Within the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise and its related media, the multiverse is a construct and setting that is used to connect various universes in-franchise and various Marvel-related film franchises under the scope of Marvel Studios. First introduced in Doctor Strange (2016), it was expanded upon considerably in "The Multiverse Saga" of the MCU, beginning with the Disney+ series Loki (2021–2023) in Phase Four of the MCU, and planned to conclude with the Phase Six film Avengers: Secret Wars (2027). The universes set within the MCU multiverse have been shown to be variable in nature, and are usually designated either in-film itself, by Marvel Studios themselves, or have been confirmed by a producer or director of the respective media.
After the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney in 2019, Marvel Studios had the rights to characters associated with franchises produced by other studios that were either put on hold as a result of the merger, or had been rebooted in favor of a new iteration, such as Spider-Man, the X-Men or the Fantastic Four. This allowed the chance to link them to the MCU via the multiverse and provide closure to character arcs that otherwise were abruptly stopped.
Compared to Marvel Comics, the way universes are designated in the MCU multiverse is different, as it is intended to be separate from the way the comics do so – Doctor Strange (2016) director Scott Derrickson described that film as starting the "Marvel Cinematic multiverse".[1] In 2008, the designation for the MCU, shortly after the release of Iron Man (2008), was revealed as "Earth-199999" by Marvel Comics within the Marvel multiverse as part of their continuity.[2]Easter eggs referring to the MCU as Earth-616 or alluding to it were referenced in Thor: The Dark World (2013), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) and Loki (2021–present), although they were either non-canonical, revealed as ruses (in the case of Far From Home) or left intentionally vague.
In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), one of the major universes visited by Strange is designated "Earth-838", where that universe’s Christine Palmer refers to the main MCU universe as Earth-616.[2] This was intentional – Marvel Studios producer Nate Moore and eventually president Kevin Feige referred to the main MCU timeline as Earth-616 as far back as late 2021.[6][7][8] On the commentary audio track for Multiverse of Madness, director Sam Raimi revealed that the universe that an alternate version of Stephen Strange seen in the opening scene originated from was designated "Earth-617".[9]
The original designation for this reality of Earth-199999 was revealed in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Volume 5 hardcover book, which was released in 2008.[2]
Retconned as Earth-616 in Multiverse of Madness. Kevin Feige – head of Marvel Studios as well as former-chief creative officer of Marvel Entertainment – later began referring to the main reality of the MCU as Earth-616 as well.[8]
An event known as the Blip played a major role in the events of this reality, with half of all life within the universe being erased from existence in 2018 by the villain known as Thanos in 2018 at the end of Avengers: Infinity War (2018) before being restored back to life five years later in 2023 during Avengers: Endgame (2019) by the Avengers.[10][11]
Also known as the "Sacred Timeline", it was isolated from the rest of the multiverse until the death of He Who Remains at the end of Loki season 1.
In 2024, during the events of No Way Home, a miscast spell by Stephen Strange to hide Peter-One’s identity, although contained, results in some Spider-Man-related characters (from the previous Spider-Man film series) being drawn into Earth-616.[12]
This reality is nearly destroyed at the end of the film due to the spell being broken loose by Norman Osborn / Green Goblin from Peter-Two’s reality. and attracting every known villain across the multiverse who knows Spider-Man, but is prevented and repaired by Strange by wiping the world’s memory of Peter-One.[12]
Reality where a variant of Stephen Strange known as "Defender Strange" originates from, according to director Sam Raimi on the audio commentary for Multiverse of Madness.[9]
This reality has advanced technology as compared to Earth-616 standards, in addition to the foliage and the atmosphere appearing to be brighter and cleaner, respectively.
Ultron worked as Tony Stark intended, leading to the retirement of the Avengers and the rise of the Illuminati as confirmed by producer Richie Palmer.[13]
This reality’s events of Infinity War occurred similar to Earth-616, up until Thanos was killed by the Illuminati on Titan before being able to collect all six Infinity Stones.[15]
Earth-███
Unstable reality in which Doctor Strange became corrupted by the Darkhold, and then caused an “incursion” event that mostly destroyed his universe by “dream-walking” into various universes trying to find a happy life with Christine Palmer.[15]
616-Strange and 838-Palmer were sent here by 616-Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch to prevent them from reaching America Chavez. 616-Strange dreamwalked into 617-Strange's corpse on Earth-616 to defeat her.
Alternate reality adjacent to Earth-616 that Monica Rambeau ends up trapped in as a result of the events in The Marvels, after Dar-Mann opens a portal large enough to cause an incursion.
The X-Men are established within this universe, with members including Dr. Hank McCoy / Beast and Charles Xavier (mentioned only).[16]
Other known inhabitants also include Maria Rambeau / Binary as this universe’s version of Captain Marvel.
Galactus is much more comic accurate in this universe.
This incarnation of the Fantastic Four is expected to eventually merge with the MCU to become the MCU's Fantastic Four, although how has not yet been confirmed.
This version of Spider-Man, unlike the other two, utilizes organic webbing from within his own body
Was previously designated as "Earth-96283" by Marvel Comics in 2008 in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Volume 5 hardcover book, but has not yet been given an in-universe designation canon to the MCU.
Referred to as the "Raimi-verse" by the official No Way Home script.[17]
As a result, in the years that followed, Peter ended up becoming "rageful" and stopped pulling his punches in his duties as Spider-Man, possibly becoming violent. He redeems himself following his saving of MJ in Earth-616 during the climax of No Way Home.[12]
A Spider-Man is alleged to exist in this universe according to the director for Morbius (2022), but has yet to be referenced in-universe nor has appeared in any films in the SSU as of 2024.[19]
The universe is briefly visited by the villain Spot in Across the Spider-Verse where he encounters Mrs. Chen.
Following X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), the timeline was rebooted from 1973 onwards preventing a dark dystopian future in 2023, changing history, with subsequent films focusing on the younger generation of the X-Men.
In both instances of the timeline, mutantkind is still distrusted but is slowly being accepted worldwide.
By the time of the events of Logan (2017), mutantkind is near extinction as no new mutants have been born in 25 years, and James "Logan" Howlett / Wolverine dies at the end of the film.
In Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), it is revealed that this universe is slowly dying as a result of Wolverine's death in Logan.[20]
Reversed by the end of the film thanks to an alternate-universe variant of Wolverine staying within this reality.
In this universe, the colossal being known as Galactus is instead a giant space cloud consuming planets
Home reality of Johnny Storm / Human Torch (portrayed by Chris Evans) and Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic (portrayed by Ioan Gruffudd).
After a undisclosed amount of time after the events of Rise of the Silver Surfer, Johnny and Reed are captured and sent to The Void and becomes one of the resistance fighters, before being captured by Cassandra Nova.
Matt Murdock / Daredevil (portrayed by Ben Affleck in the 2003 film) is also mentioned having died offscreen in The Void prior to the events of Deadpool & Wolverine.
After an undisclosed amount of time after the events of Daredevil and Elektra, Daredevil and Elektra are captured and sent to The Void and becomes part of the resistance fighters.
After a undisclosed amount of time after the events of Blade: The Series, Blade is captured and sent to The Void and becomes one of the resistance fighters.
In the animated anthology series What If...?, many different alternate universes are explored. All of them branch from established events from the main MCU continuity of Earth-616, with various changes to a character's origin or where events of one of the films played out in a different way. These can have dire consequences on the universe, or in extreme cases, the multiverse, as what happened with an alternate Ultron. Season 2 of What If...? continues to explore alternate universes from various points in the MCU, or continue previous storylines in alternate universes depicted in season 1.
Reality in which T'Challa was abducted by the Ravagers in 1988 as a young child instead of Peter Quill, during the events of Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), becoming Star-Lord.
In this reality, T’Challa / Star-Lord was able to convince Thanos, who has also joined the Ravagers, to abandon his plan of universal genocide.
Peter Quill instead works at an ice-cream shop on Earth.
Reality where the Avengers were never formed due to most members dying at various points in their respective films, set during the Fury's Big Week events of the main MCU:
Thor during the events of Thor (2011) from being accidentally shot by Clint Barton.
After Natasha Romanoff is killed investigating the nature behind the killings at the request of Nick Fury, it’s revealed the murders were enacted by Hank Pym in revenge for his wife Janet van Dyne’s death during a mission for S.H.I.E.L.D.
This reality's version of Loki invades Earth earlier in retailiation for his brother’s death. During the battle, an alternate vision of Natasha Romanoff is transported here by The Watcher (after the events of "What If... the Watcher Broke His Oath?") to assist in the battle along with this reality’s Captain Marvel.
In this universe, Palmer's death is an "absolute point", meaning that it will always happen regardless.
Collapses into a small pocket reality held up by an extremely powerful Strange after he revives Palmer but violates the absolute point, breaking the fabric of the universe.
Reality in which Tony Stark was saved by Killmonger from being ambushed in Afghanistan during the events of Iron Man (2008). As a result, Stark never becomes Iron Man as he doesn’t receive shrapnel in his chest.
Killmonger uses Stark’s influence and power to continue making weapons and supply them to Wakanda, before betraying him and killing Stark, in order to start a war between the United States and Wakanda, the latter of which Killmonger seeks to grow in power.
Reality in which Ultron fulfilled his goal of human extinction during the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), by way of succeeding to transfer his consciousness into the vibranium body he created before the Avengers retrieved it to create it Vision
Ultron initiated a nuclear holocaust killing most life on Earth. He then destroyed countless planets and life across this universe before becoming aware of the multiverse.
Besides What If...?, some timelines have diverged from Earth-616 at unspecified points in the past or were shown briefly or had a lesser impact on the plot before eventually being pruned or reversed. Examples of these were shown in the ABC television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020), especially in later seasons, as well as the results of the Time Heists in Avengers: Endgame (2019).
Official reality designation
Brief description
First appearance
Depicted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films
Branched reality that diverged from Earth-616 in 2012 (during the Battle of New York in The Avengers (2012)) during Endgame after a failed attempt to retrieve the Tesseract by Tony Stark, allowing it to fall into the hands of Loki, who escapes with it.[11]
This leads into the events of Loki, where the Time Variance Authority (TVA) arrest him and prune the branched timeline.
Branched reality that diverged from Earth-616 in 2014 (during the events of Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)) during Endgame, as a result of Thanos learning of his future self's success in eliminating half of all life in the universe and the Avengers' attempt to undo it in 2023. He learns of it due to 2023's Nebula circuits interfering with that of her 2014's self.[11]
Alternate reality that diverged from Earth-616 at an undetermined point prior to Infinity War, leading to The Snap never occurring in 2018.
As such, numerous heroes previously killed off in the main timeline remain alive in this reality.
Main setting of all of the real-life attractions that are part of Marvel Land in the numerous Disney Parks.
N/A
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Diverged from Earth-616 at some point between 2016 and 2018 before Infinity War while following up to that film’s events.
Canon status to the MCU is heavily disputed given no films in the MCU make reference of these events. As such it is not part of Earth-616’s history.
After learning of Thanos' army's assault on Earth in search of the Mind Stone, and a prophecy heralding the destruction of Earth on the same day in the fifth season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (during the events of Infinity War), a gravitonium-infused Glenn Talbot, intending to assist the Avengers in their battle against Thanos' army, and having become increasingly narcissistic and unhinged under the corrupting influence of the gravitonium,[22][23][24][25] attempts to draw more gravitonium from the core of the Earth to increase his power.[26] However, in drawing out the gravitonium, Talbot inadvertently destroys the Earth and everyone on it, including Thanos, fulfilling the prophecy he intended to avert.[27]
Main setting for the events of the Hulu streaming series Helstrom (2020)
The events in this series were originally intended to take place within the reality of the MCU, but it was clarified as set in an adjacent universe by showrunner Paul Zbyszewski.
