What is the Multiverse in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

The multiverse in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is an infinite collection of alternate realities and dimensions based on the Marvel Comics setting. It centers on a main reality designated Earth-616, which is also called the Sacred Timeline. Following events in the television series Loki, the multiverse was freed from the control of the Time Variance Authority, allowing new branched timelines to form.

What we know

• The multiverse is a collection of infinitely many alternate realities and dimensions within the Marvel Cinematic Universe media franchise. [2]
• The main reality depicted in the MCU is designated Earth-616, which is also known as the Sacred Timeline. [2, 3]
• Branched timelines were initially pruned by the Time Variance Authority until Sylvie killed its leader, He Who Remains. [2]
• The multiverse plays a key role in Phases Four, Five, and Six of the MCU, which constitute The Multiverse Saga. [2]

Still open

• Whether the main reality should officially be designated Earth-616 or Earth-199999, given that Marvel Comics and outside media originally used Earth-199999 before the designation changed in 2022.

Where to go next

• how it workedHow does the Time Variance Authority manage timelines?
• whenWhich films make up The Multiverse Saga?
• a case in pointHow did Spider-Man: No Way Home explore alternate realities?
• the bigger pictureWhat is the Marvel Comics origin of the multiverse?
• what caused itHow do characters travel between different universes?
• an unexpected connectionHow does cosmic death connect to magical covens?The cosmic entity of Death manifests in human form as Rio Vidal and operates within a witch's coven in Agatha All Along.

Sources

• [1]Multiverse (Wikidata Q112975801) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Multiverse (Marvel Cinematic Universe) · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Wong (Marvel Cinematic Universe) · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Death (Marvel Cinematic Universe) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Your path

1. What did Joseph I achieve as Holy Roman Emperor?
2. /What is the Multiverse in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?