The Diverse and Deep Realms Are Opening Up Many Choices for Marvel Studios in Shaping the Future of the MCU.
With a focus on diverse realms that have been explored and are currently being utilized in the MCU, Marvel Studios has the potential to bring a wealth of realities to the big screen. In addition to the re-exploration of the Quantum Realm in Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania, the MCU has previously taken audiences on journeys through various dimensions, such as the Astral Plane (Black Panther), Duat (Moon Knight), Valhalla (Thor: Love and Thunder), and the Mirror Dimension (Doctor Strange).
In the original comic book narrative, the Marvel Universe is a complex tapestry of different realities. The Quantum Zone and Microverse are particularly notable dimensions that Marvel Studios has yet to fully explore, as it does not hold the film rights to the Microverse. In the future, this studio could continue to delve into many other dimensions to further expand its cinematic universe.
Negative Zone
Among the many dimensions yet to appear in the MCU, the Negative Zone stands out as the most significant and frequently featured realm in the original narrative. First introduced in Fantastic Four #51, published in 1966, the Negative Zone is a parallel dimension that exists outside of physical reality, created entirely from antimatter. This is primarily why exploration of this dimension is particularly challenging and dangerous.
However, with the genius brain of Reed Richards, the leader of the Fantastic Four, he has managed to create a means of safe travel to the Negative Zone. This detail could help Marvel Studios integrate the Fantastic Four into the MCU in a dedicated film slated for release on February 14, 2025. The unique properties of the Negative Zone could provide various superpowers or allow for faster travel through time, which could help explore the 1960s and appear in the present-day reality.
The Negative Zone is also connected to several other superheroes. Notably, characters like Mar-Vell – the original Captain Marvel, and Rick Jones – a character capable of switching places between the ordinary and Negative Zone. This phenomenon has already been partially explored by Marvel Studios in the final segment of the Ms. Marvel series, where Carol Danvers and Kamala Khan accidentally swapped places using their superpowers.
Ultimately, the Negative Zone also serves as a “home” to many formidable villains in the Marvel Universe, though it has yet to make a significant appearance on the big screen, such as Annihilus or Blastaar. These characters could potentially become integral figures in the upcoming Fantastic Four movie.
Dream Dimension
The Dream Dimension was briefly mentioned in the Loki series, but it has not yet been deeply explored in the MCU. This dimension connects with the subconscious of a person and is viewed as a manifestation of dreams. More importantly, the Dream Dimension is the realm of Nightmare, one of Doctor Strange’s most formidable adversaries in the original comics.
Nightmare was initially intended to be the main antagonist in the blockbuster Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness before Marvel Studios replaced the director Scott Derrickson with the “master of horror” Sam Raimi. Although the concept was not realized on screen, dream sequences played a significant role in this blockbuster.
At this point, it is challenging to determine whether Marvel Studios intends to bring the Dream Dimension to the big screen in the future. After the interdimensional adventure that accidentally caused a nightmare scenario, Doctor Strange and his apprentice Clea traveled to the Dark Dimension to rectify the mistakes created by the former. However, this suggests that the upcoming blockbuster centered on Doctor Strange may focus more on the Dark Dimension rather than any other realities.
However, alongside the established narrative dimensions, Marvel Studios is also expanding the supernatural aspects of the MCU, with projects like Moon Knight, Werewolf by Night, and the upcoming Blade. The Dream Dimension may still have opportunities to be explored in such blockbusters, or perhaps even in Season 2 of the Loki series, which is set to premiere this summer.
Nexus of All Realities
Theoretically, the Nexus of All Realities has been explored in the MCU through the animated series What If…? This serves as the intersection point of all realities in the multiverse and is also where Uatu the Watcher observes all events occurring across timelines. Previously, the Nexus of All Realities was hinted at in the blockbuster Thor: The Dark World through the Dark World’s theory explaining the Convergence phenomenon.
However, according to the comic narrative, the Nexus is importantly connected to Man-Thing, a character newly introduced to the MCU through the Werewolf by Night special. To prevent any entities from exploiting the Nexus of All Realities and traveling to any point in the multiverse, Man-Thing has become the guardian of this location.
As a crucial source of supernatural power, the Nexus of All Realities remains one of the greatest mysteries within the Marvel Universe. Ted Sallis was the first to discover this place after a car accident in the swamp. Due to dark magic, Sallis transformed into a monster known as Man-Thing, simultaneously activating the defense of the Nexus of All Realities.
Limbo
In the Marvel comic universe, there are numerous dimensions and realities known as Limbo. The Loki series also introduced a dimension like this, as Loki and Sylvie traveled to a realm outside the timeline of He Who Remains.
Limbo is also a mystical realm associated with a member of the X-Men, Illyana Rasputin, also known as Magik. Her ability to teleport allows her to travel to and from Limbo. While still a child, Rasputin was kidnapped and raised by Belasco, the ruler of the dark realm, before she rebelled and escaped from that prison.
Magik first appeared in the “Demon Bear” storyline of the X-Men franchise produced by 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios), portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy.
However, with the developments occurring in the MCU, many aspects of Limbo may not be explored by Marvel Studios until the narrative dimensions are tightly woven. The X-Men are expected to be the central superhero team of the MCU after Phase 6. Therefore, it wouldn’t be surprising if Limbo is only introduced in the coming years, directly linked to the characters within the Marvel universe as in the original narrative.
Olympus
The roles of various deities in the MCU have been elevated to new heights through recent projects in Phase 4, particularly in Thor: Love and Thunder. To seek allies against the god-slayer Gorr, Thor ventured to Omnipotent City, regarded as the home of many deities under the rule of Zeus.
More importantly, Thor: Love and Thunder has introduced Hercules to the big screen, played by Brett Goldstein. This indicates that Olympus’s appearance in the MCU may only be a matter of time. Similar to Asgard, Olympus is a smaller realm and serves as the home of various Greek deities, and is connected to the underworld ruled by Hades. Just as many deities from different cultures exist in various dimensions, such as the Celestial Heliopolis dedicated to the Ennead, Egyptian deities have appeared in the Moon Knight series.
Avalon
Another notable dimension associated with various deities is Otherworld and the realm of Avalon. This is the home of the Tuatha de Danaan, Celtic deities, and has significant connections to the Marvel universe. Similar to the Nexus, Avalon also serves as an intersection point for many (but not all) different realities. Thus, this place is entirely compatible with the narrative paths that the MCU is currently exploring.
Like Captain Carter in the animated series What If…?, Captain Britain is also a member of the Captain Britain Corps, a coalition of various incarnations of superheroes dedicated to protecting the multiverse. In the comics, Brian Braddock became Captain Avalon, the guardian of this mystical realm, while also passing the Captain Britain mantle to Betsy Braddock.
There has been much speculation surrounding Marvel Studios’ plans to introduce Captain Britain into the MCU. However, this superhero has yet to make a significant appearance on the big screen.
Mojoworld
Mojoworld is a dimension outside of space and serves as the home of the Spineless Ones – bizarre creatures with yellow skin, no hair, and only four fingers on their hands, notably lacking bones. One of the most prominent members of the Spineless Ones is Mojo, who has often encountered the X-Men in various Marvel comics.
As mentioned, the X-Men will be central characters in the future of the MCU. Therefore, it is likely that Mojoworld will also be explored by Marvel Studios once the narrative dimensions are woven tightly.
