The last MCU film to be released in cinemas was the Brie Larson and Iman Vellani starrer The Marvels. The team-up film was a box office disaster despite receiving mixed reviews and was seen as another dud, staying true to the trend of the decreasing quality of Marvel films and shows. The Marvels reportedly had an alternative ending which would have changed the MCU’s future for good.
Zawe Ashton, who played the antagonist Dar-Benn in the film reportedly mentioned that the team had filmed an alternate ending where Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel would die along with Dar-Benn, thus setting up Larson’s exit from the MCU. Though it did not happen in The Marvels, there is a possibility of Larson being killed off in Avengers: Secret Wars. Spoilers ahead for The Marvels.
What Was The Alternate Ending In The Marvels?
The Brie Larson and Iman Vellani starrer, The Marvels saw a team-up of three superheroes namely, Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rambeau. The film pitted them against a rogue Kree leader who hoped to rebuild her homeland after a civil war by using a Quantum Band to open a portal to new worlds and extract their resources.
In the original ending of the film, Dar-Benn tries to use two Quantum Bands but ends up destroying herself causing a rupture between two realities. The Marvels come together to close the rupture from both sides, with Monica Rambeau ending up stranded after they succeed. The film then goes on to show Kamala Khan assembling a young Avengers team.
However, actress Zawe Ashton, who played Dar-Benn in The Marvels said that an alternate ending was filmed in which Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers died along with Dar-Benn. She said in ComicBook.com’s Phase Zero podcast,
“There was another ending that we did film where Brie and myself are kind of in space still having it out, and they kind of combust together, which was really amazing. And that was just a day on wires hanging out with Brie, which is surreal and fun. But yeah, there were a few different plans, I think.”
This ending would have changed everything for the MCU as Danvers was one of the proposed leaders for the Avengers after the exit of Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. It would also render the Avengers considerably weaker for the threat they would face in Avengers: Secret Wars.
Will Brie Larson Be Killed Off In Avengers: Secret Wars?
The alternate ending of The Marvels, which had Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers be killed off along with Dar-Benn showed that Marvel was not afraid to eliminate another one of their most prized heroes. However, going in that route would change everything for the MCU and would be a shame to the iconic character as the film showed more character growth.
Larson’s Danvers regained her memories in The Marvels and her complex relationship with both Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan could be explored further in upcoming films. The potential to kill off Danvers still exists in the realm of possibilities as Marvel could potentially pull off an Iron Man-esque death for Danvers in Avengers: Secret Wars.
Brie Larson has also reportedly been wanting out of the MCU after facing considerable backlash and hate from toxic fans. According to Joanna Robinson, the author of MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, Larson was considering an exit from the franchise despite Marvel Studios’ plans for the character. The author said in The Watch podcast,
“[Marvel Studios] put Brie Larson in [a prominent place in the MCU]. I don’t know if Brie Larson was the wrong person for the role necessarily. But the toxic backlash means that Brie Larson doesn’t want to play Carol Danvers anymore.”
With Larson eyeing an exit from the franchise, Marvel Studios could potentially kill off Carol Danvers in the upcoming Avengers film and find a new leader.
