The following contains spoilers of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, currently in theater.
The Illuminati's new line-up is one of the most exciting Easter eggs in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. One member, in particular, made an unexpected comeback from a TV series that seemed to be long forgotten by the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although director Sam Raimi has made this character's entrance as subtle as possible, fans may have recognized Anson Mount from the 2017's Inhumans series as he reprised the role of Black Bolt in the new Doctor Strange movie.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ensured that Black Bolt's Inhuman background was the least exciting thing about the character by blending him into the Illuminati. The explosive introductions already had fans cheering for Patrick Stewart's Professor X from the X-Men movie series. He was then followed by the shocking entrance of Earth-838's "First Avenger," Captain Carter, Maria Rambeau's Captain Marvel and Fantastic Four's Mister Fantastic. Black Bolt seemed to be the most unnoticeable among these beloved cameos.
Even though the Inhumans' leader didn't make the strongest impression among viewers, his extraordinary power would earn their respect. Black Bolt's killer sonic voice executed Strange on Titan with merely a whisper, "I'm sorry," which placed him as one of the most destructive weapons among his Illuminati comrades. Director Sam Raimi also made his exit from the film unforgettable with a mind-melting horror effect.
However, it didn't seem like Marvel Studios was planning on rebooting the Inhumans project soon. For instance, the upcoming Ms. Marvel erases the protagonist's Inhuman origin with the Terrigen Mists -- the catalyst that activated Kamala Khan's powers in the comics. Instead, the studio chose to rewrite her superpower and origin altogether, avoiding any association with debatably the worst series in MCU history.
The first two episodes of Inhumans premiered in theaters in 2017, making it the first Marvel Television series to have an in-theater IMAX debut before airing on ABC. Unfortunately, despite the studio's effort to get potential viewers excited about the Inhumans, things only went downhill from there. Critics and fans slammed the project for weak characters and boring storylines. When Episode 8 premiered, there were far fewer viewers left than there were in the beginning. The seemingly promising project turned out to be an epic disaster.
Despite Inhumans' on-screen fallout, the comic book storyline was fascinating enough to maintain its popularity among fans. Avoiding on-screen references to the 2017 project seems like the logical decision for Marvel Studios. The characters and storylines of Inhumans, though, would have been a waste since they could potentially be a good fit into the MCU, and they used to be a success before the 2017's series.
Marvel Television introduced the concept of Inhumans to the MCU during the second season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The genetically altered Inhumans continued to pop up throughout the rest of the series. In the Season 2 finale, a box of Terrigen crystals was released into the ocean, causing a string of Terrigenesis transformations worldwide. As fans may remember, there was also a different design of the Darkhold that was introduced in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4.
Correcting past mistakes and never giving up is Marvel's superheroes' spirit. In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the studio adopted a similar strategic approach to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. by placing an Inhuman as a fascinating side character instead of the main protagonist, adding more to the film without drawing too much attention. The concept of Inhumans may have failed as a standalone project, but the storylines and characters bear potential as cameos around the MCU.
It seems that Marvel Studios is testing the water by reintroducing Black Bolt as a member of the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. With Anson Mount reprising his role as Black Bolt, it certainly feels like the beginning of a bigger plan.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is currently in theater.