While 2021 was a huge year for Marvel content, the studio shows no signs of slowing down. In 2022 and into 2023, the MCU is set to release a slew of new sequels, such as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Wakanda Forever, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and more. Among these sequels is Brie Larson's rather mysterious The Marvels.
While 2019's Captain Marvel was largely a solo, origin story, Brie Larson's Carol Danvers will be part of an ensemble in her sequel film which not only includes Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan's Ms. Marvel but also WandaVision's Teyonah Parris' Monica Rambeau.
While the Ms. Marvel Disney+ series is expected to lay some of the groundwork for the upcoming film, Captain Marvel's Brie Larson is no stranger to social media and is even leading the charge for the inevitable theories that are sure to lead up to The Marvel's early 2023 release.
Captain Marvel's Brie Larson Teases Sequel's Villain
Brie Larson, who plays Carol Danvers (aka Captain Marvel), recently posted photos of herself and The Marvels actress Zawe Ashton on Twitter wearing apparel that may offer hints about the Marvel film.
While Ashton is shown wearing a sweater that reads "Joy Division," Larson's shirt says "Villian Lovers Club," and her tweet reads as follows:
"Marvel fans, start your theories"
News that Zawe Ashton had been cast as The Marvel's main villain was first shared in February 2021. However, there is still no official confirmation as to which Marvel villain the actress will be portraying in the upcoming sequel.
A Picture's Worth a Thousand Theories
In regards to those "theories", some Marvel fans have speculated that Ashton could be portraying a Skrull, which would factor into Marvel's Secret Invasion starring Captain Marvel star Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.
However, other rumors and reports have claimed the actress will actually be playing a gender-swapped Kree character named Ael-Dan who had a small presence in Marvel Comics.
Now, as to the image Larson shared, the shirt she's wearing appears to be the most obvious hint. The MCU has leaned more into relatable baddies and anti-heroes in recent years; and even though it's no secret that Ashton is playing the villain, perhaps her character will be well-liked or not necessarily evil in the eyes of Captain Marvel, her co-stars, and even the audience.
In addition, some fans online have speculated that the photos are implying a connection or relationship between Carol Danvers and this antagonist, especially if the rumors prove to be true and her character was intentionally gender-swapped.
It's also worth noting that Ashton's sweater is a nod to the late '70s band Joy Division and could be a reference to their bond or their characters.
In fact, one of their best-known songs was "Love Will Tear Us Apart" which, oddly enough, was almost the title of Venom: Let There Be Carnage.
Also, this isn't the first time music has helped tell a Captain Marvel story. In the 2019 film, '90s songs weren't only used to reflect the time period of the film but also to support specific character moments, such as No Doubt's "Just a Girl." Carol also wore a Nine Inch Nails t-shirt throughout most of the movie.
While the exact meaning of Brie Larson's shared photos is up for debate, it's great to see Marvel fans getting some additional clues about this upcoming film from one of its stars.
Who Zawe's villain will turn out to be and how and why The Marvels' will involve Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan remains the sequel's biggest questions.
The Marvels will debut in theaters on February 17, 2023.
