With Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange hitting UK cinemas next week, the introduction of the Sorcerer Supreme offers up the option to bring the Illuminati into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And that topic is something that’s been recently discussed by Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige.

For those unaware, the Illuminati is a group from the Marvel comic book realm that’s made up of some of the world’s most powerful and intelligent minds. Debuting in 2005’s New Avengers #7 from Brian Michael Bendis and Steve McNiven, the hush-hush society was originally made up of Doctor Strange, Iron Man, Professor X, Mister Fantastic, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the Inhumans’ Black Bolt. Black Panther was at one point offered a place in the group but turned it down due to his beliefs that such a group was unnecessary. One of the group’s most notable decisions was making the call to send the Hulk into space for the benefit of mankind, which in turn led to the fan favourite Planet Hulk arc.

When asked about whether Doc Strange’s introduction to the MCU will pave the way for the Illuminati to come together, Feige said, “What’s fun about the Illuminati is seeing certain characters interact with certain other characters. I don’t know about that particular storyline, but some of those characters we’ll be seeing together onscreen in the next Avengers.”

Of course, at the moment the cinematic rights to Charles Xavier and Reed Richards are over with 20th Century Fox, meaning that Professor X and Mister Fantastic won’t be a part of any MCU Illuminati at this stage, although there has been plenty of speculation that the rights to the Fantastic Four team and their supporting characters could well return to Marvel in the future.

On when we’ll next see Benedict Cumberbatch’s Master of the Mystic Arts, Feige added, “We’re taking it one step at a time. Benedict puts on the cloak once again early next year in Infinity War.”

From Anthony and Joe Russo, Avengers: Infinity War is currently set for a May 2018 release. Scott Derrickson’s Doctor Strange is in UK cinemas from next Tuesday.