In a Screen Rant exclusive interview, Marvel's What if…? producer Brad Winderbaum stated that the MCU is just one big ‘What if' story to the main Marvel Comics continuity. He explained that it was simply a way for the first MCU writers to have some leeway with the characters history and storylines.
“Well, it's funny. I definitely look at all of the MCU as one giant What If…? It's an interpretation. It's a universe that runs parallel to the comic book…Early on, I think that was a way we thought about it. The Ultimates were a big touchstone for us, and it was because it was a fully realized universe that ran a parallel path with the main comic book universe. As we entered into a shared narrative with the MCU, I think it was creatively healthy to think about it as its own parallel worlds. It didn't have to be a one-to-one adaptation of exactly what happened in the comics. It lives and breathes on its own terms. And in that way, we've always been telling What If…? stories.”
In retrospect, true fans of Marvel Comics have always thought about the MCU in this light. Although the majority of the events that occur in the MCU are heavily based on the same events in the comics, they are far from being one and the same. The main Marvel Comics continuity follows the events that happen in Earth-616. Quentin Beck a.k.a. Mysterio mentioned that the MCU is in Earth-616 in Spider-Man: Far From Home. However, we found out that he and everything he said was nothing more than an elaborate scheme to get revenge on Tony Stark.
In reality, Earth-199999 is the designated universe number for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The shared fictional universe which crosses over superhero films and television produced by Marvel Studios.
Marvel's What if…? will be available for streaming exclusively on Disney+ this August 11, 2021.
Follow Us
Subscribe