Brie Larson returns as Captain Marvel in our exclusive new look at The Marvels

When Captain Marvel made over a billion dollars at the box office back in 2019, a sequel was made a certainty. Four years later, that follow-up finally arrives – and to make up for any lost time, Brie Larson's hero is returning with extra firepower; she's joined by her famous fan Ms. Marvel and WandaVision's Monica Rambeau.

Together, they are The Marvels, which happens to be the title of this quasi-sequel to Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, WandaVision, and Secret Invasion (did we mention Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury returns in The Marvels, too?). Nobody – apart from Kevin Feige – could have predicted just how important the Captain Marvel sequel would be to the MCU.

Of course, with so many superheroes, there needs to be a terrifying villain for them to take on. Enter Zawe Ashton's Dar-Benn, a Kree warrior and one of Carol Danver's many adversaries. "Dar-Benn represents a new era of the Kree Empire after a cataclysmic encounter with Captain Marvel in the past," executive producer Mary Livanos tells Total Film. "So, from the ashes of the Kree Empire, Dar-Benn rose."

The Marvels headlines the new issue of Total Film – on sale Thursday, August 17, with subscribers' copies already in the post – and, inside, we speak to director Nia DaCosta, composer Laura Karpman, cat wrangler Jo Vaughan, and Livanos about the epic new MCU adventure. Here, you can see two exclusive images from The Marvels – one of Larson's Carol Danvers, the other of Ashton's Dar-Benn.

Keep your eye out on our website and socials for more exclusive content from Total Film's The Marvels issue, including quotes from the filmmakers. The Marvels reaches cinemas on November 10 and be sure to pick up the new issue of Total Film, on sale on both physical and digital newsstands from Thursday, August 17.

• Pre-order The Marvels issue of Total Film here

Also in the new issue, you will find in-depth features on Poor Things with Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, Challengers with Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist, Cassandro with Gael García Bernal and Roger Ross Williams, and Blackberry with Matt Johnson and Glenn Howerton. Plus, we spoke to Shane Meadows, Rosamund Pike, and loads more. And of course, all the news, reviews and regulars you would expect, plus a free 48-page photo supplement looking behind the scenes at Warner Bros. Studios' 100-year history.

If you're a fan of Total Film, why not subscribe so that you never miss an issue? You'll get the magazine before it's in shops, with exclusive subscriber-only covers – our The Marvels issue features a fleet of flerken! With our latest offer, you can get an STM charge tree worth £69.99 when you take out a print/bundle subscription. Head to MagazinesDirect to find out more (Ts and Cs apply).