Here's a topic that's been resonating in my head for a while: Who would be the members of Marvel's Cinematic Universe's (MCU) Illuminati?

There are a lot of parallels between the MCU and Marvel Comics, so it's expected that at some point this significant team of super protectors will make its first appearance. Captain America: Civil War is bound to follow Mark Millar's comic book (somewhat) closely. If you think about it, it is very likely that Avengers: Infinity Wars will take a page from the recent Infinity event. During these events, there was a team that worked in the background: The Illuminati.

In the MCU, the following ten movies are a good place to set this team up (in after-credit scenes of course), but since there are Marvel properties scattered in other movie studios, the team can't mimic the comic's roster.

The original Illuminati consisted of:

• Iron Man (Master of technology)
• Namor (Master of the oceans)
• Mr. Fantastic (The world's greatest scientific intellect)
• Doctor Strange (Master of magic)
• Black Bolt (King of the Inhumans)
• Professor X (Mutant representative)

Just by looking at this list, three of the six can't make an MCU appearance. So we need replacements. In the New Avengers book this same team added Black Panther and Beastto the roster as replacements for Namor and Professor X respectively.

Although the team has had other members, there are usually six core members that make decisions for the sake of the universe's well-being. One of the main roles they adopted was for each member to house one of the Infinity Gems for safe-keeping. This makes the number six even more relevant. Of course, seeing the nature of the future Infinity Wars movie, the MCU will probably need six members as well. The question is: Who?

Well, for starters, we have the no-brainers:

• Iron Man/Tony Stark

Let's face it, the actor is not getting any younger, he needs to get out of the suit before he hurts himself. This new role could allow him to play Stark for a couple more years.This man is already front and center in the MCU. I see his membership in the Illuminati as a good, regular role for Robert Downey Jr. for whenever he is not in the Iron Man suit.

• Doctor Strange/Stephen Strange

This master or magic is getting his own movie soon. If this team ends up getting put in the MCU then he's bound to be a part of this inner circle.

Plus, the magic vs science banter is boud to be hilarious with Benedict Cumberbatch defending magic for once.

• Black Panther/T'Challa

This guy is also getting his own movie, and it has been confirmed that he’s appearing in Civil War. His role, like in the comics, could be Namor’s replacement.

His input is basically a caring leader who wants the safety of his kingdom, and to achieve that he's protecting the whole world.

• Black Bolt

The Inhumans’ representative. Seeing as how the Inhumans are the closest thing we’ll have to mutants, Black Bolt could also mirror Professor X’s role in this version of the illuminati.

Plus, we know we are getting an Inhumans movie later on. Black Bolt's casting is probably a few years off (please let it be Vin Diesel), but his introduction could still be in an after-credit scene with the rest of this team.

What about Beast and Mr. Fantastic?

Like I mentioned before, with the inexistence of mutants there is no need for a mutant representative. What we do need is a smart scientist. You might think that the best option is Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner, but I’m thinking Hank Pym could replace Reed Richards here.

• Hank Pym

This character will be introduced in Ant-Man later this year. When I first heard this character was going to be aged (played by Michael Douglas) I was honestly pissed. That made it seem like Pym would be a throw away character, but with the Illuminati he would at least have a relevant role in the MCU.

That makes five, but since there are six infinity gems/stones we still need a 6^th member. With no Atlantis and no mutants it is hard to find another “representative” or “master” to claim a role in protecting the universe from the shadows.

I thought of two options: We need a human perspective or we need a galaxy perspective… See where I’m going with this?

What are our human options? I have two:

• Nick Fury

This is the more likely choice since he was already leader of protecting the world.

Nick Fury, thought dead, can easily give the human perspective in a superhuman world. He can do this all while being covert. Well, if he survives Age of Ultron.

• Phil Coulson

This is another plausible option since he’s also been in the midst of the Avengers action and more. His perspective can be very helpful when deciding what to do with the safety of the universe.

In between missions as director of S.H.I.E.L.D., he can take notes to bring back to the Illuminati table.

Let's head to the stars… I have a good option, a bad option and an unlikely option.

• Star-Lord/Peter Quill

He’s the bad choice.

As leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy he also plays a role that can be considered “important” and thus being relevant to the Illuminati. Although, Peter seems like too much of a wildcard to get Illuminati membership.

• The Collector

My unlikely option is not necessary a bad choice.

The thing about this character is that you don’t know where his allegiance is. Although, having such a vast collection from the far reaches of the universe could prove to be useful when defending earth from extraterrestrial offense.

• Nova Prime

Now hear me out: She is basically the Nova Corps’ Nick Fury. She is the best choice to represent the galaxy. She already focuses on protecting the universe, with the Earth’s heroes to help she can get and give good input to the team.

Plus, who wouldn't want to see more of Glenn Close?

And that’s how you build an MCU Illuminati team. Any questions?

Now I wonder how a Cabal would work in the MCU…

-- Geo (sora_thekey) 24/7 geek! -- Follow me on Twitter: @Geo_sorathekey

Aren't the Guardians & Nova Prime in an entirely different galaxy? Makes it tricky to imagine she'll join a random group of humans she likely doesn't know much about.

Probably

• Iron Man
• Hulk
• Black Panther
• Doctor Strange

Possibel Members

• Ant-Man
• Medusa or Black Bolt
• Loki or Thor

I don't mess with da Illumianti

~MiB

a MCU Illumanti would most likely be a lead up to Planet Hulk, so the replacement members would have to be some sorta character that thinks negatively of Hulk

Interesting. While Iron Man, Panther, Strange, and Black bolt seem like shoe-ins if they do anything with the Illuminati let me offer a few possibles myself:

• Bruce Banner - No Reed Richards? No problem. Banner is already established as the big brain in the MCU, just not when he's Hulking out. He also replaces Namor as a heavy hitter for physical confrontations.
• Nick Fury - He's got his hand in everything in the comics, and he's portrayed that way in the MCU as well. I could see him creating this team as an answer to no longer being in the spotlight with SHIELD and still wanting to protect the world from the shadows.
• Carol Danvers - This one is the long shot, but it works for a few reasons. First, she is getting her own movie. Second, t gives a female presence which is a big thing these days and she is pretty much Marvel's First Lady in recent years. Next she's a powerhouse, and very versatile, bringing something to the team no one else has with energy manipulation. Then there's the fact she isn't an Inhuman, but not human either. She has a link with the Kree which gives her her powers, so we can get a deeper space connection with her. Last she brings a military background and perspective that would be otherwise lacking on the team, with the possible exception of Fury. She could really fit into the club well, especially if Banner seems like a longshot since Tony has been shown to do double duty with not just a tech role but science in general as well.

I actually like ur initial picks like Iron Man, Blackbolt, Dr. Strange and Black Panther. As for the other two replacements: Nick Fury and Hank Pym would be great candidates. Awesome choices especially when it comes to the Illuminati choosing to banish Hulk to an unknown world.

Bruce Banner unless they do planet Hulk

Hank is definitely the best replacement for Reed.