Multiverse Saga Breakdown: Understanding Where the MCU is Heading

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has entered a new era following the conclusion of the Infinity Saga with “Avengers: Endgame.” After wrapping up the story of Thanos and the Infinity Stones that spanned 23 films, Marvel Studios is now deep into what Kevin Feige has dubbed the “Multiverse Saga” – encompassing Phases 4 through 6 of the MCU. Let’s dive into what this saga is all about, what we’ve seen so far, and where it’s all heading.

What Is the Multiverse Saga?

The Multiverse Saga represents Marvel’s ambitious follow-up to the Infinity Saga, shifting focus from the collection of powerful artifacts to the concept of parallel universes and alternate realities. This new saga officially began with Phase 4 productions and is expected to culminate with “Avengers: Secret Wars,” much like how “Avengers: Endgame” served as the finale for the previous era.

Unlike the relatively straightforward concept of Thanos hunting Infinity Stones, the Multiverse Saga deals with more complex sci-fi concepts involving different versions of reality existing simultaneously, variants of familiar characters, and the potential collapse of the boundaries between universes.

Phase 4: Setting the Foundation

Phase 4 represented a reset for the MCU following the departures of Iron Man, Captain America, and Black Widow. As Rotten Tomatoes points out, this phase “took great pains to introduce a lot of new people,” including Shang-Chi, Kate Bishop, Kamala Khan, America Chavez, and the Eternals.

But Phase 4 wasn’t just about new characters – it was also about establishing the multiverse concept:

WandaVision

The first Disney+ MCU series didn’t directly deal with the multiverse but introduced concepts that would become important later. Wanda Maximoff’s study of the Darkhold and her transformation into the Scarlet Witch set up her role in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” The series also gave us Agatha Harkness, who’s getting her own spin-off show.

Loki

This is where the multiverse properly kicked off. The series introduced the Time Variance Authority (TVA), the concept of variants (different versions of the same character from different timelines), and ultimately ended with the sacred timeline splitting into infinite branches when Sylvie killed He Who Remains – a variant of Kang the Conqueror. This was the moment the multiverse was truly born in the MCU.

What If…?

The animated series explored alternate realities, introducing concepts like the Watcher and showing how small changes in the timeline could lead to drastically different outcomes. It also gave us our first look at “multiversal” teams with the formation of the Guardians of the Multiverse.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

This film blew the multiverse concept wide open by bringing in characters from the previous Sony Spider-Man film series, confirming that even non-MCU Marvel films exist within the larger multiverse. The movie dealt with the consequences of tampering with the fabric of reality.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

As the title suggests, this film delved deeper into the multiverse concept, introducing incursions (when two universes collide, potentially destroying both) and showing us alternate versions of familiar MCU characters, including the Illuminati from Earth-838.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

This film properly introduced Kang the Conqueror as the next major threat. According to AMC Theatres, Quantumania was “the first movie of Marvel’s Phase 5” and “set the stage for the next major villain of the franchise since Thanos.” The film established Kang’s multiversal conquests and the existence of multiple Kang variants.

Phase 5: Building the Conflict

While Phase 4 was about establishing the concept of the multiverse, Phase 5 appears to be about exploring the consequences and building toward the major conflicts that will define the saga.

Secret Invasion

This series dealt with the Skrull infiltration of Earth, which, while not directly tied to the multiverse narrative, added to the theme of hidden identities and doppelgängers that runs through the saga.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

While this film was primarily focused on concluding the Guardians’ story, it set up a new team for future cosmic adventures. According to The Cosmic Circus, “Besides familiar faces like Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and Kraglin, new cosmic heroes, including Adam Warlock and Phyla-Vell, have joined the team.” These characters could play important roles in the multiverse conflict to come.

The Marvels

Building on “Captain Marvel” and “Ms. Marvel,” this film connected the cosmic side of the MCU with the multiverse themes through the concept of entanglement across space. While not directly dealing with the multiverse, it continued to expand the cosmic scope of the MCU.

Upcoming Phase 5 Projects

Several upcoming Phase 5 projects are expected to continue building the multiverse narrative:

Captain America: Brave New World

While details are limited, this film will see Sam Wilson fully taking on the Captain America mantle. The “brave new world” title could refer to the changed landscape following the multiverse’s emergence.

Thunderbolts

This film will bring together a team of anti-heroes and reformed villains. While its connection to the multiverse narrative isn’t clear yet, it represents another team formation in preparation for larger conflicts.

Blade

The supernatural elements of the Blade reboot could connect to the mystical aspects of the multiverse that were touched upon in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.”

Daredevil: Born Again

This series will return Charlie Cox’s Daredevil to the spotlight, continuing the trend of bringing back characters from different eras of Marvel content.

Phase 6: The Culmination

Phase 6 is where everything is expected to come together in an epic conclusion to the Multiverse Saga.

Fantastic Four

Marvel’s First Family will finally join the MCU properly. Given that Reed Richards has appeared as a member of the Illuminati in “Multiverse of Madness” (played by John Krasinski), and that the comics’ version of Kang is a descendant of Reed Richards, the Fantastic Four could play a crucial role in the multiverse conflict.

As AMC Theatres notes, Kang has a “leg up from other Marvel foes because he has traveled to many time periods and dimensions along with being a descendant of one of Marvel’s upcoming characters, the Fantastic Four’s leader Reed Richards.”

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty

This film is expected to be the first part of the saga’s conclusion, focusing on the threat posed by Kang and his variants. The title suggests that Kang will succeed in some capacity, potentially conquering parts of the multiverse as his namesake implies.

Avengers: Secret Wars

Based on one of Marvel’s most iconic comic storylines, this film is positioned to be the grand finale of the Multiverse Saga. In the comics, “Secret Wars” involved the collision of various universes and the creation of a patchwork planet called Battleworld. This could serve as the perfect conclusion to a saga centered on the multiverse.

Thematic Focus of the Multiverse Saga

Unlike the Infinity Saga’s fairly straightforward “collect the stones” narrative, the Multiverse Saga is exploring several interconnected themes:

Identity and Variants

With multiple versions of characters existing across the multiverse, the saga raises questions about identity. What makes someone who they are? If there are infinite versions of you making different choices, what does that mean for free will and personal responsibility?

Legacy and Succession

Following the departure of many original Avengers, the saga is exploring themes of legacy as new heroes step up to fill the void. Characters like Kate Bishop, Sam Wilson, and Kamala Khan are carrying on the mantles of established heroes.

Order vs. Chaos

The multiverse represents chaos – infinite possibilities and realities – while organizations like the TVA represent attempts to impose order. This tension between chaos and order seems to be a central theme.

Consequences of Power

Much like how the Infinity Saga explored the corrupting influence of the Infinity Stones, the Multiverse Saga is examining the consequences of meddling with reality itself. Characters like Wanda, Strange, and Sylvie have all made choices that had far-reaching multiversal consequences.

The Kang Factor

Jonathan Majors was originally cast as Kang the Conqueror and appeared in “Loki” Season 1 as He Who Remains and in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” as Kang. With Majors no longer involved with Marvel Studios, the future of Kang as the saga’s primary antagonist is uncertain.

There are several possibilities:

1. Marvel could recast the role of Kang, continuing with the original plan.
2. They could pivot to another multiversal villain, such as Doctor Doom.
3. The concept of the “Council of Kangs” mentioned by AMC Theatres – “one especially worrisome element of this villain is the tendency for new versions of Kang to be created each time he travels through time, creating not just one threat, but many Kangs that form a collective group of villains called the Council of Kangs” – could allow for multiple actors to play different variants.

Where Is It All Heading?

Based on everything we’ve seen so far, the Multiverse Saga appears to be building toward a massive collision of universes. The concept of “incursions” introduced in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” – catastrophic events where two universes collide – seems to be setting up the framework for “Secret Wars.”

The Cosmic Circus hints at some potential future directions, noting cryptically, “A clue? Study up on black holes.” This could refer to how the multiverse might be collapsing or how travel between universes might involve black hole-like phenomena.

The end game of the Multiverse Saga could involve:

1. A complete reshuffling of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, potentially allowing for the integration of X-Men, Deadpool, and other formerly Fox-owned characters in a more organic way.
2. The creation of a Battleworld-like setting where fragments of different universes exist side by side.
3. The establishment of a new multiversal order following the defeat of Kang or whoever emerges as the saga’s ultimate villain.

Connecting Threads and Easter Eggs

Throughout Phases 4 and 5, Marvel has been dropping hints about the direction of the Multiverse Saga:

The Darkhold and Magic

“WandaVision,” “Multiverse of Madness,” and “Agatha All Along” all connect through the Darkhold and magical elements that can affect the multiverse.

Quantum Realm

“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” established the Quantum Realm as a key to traveling between realities and timelines, building on its use in “Endgame” for time travel.

TVA and Timeline Management

“Loki” introduced the TVA, which continues to play a crucial role in monitoring and potentially fixing multiverse problems.

Multiversal Technology

Various devices like Doctor Strange’s sling ring, America Chavez’s star portals, and the TVA’s TemPads all represent different ways to access the multiverse, suggesting that mastery of such technology could be important in the coming conflict.

Beyond the Multiverse Saga

While the current focus is on completing the Multiverse Saga, Marvel is already laying groundwork for what might come next. The Cosmic Circus mentions that “fans can look forward to the upcoming Wonder Man series” and that “the show could connect to the upcoming Shang-Chi sequel.”

The site also mentions other sequels in development, suggesting that Marvel is planning well beyond the conclusion of the current saga. This could mean:

1. A potential return to more grounded storytelling after the cosmos-spanning Multiverse Saga.
2. The introduction of new overarching threats or concepts that will define the next saga.
3. The continuation of character journeys for newer heroes introduced in Phases 4 and 5.

The Big Picture

The Multiverse Saga represents Marvel Studios’ most ambitious narrative structure yet. While the Infinity Saga dealt with one main villain pursuing one goal across multiple films, the Multiverse Saga is juggling numerous concepts, characters, and potential threats.

The introduction of the multiverse has effectively made the stakes infinite – it’s not just one universe at risk but all of existence. At the same time, it’s allowed Marvel to take bigger creative risks, bringing back legacy characters (like those in “Spider-Man: No Way Home”), introducing variants of familiar faces, and setting up the possibility for even more unexpected crossovers and team-ups.

As The Cosmic Circus suggests, we’re likely to see more team formations and unexpected pairings as the saga progresses. The New Guardians of the Galaxy, the Thunderbolts, and whatever form the new Avengers take will all play roles in the multiversal conflict to come.

In many ways, the Multiverse Saga feels like Marvel’s response to its own success with the Infinity Saga – how do you top something that was already so massive in scale? The answer appears to be by going bigger, more complex, and more cosmic, while still trying to maintain the character-driven storytelling that made the MCU successful in the first place.

Let’s be real, though – keeping track of all this multiverse stuff can be a real head-scratcher sometimes. Between variants, timeline branches, and incursions, you practically need a PhD in theoretical physics to follow along. But that’s kind of the fun of it. The MCU has gone from a relatively straightforward superhero franchise to a sprawling sci-fi epic that’s not afraid to get weird. And weird is exactly where some of the best Marvel stories from the comics have always lived.

For fans who’ve been hanging around since “Iron Man” kicked this whole thing off, it’s been one heck of a ride. And by the looks of it, the Multiverse Saga is just getting warmed up. The real fireworks are still to come with “The Kang Dynasty” and “Secret Wars” – whenever and however they ultimately take shape.