The Marvels 2023

The cinematic journey begins as a fleet of Kree warships converges on a ravaged planet, their destruction complete, before piercing the veil of a jump point. The villainous Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), leader of the Kree, uncovers a mysterious vessel containing a Quantum Band, an artifact eerily reminiscent of a common bangle. Her curiosity piqued by the possibility that another such relic exists, she sets her sights on identifying its potential owner.

In Jersey City, Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani) indulges in fantasies of teaming up with Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), but her reverie is abruptly disrupted when her bangle begins to glow. In a flash, she disappears, leaving behind only the faintest hint of digital residue.

Meanwhile, on a distant ship, Carol, accompanied by her loyal feline companion Goose, struggles to unravel the mystery surrounding the memories stolen from her by the Kree. Her attention is soon diverted when Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), commanding SABER station, contacts her about Monica Rambeau’s involvement in investigating an anomaly. Carol’s surprise stems not only from Monica’s sudden reappearance but also from the realization that she has grown so much since their last encounter.

As Carol flies to the moon to investigate further, she discovers evidence linking the anomaly to the Kree, specifically Dar-Benn. The situation takes a dramatic turn when Monica approaches the anomaly, her powers entwining with those of Carol and Kamala, creating a complex web of interdependencies.

Kamala finds herself suddenly clad in Monica’s suit, while Monica materializes on the moon, where she confronts Kree villains storming the surface, hell-bent on destroying Carol, whom they refer to as “The Annihilator”. As the mayhem unfolds, Carol is switched back into the fray, engaging the Kree forces before reporting her findings to Fury. The S.H.I.E.L.D. director reveals that he has been working closely with both Skrulls and Kree on peace negotiations.

In the aftermath of this chaotic sequence of events, Kamala returns home to a stunned family - mother Muneema (Zenobia Shroff), father Yusuf (Mohan Kapur), and brother Aamir (Saagar Shaikh) - and is left reeling from Carol’s unexpected visit. Monica, meanwhile, reconnects with Fury, her understanding of the power transfer involving Kamala now clarified.

On Tarnax, a pivotal conversation unfolds between Skrull Emperor Dro’ge (Gary Lewis) and Dar-Benn, who is driven by a singular mission to revitalize her homeworld of Hala. With calculated diplomacy, Dar-Benn attempts to persuade Dro’ge that their joint efforts are yielding fruitful results, but in reality, she seeks to weaken the Skrulls’ defenses, allowing her to harness Hala’s energy reserves for her own purposes.

Meanwhile, a series of unexpected switches ensues, as Kamala finds herself accidentally grasping Goose, who had ingested two Kree henchmen. The goons, now merged with Goose, launch a ferocious attack on the Khans’ domicile, prompting Carol to reappear at the scene and engage in a fierce battle against the attackers. In the midst of chaos, Monica also materializes at the Khan household, where she joins forces with her allies to repel the villains.

As order is restored, Kamala finds herself transported to Fury’s orbiting station, where she lends her assistance in fending off malevolent threats alongside the seasoned agent. Monica, meanwhile, ends up on the Khan family’s doorstep, only to be called upon to defend them once more. When Kamala attempts to demonstrate her extraordinary abilities, she inadvertently swaps places with Carol, prompting Monica to explain the intricate phenomenon of quantum entanglement.

As the two teenagers struggle to comprehend their predicament, they are suddenly hurtled through the sky by Monica’s still-developing flight capabilities. The trio eventually converges on Dar-Benn’s spacecraft, where they confront the cunning villain and her cohorts. Just as all hope seems lost, Carol bursts onto the scene, extricating Kamala and Monica from harm’s way.

With Dar-Benn’s schemes foiled for the moment, she relocates to the surface of Tarnax, initiating a plan that will drain the planet’s atmosphere and redirect it toward Hala. The heroes swiftly evacuate the Skrulls, ushering them onto their own vessel as Tarnax succumbs to ruin.

The Kree ultimately return to the now-breathable Hala, where Dar-Benn reiterates her conviction that Carol is directly responsible for the planet’s downfall, stemming from her destruction of the Supreme Intelligence. This cataclysmic event precipitated the Kree Civil War, which brought about Hala’s devastation in the first place. As Dar-Benn sets her sights on restoring her world’s sun, her trusted lieutenant Ty-Rone (Daniel Ings) cautions her that harnessing energy from the other Quantum Band could have catastrophic consequences for her own plans.

As Carol embarks on a mission to provide sanctuary for the Skrulls in New Asgard, she enlists the assistance of Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), who appears via the bifrost, bringing with her an air of mystery and an unparalleled understanding of intergalactic politics. The two share a moment of introspection, with Carol revealing her own reservations about forming alliances, only to be reassured by Valkyrie that this new dynamic may hold unexpected benefits for the star-spangled heroine.

Meanwhile, Monica arrives on the scene, her eyes locked on Carol as she works to repair the ship’s systems. Their reunion is marked by a palpable sense of longing and nostalgia, as they reconnect over shared experiences and unspoken emotions. Kamala, ever the curious and resourceful ally, joins forces with Carol and Monica, leveraging cutting-edge technology to access the memories of Dar-Benn, their elusive quarry.

As they delve deeper into Dar-Benn’s psyche, Monica is suddenly transported back in time, her mind flooded by a poignant memory of her mother Maria (Lashana Lynch) sharing tender moments with Carol. The emotional impact of this flashback proves too great for Monica to bear alone, and she breaks the mental link, seeking solace in a comforting embrace from Carol and Kamala.

With their bond growing stronger, the trio - now unofficially dubbed “The Marvels” - sets its sights on Dar-Benn’s next target: the planet Aladna. As they converge on this new battleground, Kamala learns that her family is receiving protection from none other than Nick Fury, who has taken it upon himself to ensure their well-being. Muneeba imparts a solemn request to Carol and Monica, entrusting them with the duty of safeguarding her daughter.

Before embarking on their perilous journey, The Marvels work together to refine their powers, seeking to tame the unpredictable forces that course through their veins. Their efforts pay dividends as they arrive on Aladna, where they are greeted by an alien civilization that communicates through song and poetry.

As Carol reveals her royal heritage - a connection to Prince Yan (Park Seo-joon) that predates her heroic exploits - she sets out to secure his aid in the battle against Dar-Benn. The prince’s army joins forces with The Marvels, and a fierce conflict ensues as the Kree forces arrive via jump points. Despite their best efforts, Carol and Monica are unable to land a decisive blow on Dar-Benn, whose powers continue to elude them.

Undeterred, Kamala uses her agility and cunning to evade capture, while Dar-Benn focuses her attention on the other band, momentarily leaving The Marvels free to regroup. As the planet’s oceans begin to siphon away, Carol and Monica orchestrate a daring escape, teleporting to safety as they leave the chaos behind, ready to face whatever challenges await them in their ongoing quest for justice.

As Carol reflects on her role in the catastrophic chain of events, she confesses to Monica and Kamala that her destructive actions have brought about this state of chaos. The weight of her guilt is palpable as she chooses not to return home to Earth, instead opting to bear the burden of her mistakes. After a heart-to-heart with her friends, they come across Dar-Benn’s plan to open the last jump point and absorb the sun, prompting them to sound the alarm and urge Fury to evacuate SABER station.

As fate would have it, their research on brain-like eggs yields an unexpected surprise - the hatching of Flerkittens. The Marvels arrive at SABER to aid in the evacuation efforts, utilizing the Flerkittens as makeshift vessels to transport personnel and equipment. Fury, accompanied by the Khans, successfully extracts everyone from harm’s way.

The trio then turns their attention to Dar-Benn, engaging in a tense three-way showdown where they struggle to maintain control over their powers. A decisive punch from Carol sends the villain crashing into a wall, impaling her with falling debris. With Dar-Benn momentarily subdued, Carol presents an opportunity for her to harness her energy to restore Hala’s sun.

However, this gesture of goodwill is short-lived as Dar-Benn, seemingly defeated, launches a surprise attack on Kamala and steals her bangle. The villain then tears open a hole in time and space, exploiting the energy from the bands to fuel her own destructive power. In a last-ditch effort to contain the damage, Carol and Kamala channel their energies into Monica, empowering her to fly across the tear and seal it from the other side.

As the dust settles, Monica finds herself trapped on the opposite side of the rift while Carol and Kamala return to Earth, their mission accomplished. With Hala’s sun restored, Carol keeps her promise by helping the Khans settle into their new home in Louisiana. Kamala, meanwhile, forges a bond with her idol as they ponder their next moves.

In New York, Kamala leverages Fury’s technology to gather intelligence on Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld). She attempts to follow in Fury’s footsteps, seeking to recruit the young hero like he did with Tony Stark - setting the stage for the formation of the Young Avengers.

As the credits roll, Monica’s eyes flutter open to reveal a surreal landscape: a cozy bed surrounded by the opulent trappings of the X-Men’s revered lair. It’s here that she encounters Maria, an individual who seems eerily familiar, yet simultaneously disconcerting in her ambiguity. As Monica tentatively reaches out, addressing this enigmatic figure as “Mother,” a look of utter bewilderment washes over Maria’s features, leaving Monica to wonder if she’s truly gazing upon the maternal presence she so desperately craves.

Just as Monica begins to process this bizarre encounter, none other than Hank McCoy/Beast (Kelsey Grammer) materializes on the scene, his imposing frame and affable demeanor a stark contrast to the unsettling atmosphere. Beast’s cryptic reference to Maria as “Binary” only serves to deepen the mystery, further blurring the lines between reality and fantasy for Monica.

As she navigates this dreamlike environment, Monica’s gaze falls upon the X-Mansion’s familiar architecture, its grandeur serving as a stark reminder of her connection to the enigmatic Charles Xavier. It becomes clear that Beast is keenly attuned to the goings-on within the mansion, his mention of updates requested by Charles casting an air of anticipation over the proceedings.