The Marvels marks the 33rd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A sequel to 2019’s Captain Marvel, which grossed over $1 billion at the worldwide box office, the sequel has all the makings of an even bigger event than ever before. The film is a sequel to Captain Marvel and is also a crossover event that unites Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) with both Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani), and Monica Rambeu (Teyonah Parris). The film not only picks up plot points from Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame but also WandaVision and Ms. Marvel.

The MCU used to be known for its major crossovers, not just in The Avengers films, but movies like Captain America: Civil War and Thor: Ragnarök would team up various heroes. Phases Four and Five of the MCU, now dubbed the Multiverse Saga, have notably not had as many crossovers and have been relatively self-contained. While Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness saw Doctor Strange face off against former Avenger Wanda Maximoff and Spider-Man: No Way Home united the MCU’s Peter Parker with two other previous film versions, The Marvels is the first significant crossover film of the MCU in some time and executive producer Mary Livanos knows that.

“It feels great to bring all these characters together. The idea of crossovers and team-ups is in the DNA of the comics, so it’s very exciting that this is the first team-up outside The Avengers franchise that we’ve gotten to bring to the big screen,” said Livanos, who sat down with MovieWeb and talked about the development process of The Marvels, if audiences can enjoy it on its own, and what she wants to see from the future of the franchise. You can read our interview below and watch a video of it above.

Get to Know Mary Livanos
Marvel Studios

Mary Livanos first joined the MCU in 2017, where she was a manager of production development on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. She then was a production and development executive on 2019’s Captain Marvel. That would be her first big step into the MCU, where she would then become a co-executive producer and supervising producer on 2021’s WandaVision. With involvement in two projects featuring major characters in The Marvels, she was primed and ready to step into an executive producer role.

Related: The Marvels Review: The MCU Returns to Having Some Lighthearted Fun

In many ways, she has a lot in common with the characters in The Marvels. Like Monica Rambeau and Carol Danvers, Livanos comes from a background connected to space and exploration. “I come from several generations of people who work in the space industry. I grew up going to shuttle launches and Air Force air shows,” said Livanos. “What’s great is that through Marvel, we are able to explore every corner of the Marvel Universe. I love the cosmic space. I have a huge love of this genre, and it’s been wonderful to do a big sci-fi adventure.”

Higher, Further, Faster, Together
Marvel Studios

Captain Marvel came out in March 2019 and was one of the final films of the Infinity Saga. Based on its box office, it was clear it was going to get a sequel. In December 2020, it was officially confirmed that the sequel would unite Carol Danvers with Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau. “It was always the plan to pair them up on the big screen,” said Livanos. “The idea that Monica would share the screen with Carol Danvers was imagined in the early days of the Captain Marvel development process, which is why we made her a child.”

Livanos explained the conversations about bringing in Ms. Marvel:

As soon as the possibility that Ms. Marvel might have her own television show, which turned out absolutely incredible, and from the very beginning of that process, we knew we needed to have these three heroes on screen together.

Pairing these three women heroes together certainly provides plenty of exciting story opportunities. “We get to pair Kamala up with Captain Marvel. We get to examine who Carol Danvers really is outside of the hero known as Captain Marvel, and through Monica and Carol, we get to explore themes of reconnection,” added Livanos.

What Is or Isn’t Required Viewing for The Marvels
Marvel Studios

When the Marvel Cinematic Universe began, it was a gamble to make a team-up movie between various heroes. There was a risk that if an audience member did not see one of the prior films, they would not come out for the crossover. Since The Avengers was released in 2012, Marvel Studios has gotten audiences used to seeing characters pop up in movies, even if they never saw a previous entry. Ant-Man was not required viewing for Captain America: Civil War nor Doctor Strange for Thor: Ragnarök.

Related: Ms. Marvel: How the MCU Changed Kamala Khan’s Powers (& Why)

Yet The Marvels introduces a new obstacle. Getting audiences to come out for a movie that is not just a sequel to a movie but the continuation of not one but two television shows (three if you count Secret Invasion). Some have wondered if this is a problem for The Marvels if the movie requires watching Ms. Marvel and WandaVision. Marvel Studios has always been aware of needing to balance between hardcore fans who know everything about the MCU but also those who may only casually watch it and might have missed an entry. Livanos said:

“What is so great about The Marvels is if you are a huge fan of the Marvel Universe already and if you’ve seen WandaVision and Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel, there are so many story threads to pick up and follow in this film. But if you are less familiar, what is really great is that at its core, this is a story about three people meeting for the first time, so it catches the characters and the audience up on what everyone has been through, and it stands alone on its own two feet.”

The Future Is Bright
Marvel Studios

While MCU fans will certainly enjoy the movie, there is always the question of what the future holds. Livanos is currently working on Agatha: Darkhold Diaries, shifting away from the more cosmic storylines she has been working on within the MCU. Yet when asked what she would like to see more of in terms of the MCU, particularly on The Marvels interacting with within the wider universe, Livanos mentioned a fan favorite concept. “More Flerken interaction. I have more questions about the Flerkins,” said Livanos. “They are chaotic, mysterious, and majestic, and we always need more of them.”

It is safe to say that if Groot can get his own Disney+ short series, I Am Groot, fans would certainly be happy to see a series of Flerken shorts on Disney+. I Am Goose sounds perfect.

The Marvels opens in theaters on November 10, 2023.