Keeping up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe was once fairly straightforward, especially during its first three phases. But following the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” the franchise expanded in almost every direction. With “Avengers: Doomsday” on the horizon, even longtime MCU viewers may need a quick refresher. Looper’s video above provides a useful guide to where the Marvel universe currently stands.
The MCU’s earlier storyline moved along a clear path: some heroes headlined solo films, others appeared in supporting roles, and the Avengers reunited for major crossover events. Today, that structure is far more complicated. The universe still includes several original Phase 1 Avengers, survivors and key figures from “Avengers: Endgame,” and a growing lineup of characters who could eventually become the next generation of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. With Robert Downey Jr. returning as a possible Tony Stark variant in the role of Doctor Doom, a massive reset of the Multiverse might even feel like a welcome development.
Beginning with Phase 4, Marvel Studios introduced a steady stream of new heroes and potential Avengers. Yet some have appeared only sporadically in live-action projects. At the same time, the Disney+ series have become increasingly important to the larger MCU narrative, with storylines from the shows beginning to influence the films. That would make the franchise difficult to follow even on one timeline—except the MCU now spans several.
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The increasingly complex MCU timelines have made things difficult to follow
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Alternate realities were already central to “Avengers: Endgame,” and the ending of “Avengers: Endgame Encore” suggests that the consequences of those events will play a major role in “Avengers: Doomsday.”
In the long gap between the two films, Marvel has used movies and television series to explore branching timelines, alternate versions of familiar characters, parallel universes, and time travel. The result is an MCU larger—and more complicated—than ever. The multiversal storyline now includes the Fox-era X-Men, while Marvel’s own upcoming X-Men film has already begun assembling a new cast.
Projects such as “Spider-Man: No Way Home” have made effective use of the Multiverse, while the two-season Disney+ series “Loki” established key ideas surrounding the Time Variance Authority and the MCU’s timeline system. For viewers who haven’t had time to watch every Marvel release since 2019, Looper’s recap offers a concise overview of the major developments since “Avengers: Endgame”—and a helpful way to prepare for “Avengers: Doomsday,” scheduled to arrive on December 18.
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