With *WandaVision* underway on Disney+, speculation has ramped up surrounding a lot of Marvel Cinematic Universe topics (MCU) beyond just what the heck is going on in the mini-series itself.

Among those theories with a wider scope are the introduction of a multiverse (which *Avengers: Endgame* seemingly went to great lengths to avoid—if you don't think too hard on Captain America's little jaunt at the very end, that is) and how it could be used to bring in the Fox Studios Marvel properties—The X-Men, Deadpool, Fantastic Four, etc.

![Comic Book Collection.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmTdv29dMVS3jmkBA4tVcq3gk59N7oT8derojDoxyNgdYu/Comic%20Book%20Collection.png)
*My 40-year-old comic book collection.*

## Why Does The MCU Need A Multiverse?
In my mind, it doesn't, so I'm not a proponent of the multiverse theory. Especially, as I mentioned, *Endgame* would have been the perfect time to do it. Either through some misstep with the Infinity Stones, or not quite getting them back to where they were supposed to go, or whatever other way an alternate reality might split off. Let alone create many of them.

However, the multiverse seems to be the main theory among fans and talking heads as to how Marvel properties that have been developed by Fox Studios quite extensively, especially the X-Men Universe, "logically" show up out of nowhere in the MCU.

*As if, we all really need a logical explanation for fictional characters moving from one movie company to another.*

It didn't take much to integrate Spider-Man into the MCU, did it? Sony has the cinematic property rights to everyone's favorite web slinger, and they've made five movies (plus a spinoff in *Venom*). As far as onscreen machinations go, all it took was Tony Stark going out to Queens and recruiting Peter Parker in *Captain America: Civil War*.

We didn't need a retelling of his origin story, nor did we need some kind of major story plot device to bring him through a wormhole from another dimension. It turns out, while it wasn't for very long beforehand, Spider-Man already existed in the MCU, we just didn't know it yet.

#### Why Won't That Work For The Fox Franchises?
As far as I'm concerned, it probably could.

*But...but...why haven't the X-Men shown up to help out in the MCU? I mean, Infinity War and Endgame? Hello! Why nary a mention of mutantkind in any movie? You can't just not explain that!?!*

Okay, okay. Calm down. Yes, admittedly, a whole race of naturally born super-powered people living all over the world probably would have a harder time blending in and flying under the radar than one spider bitten teenager handling petty crime within a several block radius in a New York borough.

However, the reason why it didn't happen in the MCU was because of rather mundane legalities in the real world. In other words, it was purely contractual. The MCU folks were not permitted to mention any mutant characters, or even the term mutant or mutantkind, or anything that might reference them. Not a great deal to make, in hindsight, but Marvel wasn't in a financially good place at the time, which I assume means they couldn't just jump start their own studio without some capital earned from selling off the movie rights of their most profitable and famous comic book characters.

That meant making concessions, and some fairly big ones.

When they could, the MCU simply moved on without the big three with the remaining B through D list of properties they had, and did such an awesome job with them, that they not only made multiple billions of dollars at the box office, they turned the Avengers into a household name.

And, I might add, caused Fox Studios to be bought and assimilated into the greater House of Mouse, and to make it more lucrative to Sony to have Spider-Man come into the MCU (for the time being) instead of continuing to make their own standalone versions that they would have to reboot every so often.

In the case of Sony, that's saying quite a bit, since their Spider-Man movies, even the not so good ones, did pretty well in theater receipts.

As far as the Fantastic Four are concerned, though, if you don't care a whole lot about timelines—which believe me, Fox certainly doesn't and to a lesser degree, the MCU—you just do another Fantastic Four origin story in the MCU. They're out in space, they get zapped by the cosmic rays, voila, Fantastic Four.

In fact, it wouldn't need a full-blown Fantastic Four movie. Similar to Spider-Man, it could take place in some other movie. Like, as part of a news report on the event. One minute, tops—The Fantastic Four are born in the MCU. Personally, having watched the previous three Fantastic Four movies, we don't need another long and drawn out origin story, anyway, which is why I'm more than happy with the way the MCU handled their Spider-Man integration.

#### That's Still Not Good Enough For The X-Men/Deadpool
While I agree there needs to be a longer introduction, I really don't think this needs to be an overly complicated affair.

I'm not a fan of Deadpool, so I don't really care how they explain him into the MCU. His kind of character defies all fourth wall rules, anyway. He could literally blunder onto an MCU set by mistake and decide to stick around because he'd have more heroes to mess with.

Or, in the opening sequence of Deadpool 3, he could say:

*Disney bought Fox Studios, so I packed my bags for the MCU.*

It would be that easy.

As far as the X-Men and greater mutantdom goes, there's a few ways, and not all of them require a multiverse or much explanation.

As far as I'm concerned, the less time trying to explain them into the MCU, the better.

Here's a few possibilities, including the multiverse option.

#### Mutantkind Has Simply Been Hiding Out 
*They don't need to be organized in any meaningful way—they've just been lying low, watching from the shadows like Morlocks, waiting to see how normal humans react to super beings in general. Up until the events of *Avengers: Age Of Ultron*, the reviews were somewhat mixed, but with the death toll and property damage continually mounting, public opinion, at least on the global governmental levels, sway to the registering of super beings through the United Nations' Sokovia Accords. Not exactly the best of times for freedom loving mutants to go outing themselves. Then, of course, there's the blip, and then the return, and so everything is still very much up in the air.*

I like this idea the most because it could be executed in any of a number of different ways. It sticks to the theme that Spider-Man established: they're already around and living among us. To think that every mutant has been successful in keeping their powers in check would be a stretch, so maybe some have actually ended up as experiments in off the books government or private labs somewhere. There could be one or more covert programs that have been kept under wraps with only a few MCU players knowing about them.

They could all just be living on the island of Genosha as slaves, too, which would be a reason why they're not so widely known, but I like the idea of them living out in the world at large better, trying to keep their identities secret.

It's basically what most have been doing in the Marvel Comics, until Charles Xavier comes calling.

#### Magic Creates The Mutants 
*That could be where *WandaVision* is leading to, anyway. However she ended up there, Wanda is definitely using her reality manipulating powers to rewind and rewrite her own story within the sitcoms, along with physically expelling those who remind her of the real world she seems to be avoiding.*

I've been told about this theory, so I haven't come across it myself in my searches, but I trust the source. Regardless, I hope this doesn't happen. There is just too much inherent in beings considered to be the next step in human evolution springing forth through natural means to discount it all out of hand. They basically become like any other super being otherwise. Some accident, some experiment, some powerful being creating new powerful beings...

Mutants are unique in that their own genetic makeup determines who they are, and powers manifest at some point in their lives (often puberty). An argument could be made that all super beings are mutants in some way—how else to explain Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner, Peter Parker, the Fantastic Four and a myriad of others, both good and bad, not only living through their respective dangerous if not out and out lethal experiences, but actually being able to manifest powers as they do? There must be something special going on biologically for them to do all of that.

So, I really hope mutants do not pop into existence thanks to magic. Not only does it undermine the whole premise and purpose behind having mutants and their own origin stories in the first place, but it messes with other potential story arcs, such as *House of M*, which I'm desperately hoping we're not already into with *WandaVision*.

#### The Multiverse Does Exist
*The mutants have been hanging out in a different universe. As it is, the third MCU Spider-Man movie is rumored to be about a Spidey-verse (with plenty of evidence to support it), and since it supposedly has ties to *WandaVision*, maybe instead of birthing mutants, Wanda ends up creating the multiverse. Or exposing its existence. After all, the other MCU tie in, *Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness* actually has multiverse in the title!*

![DSMVM.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmaxX5bWfKR25i4mm3TdpmwGjJXT6Y9XcpKY2wgbEkXJ8s/DSMVM.jpg)

Yes, it does. But it also has *madness* in the title, too. Doctor Strange deals with all kinds of planes of reality, and they aren't necessarily parallel universes. They include realms of existence, like spiritual or psychic planes, dream realities, and other supernatural places. There's just as good a chance that the term multiverse is being used as a red herring, a decoy, to describe mystical realms rather than alternate universes.

However, if I had my choice, I would pick it over the magical creation of mutants. And, admittedly, it does have a practical purpose.

Just like the MCU, the Fox version has its own history, its own characters, and thus actors, directors, etc. The movie going audience is used to seeing the people portraying these characters on screen. If the current round of mutants were to be merged into the MCU through some kind of multiverse gimmick, then it wouldn't necessarily undo what's been done before.

Personally, though, I want most of what Fox Studios has done with The X-Men undone. Even though I do like the latter round of movies better than the first, I don't think any of them have really done The X-Men the justice they deserve. I'd rather a total reboot, even if it does take a while to set up.

And there's plenty of time for it. Phase 4 already has a long list of movies set to come out over the next few years. While Marvel Studios certainly knew that the acquisition of Fox Studios was in the works, they had no control over when everything might be finalized. So, no doubt they've been wargaming potential scenarios as to how and when to introduce mutants, but they couldn't give them their own movies straightaway.

But slowly bringing them in as supporting cast, cameos, mentions, scenes during the credits (just as Marvel Studios did all throughout the first three phases), would work.

#### Why The Multiverse Makes Sense
I suppose it depends on a few things, most of which come from the real world again. Actors get tired of playing the same roles over and over again. At some point, it's no longer about how much money can be made in such lucrative franchises. They want to try other things. It's not like the MCU doesn't have that, too, a la Robert Downey, Jr., and Chris Evans, barring a future guest appearance or two.

Thus, I'm sure you would find among the X-men actors some folks wanting out. If so, you'd essentially be at square one recasting their characters, anyway.

However, most of the latest X-Men actors are relatively new, younger, and not as well known at this point. I'm thinking of those who came in with *X-Men: Days Of Future Past*, *X-Men: Apocalypse* and then *X-Men: Dark Phoenix*, which intriguingly enough, all include a Pietro Maximoff (or better said, Peter, since that's how he's been referred to so far).

Since the MCU Pietro Maximoff died in *Age Of Ultron*, bringing in Peter Maximoff as Wanda's multiverse twin (a twin of a twin perhaps?), is one way his character could reappear.

*The Fox Studios Peter Maximoff actor, Evan Peters, is rumored to be involved in some capacity in the MCU at some point, perhaps in *WandaVision* itself.*

Of course, magic could reanimate Wanda's twin, too, and we could have the MCU actor, Aaron Taylor-Johnson back without too much audience whiplash. Again, while I personally like the serious and brooding MCU Pietro to the comic relief/loser Peter, I don't want magic ruling the day here, though in limited quantities, it wouldn't be so bad.

## I'm An Old Fashioned Traditionalist When It Comes To The X-Men
I want a strong willed, commanding Cyclops. I want a long romance with Jean Grey. I want to see  a slow transformation into Phoenix. I want to see the Hellfire Club and Mastermind undo her. I want to see the battle royale with the Shi'ar Imperial Guard. I want *Days of Future Past* done right. Eventually, I want House of M and Decimation. And I don't want Wolverine dominating everything throughout.

I don't want X-Men mixed and matched or patchworked together. I want meaningful relationship building. Start off with the original crew—Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Iceman and Angel. Let them get established. It wouldn't take long—two or three movies—then bring in the next X-Men (Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, Collossus, etc.) to save the originals from Krakoa.

*Okay, maybe not Krakoa. My oldest son wants that. In my opinion, there are certain storylines that don't bear repeating. At least not in their entirety.*

Bring on Kitty Pryde and Rogue. First have Rogue take Captain Marvel's (instead of the original Ms. Marvel) powers.

I don't mind adapting source material to fit the big screen. I know some things don't transfer well, and it's okay to do things according to today's sensibilities. Just don't cut corners. Don't make up characters or new alien races without context because somehow that fits better than the ones that already exist. And always, always, always, stay true to the characters, their personalities and motivations.

Is that too much to ask?

## Okay. That's More Than Enough
I hadn't intended to add a rant to this post, but it kind of slipped out. Now that it's there, I'm inclined to leave it in. Make of it what you will. There's not so great a chance of much of what I want coming to fruition, anyway. It might take too long, even for the MCU.

As far as I'm concerned, it should have been done right the first time, but no. Fox went their own way, taking some of the best stories and ruining them (in my opinion). Thankfully, it's not something I lose sleep over.

Only when I think about it.