Warning! SPOILERS for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has a big Thanos problem moving forward, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness proves Phase 4 and 5 will have to introduce an even more powerful villain. Avengers: Endgame marked the conclusion of the Infinity Saga and Thanos' time as the shared universe's big bad. The MCU has continued on after The Mad Titan's death by exploring various storylines, ranging from the impact of The Blip to the evolution of the multiverse.

Throughout the releases of new MCU movies and shows in Phase 4, one question remains at the forefront of audiences' minds: where is the MCU going next. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a big step forward for the shared universe after Thanos, but the movie doesn't concern itself with revealing who Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and other Avengers will fight next. The movie instead works as an early chapter in an ongoing multiverse story and pits Doctor Strange against Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) for the fate of America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez). It does tease potential threats like Cthon and the multiverse-shattering events known as incursions. But, Doctor Strange 2's ending might still leave viewers a bit perplexed as to what the MCU's plan is after Thanos.

Related: Doctor Strange 2: Who Is America Chavez? Powers & Origins Explained

No official plans are known, but the record-setting performance of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame point to Marvel's likelihood of trying to replicate the success of its serialized storytelling with another overarching villain in Phase 4 and 5. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness doesn't reveal who this threat will be, but the movie's exploration of the multiverse does confirm that there is a Thanos problem to solve. Thanks to the new characters featured in the movie and expected to come to the MCU in the future, Thanos is no longer a suitable threat for the shared universe. Marvel Studios needs a more powerful villain in Phase 4 than the Mad Titan next, and Doctor Strange 2 proves it.

Doctor Strange 2’s Illuminati Teases Future MCU Heroes

Doctor Strange's Illuminati Trick Was The Best & Worst Of The MCU

The connection between the MCU's next Thanos-level villain and Doctor Strange 2 starts with the movie's Illuminati team. When Doctor Strange and America Chavez end up on Earth-838, they soon find themselves locked away by Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and The Illuminati. It is only when Strange is brought before the multiverse council that he is introduced to variants of known MCU heroes, like Peggy Carter/Captain Carter (Hayley Atwell) and Maria Rambeau/Captain Marvel (Lashana Lynch). Another version of Doctor Strange was also previously part of the lineup. However, Doctor Strange 2's Illuminati team is much more important for the debut of Professor X (Patrick Stewart), Mister Fantastic (John Krasinski), and Black Bolt (Anson Mount). Even though they all die not too long after their debut, these heroes represent the MCU's future in many ways and the types of characters that will be involved when the next Thanos-level threat arrives.

Taking a look at the Illuminati lineup, it is clear how different the next hero crossover could be. While the MCU has featured its own version of the Sorcerer Supreme, Captain Marvel, and Captain America, characters related to the X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Inhumans have not previously been represented. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness changes that thanks to its Illuminati team and teases their respective introductions in the main universe. Marvel Studios is confirmed to be working on projects involving mutants and Marvel's First Family, so these two groups will surely be represented during Phases 4 and 5 after Doctor Strange 2's Illuminati tease. While Ms. Marvel is seemingly changing Kamala Khan's powers to eliminate any Inhumans connections, Black Bolt's appearance could signal a change in course is coming. The likes of Professor X, Reed Richards, and Black Bolt - and all of the characters that come with them - are exciting for the MCU's future, even though they also signal the challenge for Marvel in moving past Thanos.

The Illuminati Killing Thanos Proves Bigger Villains Are Needed

What if Thanos snapped the other half of the avengers

The introduction of The Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness quickly established just how powerful this collection of heroes was. A flashback is shown of Earth-838's version of Avengers: Infinity War, where the six Illuminati members traveled to Titan and killed Thanos during their fight. It's a striking contrast when the MCU's version of these events is considered. Avengers: Infinity War showed Iron Man, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Star-Lord, Drax, Mantis, and Nebula fight Thanos and come close to beating him, but they fell short. Meanwhile, an even larger collection of heroes failed to stop Thanos once he went to Earth. It ultimately took the full might of the MCU to beat Thanos in Avengers: Endgame once and for all.

Related: Doctor Strange 2 Makes One Thanos Avengers: Endgame Line Even Better

Most of Doctor Strange 2's Illuminati members are notably not involved or represented in the MCU's fights with Thanos. Captain Marvel was mostly kept out of the story because she's so powerful (as evident by her almost single-handily defeating Thanos), but she'll be a key player in whatever threat comes next. Doctor Strange was in protection mode but could be more involved in a plot that does not involve the Time Stone. Meanwhile, Steve Rogers' Captain America was part of the last line of defense, and Sam Wilson's Captain America suit gives him different enhancements. If the MCU then adds Professor X and the X-Men, Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four, and Black Bolt and the Inhumans, the power levels among the MCU's heroes will far exceed what was present to fight Thanos. And this is before one considers the likelihood of the Eternals, Adam Warlock, Nova, Shang-Chi, and more also being involved.

This is why Doctor Strange 2 proves Phases 4 and 5's biggest Thanos problem. The MCU positioned the Mad Titan as the biggest threat to the entire universe, but now the franchise has to find a way to introduce a villain that is even more powerful to match its rising hero powers. Thanos is often considered one of the best villains that the MCU has featured (and Scarlet Witch could join him after Doctor Strange 2), so it was always going to be difficult to find a suitable replacement for him in the grand scheme of the shared universe. However, Doctor Strange 2's clear reminder that more powerful heroes are going to be part of the next chapter of Marvel's storytelling reinforces the challenge. The MCU can't get by with a lesser villain than Thanos, but it also has to find a way to top the Mad Titan, in terms of his portrayal and powers.

Who Is The MCU’s Next Thanos-Level Villain?

Avengers 5 villain will be Kang Annihilus thanos replacement

There are several options for Marvel Studios when it comes to finding the MCU's next Thanos. Phase 4's exploration of the multiverse has already brought the debut of Jonathan Majors' Kang the Conqueror as He Who Remains in Loki season 1. He very well could be Marvel Studios' answer to who can challenge Thanos and be a threat capable of taking on the best of the best among the MCU heroes. Kang has the power set and abilities to go toe-to-toe with any MCU character, while his connections to the multiverse and time travel make him the perfect selection narratively for how the shared universe is shaping up after Thanos. Doctor Strange 2's mention of incursions even can set up a Secret Wars-style movie where Kang is the villain. If Kang is going to be the MCU's next Thanos level villain, his return in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania could go a long way in teasing what comes next.

Kang might be the odds-on favorite to be the MCU's next big bad, but he could also be a distraction from another threat forming. The introduction of the Fantastic Four in Phase 4 can help lay the foundation for Dr. Doom or Galactus to appear. Either of them has the potential to be a Thanos-level threat to the MCU depending on how Marvel Studios wants to use them. Marvel Studios could also look towards the cosmos for its next major threat, such as Annihilus or Beyonder, or even continue to elevate Scarlet Witch's villainous side after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. No matter who is chosen, Marvel has to find a way to match the power levels between the heroes and villains as closely as possible.

More: Will The Illuminati Return In The MCU After Doctor Strange 2?

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