Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness screenwriter Michael Waldron has revealed that Earth-838 is a police state under the rule of the Illuminati, giving the Avengers on Earth-616 a valuable warning. The introduction of the Illuminati brought many revelations to the MCU. While the group hasn't yet made an appearance in the 616-universe, established MCU teams such as the Avengers can learn a lesson from the multiversal Illuminati.
Doctor Strange and America Chavez fell onto Earth-838, the home of the Illuminati, after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness's trippy multiverse-hopping montage. They found themselves in an apparent paradise version of New York with greenery growing on the sides of skyscrapers, multi-colored clouds scattered across the sky, and a seemingly invincible superhero team as protection. Everything seemed idyllic until they stepped onto an unusual platform that showed them their memories. While this "Memory Lane" plays as a simple plot device to give viewers some backstory for America on Earth-838, Michael Waldron has now revealed that the machine harbors a darker purpose.
Michael Waldron explained that Memory Lane suggests the Earth overseen by the Illuminati is actually "a little bit of a police state." He goes on to say that Memory Lane is "the state's attempt to minority report you into admitting a crime you committed." This revelation not only breaks the utopian nature of Earth-838 but could also provide the 616-universe's Avengers with a warning, showing them exactly what not to do so that the mistakes of the Illuminati aren't repeated.
How Earth-838's Police State Changes The Perception Of The Illuminati
The Illuminati introduced in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness were set up as a powerful team who sought only the protection of their people. With Reed Richards, Captain Carter, Black Bolt, Captain Marvel, the Sorcerer Supreme, and Professor X on the roster, it would be easy to assume that the team would only look out for the needs of others. However, Michael Waldron's revelation about the state of Earth-838 completely flips the perception of the Illuminati on its head. It would seem that the installation of Memory Lane hints more at the Illuminati favoring surveillance over protection.
If this sounds familiar, it's because it's the same idea HYDRA had during Captain America: The Winter Soldier when they attempted to implement Project Insight. Although not actually stated in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the Illuminati's surveillance of the people of Earth-838 reaches far beyond their Baxter Foundation headquarters. The Ultron program obviously succeeded in putting a "suit of armor around the world," and the level of protection that would provide suggests deeper oppression. The Illuminati were shown to be arrogant and egotistical superheroes as they underestimated the Scarlet Witch, to their detriment, meaning that they perhaps put themselves on a pedestal because of their superhero status and belief they can oversee their people with no repercussions.
Doctor Strange got a first-hand view of the effect this level of arrogance can have, not just on the superhero team in question, but also on the wider world. This means that if he were to form his own version of the Illuminati on Earth-616, or even continue to work with the Avengers, the mistakes of Earth-838 could be easily avoided. Previous MCU projects have stressed the dangers of unnecessarily surveilling the public, with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness showing viewers exactly what happens when this way of thinking goes too far.
