After years of rumors and speculation, Marvel Studios finally gave us some insight into their plans to introduce the X-Men to the MCU in the mid-credits scene of The Marvels.
Towards the end of the Captain Marvel sequel, Dar-Benn uses both Quantum Bands to create a gateway between Earth and Hala in an attempt to drain the energy of Earth's sun and reignite that of her home planet's. Monica asks Carol and Kamala to use their abilities to supercharge hers, and manages to close the rift, trapping herself in another universe in the process.
Then, in the mid-credits scene, Monica wakes up in a medical lab with her late mother, Maria (Lashana Lynch) by her side. Rambeau is overcome with joy, but Maria - who is actually this world's Binary - has no idea who she is. As Monica's confusion grows, a familiar voice asks "how's our patient," and a comic-accurate, fully CGI take on Hank McCoy, aka Beast (voiced by X-Men: The Last Stand's Kelsey Grammar), enters the room.
McCoy mentions Charles Xavier, which obviously suggests that there are more mutants/X-Men in this location, and Monica has entered their timeline. Whether it will prove to be the exact same universe as the one 20th Century Fox's movies take place in or a slightly ret-conned reality remains to be seen, however.
During an interview with EW, executive producer Mary Livanos was asked if she always knew that "The Marvels would be the movie to introduce the X-Men?"
"The notion that Monica ends up in an alternate universe with the hope that it could tie in with the X-Men was something I always had on my to-do list," she explained. "I love how in the comics, Carol Danvers as Binary spends some time with the X-Men in space, and I love the idea that in an alternate universe, it was Maria who beat Carol Danvers to the hangar back during the events of Captain Marvel, so she won and got those powers. That was something that was always really intriguing. Again, in Kelly Sue DeConnick's run of Captain Marvel, there's an incredible storyline where Carol essentially time travels and gives herself powers in the past, rather than the male Captain Marvel. That was always a really mind-bending, beautiful storyline that we wanted to bring to life in some way. So, we tried to capture that spirit with this, and of course, it hearkens back to their conversation on the porch, when Carol goes to visit Maria.
But I'm so delighted that Kevin [Feige] and folks were stoked about the idea of Binary and the fact that she does fit into the X-Men universe. As a fan, I was just absolutely floored and delighted that we got to get Beast in there and have a big old X, right behind Binary. It was bananas."
As exciting as the notion of the X-Men being a part of the MCU is, Marvel does have a habit of teasing things in these stingers that don't pay off for a long time... if at all. Next year's Deadpool 3 will feature Hugh Jackman's Wolverine (other classic mutant characters are also rumored to appear), but we may be waiting a while for official word on an actual X-Men MCU reboot.
"In Marvel Studios’ The Marvels, Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol’s estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau. Together, this unlikely trio must team up and learn to work in concert to save the universe as The Marvels.”
The film also stars Zawe Ashton and Park Seo-joon. Nia DaCosta directs, and Kevin Feige is the producer. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Mary Livanos and Matthew Jenkins serve as executive producers. The screenplay is by Megan McDonnell, Nia DaCosta, Elissa Karasik and Zeb Wells.
The Marvels will begin its international rollout on November 8, and was recently granted a China release on November 10, day-and-date with North America.
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