In March 2019, the highly anticipated first solo outing for Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers will finally take flight when Captain Marvel soars into theaters across the nation. This is a film that’s been years in the making, and as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first female-led movie, it’s safe to say it’s long overdue, as well.
However, just because fans have been chomping at the bit for this film doesn’t mean there aren’t some strict expectations that accompany their anticipation. With that in mind, here are five things we want to see in Captain Marvel:
Nick Fury Losing His Eye
In the Captain Marvel trailer, we got our first look at the de-aged Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury, complete with two eyes. Of course, by the time he shows up in Iron Man, he’s sporting his iconic eye patch, so it’d certainly make sense for Captain Marvel to answer the question of how he loses his left eye in the first place. In Captain America: Winter Soldier, we heard Fury say, “The last time I trusted someone, I lost an eye,” and in the trailer, there’s a shot of him holding an ice pack to his face while a dead Skrull is lying on an exam table. Could we see Fury’s misplaced trust in one of the shape-shifting aliens cost him an eye?
Ronan as a Hero
Lee Pace will reprise his role as Ronan the Accuser in Captain Marvel after serving as the primary antagonist (and dying) in Guardians of the Galaxy. However, fans of the comics know that Ronan isn’t always depicted as a villain. In fact, he’s fought alongside the heroes of the Marvel Universe on a number of occasions. Given that he was handled so poorly in GotG, Captain Marvel should make a conscious effort to offer Ronan a bit of redemption by portraying him as a hero, at least briefly. In fact, the film can even plant the seeds for his eventual descent to villainy to bring things full circle, while still giving the character some much-needed TLC.
S.W.O.R.D.
The Sentient World Observation and Response Department, or S.W.O.R.D., is to space what S.H.I.E.L.D. is to Earth. Under the leadership of Abigail Brand, S.W.O.R.D. has featured in a number of Captain Marvel stories in the comics, and with a portion of this film taking place off-planet, the organization’s inclusion seems like a no-brainer. Of course, one could argue that Starforce will fill the role of token space group, but even a slight nod to S.W.O.R.D. would go miles in terms of pleasing hardcore comic book fans.
Kamala Khan
After Carol Danvers became Captain Marvel, the mantle of Ms. Marvel was filled by a young Pakistani-American girl named Kamala Khan. An Inhuman and a massive Carol Danvers fan, Kamala tops many viewers’ wishlists for additions to the MCU, and with Captain Marvel paving the way for the future of Marvel Studios, introducing Kamala would be a smart move on the studio’s part. Of course, with the film taking place in the 1990s, the most sensible option would be to include an infant-aged Kamala as an Easter egg, but just by doing that, it sets the wheels in motion and establishes a connection between Kamala and Carol that can pay off in future projects.
A Nod to Infinity War/Avengers 4
In the post-credits scene of Avengers: Infinity War, we saw Nick Fury attempt to page Captain Marvel just moments before turning to dust thanks to Thanos’ Infinity Gauntlet snap. That being said, Captain Marvel must include some sort of nod to either that moment, the upcoming fourth Avengers film or, ideally, both. Whether it’s in a post-credits scene or a flash-forward in the main part of the narrative, acknowledging Carol Danvers’ role in the next chapter of The Avengers is a surefire way to get fans even more hyped up for the next film on Marvel Studios’ slate.