Unlike the norm in the MCU, "The Marvels" is a film that can stand on its own, without the obligation to watch this or that production before to understand the story – and mind you, the movie continues the stories of three very different characters: Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani). Still, if you want some fresh information in your memory before seeing it in the theater, we've gathered some important points so you won't miss anything in this new adventure.
WHO IS CAPTAIN MARVEL?
Introduction to the MCU: Captain Marvel (2019)
Last appearance: Ms. Marvel (2022)
Featured in: Captain Marvel (2019), Avengers: Endgame (2019), Shang-Chi (2021), Ms. Marvel (2022), The Marvels (2023)
Carol Danvers was a U.S. Air Force pilot when she suddenly found herself in the middle of a conflict between the Kree and Skrulls, two alien races she had never even heard of. Trying to save her mentor (Annette Bening), she was exposed to the energy of the Tesseract from the explosion of a reactor. She gained powers but barely survived. She was saved by the villain Yon-Rogg (Jude Law), who donated Kree blood to the hero with the intention of using her as a weapon to dominate the empire. To ensure her cooperation, he erased her memory.
Carol eventually discovers she was deceived but never fully recovers her memories. Alongside an inexperienced Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), she defeats her assailants and vows to find a new home for Skrulls, something that never materializes. Nevertheless, Captain Marvel becomes a guardian of the galaxy, acting in different conflicts, including as a crucial ally in the battle against Thanos (Josh Brolin) in Avengers: Endgame.
Admired by other heroes, she is consulted in relevant moments, such as when the Ten Rings of Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) are discovered by Wong (Benedict Wong). However, she prefers solitude to aligning with others.
WHO IS MONICA RAMBEAU?
Introduction to the MCU: Captain Marvel (2019)
Last appearance: WandaVision (2021)
Featured in: Captain Marvel (2019), WandaVision (2021), The Marvels (2023)
The daughter of pilot Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), Carol Danvers' best friend, Monica saw her "aunt" head into space in the 1990s in search of a home for the Skrulls, believing in the promise that she would one day return home. However, as the years passed, admiration for the beloved Captain Marvel gave way to resentment, especially for not understanding what kept her from being present with the people she loved.
Determined to follow in her mother's footsteps, Monica left behind the nickname "Lieutenant Trouble" and became a captain in S.W.O.R.D. Her impressive professional rise, however, was interrupted by the Blip, which victimized Monica and prevented her from being by Maria's side when she died from cancer complications.
Five years later, Monica returned to life and work, participating in efforts to investigate the strange events in Westview, a town dominated by the grieving Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). In an attempt to cross an energy barrier created by Wanda, the captain developed powers and proved central to resolving the conflict. As a result of her performance, Nick Fury called her into space to help him study an anomaly, where Monica is first seen in "The Marvels."
WHO IS MS. MARVEL?
Introduction to the MCU: Ms. Marvel (2022)
Last appearance: Ms. Marvel (2022)
Featured in: Ms. Marvel (2022), The Marvels (2023)
Kamala Khan's room leaves no room for doubt: she is obsessed with Captain Marvel. So when her grandmother Aisha sends her a bracelet that grants her special abilities, it doesn't take much effort to imagine her excitement. Of course, with great powers come all sorts of trouble, and the teenager is pursued by a group called the Clandestines, who wanted to break down the barriers between Earth and the Noor Dimension, as well as the Department of Damage Control, bureaucrats whose job is to repair the damage caused by villains and heroes.
Kamala eventually learns to control her powers and defeats all her adversaries as she also better understands her family's history. Success leads her to adopt the alias Ms. Marvel, in homage to Carol, as well as to discover a mutation in her DNA — one of the early hints at the X-Men in the Multiverse Saga.
However, just when she was finding a new kind of normalcy in her life, her bracelet suddenly lights up and, inexplicably, sends her into space. In her place emerges none other than Carol Danvers.
THE KREE'S DOMINATION MANIA
Since the first "Guardians of the Galaxy," when the MCU introduced Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace), the Kree have been seen as an authoritarian people with ambitions to expand their dominion beyond Hala — a description also emphasized by Carol Danvers' origin story. In "The Marvels," however, what was once an imposing and virtually invincible empire reveals a new facet: decay. And it is this reality that motivates the new MCU villain, Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton).
OTHER SKRULL REFUGES IN THE GALAXY...
In general, "Secret Invasion" has no influence on the events of "The Marvels," although the film follows Nick Fury immediately after this crisis on Earth. The only relevant information about the Skrull situation worth noting is the fact that there are other refuges in the galaxy. In the series, in a scene set in 1995, Talos (Ben Mendelsohn) mentions Emperor Dro'ge (Gary Lewis) as the leader of another Skrull colony. This name is relevant because, in "The Marvels," fans have the chance to meet him, as well as the population he governs on Tarnax IV.
THE MULTIVERSE IS A REALITY
After so many TV and film productions talking about the multiverse, explaining that different universes coexist in the MCU may be redundant. However, this reminder is relevant to understanding the threat that Carol, Monica, and Kamala are trying to combat in "The Marvels." This is because, as Dar-Benn executes her plan, she increases the chances of a rift between realities. For those who understand, half a word is enough...
WHO IS VALKYRIE?
Introduction to the MCU: Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Last appearance: Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Featured in: Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Endgame (2019), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), The Marvels (2023)
Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) is now the king of New Asgard, a nation on Earth where the survivors of Thanos' attack in "Avengers: Infinity War" reside. The head of state has, therefore, gone from being Thor's (Chris Hemsworth) right-hand woman to a true leader of the country, with autonomy to make decisions and rule as she sees fit.
However, this is not her first leadership role. In fact, the heroine led the army of Asgard's Valkyries for a long time until a defeat led her into exile and alcoholism. In Sakaar, she found a new home, working as a bounty hunter, where she not only met Thor but also Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo).
Together, as an improvised team, they defeated Hela (Cate Blanchett), and Valkyrie regained her confidence as a warrior, as well as broke her habit of isolation. Not surprisingly, she was in the rematch against Thanos in "Avengers: Endgame," where she met and fought alongside Carol Danvers.
WHO IS KATE BISHOP?
Introduction to the MCU: Hawkeye (2021)
Last appearance: Hawkeye (2021)
Featured in: Hawkeye (2021)
One of the most recent additions to the MCU, Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) made her debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in "Hawkeye." A pupil of Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) — although, it's worth noting, against the veteran Avenger's will — Kate proved to be a skilled archer as she faced the Tracksuit Mafia, Echo (Alaqua Cox), the Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio), Yelena (Florence Pugh), and even her mother, Eleanor Bishop (Vera Farmiga), who was directly involved in the season's crimes.
Like Kamala, Kate is a big fan of the Avengers, but her favorite hero is quite clear — and honestly, it couldn't be any different. After all, Hawkeye saved her life in the Battle of New York in 2012, making this casual reunion in the series a true realization for the young woman. Although she has learned a lot fighting alongside Clint, Kate still has much to learn about what it means to be a hero.
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