Summary

• Marvel Studios has been expanding the MCU massively in recent years by exploring alternate universes across the vast multiverse.
• Since the beginning of the Multiverse Saga, over 100 alternate universes have been confirmed in the MCU.
• Projects such as Loki, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and What If...? have explored the multiverse more than any others.

Marvel Studios has debuted many alternate universes since the beginning of the Multiverse Saga, expanding the MCU's Infinity Saga, Marvel Studios only explored storylines in the primary universe of Earth-616. Following the Infinity Saga's conclusion with Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home, however, the MCU began to branch out into new territories, expanding the franchise massively by focusing on the concept of the multiverse and alternate worlds. This has opened many doors for Marvel Studios, though is expected to come to an end with Avengers: Secret Wars.

The variant characters in the MCU, and showcased many vibrant alternate universes.

14 Earth-616

Earth-616 Is The MCU’s Main Reality

Earth-616 is the universe that the MCU's main adventures have all been set in, and the one that was being explored long before the concept of the multiverse was introduced. This universe saw Steve Rogers become Captain America, Tony Stark become Iron Man, the Avengers form in 2012, the Guardians of the Galaxy form in 2014, and the Mad Titan Thanos wage war on the cosmos with the Infinity Stones. All the adventures in the Infinity Saga are set in Earth-616, though Endgame did branch out into alternate timelines.

The MCU’s Universe Designation Has Been Disputed

Although Marvel Studios has confirmed the MCU's main continuity as Earth-616, this designation has been disputed. Before Multiverse of Madness confirmed this numbering, the consensus was that the MCU's universe was Earth-199999, which kept it separate from Marvel Comics' Earth-616. However, this designation still works, as the MCU is adapted from the comics, rather than taking place in an alternate universe.

13 Loki's Many Alternate Timelines

Loki & The TVA Explored Many New Timelines

Loki seasons 1 and 2 released on Disney+ in 2021 and 2023, respectively. Loki season 1 was the first MCU project to introduce the idea of the multiverse, as the titular God of Mischief found himself taken captive by the Time Variance Authority following his escape during the Avengers' Time Heist in Endgame. This variant of Loki explored many new worlds with the TVA, and met a number of his own variants throughout Marvel Studios' Loki series, and eventually even became the guardian of the multiverse himself.

Everyone Working At The TVA Is A Variant

There are simply too many universes confirmed in Loki to count, as every single staff member working in the TVA is a variant from an alternate timeline. This means that every judge, Minute Man and analyst has roots in billions of alternate universes, created because of the choices they made. Some of these, such as Hunter C-20's and Ravonna Renslayer's, have been visited.

Loki's Variants Come From Different Universes

As well as meeting Sylvie, who came from a timeline where Loki had been born female, Loki also came into with many more of his variants in Loki season 1. Residing in the Void at the End of Time, Boastful Loki, Classic Loki, Kid Loki, Alligator Loki, President Loki, and many others, all come from alternate universes. Some of these alternate worlds have been explained, though many remain a mystery.

The TVA Interferes On Many Different Timelines

Throughout Loki seasons 1 and 2, the TVA have been shown to interfere in a huge number of realities that have no connection to Loki or his variants. When Nexus events - those that cause the Sacred Timeline to branch - are created, the TVA enter this new timeline and prune everything, sending all its matter to the Void. This occurs in 1985 Wisconsin, 2077's Lamentis-1, and in in the Middle Ages, just to name a few.

Sylvie Finds A New Home In Loki Season 2

After killing He Who Remains and freeing the Sacred Timeline, Sylvie made her way to a new branched timeline, and made it her new home. She was found by Loki and Mobius working in a 1980s-themed McDonald's in Loki season 2, but was convinced to Loki's cause when her new reality began to unravel. This was due to complications with the Temporal Loom, which Loki ended up solving, perhaps allowing Sylvie to return to her new timeline.

Loki's Team Returned To Earth After The Temporal Loom's Destruction

After the Temporal Loom exploded in Loki season 2, episode 4, "Heart of the TVA," Loki's new family were all sent back to their original timelines. Mobius becomes Don in 2022 Cleveland, Hunter B-15 becomes Verity Willis in 2012 New York, Casey becomes Frank Morris in 1962 Alcatraz, and Ouroboros becomes A.D. Doug in 1994 Pasadena. Loki eventually brings his friends back together and returns to the TVA after learning how to control his time-slipping.

12 Kang The Conqueror's Alternate Universes

Kang The Conqueror Is A Huge Multiversal Threat

After the Mad Titan, Thanos, was killed (twice) in Avengers: Endgame, Marvel Studios introduced Kang the Conqueror to the MCU as the new overarching villain of the Multiverse Saga. Initially portrayed by Jonathan Majors, Kang's future in the MCU is uncertain following the actor's 2023 arrest and conviction. However, Kang poses a big enough threat to the multiverse that it would make sense for him to be recast for a new actor, allowing the supervillain to explore even more realities in the MCU's future.

He Who Remains Spoke About His Universe In Loki Season 1

The first variant of Kang the Conqueror introduced to the MCU was He Who Remains, revealed as the TVA's creator in Loki season 1's finale. He Who Remains wanted Loki and Sylvie to replace him, and maintain the Sacred Timeline. He explained the history of his reality, and his discovery of the multiverse and the subsequent Multiversal War, in an effort to convince them, but was ultimately killed by Sylvie.

Kang The Conqueror Was Exiled To The Quantum Realm

Following He Who Remains' debut in Loki, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania introduced Kang the Conqueror himself. Kang was revealed to have been exiled to the Quantum Realm by his other variants, but he built his own empire in the Quantum Realm with the help of Janet van Dyne. Not much is yet known about Kang the Conqueror's original universe, but his violence seems to suggest he may have already destroyed it.

Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania Debuted The Council Of Kangs

As well as introducing Kang the Conqueror, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania's mid-credits scene also introduced many of his variants, comprising the Council of Kangs. Though there were hundreds of variants introduced here, each coming from their own timeline, the Council of Kangs was led by Immortus, Rama-Tut and a version of the Scarlet Centurion. It's possible that future MCU projects could explore these variants' universes further.

Victor Timely's Life Diverged After TVA Interference

Loki season 2 introduced yet another variant of Kang the Conqueror, 19th Century inventor Victor Timely, despite releasing in the wake of Jonathan Majors' arrest. Ravonna Renslayer and Miss Minutes interfered in Victor Timely's timeline when he was young, gifting him a TVA guidebook that allowed him to advance his inventions. This eventually brought him to the TVA to help solve the problem with the Temporal Loom, though this ultimately turned out to be impossible.

11 Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man Universe

Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker Became Spider-Man In 2002

Tobey Maguire debuted as Peter Parker in Sam Raimi's first Spider-Man movie back in 2002, produced by Sony Pictures. In his subsequent trilogy, Maguire's Spider-Man fought the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Sandman and Venom, while developing his relationship with Mary Jane Watson. 14 years after after 2007's Spider-Man 3 ended his story, Tobey Maguire returned in the MCU proper, proving that his Spider-Man universe is now a part of the MCU's multiverse.

Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man & His Villains Returned In The MCU’s Phase 4

Phase 4's Spider-Man: No Way Home saw Peter Parker approach Doctor Strange in the hopes of making the world forget him. However, this spell was botched, and those who knew Peter Parker from other realities were pulled into the MCU's Earth-616, including Spider-Man's own variants. Tobey Maguire's wall-crawler was one of these, reprising his role many years after his final adventure in 2007, but providing advice to Tom Holland's Spider-Man that will prove crucial to his future adventures.

10 Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man Universe

Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker Became Spider-Man In 2013

Following Tobey Maguire's spin as Marvel Comics' iconic wall-crawler, Andrew Garfield assumed the role for Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man in 2012, and its 2014 sequel. Despite releasing in 2012, Garfield's Peter Parker became Spider-Man in 2013, and went on to battle the Lizard, Electro and Rhino. Unfortunately, this version of Peter Parker also tragically lost his love, Gwen Stacy, which had a huge impact on his future career as Spider-Man, as detailed with his return in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man & His Villains Returned In The MCU’s Phase 4

As well as Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man and his villains returning in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker also ed the MCU in Phase 4, cementing the Amazing Spider-Man universe as part of the MCU's multiverse. Doctor Strange's spell also saw both Maguire and Garfield's enemies come into the MCU, but this provided the opportunity to finally cure them of their inflictions before everyone was sent back home.

9 Sony's Spider-Man Universe

Tom Hardy's Venom Appeared In Spider-Man: No Way Home

More recently, Sony Pictures has been developing a new franchise focused on Spider-Man's villains from Marvel Comics, dubbed Sony's Spider-Man Universe. Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Morbius and Madame Web have all introduced characters to this franchise, while Venom: The Last Dance and Kraven the Hunter are on the way in 2024. Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock, a.k.a. Venom, is the cornerstone of the SSU, and his appearance in the Spider-Man: No Way Home proves the SSU and MCU are connected.

More Crossovers Between The MCU & Sony’s Spider-Man Universe May Have Been Set Up

While Tom Hardy's Venom didn't play an actual role in Spider-Man: No Way Home, his appearance could tease more crossovers between the two franchises. The relationship between Sony and Marvel Studios is still strong, and new projects featuring Tom Holland's Spider-Man are being developed for the MCU. There has also been talk of Holland's Spider-Man appearing in the SSU, though this is yet to be seen.

8 Earth-838

Earth-838 Is Very Similar To The MCU’s Main Reality

By far, the project that has explored the multiverse more than any other live-action MCU installment has been Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In total, Multiverse of Madness confirmed almost 100 alternate universes, but Earth-838 was the most explored of all. Doctor Strange and America Chavez found themselves in Earth-838 after their universe-hopping montage. Earth-838 is very similar to Earth-616, though there is more greenery and nature, red means go, and pizza balls are a thing.

Earth-838 Was Protected By The Illuminati

Perhaps the biggest difference between Earth-616 and Earth-838 is the existence of the Illuminati on the latter. This superhero team comprises the leaders of several separate teams, including Mister Fantastic of the Fantastic Four, Professor X of the X-Men, Captain Carter of the Avengers, Black Bolt of the Inhumans, Baron Mordo, the Sorcerer Supreme, and Captain Marvel, Protector of the Cosmos. Earth-616's Illuminati is yet to form, but could come together soon.

Multiverse of Madness confirmed almost 100 alternate universes.

7 Utopian Parallel

The Utopian Parallel Was America Chavez’s Home Reality

America Chavez standing on the Memory Lane platform on Earth-838 gifted viewers some insight into her own history, and her childhood in the Utopian Parallel. In Marvel Comics, the Utopian Parallel is a dimension set outside the multiverse, which explains how there is only one America Chavez in Multiverse of Madness. The emergence of Chavez's universe-hopping ability thrust both of her mothers and herself out of the Utopian Parallel, beginning her journey that would take her to Doctor Strange.

America Chavez Has Visited Over 73 Universes Since Leaving The Utopian Parallel

After inadvertently leaving the Utopian Parallel, America Chavez confirmed in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness that she had traveled to at least 73 alternate universes. It's unclear which realities these are, as she doesn't go into much detail, but does joke about how food is free on most of them. This ultimately means there are many more alternate universes that the MCU hasn't even scratched the surface of exploring.

6 Defender Strange's Universe

Not Much Is Known About Defender Strange’s Universe

Defender Strange is the variant of Benedict Cumberbatch's Master of the Mystic Arts who is first seen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' opening moments. Little is known about his home universe, as he is introduced running through the Gap Junction, the space between realities, with America Chavez, hoping to acquire the Book of Vishanti. It's possible Defender Strange's universe is Spanish-speaking, as he is shown to be fluent. Doctor Strange later dream-walks into Defender Strange's corpse in Earth-616.

Defender Strange Almost Betrayed America Chavez In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

When America Chavez first met Earth-616's Doctor Strange, her desire to escape made complete sense, as the previous variant of Doctor Strange she had met wanted to kill her and steal her power for himself. Defender Strange came close to stripping America of her remarkable abilities, but was killed by the Scarlet Witch-controlled demon in the Gap Junction. This made his corpse available for Doctor Strange's use later on.

5 Sinister Strange's Universe

Sinister Strange's Universe Was Ravaged By An Incursion

After coming face-to-face with the Scarlet Witch on Earth-838, Doctor Strange and Earth-838's Christine Palmer were thrust into a new universe, with no means of escape. This reality was in the middle of being ravaged by an incursion event, with buildings toppling, cars floating midair, strange lights zooming past, and floods occurring far inland. The center of this incursion was this universe's Sanctum Sanctorum, which housed the villainous Sinister Strange, a Doctor Strange variant who had traveled the multiverse killing his other selves.

Sinister Strange’s Universe Could Be A Sign Of Things To Come

Incursions have become a real threat in the MCU's Multiverse Saga, particularly since every excursion into the multiverse so far has been full of trouble, turmoil and devastation. This means that viewers could soon witness Earth-616 suffer the same fate as Sinister Strange's reality, perhaps in Marvel Studios' Avengers: Secret Wars, which may mark the multiverse's destruction, if it takes inspiration from Marvel Comics' Secret Wars event.

Earth 838's Reed Richards explained incursions to be events that occur "when the boundary between two universes erodes, and they collide, destroying one or both entirely."