premiere date on November 10, 2023. The delays were attributed to the need for additional post-production work and reshoots. With an astounding production cost of $270 million, both Marvel and Disney are eagerly anticipating a successful run at the box office.
What is The Marvels About?
While much of the plot of The Marvels remains shrouded in surprise, the official synopsis offers a speculative glimpse into the storyline: “Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe.”
The plot thickens when her duties lead her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, resulting in the intertwining of her powers with Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel) and Monica Rambeau’s abilities. This unlikely trio must now collaborate to save the universe.
Thus, this unlikely trio of female superheroes dubbed themselves “The Marvels” since they now all share Captain Marvel’s powers. It’s worth noting that Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) is considered one of the most powerful members of the MCU, and she is theoretically capable of going toe-to-toe with Thanos, based on our estimates.
That should give you an idea of how much power she possesses and how much The Marvels have inherited from her.
Where Does it Fit in the MCU?
The Marvels picks up after two recent MCU TV shows: Ms. Marvel and Secret Invasion. These series provide essential context, though, as always, it’s not a necessary viewing.
Kamala Khan and Carol Danvers swapping places thanks to Kamala’s bangle’s activation in Ms. Marvel should alleviate some confusion, while Monica Rambeau joined S.W.O.R.D. and Nick Fury in Secret Invasion.
Each hero’s abilities and their origins also play a significant role in the story.
Carol Danvers gained her powers from the Tesseract (Space Stone), while Monica Rambeau’s DNA was rewritten by the Mind Stone. Kamala Khan’s abilities stem from her grandmother’s bracelet, suggesting she might be one of the MCU’s first mutants.
The unearthing of bangles like Kamala’s in Ms. Marvel adds teasers to the narrative.
The Impact on Future MCU Movies
How The Marvels will influence future MCU projects remains to be seen. It may play a substantial role in setting up Ms. Marvel Season 2, now rumored to be in early development.
As for the next Avengers movies, known as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, the events in The Marvels could pave the way for their storylines. After all, the last big MCU film that set up the Avengers was Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and that was back in February 2023.
It’s reasonable to expect that The Marvels will push the progress into the inevitable Avengers crossover.
You can expect Kang the Conqueror, the next major MCU supervillain, to appear in The Kang Dynasty, of course. Despite his apparent demise in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the presence of various Kang variants creates ongoing threats.
Victor Timely’s (a Kang variant) potential involvement in Loki Season 2 will also explain Kang’s origins, capabilities, and why he’s more qualified than Thanos to be the next big bad guy.
The MCU loves to toy with the concept of the multiverse, and The Marvels may feature a multiversal incursion, where parallel universes collide, similar to what we saw in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. More of that was bound to happen at some point.
The Cast
The Marvels features a diverse ensemble cast, combining returning and new talents to the MCU. The confirmed cast includes:
- Brie Larson as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel
- Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel
- Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau
- Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
- Zenobia Shroff as Muneeba Khan
- Mohan Kapur as Yusuf Khan
- Saagar Shaikh as Aamir Khan
- Zawe Ashton as Dar Benn
- Park Seo-joon in an undisclosed role
Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani will return to their respective roles from previous MCU appearances, promising a fan-service reunion of beloved characters. Samuel L. Jackson’s presence as Nick Fury reinforces the movie’s connections to Secret Invasion.
Zawe Ashton, renowned for her role in Velvet Buzzsaw, has been cast as the movie’s primary antagonist, Dar Benn.
In the comics, Dar-Benn is portrayed as a male Kree general, and the film seems to reimagine the character as a member of the Accusers, a Kree militia whom Ronan the Accuser was part of. The Kree’s involvement gives off a level of cosmic stakes that are usually only present in movies like Guardians of the Galaxy.
As with new major MCU films, The Marvels comes with the promise of being a game-changer in the MCU. All that’s left is to wait and see just how much The Marvels will reinvigorate the MCU and hype up the fanbase for the next Avengers outing.