Beyond only creating the portal to multiple universes, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness knocked down numerous fundamental obstacles within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The plot shifted from the MCU’s conventional Avengers squad to the Illuminati, a new collection of strong creatures from all over the Multiverse who rule over all reality.

The Illuminati made their imprint on the MCU by forcing fans to reconsider what was possible within the Marvel Studios umbrella, even if they were only on screen for a few minutes. Even with a familiar face in Hayley Atwell’s Captain Carter, who made the transition to live-action after What If…?, the MCU upped the ante by bringing in John Krasinski’s Reed Richards and Anson Mount’s Black Bolt to make the team even more formidable.

The Avengers and the Illuminati serve separate missions in the comics and on the big screen in the MCU, despite the fact that they exist in different realms. Following the release of Doctor Strange 2, the film’s chief writer went into greater depth about those discrepancies, as the Illuminati make their influence felt inside the larger realm.

After the Illuminati’s entrance in the most recent Marvel film, head writer Michael Waldron of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness discussed how the Avengers and the Illuminati differ in the MCU. In an interview with Inverse, Waldron explained that the Illuminati exist to “make the difficult decisions” that the Avengers can’t, which is why they’re so clandestine and “operate in the shadows:”

“There’s a line the Avengers won’t cross.” The Illuminati exists to accomplish what the Avengers cannot. To make the difficult choices. That is why they operate in the shadows, hoping to never meet. They’re happy to play in the shadows.”

Waldron addressed the “unanswerable question” of the empty chair on the Illuminati’s days in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, saying:

“That’s also an unanswerable question, but we discussed it extensively. Maybe that was an oversight. Perhaps the set [decorator] had a few more seats.”

“Fortunately, they wound up in a dimension with a futuristic memory-reading corporation where they could view each other’s pasts,” according to Vanity Fair.

Waldron: “That’s how it goes on occasion! I’m not sure if it’s in there, but I wrote a lot of dialogue for the Memory Lane [scene]. Basically, the fine print there is that they get to retain your memories as well, and you could be held accountable if any crimes are discovered.”

“That gives Dimension 838 a new perspective,” says Vanity Fair.

‘Waldron: “Our universe is a little more police state-like, a little more Orwellian than 838. Perhaps Memory Lane isn’t as harmless as it appears. I’m not sure how much of that will translate to the screen, but I’m looking forward to the novelization. I’ll get into it thoroughly.”

The chief writer also hinted that this version of the Illuminati might be the only one in any of the MCU’s universes. Despite the fact that the Illuminati met their untimely demise in Doctor Strange 2, the team’s premise establishes a group that will be crucial to the MCU’s future. This has a lot to do with the code that this squad follows, which is far more brutal than the Avengers’ throughout the past decade.

Above all, this collection of great heroes is tasked with making the difficult decisions that the Avengers are unable to make on a regular basis. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are tasked with saving as many people as possible, and they usually keep their word, whereas the Illuminati are forced to make decisions that may result in the death of one of their own, as seen in the latest MCU instalment with Doctor Strange. In theaters currently comes Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.