The term game-changer tends to get thrown around way too liberally when it comes to comic book movies, but we don't think it's an exaggeration to say that The Marvels' stinger will have massive ramifications for the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward.
You may have read the description or watched the leaked video already, but if not, be warned of major spoilers for the movie's mid-credits scene from this point on.
Towards the end of the MCU sequel, Dar-Benn uses both Quantum Bands to create a hole between Earth and Hala in an attempt to drain the energy of Earth's sun and reignite that of her home planet. 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.
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, but there's a good chance we'll find out more in Deadpool 3.
"The Marvels is far from the best Marvel Studios has to offer, but it's difficult not to get swept up in its infectious energy... to a point," we said in our review. "A disjointed third act lets it down, but a game cast and plenty of fun/funny moments elevate it above more lacklustre MCU fare (we're looking at you, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumnia)."
"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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