One MCU fan has spotted a deep-cut Wizard of Oz Easter egg in Captain Marvel that you almost definitely missed

Annette Bening as the Supreme Intelligence in Captain Marvel
(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Captain Marvel actually contains a deep-cut Wizard of Oz Easter egg – and it involves Annette Bening's Supreme Intelligence. One MCU fan has spotted a reference to Frank L. Baum's novel in the movie, which we're almost certain you won't have spotted on first viewing.

"As many of you might know, in the comics and later in The Marvels (2023), The Supreme Intelligence looked like a giant green head, as an homage to The Wizard of Oz," a Reddit user explained. "In Captain Marvel (2019), The Supreme Intelligence took the form of the person who the individual admired most.

"Recently, I've been listening on Audible to The Wizard of Oz from 1900. I guess only people who also read the book know that when Dorothy's group get to the Wizard, each of them meets the Wizard separately (as opposed to the film where they go in together). Each of them actually perceives the Wizard in different forms."

For the Scarecrow, that's a beautiful woman, a monster for the Tin Man, a ball of fire for the Lion sees a huge ball of fire, and a giant green head for Dorothy. "So, intentionally or not, I believe that version of the Supreme Intelligence in Captain Marvel (2019), when each person sees it in a different form, is just another reference to The Wizard of Oz," the user concluded.

Captain Marvel follows pilot Carol Danvers, played by Brie Larson, as she takes on her superpowered mantle in the midst of an intergalactic conflict. She returned to the big screen for last year's sequel The Marvels, alongside Teyonah Parris' Monica Rambeau and Iman Vellani's Ms. Marvel.

Next up for the MCU, though, is Captain America: Brave New World, which hits theaters this February. The movie will see Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson take on the mantle of Captain America – and go up against Harrison Ford's Red Hulk.

Captain America: Brave New World arrives on the big screen on February 14, 2025, as part of Marvel Phase 5. In the meantime, check out our guide to the other Marvel movies and TV shows still to come.

Entertainment Writer

I’m an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering everything film and TV-related across the Total Film and SFX sections. I help bring you all the latest news and also the occasional feature too. I’ve previously written for publications like HuffPost and i-D after getting my NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism. 

Read more
Captain America: Brave New World trailer
Captain America: Brave New World cameos and Easter eggs: all the Marvel references you might have missed
Harrison Ford as Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World
One of Captain America: Brave New World's most hidden Easter eggs is an Incredible Hulk callback that you almost certainly won't catch on your first viewing
Captain America: Brave New World
After that Deadpool and Wolverine stunt, Marvel unveils a disappointingly normal popcorn bucket for Captain America: Brave New World
Captain America: Brave New World
That Captain America: Brave New World cameo changed several times, but it was always going to be that character
Captain America: Brave New World trailer
New Captain America: Brave New World teaser gives us our best look yet at Danny Ramirez's Falcon and has everyone making the same joke
Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson in Captain America: Brave New World
New Captain America: Brave New World teaser answers MCU fans' biggest post-Endgame question – and it contains a major X-Men connection
Latest in Marvel Movies
The cast of Thunderbolts
Marvel fans are revealing who they'd like to see added to the Thunderbolts lineup, from Moon Knight to a major Hulk villain
Black Widow
Scarlett Johansson doubles down on never coming back as Black Widow: “Natasha is dead. She is dead. She’s dead. Okay?"
Julian McMahon as Doctor Doom in 2005's Fantastic Four
The Doctor Doom actor from 2005's Fantastic Four thinks Robert Downey Jr.'s take on the role in the next Avengers movies will be "pretty extraordinary": "I love watching his work"
Anthony Mackie in Captain America: Brave New World
Brave New World box office crosses milestone for Captain America movies, even though it still might not break even
Black Widow post-credits
Avengers Tower will have a new name in Thunderbolts, and the movie's director says it's "a symbol of things taking a darker turn"
The cast of Thunderbolts
Thunderbolts director says the new Marvel movie is inspired by Toy Story 3: "Can they get out of the trash can together?"
Latest in News
Rise of the Ronin
A year after its PS5 launch, Rise of the Ronin debuts on PC to "Mixed" reviews and performance complaints: "Stuttering on a 4090 is just... no"
Rise of the Ronin's photo mode offers some wonderful shots
On the heels of Rise of the Ronin's PC launch, its director says there's a "significant" amount of Japanese Switch gamers: "I am closely watching how this will change with the release of Switch 2"
Stardew Valley Castle Village mod
Stardew Valley Expanded creator is building an "even more ambitious" mod with a whole new city and "dungeons inspired by The Legend of Zelda"
Dino Crisis 2 art showing a young woman and man back-to-back amid tall green grass, both with their weapons drawn
Dino Crisis gets a fresh trademark filing by Capcom, but it might not mean the 26-year-old survival horror franchise will get a new installment like fans expect
Cujo
Netflix is making a brand new adaptation of Cujo, the infamous Stephen King book about a killer dog
Dragon Age 2
Veteran Dragon Age dev says one big delay is better than several small ones: "You are laying band-aid on top of band-aid on top of band-aid"