Marvel Studios' Multiverse Saga has been a little hit-and-miss, with poorly defined rules and confusing cameos largely overshadowing what should have been the MCU's crowning achievement after the Infinity Saga.
There's still plenty of time to turn things around, though, and Marvel Studios can now learn from Phase 4's missteps. Looking beyond those issues, we're excited about the surprises still in store for us, particularly when it comes to the alternate realities we'll potentially visit between now and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Rumour has it Deadpool 3 will reveal the TVA's plans to create a single new reality made up of the best of every other timeline (akin to Battleworld). If so, that means we've only scratched the surface of what this Multiverse is comprised of and we have some suggestions for the realities Phase 5 and 6 can take us to.
We think you'll have fun with these, so click on the "Next" button below to check them out!
8. A World Where Thanos Won
During Avengers: Endgame's final battle, Thanos planned to use the Infinity Stones to create a new "perfect" universe where no one remembers what he'd done. Well, while Iron Man's sacrifice managed to stop that from happening, we're sure there's at least one timeline where his plan came to fruition.
Visiting an "idyllic" universe ruled over by the Mad Titan - no doubt viewed as a God - could be a lot of fun, and something that shows us what might have been had Doctor Strange not prompted Tony Stark to make the ultimate sacrifice.
A reality like this can explore some truly twisted ideas, especially if we were to learn that what Thanos created wasn't the paradise he imagined. After all, as many fans have argued, surely even a universe with half as many inhabitants would eventually run into the same problems as the old one?
7. Earth-838's Remains
There was something strange about Earth-838 that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness failed to properly elaborate on. Despite The Illuminati being made up of heroes from The Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four, we'd bet the people living there were subjugated by the "heroes" if their utilitarian fashion is any indication.
Rumour has it Deadpool 3 will take us back to this reality to pick up with the aftermath of the Scarlet Witch's slaughter. However, no matter what Wolverine and Deadpool get up to, we think Earth-838 should remain a big part of this saga, possibly even as the world which is at the centre of an incursion with Earth-616.
Perhaps this world could be the home of the villainous "Superior" Iron Man Variant we've heard will be part of the next two Avengers movies!
6. The "Real" Earth-616
Many fans have questioned why the MCU's Earth is "Earth-616" when that designation belongs to the Marvel Universe seen on the page each week. With that in mind, why not use this opportunity to take us to the real Earth-616?
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige is a huge comic book fan, and he'd sure love to put a live-action spin on this reality. Marvel Studios would have to pull out all the stops in terms of cameos, but just imagine seeing Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, and more in their classic costumes!
A trip to Avengers Mansion where the original team of Earth's Mightiest Heroes assembles could be among the best moments the MCU has ever delivered.
5. A Friendly Neighbourhood Universe
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was suitably bonkers, but the former Sorcerer Supreme never crossing paths with Tobey Maguire's web-slinger during his trip through the Multiverse was a true missed opportunity (particularly with Sam Raimi at the helm).
While the prevailing theory is that Andrew Garfield's Amazing Spider-Man will take centre stage in Avengers: Secret Wars, if Raimi is indeed at the helm of that movie, we'd rather see him take us back to the home of Maguire's Peter Parker. There, we can finally learn what came next for the hero.
This may even serve as Marvel Studios' chance to introduce Spider-Girl, the wall-crawler's daughter and a Variant who could be key to what sounds like an intriguing take on Battleworld.
4. Days Of Future Past
While we still don't know when exactly the X-Men will make their debut in the MCU, there's no reason this desolate future couldn't factor into the Multiverse Saga in some way, shape, or form.
"Days of Future Past" received some representation in Bryan Singer's movie, but an argument could be made that it didn't really do this timeline justice. Taking some of the MCU's heroes to a world full of internment camps ruled over by massive robot Sentinels has the potential to tease the fate which awaits the X-Men if something isn't done to unite humans and mutants when the world is eventually reborn.
Even looking beyond the possibility of setting up the team's role in the MCU, a glimpse of this reality and those giant mutant-hunting Sentinels would be a wonderful nod to the comics for fans and a way of at least teasing what might be to come on Earth-616.
3. Marvel Zombies
The Marvel Zombies episode of What If...? wasn't quite as good as the comics but we'd be lying to say we're not excited for that rumoured animated spin-off. The Walking Dead might be clinging on for dear life, but zombies are still cool and it would be an awful shame not to spotlight these undead heroes in live-action.
It wouldn't have to be a huge part of any future Multiverse projects, but c'mon, seeing some of our favourite heroes land in a reality where they're reunited with some familiar - albeit undead - faces could make for a gloriously gory and memorable sequence.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' zombie Strange proved this is something Marvel Studios can pull off. That animated series is a solid idea, but we're genuinely surprised these shambling superheroes haven't been given the chance to shine in a Special Presentation on Disney+!
2. Old Man Logan's Wastelands
After returning in Deadpool 3, Hugh Jackman's Wolverine is expected to stick around through Avengers: Secret Wars. Whether he then becomes the MCU's permanent Wolverine is unclear, though we'd argue a younger actor taking over the role makes more sense.
Either way, one worthwhile use of the character as we head deeper into the Multiverse Saga would be to take us to a reality akin to the Wastelands seen in Old Man Logan. From the Red Skull being U.S. President to a blind Hawkeye and even a Venom dinosaur, there's fun to be had in a post-apocalyptic reality like this.
Heck, like Knightmare, it can even be used as a way of teeing up a future MCU story by teasing the next great threat the MCU will face after Kang.
1. The DC Extended Universe
Just kidding. No one wants to go there again, right? Sorry, Aquaman.