Just in case you didn't think Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness wasn't already big enough, it sounds like it may have gotten a whole lot bigger.
Giant Freakin Robot is reporting that the Sam Raimi-directed superhero sequel is all-set to introduce the Marvel Illuminati with the long-awaited Marvel Cinematic Universe debuts of Professor X, Mister Fantastic, and Namor the Sub-Mariner.
It would be best to take this report with a grain of salt for now, as Marvel Studios has yet-to-confirm anything, and if true, this would obviously be a major development. That said, the source does seem to have a decent track record. They recently reported on Don Cheadle appearing in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as War Machine, which was later confirmed by Cheadle himself, and also shared the news that Josh Brolin was set to reprise his role as Thanos in Eternals (and possibly as Cable in Deadpool 3). However, it'll probably be a while before we get any sort of confirmation on the latter story.
In the comics, these three characters along with Doctor Strange, Iron Man, and Black Bolt make up Marvel's Illuminati; a secret group of heroes that work together to share information in order to prevent future disasters. If they are, in fact, being introduced in the Doctor Strange sequel, then it's fair to assume that Strange may gather the leaders - minus the deceased Tony Stark and sidelined Inhuman - to gain their insight on how to stop a potential multiverse-shattering event.
Sam Raimi (Spider-Man trilogy) is in the director's chair with a screenplay from Jade Bartlett and Michael Waldron. Filming began in November in the United Kingdom, but it was put on hold in January due to a new lockdown in England. A restart was never officially announced, but it's believed to have resumed principal photography this month.
Benedict Cumberbatch is headlining the sequel as Doctor Stephen Strange with a supporting cast consisting of Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch, Benedict Wong as Master Wong, Rachel McAdams as Dr. Christine Palmer, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Karl Mordo, Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez, and Adam Hugill as Rintrah (rumored).
Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters March 25, 2022.