Doctor Strange's Illuminati Members Explained: New Origins, Actors & Powers

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduced the Illuminati of Earth-838 — here is every member and how their origins differ from the comics. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is 28 films in with no signs of stopping. And while the shared universe has managed to bring a number of characters from the comics, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men have remained on the sidelines and in their own separate universe because Marvel didn’t own the rights to adapt them to the big screen.

All that changed, however, when Disney acquired 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios) in 2019. Deadpool, Fantastic Four, and the X-Men properties were all under the Marvel banner now, but the MCU had yet to pull those characters into its films and TV series. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness marks the first time that Reed Richards and Professor Xavier are in the MCU. Though they are not a part of the shared universe’s primary Earth (now officially dubbed Earth-616), their appearances create a shift in the status quo while leaving the door open for opportunities to see them once again at some point in the future.

The Illuminati is made up of six members who serve as a superhero counsel of sorts. They decided Doctor Strange was dangerous after he went after the Darkhold on his own and began dream-walking. It's why they were also wary of Earth-616's Doctor Strange, not wanting the same thing to happen once more. Here is every member of the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, who portrays them, their powers, and how their live-action adaptations differ from the source material.

John Krasinski As Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic

Reed Richards is the leader of the Fantastic Four and he goes by the superhero moniker of Mister Fantastic. Reed is a smart scientist and he is able to stretch his body however he would like, making him extremely elastic and malleable. Reed can also shape-shift to a certain extent and is immune to electricity. Mister Fantastic is also a member of the Illuminati in the comics. Previously, Mister Fantastic was played by Ioan Gruffud in 2005’s Fantastic Four and 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Reed Richards is portrayed by John Krasinski, who was a popular fancast for the character. Krasinski is best known for The Office, Amazon’s Jack Ryan, 13 Hours, The Hollars, and A Quiet Place.

Lashana Lynch As Maria Rambeau/Captain Marvel

Maria Rambeau smiling confidently in Captain Marvel

Maria Rambeau became Captain Marvel on Earth-838 and joined the ranks of the Illuminati. As Captain Marvel, Maria essentially clones Carol Danvers' powers — she can fly, she can shoot energy blasts, and has great superhuman strength and durability. On Earth-616, Maria has a daughter, Monica, though she is not mentioned in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Previously, Maria appeared in Captain Marvel and was the best friend of Carol and the founder of the Sentient Weapon Observation and Response Division (S.W.O.R.D.) before she died of cancer a few years after Thanos’ snap. Maria Rambeau is portrayed by Lashana Lynch, who is known for her roles in No Time to Die, Still Star-Crossed, and Bulletproof.

Hayley Atwell As Peggy Carter/Captain Carter

Captain Carter holding the shield in What If

Peggy Carter of Earth-838 is the version of the character who appeared in What If…? She volunteered to take the Super Soldier Serum after Steve Rogers was attacked and no longer could. She became Captain Carter, helping to end the MCU's version of HYDRA before entering a wormhole that sent her to 70 years in the future. Captain Carter has the same powers that Captain America had, including superhuman strength, stamina, fast healing, enhanced agility and reflexes. Notably, Captain Carter also has a Vibranium-steel shield that can take almost any damage. Peggy has been in the MCU for a long time, since 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger and has gone on to appear in Avengers: Endgame and other films, as well as the short-lived series Agent Carter. Peggy Carter is portrayed by Hayley Atwell, who is known for her roles in Conviction, The Duchess, and The Pillars of the Earth.

Anson Mount As Black Bolt

Black Bolt appears in the Inhumans TV series.

Blackagar Boltagon (aka, Black Bolt) is an Inhuman, a race of enhanced humans who were genetically altered. He is also a member of the Inhuman royal family. Black Bolt’s primary power is that of his hypersonic voice, which can kill people and do a lot of damage in general. He also has superhuman strength, can fly, and manipulate particles. Black Bolt was last seen in the short-lived, and widely panned, series Inhumans and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness marks the character’s official MCU film entry. Black Bolt is portrayed by Anson Mount, who reprises his role from the ABC series. The actor is known for his roles in Star Trek: Discovery, Hell on Wheels, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Chiwetel Ejiofor As Karl Mordo

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness Chiwetel Ejiofor as Mordo

Karl Mordo is the Sorcerer Supreme on Earth-838 and is the protector of the New York Sanctum. Before he took over as Sorcerer Supreme, he was friends with Doctor Strange. Mordo's magical powers and spell-casting are formidable, and he's also a a great martial artist. Mordo previously appeared in Doctor Strange. He is portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, who is known for his roles in 12 Years a Slave, The Old Guard, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, The Martian, Salt, 2012, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Locked Down, and Love Actually.

Patrick Stewart As Professor Charles Xavier

Professor Charles Xavier is a mutant, someone who possesses the X-gene that gives them special abilities. Professor Xavier is a powerful telepath and telekinetic. He can read people’s minds and manipulate them mentally as well. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness marks Professor X’s MCU debut. Previously, the telepath and founder of the X-Men appeared in most of the X-Men movies, including X2: X-Men United, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and Logan. Professor X is portrayed by Patrick Stewart who is also known for his roles in American Dad!, Green Room, Hamlet, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Picard.

How The MCU Changed The Illuminati's Origins

In the comics, the Illuminati formed following the Kree-Skrull War, an interstellar war between two otherworldly beings that affected Earth. It was Iron Man, one of the Illuminati’s founding members who realized that other powerful superheroes on Earth knew of things they could have shared with him and others in a bid to prevent the war from causing further damage. And so the Illuminati was formed on the basis of a secret society of superheroes converging to keep each other informed and to make decisions regarding what to do about certain issues and conflicts as they arose. The Illuminati in the comics has its founding members — Iron Man, Professor Charles Xavier, Mister Fantastic, Black Bolt, Namor, king of Atlantis, and Doctor Strange — but there have been others who have joined their ranks since, including Black Panther, Beast, and Captain Britain.

In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the Illuminati’s founding members of Earth-838 are different than in the comics. Notably, Iron Man is absent and the group doesn’t seem to have been formed because of any intergalactic war and were a group even before Thanos arrived to wreak havoc. Doctor Strange 2 also doesn’t establish at what point the Illuminati formed and why, which deviates from the comics’ thought-out reasoning as these are events that have not yet happened in the MCU. In the film, it also remains unclear whether the MCU's version of the Illuminati is the original or if they’ve already rotated members. In the comics, however, Captain Marvel and Mordo were never members. In the film, Mordo replaces Doctor Strange in the group after Strange went rogue and decided that he would use the powers of the Darkhold on his own, creating instability in the multiverse.

How Powerful The MCU Illuminati Is

The Illuminati seems to have quite a hold on Earth-838. They make a lot of decisions that affect everyone, manipulating information — as they did with Doctor Strange’s demise and changing the narrative to portray him as a hero — as they see fit in any given situation. Collectively, their physical powers are incredibly strong and they have taken on Thanos, and likely other villains, together. With their combined knowledge and physical abilities, there is nothing they can’t accomplish. However, the Illuminati, as immensely powerful as they are, could not withstand the strength of Scarlet Witch’s magic, which could manipulate reality and manipulate so many elements with barely a flick of her hands. Considering how quickly Scarlet Witch took down the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it seems the superhero group’s power is limited when faced with an antagonist who can do anything and will go to great lengths to accomplish her goal.

Next: All 12 MCU Movies Releasing After Doctor Strange 2 (& When)

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