Marvel Just Made Doctor Strange's Illuminati Even More Confusing

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Ms. Marvel

The introduction of Marvel's Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness raised several questions for the future of the MCU, yet one line in Ms. Marvel has potentially made the team even more confusing. In the Doctor Strange sequel, audiences were introduced to the legendary supergroup, whose illustrious members include the likes of Mister Fantastic, Captain Britain, and Professor Charles Xavier. But one apparent nod in the Disney+ series suggests that they may actually have a more far-reaching presence.

The existence of the Illuminati was a key plot point in Doctor Strange 2. In an alternate version of Earth known as 838, the group is tasked with guarding the integrity of the multiverse from existential threats after their Stephen Strange triggered a universe-ending "incursion". This brings them into direct conflict with Earth-616's version of the famous sorcerer, who in turn is being pursued by a heartbroken Wanda Maximoff on a mission to be reunited with her children in another universe. While Wanda is shown to easily defeat the 838 incarnation of the Illuminati, their influence over their universe is unquestionable – highlighted by their collective defeat of the 838 Thanos.

Given that Doctor Strange 2 is the first time the MCU has explicitly discussed the Illuminati, and the very specific context in which they appear, any other reference to the group is – to say the least – surprising. Yet Ms. Marvel does exactly this, raising serious questions about the Illuminati's existence. In one exchange, Kamala and Nakia jokingly refer to the busybody older Pakistani women as the "Illuminaunties" – a play on both the team itself and the familial relation. However, this lighthearted jibe actually poses serious questions around how exactly the pair knew of the Illuminati in the first place, if the only context in which they've appeared is in another universe. This, in turn, makes the entire Illuminati group more confusing than ever, even after their multiversal antics.

Doctor Strange 2 Illuminati Members Captain Marvel Captain Carter

Of course, it's perfectly possible that the Ms. Marvel reference is actually a nod to the real-world conspiracy theory, rather than the MCU's group. In pop culture, the Illuminati have long been rumored to be behind significant events, bending the arc of history to their will. While there's almost no evidence to support these claims, including a reference to the idea would add to the sense of realism running through the series. In this case, the "Illuminaunties" pun is more of an in-joke rather than anything more significant.

That said, it may be the case that Marvel is setting the stage for a more comprehensive reveal by scattering covert references throughout Phase 4. Already, one fan theory posits that Shang-Chi already set up the Earth-616 Illuminati in showing Captain Marvel, Bruce Banner and Wong coming together to debate a mystical or cosmic problem. While nothing concrete has yet been confirmed within the MCU, if Marvel is laying the groundwork for a more central Illuminati team, the Ms. Marvel reference would make more sense. Whatever the case, the first explicit Illuminati reference since Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness certainly raises more questions than answers.

More: How Powerful Is The Illuminati Compared To The Avengers?

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