Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness star Xochitl Gomez explained how the Illuminati's time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film was originally different.
In an interview with Screen Rant, Gomez revealed that the sequence with the Illuminati was actually expanded during reshoots. "The Illuminati sequence was actually a lot shorter in the original script, and it actually wasn't until reshoots that the Illuminati got a bigger scene," Gomez explained. "I was probably one of the only ones that got to see all the Illuminati come in every day, and it was a lot of work for the props team!"
Set after the events of 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness sees Gomez's character, America Chavez, encountering the film's titular sorcerer, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, thanks to her ability to move between universes. She soon becomes the target of a Darkhold-corrupted Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), who wants to get her children back after the events of 2021's WandaVision by stealing the young woman's powers. Chavez ends up taking herself and Doctor Strange to Earth-838, where they encounter the Illuminati. The group, which is made up of Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (John Krasinski), Blackagar Boltagon/Black Bolt (Anson Mount), Peggy Carter/Captain Carter (Hayley Atwell), Maria Rambeau/Captain Marvel (Lashana Lynch) and Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor). The Illuminati is a group dedicated to dealing with massive threats. However, by the end of their encounter with Scarlet Witch, all are dead except Mordo.
Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Steve McNiven, the Illuminati first appeared in 2005's New Avengers #7, having been formed following the Kree-Skrull War. Like in the MCU, the Illuminati works behind the scenes to take care of massive threats and problems.
Directed by Sam Raimi from a script by Michael Waldron, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness proved a major success financially, earning more than $954 million worldwide against an estimated budget of $200 million. While those numbers put Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness against the first of the Sorcerer Supreme's two films, the sequel was not as well received critically. Currently, Multiverse of Madness holds a 74 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, while 2016's Doctor Strange has an 89 percent.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is available to stream now on Disney+. It's not clear at this time when Chavez and Doctor Strange will next appear in the MCU.
Source: Screen Rant