The following contains spoilers for Ms. Marvel Episode 6, "No Normal," now streaming on Disney+.
The Marvels is an upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film that's as much of a sequel to the first season of Ms. Marvel as it is to the 2019 movie Captain Marvel. In fact, it's almost guaranteed to build on the most shocking revelation from Ms. Marvel's finale. That was the confirmation that Ms. Marvel wasn't an Inhuman but instead the MCU's first mutant. With this information, the movie follow-up would be wise to introduce a few other mutants.
Rogue has quite the history with Carol Danvers, the likes of which isn't positive. Likewise, Rogue has a much more romantic connection to the Cajun thief Gambit, who's yet to really receive his due in live-action. These two's presence in The Marvels would definitely make the movie more marketable, all the while instantly expanding the growing presence of mutants. Here's why Rogue and Gambit showing up in Captain Marvel 2 could benefit the movie and the MCU.
Rogue and Gambit Could Perfectly Fit Into The Marvels
In the comics, Rogue was a young ruffian who Mystique raised to be a mutant thief. That sees their group eventually run afoul of Carol Danvers, aka Ms. Marvel, who attempts to apprehend them. To stop her, Rogue tries to disable her by touching her, stealing her powers as she had done with others. Unfortunately for Carol, Rogues goes farther than ever, permanently taking her powers and putting Carol in a coma. That became a huge thing for both characters, especially for Carol, who had to overcome the event. Sadly, this power level has never been given to Rogue in live-action, with even some X-Men cartoon adaptations abandoning it.
In the case of Gambit, aka Remy Lebeau, he's long been a fan-favorite of X-Men enthusiasts ever since he debuted outside the comics in X-Men: The Animated Series. The smooth-talking Cajun card player is also known for his romance with Rogue, with the two currently married in the comics. Whereas Rogue had a prominent portrayal by Anna Paquin in the Fox X-Men movies, Gambit's role in that universe was far less substantial. Due to the Disney buyout of Fox, his intended solo film got shuttered, leaving Remy without a full deck. However, by introducing Gambit and Rogue as a mutant thief couple out of the gate in The Marvels, the MCU can finally bring the couple into live-action. It could and should also emphasize their mutation, making a narrative connection with Ms. Marvel's genetics.
Rogue Could Take Out Captain Marvel in the MCU
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Rogue's role in The Marvels might not be substantial, perhaps only showing her in an after-credits scene to set up her meeting Captain Marvel in a later film. In said movie, Rogue could finally steal Carol Danvers' powers, putting her out of commission and giving Rogue the powers that comic book fans are most familiar with. It would also mean an abrupt end to Captain Marvel, a character who's inarguably been incredibly controversial since her MCU introduction. After all, her sequel is being shared with two other heroines and isn't even called Captain Marvel 2, which says a lot.
From there, Rogue and Gambit could seek redemption by joining the X-Men, mirroring their evolution in the comics. At the same time, being introduced and having a bit of characterization outside the X-Men would keep the MCU from overusing that brand, developing mutant characters in other movies instead. This way, the MCU could organically build up to mutants being centerpieces, perhaps with the next saga after the Multiverse Saga being focused predominately on them. Those seeds can take root in The Marvels, though it might also lead to Captain Marvel's roguish downfall.
To see Captain Marvel's next adventure, The Marvels hits theaters July 28, 2023.