THE MARVELS Star Zawe Ashton Reveals Alternate Ending Which Featured The Death Of [SPOILER]

THE MARVELS Star Zawe Ashton Reveals Alternate Ending Which Featured The Death Of [SPOILER]

The Marvels star Zawe Ashton has confirmed the Captain Marvel sequel once featured a very different ending and that it seemingly resulted in the death of a fan-favourite superhero. Read on for details...

By JoshWilding - Feb 13, 2024 05:02 AM EST
Filed Under: The Marvels
Source: ComicBook.com

The Marvels recently hit Disney+ and a quick look online suggests that a lot of fans who skipped the Captain Marvel sequel in theaters are now reaching mostly very positive conclusions about the movie. 

Regardless of whether you loved or hated Carol Danvers' team-up with Monica Reambeau and Ms. Marvel, it's fair to say Dar-Benn was far from the best MCU villain we've ever seen. Zawe Ashton tried her hardest with what she was working with but the character was underwritten and too obscure for even hardcore comic fans to care about.

We've heard The Marvels underwent fairly extensive reshoots, and Ashton has now confirmed the movie it once boasted a very different ending...which potentially resulted in Captain Marvel's demise! 

"There was another ending that we did film where Brie and myself are kind of in space still having it out, and they kind of combust together, which was really amazing," the actress told ComicBook.com. "And that was just a day on wires hanging out with Brie, which is surreal and fun. But yeah, there were a few different plans, I think."

It seems likely Carol would have somehow survived (perhaps herself ending up stranded in a different reality) but Ashton confirms there was never a version of The Marvels where Dar-Benn made it out alive. 

"There was always going to be an epic death just because in terms of, I just think in terms of just bringing that story psychologically for Carol to a close I think was always the best thing," she explains. "You don't want to think, did she defeat her? Is this over? Is she going to be kind of doomed to this life of feeling guilty about this whole thing forever and ever?"

"Or is she going get this redemptive moment where Dar-Benn's out of the picture and then she gets to almost take on the mantle of what she was trying to do? It is a really redemptive arc for that character," Ashton adds. "I will say I did a day's diving training because there was going to be a lot of water involved in the original death."

There's clearly a very different cut of The Marvels somewhere in the hallowed halls of Marvel Studios that we'll never get to see. The fact this original ending was cut suggests something about it wasn't working, and we can't help wondering what might have been.

The Marvels became Marvel Studios' lowest-grossing movie of all time when it was released last November. It ended with Ms. Marvel setting out to assemble the Young Avengers, Captain Marvel returning to Earth, and Photon trapped on a world with the X-Men. For the time being, it's unclear when these plot points will next be addressed!

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TheyDont
TheyDont - 2/13/2024, 5:14 AM
Should have used it.
BobbyDrake
BobbyDrake - 2/13/2024, 5:29 AM
Missed opportunity
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 2/13/2024, 5:37 AM
You was that close, guys. That close.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 2/13/2024, 5:52 AM
If the whole universe is coming to an end (even multiverse) then I think they should be way less precious about character deaths.

They almost killed Ant Man at the end of Quantumania, which would at least have given that movie something. It would have been pretty impactful and it would've made Kang an actual threat, because he killed a beloved Avenger rather than just talking about killing rando variants.

If they killed Captain Marvel and stranded Photon in another universe, then that would have passed the legacy squarely down to Ms. Marvel which would again have been more impactful.

It also kinda clears the messy board for the next Avengers movie a lot.

Don't worry about that Endgame moment, you can have that in Secret Wars. Anyone who dies can come back in Secret Wars. Every actor who has ever played a Marvel character in any universe can come back as a Battleworld variant.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 2/13/2024, 7:09 AM
@ObserverIO - I kind of get the point your making but after having already killed off half the original Avengers basicaly only leaving Thor and Hulk active killing off potential replacements to the main roster prior to another Avenger movies post Endgame would be an odd path to go down (esp if Spider-man being available was in question).

That isn't to say avoiding deaths, just question doing so with any of the remaining lead characters from solo franchises. In terms of Antman 3 that could thus be killing off Hank or Janet for instance and/or leaving Scott alive but trapped ready to return for an Avengers movie without being a Variant. As for the Marvels leaving a kid still in high school with little training as the one remaining to be a main team Avenger would be dumb, she was the standout and likely work well as part of a more grounded Young Avengers team but for the main team it would be one of the two adults.

As is rumor suggested the plan was for the Avengers to loose in what was Kang Dynasty that that would be where someone like Danvers or Lang got snuffed if going there.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 2/13/2024, 7:16 AM
@Apophis71 - There's still too many characters. A Young Avengers, plus the legacy characters, plus the Thunderbolts, the Disney + characters, the Netflix-inherited characters, the multiverse characters and that's not even counting the remaining characters from the Infinity Saga.

That's a damn lot. Also of the three Marvels, I think Ms Marvel is the only one that people actually care about anyway.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 2/13/2024, 7:17 AM
@Apophis71 - But really, I'm not so much talking about the past decisions to not kill off Ant Man or Captain Marvel, but future decisions. They should feel a lot more free to have higher stakes if it's good for story momentum or even just for shock value.
ShimmyShimmyYA
ShimmyShimmyYA - 2/13/2024, 7:42 AM
@ObserverIO - not saying it’s you, but I’ve been voicing concerns about how many characters are in the money for a lil bit + whatever cameos and people just brush it off. It’s literally not possible unless the movie is like. 5 hours
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 2/13/2024, 7:48 AM
@ObserverIO - Too many for a main core Avengers team if looking at the full list from shows as well as films, sure, but that core team for an Avengers movie will most likely be around six lead characters from post Endgame films (certainly exclude any who haven't already been in a film first) and thus far only been 10 of those and won't include Nat (obviously) or any Eternals and as I say can't bank on Spiderman so...

...having other teams for street level DD team and D+ Young Avengers show (as unlikely it will make it to being a film before Secret Wars) is a side issue, was only talking about who would most likely make the main team and as good a character Ms. Marvel is turning into she aint it.

As to Thunderbolts that could easily be a one and done team for all we know currently unless we want Young Avengers and main Avengers to be one and the same thing which would be highly questionable having Kate and Wiccan on the main team if never been in a film properly at all.

As it currently stands the core Avengers is most likely gonna be a choice from a list limited to Captain America (Sam), Hulk, Thor, Shang-Chi, Dr Strange, Shuri, Antman, Wasp, Captain Marvel plus possibly adding/replacing some of that list with Spider-man depending on Sony, Bucky and/or Yelena depending on what transpires in Thunderbolts. So a selection from only realy nine or ten main candidates plus a few others who could tag along in supporting roles for the next time they assemble and unsure Dr Strange fits into that currently as also in another dimension currently and Thor seemed to have been taken off the table for now too. Different matter for Secret Wars however when there will likely be the backup team of those stuck in other dimensions or from other timelines etc and likely a LOT more characters on the playing board at verying points.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 2/13/2024, 8:16 AM
@ShimmyShimmyYA - Secret Wars really needs to be a two or three-parter because the Endgame-style final battle is literally gonna be about the length of one whole movie.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 2/13/2024, 8:17 AM
@Apophis71 - Agree that Young Avengers should be a TV movie/series. If Netflix had made The Defenders a theatrical movie, somehow, I don't think it would've done very well. They started building up Young Avengers on Disney+ and they should have them assemble on Disney+.

I think Avengers 5 and/or 6 and any other movie leading towards Secret Wars would be tying up all the plot threads left dangling before the end of the multiverse. The main team in Avengers 5 should probably include any major multiversal threads like the Spider-bros or Deadpool and Wolverine.

But with so many characters to deal with, they can afford to kill some off. Like you said that Thunderbolts would be a one and done. They don't necessarily need those characters for Avengers 5, so they could shockingly kill them with maybe one survivor for story effect. They can feel freer. Bigger epic stories. Red Weddings, etc. They don't have to think like misers in terms of their characters anymore, if the universe is actually wrapping up.
Ant Man and Wasp are expendable, imo. Janet less so because of her connection to Kang.

In the comics, all kinds of shit happened right before Secret Wars. Iron Man killed Captain America. Even more shockingly, Daredevil had a happy ending (no not that kind of happy ending, I mean, like his character was happy and had a good life in San Francisco).

That core team needs to be perfect, but there's so many players to consider. I even forgot Shang Chi when I was listing everyone. And there's the GOTG characters too.

There's so many. But yes, the core team will likely be much smaller, which gives them way more freedom in terms of other chess pieces on the board.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 2/13/2024, 8:23 AM
@Apophis71 - Oh and dude, I didn't even think about it till now, but there's also the FF!
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/13/2024, 10:07 AM
@ObserverIO - I agree. Them killing off MCU superheroes would actually be a way too keep engaging the audience. We've gotten used to the superheroes saving the day, but if they actually die we'd have no clue as to what's coming next or what to expect.

And as you've said, everybody can return as a variant in Secret Wars anyway. Just the variant dying is less impactful than a native MCU hero biting it. And that's why they should indeed dare to have some big MCU deaths.
ShimmyShimmyYA
ShimmyShimmyYA - 2/13/2024, 11:56 AM
@ObserverIO - it’s pretty much impossible even if it’s 2-3 parts if we’re honest , hopefully they follow the 2015 SW lead and have some displaced heroes be the center with the chaos / cameos around them, cause I feel like fans are expecting every character to have some role and that can’t happen lol

Also we’re 100% gonna see some CG actors
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 2/13/2024, 12:27 PM
@ShimmyShimmyYA - This is the way. Maybe with some D+ series to enrichen the world.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 2/13/2024, 6:29 AM
Regardless of opinions of some that Danvers should die I cast doubt on it having been that as how would both the rift be fixed and the star reignited if that was what they intended. MORE likely that the two burning up Carol would survive but showing a greater burning up like power level would tie into how she was able to fuel the star. Just simple logic, which I know some will say the film lacked, Zawe doesn't state Captain Marvel dies only that they both combust and combusting would be involved in reigniting a sun.

Anyway, watched the film yesterday and get the issues many have stated but it was fun even if more a middle of the pack MCU film (Ms. Marvel the standout, villain lacking) and better than Captain Marvel's first film. better than Thor, Thor 2 and Thor 4 for me, better than Antman 2 & 3 for me, better than Iron Man 2... As I say middle of the pack even if certainly not top 10 MCU (probably somewhere around 18-22 on my list).
Jefferys
Jefferys - 2/13/2024, 9:31 PM
@Apophis71 - oh that would make so much sense and definitely would have been better for the film overall. After Carol ignites the sun in the actual film my girlfriend and I turned to each other laughing at Carol being able to fix the problem had she had known with the way that the film had framed it.
Matchesz
Matchesz - 2/13/2024, 6:30 AM
They must know that there’s nowhere else to take Carol Danvers character. Any storyline moving forward with her is going to feel forced now. This is like the 5th alternate ending in the last couple phases. There is no real planning, I think the infinity saga succeeded because they planned how movies ended beforehand to plan the next one. Now they just keep throwing hail mary passes and fumbling.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 2/13/2024, 6:48 AM
Does anyone seriously care about anything that had to do with this disaster of a film? Let it die for us fans' peace.
WakandanQueen
WakandanQueen - 2/13/2024, 6:58 AM
Eh, that would have been kind of random and odd to happen in this type of movie tbh. Kind of prefer where Carol's currently at. But guess after how this film did she's never gonna become a proper character, isn't she?
mountainman
mountainman - 2/13/2024, 7:27 AM
They should have gone with the ending of Spaceballs, since that’s where the villain got her plan from too.
marvel72
marvel72 - 2/13/2024, 7:49 AM
Should kill off all the characters in this movie including Nick Fury.
MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 2/13/2024, 8:03 AM
Watched it Saturday. It is a bad as most have said. I have low expectations for this movie and it was as bad i thought it would be. I was kinda hoping it would be a pleasant surprise, and it wasn't. Her villian was awful. I did enjoy the interactions between the 3 leads, and the family was the best part.
WhateverItTakes
WhateverItTakes - 2/13/2024, 8:04 AM
Her and Brie combusting together?

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