The Marvel Cinematic Universe has always been a hotbed for debate over its “canon.” Marvel’s Kevin Feige recently cleared the air in a new book called Marvel Studios: The Marvel Cinematic Universe – An Official Timeline.
Since the days of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., fans have argued what is canon to the MCU. Are the Netflix shows? What about the Inhumans? Hell, when will Morbius meet Wong and Madisynn!? The answer is revealed by Kevin Feige in Marvel Studios: The Marvel Cinematic Universe An Official Timeline. In the book, Feige states that every Marvel series is canon to the Multiverse, but not the sacred timeline.
“On the Multiverse note, we recognize that there are stories – movies and series – that are canonical to Marvel but were created by different storytellers during different periods of Marvel’s history,” Feige explains. “The timeline presented in this book is specific to the MCU’s Sacred Timeline through Phase 4. But, as we move forward and dive deeper into the Multiverse Saga, you never know when timelines may just crash or converge (hint, hint/spoiler alert).”
This excerpt by Kevin Feige seems to suggest that, while no adjunct projects like the Sony Spider-Man films or the Netflix projects are currently canon to the sacred timeline, they may be converged into the canon at a future point in the MCU. That future point likely being Avengers: Secret Wars, which seems to be acting as a soft reboot for the franchise. Though which of the series become truly canon is still yet to be seen.
The future of the Avengers franchise
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is the first movie in a two-part finale to Marvel’s Multiverse Saga. It will be followed by Avengers: Secret Wars, rounding out Marvel Studios’ Phase 6. Both films are scheduled to arrive in theaters in 2025.
Destin Daniel Cretton is set to direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, with Jeff Loveness attached to write. Michael Waldron will write Avengers: Secret Wars, though there is no director attached to the project.
With the expansive Multiverse Saga and its star-studded cast at the helm, Marvel fans are undoubtedly on edge for the next two Avengers movies. Regardless of how fans interpret Robert Downey Jr.’s comments, one thing is certain: Marvel Studios has a grand vision in mind.
Source: Marvel Studios: The Marvel Cinematic Universe An Official Timeline
