How 'Loki' Sets Up the Future of Marvel

Image via Marvel Studios

Release date: Dec. 17, 2021

With the dramatic ending of Loki where we saw the Multiverse fall into madness, fans are even more excited for arguably the most anticipated Marvel project this year, Spider-Man: No Way Home.

There has been speculation that we could see Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield return as the iconic web-slinger for Tom Holland’s third film, long before we saw the events of Loki. With the show introducing variants to the MCU and viewers seeing multiple versions of iconic characters throughout the season (Loki, Kang, Ravonna Renslayer), the anticipation for this film has never been higher.

Even with the rising speculation and the castings of actors who played iconic villains in these alternate universes confirmed for the film (Alfred Molina, Willem Dafoe, Jamie Foxx), there was one important question that needed answering: “How would they show up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe when they took place in alternate realities?” 

Due to the end of the Loki Season 1 finale, we have a pretty reasonable answer to that important question. When Sylvie killed the Kang variant, we saw the Sacred Timeline break open and alternate branches form and intersect uncontrollably. With no one in charge keeping the Sacred Timeline organized and in-tact, these alternate timelines will crash into one another which is how we could possibly get these characters in the MCU. This also includes other characters like Morbius, Venom, Carnage, and even the X-Men and Fantastic Four.

Benedict Cumberbatch is also confirmed to return as the Sorcerer Supreme in Spider-Man: No Way Home, which also supports theories that this film will deal with the Multiverse because the next project for Cumberbatch is Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Release date: Mar. 25, 2022

Loki also did a great job in setting up Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. We got to see the birth of the Multiverse in the Loki Season 1 finale but we haven’t seen how Doctor Strange will react to the ensuing madness. Afterall, Doctor Strange’s entire purpose as the Sorcerer Supreme is to protect reality but after the events of Loki, reality is being split into many different directions. 

Doctor Strange will be joined by the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Wong (Benedict Wong), and America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) on a Multiversal adventure that is also set to be Marvel’s first film in the horror genre. Fans can also expect to see Tom Hiddleston’s Loki return in the Doctor Strange sequel according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Release date: Feb. 17, 2023

Now we don’t know much about Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania other than this was the first project that Jonathan Majors was confirmed to portray Kang the Conqueror in. Prior to Sylvie killing the Kang variant at the end of the Loki Season 1 finale, he warned that infinite variants of himself, who are far more deadly and dangerous, will come if he is killed. With his death, it’s likely that we see Kang the Conqueror and potentially other variants in this film as well.

Interestingly enough, fans spotted Yellowjacket’s helmet in the Season 1, Episode 5 of Loki, which teased that he might have survived his “demise” in 2015’s Ant-Man. Following that episode, a new report suggested that Corey Stoll (Yellowjacket) is set to reprise his role in this film. 

With this film slated for 2023, it will be a while before we see or hear anything further on this upcoming project. Regardless, with Majors confirmed, we’re in for one wild ride...