Just a few days after a new set photo teased the formation of theIlluminati, more set photos fromAvengers: Infinity Warhave surfaced with the same four actors seen on a destructive set. While very little was revealed about the scene being filmed, the Atlanta set was being used as a New York City street, with New York taxicabs spotted amid plenty of destruction. It’s unclear what happened, or how this New York street was destroyed, but it could very well have been the work of Thanos (Josh Brolin). Still, this photo shows Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Stephen Strange/Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Bruce Banner/Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Wong (Benedict Wong) together, uniting the Illuminati.
Marvel Studios PresidentKevin Feigeconfirmed last October thatAvengers: Infinity Warwill in fact introduce the Illuminati, although he wouldn’t specify what characters would be a part of that group. Both Iron Man and Doctor Strange were charter members of this group in the comics, and it certainly seems possible that Wong and Hulk could be the new members, given Strange’s connection to Benedict Wong’s Wong, and Tony Stark’s “science bros” connection to Bruce Banner/Hulk. In the comics, the group also included Namor and theInhumanscharacter Black Bolt, along with characters Marvel Studios does not control, such as Professor X from theX-Menand Mr. Fantastic fromFantastic Four. These photos were taken from the Atlanta set by theAssociated Press.
In the Marvel Comics, the Illuminati was created as a secret society to share information with each other, without the knowledge of the other Avengers or other superheroes they were affiliated with. The group was formed at the end of the Kree-Skrull war, when it was learned that several of these heroes possessed information that could have stopped the war much earlier. Other members of the Illuminati were Captain America, Black Panther and Amadeus Cho, who was recently announced as the new Incredible Hulk in the Marvel Comics, although he has yet to debut in the MCU. Perhaps this character could be introduced inAvengers: Infinity Waror evenAvengers 4, perhaps joining Iron Man and Hulk as the latest addition to theScience Bros.
Despite Kevin Feige confirming thatAvengers: Infinity Warwill introduce the Illuminati, no further details were given, and it will be interesting to see what will be used as the impetus for this group being formed. TheAvengers: Infinity War synopsisreleased last month revealed that the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from theaters too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. This nefarious villan’s goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment, and the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.
It was also recently confirmed thatInfinity War and Avengers 4are being shot separately, after the studio had originally planned to shoot both movies simultaneously. Now the production will wrap after finishingAvengers: Infinity War, with the cast and crew taking a brief break before returning to filmAvengers 4. TheAvengers 4title will likely not be revealed until afterAvengers: Infinity Warhits theaters on June 25, 2025, since Kevin Feige confirmed that the title alone is a spoiler forAvengers: Infinity War. Take a look at the latest set photos from the Atlanta set ofAvengers: Infinity Waras production continues.
