Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
MCU-Illuminati
Image via Marvel Studios

‘Doctor Strange 2’ fan theory explains why the Illuminati are unbelievably useless

There may just be a good explanation for the Illuminati's colossal failures after all.

Finally introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the Illuminati made a near immediate impact on audiences by getting absolutely shredded within minutes.

Recommended Videos

Doctor Strange and Marvel diehards have been trying to work out why the Illuminati – Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (John Krasinski), Captain Britain (Hayley Atwell), Blackbolt (Anson Mount), Captain Marvel (Lashana Lynch), and Charles Xavier/Professor X (Patrick Stewart) – are so useless and completely inept at protecting their universe of a clear and obvious risk in the form of the Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen.)

There’s the obvious bit that comes from the original comics, which stresses that the Illuminati as a group are so blinded by hubris they don’t foresee ever being wrong. A new fan theory posted on Reddit regarding the Illuminati in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness has doubled down on this, and frankly it doesn’t look very good for Reed Richards and company.

The theory postulates that the reason the Illuminati don’t take Scarlet Witch seriously is that the sheer majority of multiverse variants of Wanda’s just never escape Hydra in the first place. This would mean she’s never set into the chain of events to become Scarlet Witch.in most multiverses the Earth-838 Illuminati know of.

It’s definitely a well-constructed idea that does fit in with a few of the multiverse rules set up so far in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but also begs the question about if “absolute points in time” take into account Wanda escaping the Hydra facility or not. Far more scathing is the likelihood that the Earth-838 Illuminati are not very good at their jobs, and fits with the theme that the movie multiverses don’t necessarily present happier realties, just different realities.

Regardless, Marvel Cinematic Universe fans are hopeful they will see the Illuminati return at some point on Earth-616 as a far more educated and wise group.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is currently in cinemas.


We Got This Covered is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Jamie Dunkin
Jamie Dunkin
Writer for We Got This Covered, and other sites in the GAMURS Group. Football fan, LEGO enthusiast, and beer enjoyer. @jamie_dunkin on Twitter