Syfy Insider Exclusive

Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, sweepstakes, and more!

Sign Up For Free to View
SYFY WIRE Captain Marvel

The '90s influences and nostalgia you can expect to see in Captain Marvel

By Heather Mason
Captain Marvel, Brie Larson

Ever since we found out Captain Marvel would take place in the '90s, we've been stoked. And luckily, when we visited the set last May, we found out even more about the '90s nostalgia you can expect to see when the film hits theaters next month.

Executive producer Jonathan Schwartz gave us some insight into Marvel's decision to set the film in the '90s era.

"Very early in the development process, I think we kind of seized on the idea of setting in the '90s as a way to kind of let the character carve out her own space in the Cinematic Universe and give her a lot of thematic weight and significance to the universe," Schwartz said. "It's more or less this adventure that's going to inspire a lot of what we see in MCU and kind of being able to see those things in this movie that blossom in other movies and already have blossomed in other movies is one of the big excitements.

"And then also just the idea of the '90s as a period which is something I don't think we've been able to explore a lot of. It's far enough in the rearview mirror that it was 'Oh yeah, the 90s. I have memories of that era.' But I haven't seen it represented a lot on film. So being able to play in that sandbox is exciting and do things like recreating a Blockbuster which was super fun to walk through and made me miss physical media in a way I didn't expect."

If your ears just perked up at the idea of seeing a Blockbuster again, there will be other nostalgic moments you'll enjoy in the film as well. You've probably already seen photos of Carol wearing a Nine Inch Nails t-shirt. And keep your eyes open for some Rock the Vote posters scattered around.

"Part of the fun of the movie is finding those little touches that we can tickle the nostalgia bone with," noted Schwartz.

As far as the music, you can bet there will be some '90s hits on the soundtrack (Janet Jackson was requested) but the film will also have a score.

"I think it's going to be a mix of both," said Schwartz. "I don't think it's going to be an 'Awesome Mix CD #1' but I think it will be fun to try to find those moments where the '90s music sets off."

We also spoke with directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck about how some '90s movies directly influenced the film.

"The list of movies that Captain Marvel is a love letter to is very expansive and strange," said Boden. After they go back and forth on just how much info they want to give, Boden settles on one. "I was going to say Robocop is one of our big ones."

Fleck continued, "There's some Terminator 2 in there."

Even though Robocop has a big influence on Captain Marvel, the film won't be as dark as Robocop.

"I think that what is exciting to us about Robocop was this idea of a character who's finding himself and finding his past and even though it's a dark movie it's also extremely emotional in that way," said Boden. "If you remember that scene of him walking into his own home and remembering those moments from his past life and remembering who he was — I mean that's big. And that was one of the first things we talked to Marvel about in terms of this character the idea that self-discovery and reconnecting and rediscovering your humanity and who you were. And it's a huge part of this film."

Captain Marvel flashes us back to the '90s on March 8.