Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: What’s hidden in plain sight in the trailers

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness to feature the return of old heroes

If there was one thing from the official trailer that got everyone watching losing their minds, it was definitely a certain voice. More specifically, the voice of Sir Patrick Stewart –along with the back of his bald head– possibly reprising his role as Professor Charles Xavier.

Is this, at long last, confirmation that the X-Men are finally joining the MCU? Well…sort of. What it does confirm, though, is a rumor about other characters returning–or rather alternate versions of them–as members of a secret organization dubbed the Illuminati.

Unlike the Bavarian Illuminati of so many conspiracy theories, the Illuminati in the Marvel Universe is comprised of the top minds and leaders within the superhero community. Formed after the events of the “Kree-Skrull War” storyline in the Avengers comics, the Illuminati form as a means of combating future extraterrestrial and interdimensional threats in secret, acting as representatives of various superhero groups within the Marvel Universe without those groups’ knowledge.

The original Illuminati consisted of Professor Charles Xavier of the X-Men, Tony Stark/Iron Man from the Avengers, Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic of the Fantastic Four, Black Bolt of the Inhumans, Namor the Sub-Mariner from Atlantis, and Doctor Strange.

Naturally, there are bound to be some alterations for the MCU version of this group. One of the rumored members of the Illuminati is Captain Carter; another is Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch) who became the Captain Marvel of her universe and also appears in the trailer fighting with Wanda. The trailer also appears to be cut in a way that suggests Baron Mordo is part of this group as well.

There are three other members rumored to be part of this version of the Illuminati as well. One is actor Ioan Gruffudd reprising his role as Reed Richards from 2005’s Fantastic Four and 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. The second rumored Illuminati member is Vin Diesel playing a version of Black Bolt. Granted he’s already known to be the voice of Groot, so it’d be pretty funny for him to play a character who doesn’t speak as a means of preventing destroying everything around him.

Finally, the third rumored member of the MCU Illuminati is Tony Stark played not by Robert Downey Jr. but by Tom Cruise. This is a bit of an inside joke as Cruise not only originally wanted to play the part of Stark, he was also originally going to be an executive producer on the first Iron Man movie, too. The fact that the trailer features what looks to be a sleeker-looking version of Iron Legion robots from Avengers: Age of Ultron certainly seems to give credence to the notion of the Tom Cruise as Tony Stark rumors.

Of course, seeing as this is a Sam Raimi movie, the real question is who will Bruce Campbell and Ted Raimi be playing this time around? We shall have to wait until May 6 until Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness arrives in theaters, along with any of the theories we’ve espoused also prove correct. One thing is for sure: if the trailer is anything to go by, it will certainly be a visual treat from a director known for being fun and offbeat.

Any other clues, Easter Eggs, or potential spoilers you may have noticed in the trailers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Share what you may have uncovered in the comments section below.