The Illuminati In MCU Explained - What To Expect!

6. The Cabal

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Illuminati
Marvel Comics

Despite often coming across as self-righteous, arrogant a**holes at times, the Illuminati is in theory a group of heroes whose intentions are meant to serve the betterment of Earth and its inhabitants.

Following Secret Invasion, though, comic book readers got to see an all-out villainous spin on such a team.

Brought together by the ever-nefarious Norman Osborn, a group known as the Cabal was formed in a similar mould to the Illuminati. Consisting of Osborn and fellow supervillains Doctor Doom, Loki, the Hood, Emma Frost and Namor - with the Sub-Mariner famed for how he's flitted from hero to villain over the decades - the idea behind the Cabal was for these rogues to meet in secret to exchange information and help each other out.

Of course, villains being villains, the Cabal didn't last long, for all involved were actually scheming against one another as they looked to get one over on their cohorts.

While it certainly looks like the Illuminati is coming to the fore in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it may well be that a take on the Cabal likewise makes its way to the MCU at some point down the line.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks/Saints, Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.