The Marvels Release Date, Cast, Trailer, Plot And More Details
"The Marvels" is almost here, and it promises to take us higher, further, faster.
The upcoming MCU flick will serve as a proper sequel to the original "Captain Marvel," but it will also introduce two Disney+ characters to the big screen for the first time. That's right — as the third film of Phase 5, "The Marvels" will focus on three of the franchise's most exciting heroes: Carol Danvers (aka Captain Marvel), Monica Rambeau (aka Photon), and Ms. Marvel (aka Kamala Khan) as they find themselves joining forces in a new cosmic adventure.
But what exactly do we know so far about the new superhero film? Will the Skrulls show up? Are there any other major MCU players involved? And who are the creatives working behind the scenes? Well, grab your magic bangle and get suited up as we take a look at everything we know so far about "The Marvels."
When will The Marvels be released?
"The Marvels" has had a rocky road to theaters. Originally, the film was set for February 17, 2023, which would have made it the first installment of Phase 5. However, the filmmakers needed more time to perfect the film, so Marvel decided to swap "The Marvels" with "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," pulling the "Ant-Man" threequel from its July 28 release date and giving it the original "Marvels" landing pad of February 17.
However, on the very day that "Quantumania" hit theaters, it was reported that Disney was shifting "The Marvels" yet again, pushing it back to November 10, 2023. But what was the reasoning behind kicking "The Marvels" further down the release schedule?
According to reports, studio insiders have said the movie needed additional time in post-production. And honestly, we can't complain too much about that. The MCU has come under a lot of fire recently for its shoddy VFX work, largely a result of the studio's hurried release schedule. So if it takes more time to get everything working smoothly, that's all right with us. This decision also coincided with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige saying that the MCU would be slowing down its Disney+ output to ensure higher quality, as well as the absolute shellacking "Quantumania" received from critics. Hopefully, this extra time will give "The Marvels" the boost it needs to shine on the screen.
Who is starring in The Marvels?
"The Marvels" boasts an incredibly talented cast, led by three female stars at various stages of their careers — from an Academy Award-winning A-lister to a rising young star. Needless to say, Oscar-winner Brie Larson is returning as Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel. Prior to joining the MCU, Larson wowed critics and audiences in projects like "Room," "Short Term 12," and "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," and has since become part of the "Fast and Furious" franchise in its 10th installment, "Fast X."
Joining her for this turn on the big screen is Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, who was introduced in "WandaVision." In addition to her superhero work, Parris has received plaudits for her work in movies like "Candyman" and "If Beale Street Could Talk," along with AMC's "Mad Men." Then, of course, there's Iman Vellani, who's making her big screen debut as Kamala Khan. "Ms. Marvel" was Vellani's first professional acting job, and she absolutely wowed everyone as the wannabe superhero.
But who will be joining Larson, Parris, and Vellani in the film? Well, Zawe Ashton plays the story's big bad, a Kree revolutionary named Dar-Benn. You may have already seen Ashton in the horror flick "Velvet Buzzsaw," the period drama "Mr. Malcolm's List," or the British dramedy series "Fresh Meat." Meanwhile, Samuel L. Jackson will be putting on the eyepatch again to play Nick Fury.
Are there any other new or returning faces?
With teenage superhero Kamala Khan taking joint-center stage in "The Marvels," it just makes sense that her family will make an appearance, too. Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur and Saagar Shaikh will reprise their roles as Kamala's mom Muneeba, her dad Yusuf, and her brother Aamir, respectively.
Meanwhile, a character from Monica and Carol's shared past will also be returning to the big screen. Lashana Lynch's appearance as Maria Rambeau in "The Marvels" was one of the last to be confirmed, but it was expected after Lynch was seen hanging out with Teyonah Parris and "Marvels" director Nia DaCosta in London, where the movie was filmed. Although it was revealed that Monica's mom and Captain Marvel's BFF died of cancer in "WandaVision," she is expected to return in flashbacks, which will undoubtedly inform the relationship between Carol and Monica in the present day.
Movie fans will get another treat in the form of South Korean actor Park Seo-joon of "Parasite," who is set to join the MCU. Marvel is keeping Park's upcoming role under wraps, but "The Marvels" producer Mary Livanos confirmed he'll be an ally to Captain Marvel and her newfound team. Rumors also suggest that he'll be closer to the former Kree warrior than anyone would have guessed, as he may be her secret husband — but only time will tell.
Will any other MCU heroes appear in The Marvels?
In October 2023, a teaser for "The Marvels" got MCU fans buzzing, as it showed a quick glimpse of the Bifrost — the rainbow bridge that allows certain superpowered Asgardians to travel around the universe. The teaser also featured Carol Danvers telling Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan that she'd "called a friend." Does that mean a Norse god might aid Captain Marvel and company in their fight against Dar-Benn?
Well, in November 2023, we got a solid answer. In the film's final trailer, we witness the arrival of Valkyrie, played by Tessa Thompson. The new king of Asgard, Valkyrie has shown up in multiple MCU films, such as the "Thor" movies and "Avengers: Endgame." In fact, in the final showdown with Thanos, the Pegasus-riding warrior teamed up with Carol Danvers — and a host of other female heroes — to battle the Mad Titan and his minions.
So it makes sense that Valkyrie would help out Captain Marvel if things are getting serious. (It also makes sense that Tessa Thompson would appear in the film, as she previously starred in "Little Woods," directed by "The Marvels" filmmaker Nia DaCosta.) In her quick appearance, Valkyrie tells lone wolf Carol, "You can stand tall without standing alone," encouraging her to become more of a team player if she wants to save the universe.
What is the plot of The Marvels?
The official plot synopsis for "The Marvels" reveals that our three leading ladies are in quite the superpowered predicament. As the synopsis explains, "When [Carol Danvers'] 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 SABER astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau." Whenever one of these heroes uses their powers, all three switch places with one another. That's not great in the best of circumstances — it's even worse when you're dealing with a Kree warrior armed with a Ronan the Accuser-style Cosmi-Rod.
Of course, the most important element of the film will be the relationship between Carol, Kamala, and Monica. We know Kamala will be fangirling out upon meeting her idol, Captain Marvel, and she'll be pretty impressed by Monica too. As Kevin Feige explained to Entertainment Weekly, "The great thing about Kamala ... is that she's not unlike Tom Holland's Peter Parker in 'Civil War.' She can't believe she's with these other heroes and can't believe that she finds herself in these places."
Perhaps more interesting will be the relationship between Carol and Monica. While Captain Marvel was an important part of Monica's childhood and best friends with her mom, the late Maria, "WandaVision" showed us that Monica harbors some resentment against Carol for disappearing from their lives. In short, there will be no shortage of cosmic and personal drama in "The Marvels," and we can't wait to see it go down.
Who is directing The Marvels?
Nia DaCosta is making history by helming "The Marvels." Not only is she the fourth woman to ever direct an MCU movie, she's both the youngest person and first Black woman to do so. DaCosta made a name for herself by directing the crime drama "Little Woods," which starred Tessa Thompson and Lily James and won the Nora Ephron Prize at the Tribeca Film Festival. She then impressed horror fans by directing 2021's "Candyman" reboot, based on a script co-written by horror maestro Jordan Peele.
Now she finds herself handling the challenge of making a "Captain Marvel" sequel while trying to balance screen time between three leads. DaCosta elaborated on this a bit to Inverse, saying, "A lot of what we've been thinking about is what part of the journey do we need to see for each of them? How do we honor the part of the story they're at in terms of the canon, while also within our story making them equal?"
DaCosta also revealed why she's the perfect pick for the upcoming flick — because she absolutely loves this stuff. "I like to call myself Marvel trash," she told Inverse. "Actually, my friends call me that. I will go see all the movies. Even if it's bad, I'm like, 'Well, there are some good things about this.' I grew up with the comics. I grew up watching the Spider-Man cartoon and the Fantastic Four. I knew a lot about the Marvel universe in general."
Who wrote the screenplay for The Marvels?
Just like it sometimes takes a team of superheroes to tackle a problem, sometimes it takes a team of screenwriters to produce the best possible story. For proof, look no further than "The Marvels," which boasts four scribes penning the script.
One of the screenwriters is director Nia DaCosta, and she's joined by Megan McDonnell, who became a Marvel darling after her work on "WandaVision." As a member of the writing team, McDonnell is the one who came up with the Ship of Theseus conversation between Vision and White Vision, and she's also working on the upcoming "Agatha: Darkhold Diaries."
The third writer in the room is Elissa Karasik, who worked on the Disney+ series "Loki," notably the episode "The Variant," where the god of mischief and Mobius M. Mobius search apocalyptic events for a murderous Sylvie. As for the fourth writer, that's Zeb Wells, who's contributed to "Robot Chicken" and "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law." He's also written a ton of comics, including "Venom: Dark Origin" and quite a few Spider-Man stories.
Where does The Marvels fit into the MCU?
With three different heroes, there's a lot to know before watching "The Marvels." The film will pick up in the immediate aftermath of the "Ms. Marvel" post-credits scene, where Kamala Khan — now a full-fledged superhero thanks to her mutant abilities and powerful bangle — suddenly vanished from her bedroom and was replaced by Carol Danvers, setting up the events of the upcoming film.
As for Carol herself, we were introduced to the super-powered space ranger in "Captain Marvel," where she was initially operating as a Kree soldier named Vers. After crash-landing on Earth and running across Nick Fury, she slowly learned her true identity, that the Kree were manipulating her, and that her sworn enemies — the shapeshifting Skrulls — were actually victims in need of a hero. After coming into her full potential and defeating the Kree, Carol joined the Avengers in "Avengers: Endgame" and played an instrumental part in defeating Thanos during the Battle of Earth.
Meanwhile, "WandaVision" reintroduced Monica Rambeau, who was last seen as a child in "Captain Marvel." Monica returned from the Snap and went back to work at SWORD, where she became a key player in dealing with Wanda Maximoff. Along the way, Monica gained superpowers of her own, and after saving the town of Westview, she was approached by a Skrull agent and asked to join Nick Fury in space, as the former SHIELD agent had been spending his time in the cosmos. However, "The Marvels" is set after his return to Earth in "Secret Invasion."
Is there a trailer for The Marvels?
An official trailer for "The Marvels" dropped in July 2023, promising a cosmic blast for MCU fans. Set to the Beastie Boys' "Intergalactic," the trailer opens with Carol Danvers traversing the universe solo in the cold of space. However, she quickly finds herself up against a brand new threat in Dar-Benn, who seems to have a serious grudge against our hero. "Captain Marvel," the Kree zealot growls. "You took everything from me, and now, I'm returning the favor."
It appears that Dar-Benn has a bangle very similar to the one worn by Kamala Khan, and after activating its power, the villain somehow entangles the light-based powers of Carol, Kamala, and Monica Rambeau. While that's bad news for our three heroes, it's absolutely delightful for MCU audiences, as we'll get to see these three switching places constantly when trying to fight their foes. It'll also force lone wolf Carol to work with a team, with Monica telling her, "You are not the only thing standing between this and the universe."
The trailer also highlights a giddy Kamala teaming up with Nick Fury to take out some bad guys, a whole bunch of adorable Flerken kittens floating through a spaceship, and Carol Danvers showing off some of her dance moves in what seems to be a fun musical number. The trailer ends with Goose the Flerken on the attack, gobbling up a bunch of bad guys to Kamala's horror.
What MCU movies and shows should you watch before seeing The Marvels?
Before "The Marvels" hits theaters, there's quite a bit of content to get caught up on. Happily, it's all available to stream on Disney+. First, check out "Captain Marvel," which introduced Carol Danvers to the MCU. In addition to watching Carol reclaim her identity and defend the Skrulls, you'll be treated to plenty of '90s references, the coolest cat in cinema, and a pretty awesome soundtrack. It also wouldn't hurt to see her take on Thanos in "Avengers: Endgame."
You'll also need to see "WandaVision." While the series mainly focuses on Wanda Maximoff's struggles with grief and depression in the wake of Vision's death, it also introduces an adult Monica Rambeau, who gains her light-based powers as a result of the Scarlet Witch's actions. Next, you'll want to watch "Ms. Marvel." The series introduces us to the excitable Kamala Khan, who's the world's #1 Captain Marvel fan. In an attempt to win a Captain Marvel cosplay contest, she unearths a magical bangle that unlocks her own superhuman capabilities. Along the way, she has to battle djinn, deal with her high school crush, and juggle her superhero dreams with her responsibility to her family, religion, and culture.
If you want a really deep dive beyond the origins of the three main characters, "Secret Invasion" will fill in what Nick Fury has been up to post-Snap. The series covers his fight against a rogue army of Skrulls and their plans for world domination, as well as the emotional journey he undergoes with it.
What has Carol Danvers been doing since 1995?
One of the biggest questions going into "The Marvels" is: "What has Carol Danvers been doing since 1995?" Even her reappearance in "Avengers: Endgame" didn't give much away. Thankfully, the official synopsis for the upcoming movie gives us a big hint, noting that while Carol has reclaimed her identity and defeated the Kree's Supreme Intelligence, "Unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe."
The movie is expected to be set in 2025, so Carol has now been flying around the universe for 30 years. As "Secret Invasion" revealed, she and Nick Fury ultimately failed in their mission to find the Skrulls a new home. But it sounds like Captain Marvel has dedicated herself to other worthy fights instead. After all, shouldering the burden of protecting the entire universe also seems like the only conceivable reason that Carol has been so absent from Maria and Monica's lives.
It also seems likely that Carol will be holding tightly onto a few secrets from those missing years as well. It's even possible that she got married. It's highly speculated that Park Seo-joon's character will be Prince Yan, the ruler of a musical planet where the inhabitants communicate through song. This marriage is something that hails from the comics, and even if it is just a front for a temporary alliance, Carol having a husband is definitely an interesting twist for someone who's so insistent on going it alone.
Who is Dar-Benn?
Zawe Ashton is making her MCU debut as main villain Dar-Benn, a Kree revolutionary warrior who wants revenge on Captain Marvel. What's really interesting about this casting is that Dar-Benn is historically male in the comics, but Marvel has updated the character to produce a superhero film with four female leads. However, many of Dar-Benn's core characteristics and motives are taken straight out of the comics.
Dar-Benn's hatred of Captain Marvel, who she calls "the Annihilator," comes from Carol's actions after 1995. By defeating the Supreme Intelligence, she destabilized the Kree Empire, which seems to have left a power vacuum (leading to new enemies emerging across the universe). But the fanatical Dar-Benn is ready to end the ongoing Kree civil conflict and rebuild the Empire's legacy — and she is willing to wage a war against other worlds to do it.
In the trailer, Carol warns, "She's targeting every planet we call home." Unfortunately, in the comics, Dar-Benn succeeds with his plan, though his reign is short-lived. However, this doesn't mean the same is in store for Ashton's iteration of the character. Having been reimagined for the big screen means a new plotline is fair game too.
Monica and Carol's fractured relationship will be central to the film
While Iman Vellani's Kamala Khan will be champing at the bit to meet her longtime hero and namesake Captain Marvel, Teyonah Parris's Monica Rambeau will likely be less enthusiastic about reuniting with her estranged aunt. The relationship between Carol and Monica was revealed in "WandaVision": Having been a victim of Thanos' Snap, Monica returned five years later to discover her mother, Maria, had died from cancer. Now she's dealing with some serious grief, as well as anger towards Carol for seemingly abandoning her and her dying mom.
The problems between them will definitely be tricky to navigate and there's no easy fix for either of them — especially Monica, who feels completely betrayed. However, the movie's synopsis also teases that, along with Kamala, "this unlikely trio must team up and learn to work in concert to save the universe as The Marvels." So, it sounds like saving the world together might be just what these two need to start working through their issues.
How are the Marvels connected to the Ten Rings?
Carol, Monica, and Kamala — collectively known as the Marvels — having light-based powers is what leads to Dar-Benn's entanglement, aka the premise of the film. But each of their powers is different, and in the trailer, Monica tells Kamala's parents that their daughter's ability to turn light into physical matter is unlike anything they've ever seen before.
If you've seen "Ms. Marvel," you'll know that Kamala is a Noor-wielding Djinn who channels her powers through her ancestral bracelet. This is unlike Carol and Monica, whose powers are a result of contact with other mystical forces (i.e., the Tesseract and Wanda's Westview force field). But it is similar to those of Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), who uses the legendary Ten Rings to manipulate energy into blasts.
Not only are their powers similar, but the design and wearability of the bracelet and rings have led to theories that there might be a deeper connection between them. MCU fans already know that Kamala's bracelet hails from the Noor Dimension, and given that there's very little information about the origin of the Ten Rings (even for Carol, who's traversed the universe), it's possible they come from the same place. This is pure speculation at this point, but the Marvels will surely put their heads together to learn more about their individual powers, and Kamala may just uncover this connection herself.
Will any of the characters die?
"The Marvels" star Brie Larson has addressed her fate in the MCU ahead of the upcoming film, after it was reported that she'd signed a seven-picture deal with Marvel. This suggested that Carol Danvers would be sticking around to save the galaxy for a long while yet, but Larson had something different to say on the subject. Responding on Twitter, she categorically denied the claims, and later said that she had no idea if her character would even appear in future MCU vehicles. This obviously leaves Carol's fate uncertain, with two young superheroes ready to take up her mantle should Dar-Benn succeed in her mission.
Meanwhile, Kamala's appearance in "Avengers: Secret Wars" is seemingly confirmed, so we can definitely expect to see this young superhero survive her encounter with the Kree revolutionary and return again soon. With Simu Liu also signed onto the project, perhaps she and Shang-Chi will get a chance to learn more about how their powers are connected.
But what about the third member of the Marvels? Unlike Vellani, Teyonah Parris is not currently slated to make another MCU appearance at this point. However, with Carol probably feeling some guilt that her best friend died while there was nothing she could do, it seems unlikely she's about to let anything happen to her niece if she can help it. She could even sacrifice herself to protect Monica, but here's hoping all three leading ladies make it out alive.