Marvel Cinematic Universe spoiler-heavy speculation thread

Lots of places to go with this thread. Somehow this event, which I thought would limit options, seems to open up endless possibilities.

I'm still seeing MODOK as a possibility, related to Zola's equation. They have an opportunity to expand on that concept without contradicting TWS at all.

OK, now for the zany idea. Does anyone think the machine that implanted the memory of Tahiti in Coulson's brain is the same technology used to wipe Bucky Barnes's memory and turn him into the Winter Soldier?

 

Sure, but I was asking if it was the same technology. Obviously, the one for the Winter Soldier is more sophisticated and compact, but SHIELD and HYDRA are essentially the same entity, so the connection seems to be there.

 

I get the impression that Bucky underwent more traditional brainwashing methods. It seemed to me like they were electroshocking him.

Also, I think MODOK would be kind of redundant with Zola. The one thing I wouldn't expect them to dip into at this point is MODOK.

 

Is Electroshocking really all that effective, particularly in the way they were doing it to erase memories but still preserve your combat experience. Then again, the bit in the mouth, etc. seems similar to what actual electroshock therapy involved, but I'm not sure that's the only reason it might exist in a painful procedure. I'm just saying, given the connection, it's a possibility. Both involve memory tampering. I'm curious if it was intentional by the AoS writers.

 

Don't ask me, I don't brainwash people for a living...and neither do Hollywood blockbuster writers....

 

Sure. I'd be curious to see how the script describes that scene. That would give a good idea of both what they intended and whether the AoS writers intended to mirror that idea. Given that they may not have had a rough cut back then, it's possible they didn't even know what that scene would look like (although I suspect they imagined their machine having a certain look either way).

 

A couple more interesting points in TWS:

Stephen Strange is referenced in the same breath as Bruce Banner as being on Hydra's target list...suggesting that he's already more than a surgeon in the MCU.

I remember some speculation in one thread or another a bit back as to whether or not Cap's identity was public knowledge in the MCU. TWS cleared that up.

 

Feige was asked about this. His response is that the equation predicts future threats too.

 

If the algorithm could predict future threats of a magical nature...that's stretching things a bit, but....

(Also, they wouldn't have to bother if they were capable of knocking off the Ancient One....)

 

Either way, I don't think we should assume a movie done without any input from the current Marvel creative team is in the same universe as one that is unless it's clear they are (certainly, it's not worth bending over backwards to paper over inconsistencies). Although, I'm sure Daredevil will be quickly established as not consistent with Affleck's movie so this debate is one that will be limited solely to the Hulk.

Link


Another major reference made in Captain America: The Winter Soldier is Doctor Stephen Strange, who is mentioned by name as one of the targets of Project Insight. When asked if it implies that the Sorcerer Supreme is active somewhere in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Feige teased: “Well, we know what it means and where we want to head with it, but we were comfortable with keeping it in there and leaving it in there because there are a few different ways to interpret it. The whole thing, what Sitwell’s saying is, this algorithm is going to predict if you’re going to become a problem for Hydra or not. So you don’t have to just be Tony Stark, actively plotting to save the world. You could be a kid whose SAT scores and whose essays have indicated that you’re going to be a problem one day. So is Stephen Strange the Sorcerer Supreme? Probably not at that point. Is he an unbelievably talented neurosurgeon who’s opinionated and kind of arrogant? Probably. That might put him on the list.”

My take on the quote is it means, "We didn't really want it to mean much besides be a cool little tease to lay the groundwork for that movie."

 

Daredevil is going to be a Marvel production on Netflix, I don't think many will assume that it's supposed to be the same story as the Affleck version. However, people are arguing both Hulk versions are connected despite, like Daredevil, being by different creative groups.

There are too many differences in the origin to fit neatly and reconciling them is more trouble than it's worth. I just think, given this, there's no reason to think they're the same universe. The burden should be on showing that they're connected, not that they're not connected.