Who could all show up in the next prequel of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Filming has begun on Captain Marvel. To announce the endeavor, Marvel Studios has unveiled a behind-the-scenes photo of Brie Larson stepping into the cockpit of her fighter jet. Finally, we can revel in something other than leaked, awkward costume pictures and celebrate a movie that will surely stand out amongst the 20-plus film franchise that has become the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
This will be the MCU’s second prequel, and as we learned last year at San Diego Comic Con, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) will be returning to keep both eyes on Carol Danvers (Larson) and the simmering alien war between the Kree and Skrull empires. A ’90s set superhero adventure teetering on the edges of a cosmos soon to be protected by the Guardians of the Galaxy? Yes, please, and thank you. The notion set the comic book obsessed into the void of back issues, but the possibilities that were stirred seemed impossible within the mechanics of the industry.
Marvel doesn’t do things half way. When Captain America’s Civil War was needed, contracts were reworked and all Avengers assembled for the melee. So, if Nick Fury is set to return, that means his right hand man can’t be too far behind. As reported by Variety, Clark Gregg will indeed reappear on the big screen as Agent Coulson. Not only that, but to fill out the Kree roster, Jude Law‘s Mar-vell will be joined by Guardians of the Galaxy villains Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace) and Korath the Pursuer (Djimon Hounsou). All three are back from the dead… or in Coulson’s case, resurrected from the dungeons of ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Captain Marvel could easily transform into a deep dive of the MCU’s history. With a cast quickly expanding into epic proportions, I cannot help but begin speculating on who else might show up along the fringes of this narrative. Below I’ve scrapped together a few possibilities, a couple geeky hopes, and at least one ridiculous suggestion I’d love to see before death releases me from this burden of fandom.
- Hank Pym – Ant-Man opens in the year 1989, shortly before the events of Captain Marvel. As S.H.I.E.L.D. moves into its new offices over at The Triskelion, Pym confronts Howard Stark and Peggy Carter regarding their unauthorized research into the Pym particle. Infuriated, Pym removes himself from service to find comfort in the private sector. We know that doesn’t work out. Given his departure, it’s unlikely his character would bump into Fury and Coulson. Still, they’ve already spent that money on de-aging Michael Douglas once, so…
- Howard Stark and Peggy Carter – Meeting back up with this pair prior to Stark’s death in 1991 seems almost foreseeable. As founding members of S.H.I.E.L.D. Fury would have to answer directly to them at this point in time. In Iron Man 2, Fury bragged to Tony that he was good friends with his pops. It would be a geeky thrill to see this relationship twisted in some unpredictable fashion. Maybe they were not as tight as he would have Tony believe. Those big personalities tend to clash in the Marvel Universe.
- Alexander Pierce – Unless they recast him, I think it’s very unlikely that we’ll see Robert Redford return as the future Secretary of Defense. Although, it might be nice to get a quick peek behind the curtain of S.H.I.E.L.D. to see Hydra plotting and scheming.
- Obadiah Stone – Apparently, Jeff Bridges has been chomping at the bit to get back in the MCU. Like Coulson to Fury, Stane was a right hand man to Howard Stark. His diabolical side would have to remain dormant (at least publicly), but I can imagine his ambition steering his nose into sci-fi affairs he should leave alone. At the very least, I’d love to witness Stane marvel (pun intended) at the dastardly deeds of Ben Mendelsohn.
- Justin Hammer – Sam Rockwell was 22 years old when he played the Head Thug in 1990’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. As we saw in that film, he was a scrappy upstart criminal eager to please his masters. How cool would it be to see a young Justin trailing around Howard Stark and Nick Fury, desperate to gain their approval and adulation. Like Bridges, Rockwell has spoken of a possibility in returning to the MCU. He’s already done it once in the Mandarin-themed Marvel One-Shot, All Hail The King. It’s easy to bag on Iron Man 2, but even its most fervent detractors can agree that Rockwell was a highlight.
- Nova Prime – Let’s not just focus on the Earthbound crisis. Captain Marvel is going to war in space. With the return of Ronan and Korath, that might mean we’ll also be seeing the origins of the conflict that fractured the Kree empire. Before her tour of duty as Nova Prime, could we see Glenn Close operating as a badass Nova Corps pilot?
- Thanos – Just how did Ronan the Accuser and Thanos hook up in the first place? Make him a devil whispering on the kid’s shoulders, stirring Ronan’s contempt for outsiders and stoking the fires of the Kree/Skrull conflict. Hopefully Infinity War will establish The Mad Titan as a proper character and we’ll be able to experience him beyond his fine appreciation of asteroid recliners.
- Howard the Duck – Before he was captured in The Collector’s zoo, and before he could party with Yondu’s ravagers, Howard the Duck was a sarcastic jerk roaming the space ways looking for a little action. Here is the long shot cameo. I need it, though. Captain Marvel will probably be a much more serious affair than the weirdo pleasures of Guardians of the Galaxy, but the fiendish fowl is ready to claim some cinematic redemption. He is another gateway character into the wilder realms of the MCU, and mainstream audiences have only just scratched the surface. He’s wacky, a little icky, and a perfect satirical vessel for skewering our absurd Earth customs.