September 28, 2025 • 30 mins
The episode outlines how the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is leveraging the concept of the multiverse to significantly expand its narrative possibilities. The primary focus is on proposing ten specific "multiversal variant concepts," which are alternate versions of iconic heroes and villains—such as Iron Man as Sorcerer Supreme or Thanos as a hero—that the MCU should explore. The episode explains that introducing these variants provides opportunities for fresh storytelling, enhanced character development, and new thematic exploration across various MCU projects like What If...? and major crossover films like Avengers: Secret Wars. Ultimately, the document asserts that the multiverse and these reimagined characters are the MCU's greatest assets for maintaining creative momentum and engaging audiences.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the deep dive. You know, if there's one
single idea that's just completely reshaped the Marvel Cinematic Universe lately,
even you really set its course for the future, it's
got to be the multiverse. It feels like we've done
on this massive journey right from the kind of sterile,
bureaucratic vibe of the TVA and Loki, then navigating all
that heavy emotional stuff in Spider Man No Way Home,
and then the am just diving headfirst into the pure chaos,
(00:23):
the reality hopping madness of Doctor Strange and the multiverse
of madness. And the common thread, the thing linking all
these huge shifts, it's the variant that, you know, alternate
take on a character. We thought we had figured out
a totally fresh perspective on old Face. So today we've
got this fantastic stack of research, some really deep source
material focusing on ten specific and honestly pretty unexpected multiversal
(00:45):
character ideas the MCU could potentially run with our mission today,
we're diving deep. We want to explore the real potential
here and not just cool cameos, right, but how these
variants could genuinely push the creative envelope, maybe inject new genres,
and definitely deepen the themes as we hurtle towards Avengers
Secret Wars.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Absolutely, I mean the variant concept, it's probably the single
most powerful creative tool the MCU has in its arsenal
right now, Seriously, it's way more than just you know,
throwing in a familiar face for fan service. It's like
a narrative reset button they can hit whenever they need it.
It lets the franchise completely reimagine characters we know inside out,
test the very limits of who they are, their core identity,
(01:23):
and crucially, they can do all that without messing up
decades of history for the main timeline heroes we've followed
for so long.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Okay, yeah, let's unpack that a bit, the power of
the variant, because, like you said, it's not just putting
someone in a different suit.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Precisely, the moment you introduce a variant, you're immediately messing
with the audience's head. You challenge everything they expect about
that character's morality, their path, their destiny. They become the
these narrative mirrors. So take doctor Strange, right, our main Strange.
He has to face his own temptations the lure of
power when he bumps into a corrupted version of himself.
(01:57):
Or look at Loki. Oh yeah, Loki's a prime exam
He learned so much about identity, about self worth by
meeting all those different Lokis. Some are heroes, some are
well utterly ridiculous, like an alligator. Right, but these encounters,
they force the main characters and us watching to really
look at their own choices, their own morality, all within
(02:17):
this context of infinite possibilities. What could they have become?
Speaker 1 (02:22):
And that idea, that framework, It leads us perfectly into
our first batch of concepts. This set really focuses on
that intersection of intellect, magic, and authority. We're taking characters
known for one thing, science, magic, whatever, and just flipping
the script entirely, kicking things off with a big one,
a variant concept that on the surface feels like a
(02:43):
total contradiction but actually holds immense storytelling potential. Iron Man
as Sorcerer's supreme, the.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Ultimate rationalists, right, the tech genius trading in his arc
reactors and repulsarrays for what mistable amulets and incantations exactly.
It's a paradox is built on contrast and that's exactly
why the analysis we looked at suggests it could work
so incredibly well.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
So this scenario, the one laid out in the research,
it suggests that okay, same life changing injury that pushed
our TONI towards building the suit, but in this reality,
maybe technology fails him completely. So this Tony Stark variant
seeks out the ancient one, not for a cure, not
for tech, but for like mystical enlightenment. His engineering brain,
his entire intellect, gets funneled entirely into the mystic arts.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Right. But here's the interesting angle, the deep dive insight.
This Tony wouldn't see magic the way strange, does, you know,
as this chaotic, beautiful art form. No, he treated like
applied physics, like a system that hasn't been properly defined yet.
But he's going to be the one to quantify it.
He try to rationalize magic, stabilize it, make reality warping
predictable repeatedly. Wow. Imagine Stark's ego, his arrogance, applied to magic.
(03:51):
He wouldn't just cast a spell. He'd want to engineer
the spell, define its parameters, optimize its energy output, which
honestly could make his magic dangerously rigid. Maybe that's his
fatal flaw.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Okay, wait, though, I mean, isn't Sorcerer Supreme Tony kind
of unbelievable? This is the guy who spent his life
mocking magic, calling it parlor tricks. How do the theories
handle that massive personality shift? He'd need discipline, patients, things
not exactly synonymous with Tony Stark.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Well, the thinking is it comes out of desperation first off,
and then finding a new outlet for that massive ego.
Tony's core drive fundamentally is control, solving problems, fixing things.
So if technology completely lets him down after his injury,
magic becomes the only problem left to solve. He sees
the chaos of magic not as something beautiful or spiritual,
(04:41):
but is something messy that needs structure, needs him to
structure it, just like he tried to structure the Avengers.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Okay, so it taps into his need for order.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Exactly and visually think about it. His slingering doesn't just
open portals. Maybe it creates these complex holographic schematics first.
Or he uses ancient rooms not just for protection, but
integrated into armour for like enhanced targeting or power distribution.
It says, perfect weird blend of his two worlds.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
The ultimate hybrid. Yeah, you could see how.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
That could fit in totally. I mean, the analysis suggests
he's perfect for a we if episode, a cool standalone story,
but maybe even more interesting imagine him as a supporting
character in a future Doctor.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Strange movie, like a mentor figure.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Maybe, or maybe a rival a Wise but like deeply
controlling master sorcerer who clashes hard with Strange's more improvisational,
chaotic style. It forces that skeptical Tony to finally grapple
with the truly irrational, weird parts of the universe. Huge
potential for character growth there.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Okay, sticking with Doctor Strange, but flipping the coin the
temptation of power. Our next concept is genuinely chilling. It
takes a hint we already saw and just cranks it
up to eleven. Doctor Strange as a dark, old, corrupted villain.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah we saw Strange supreme dabble, didn't we? In Multiverse
of Badness flirting with that forbidden knowledge. But this variant,
this is the full blown nightmare scenario. He's completely utterly
corrupted by the dark hold, and not because he was desperate,
like maybe Strange Supreme was, but because he chose it,
he willingly submitted to that power. So now he's this
(06:10):
tyrannical sorcerer ruling his reality and maybe eyeing others with
an iron fist, all powered by forbidden magic, but.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Using the Dark Hold Again, doesn't that feel a little
repetitive after a multiverse of madness? How does this variant
stand out from the evil Strange we already met.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
That's a fair question. I think the difference lies in
the nature of the evil. The Strange Supreme we saw
was tragic, right, driven by grief and desperation. This variant,
the analysis suggests, is calculated. He's terrifyingly effective. He's not
just using the Dark Hole's power wildly, he's using the
knowledge within it, quantifying weaknesses in the multiverse, exploiting them strategically.
(06:47):
Imagine his usual wit, that sharp intellect, but twisted into
pure cold menas.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Okay, that's darker.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Yeah, he would just you know, blast his enemies. He'd
mentally dismantle them first, break them down, which forces our
main MC Strange to confront his own deepest vulnerabilities, his
own constant temptation towards taking shortcuts towards using that unchecked power.
This guy, this dark hold Strange. He needs to be
saved for something big. The placement is key, not just
(07:14):
a quick cameo. He should be like the central maybe
recurring threat in Doctor Strange three, or even bigger or
even bigger, maybe one of the main antagonists in a
full of Interest film. Yeah, because he elevates the stakes
beyond just physical threats. How do Captain America or Hulk
fight a guy who doesn't use fists but use a
strategic existential reality manipulation? It forces everyone to operate on
(07:36):
a different level.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Okay, let's shift gears, moving away from sorcery and intellect
more towards kingship and this variant it's about a character
maybe finally getting what he always wanted, but in the
best possible way. Loki as all Father of Asgard. Loki's
whole arc, especially in his own series, it's been about
finding self worth right, moving beyond just being the god
(07:57):
of mischief. So this is a variant. He actually use it.
He gets the throne, he rules as guard, but critically,
he does it without malice. He finds genuine wisdom, maybe
even compassion. He successfully takes Odin's place, perhaps after some
different chain of events, as a truly benevolent leader.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Yeah, this is Loki finally getting that validation he craved
for centuries. Yeah, but the twist is he realizes that
validation comes with this monumental weight of responsibility. The analysis
paints this Loki as mature, reflective. He'd still have that
trickster charm. Absolutely, he'd probably still use misdirection and clever
tactics against Asgard's enemies, but he'd blend that cunning with
the real sense of gravity, the kind of true monarch needs.
(08:37):
This is the Loki who proved that destiny isn't fixed,
you know, it could be shaped by choice.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
So what does that actually look like a good king Loki?
Does he manage to steer Asgard away from Ragnarok in
his timeline?
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Maybe that's the juicy dramatic question, isn't it. This role
forces Loki to handle real political crises, protect the Nine romes,
deal with threats that aren't just about his own ambition.
He has to grow up, basically confront the massive burdens
of godhood head on. The theory suggests this Loki would
have to constantly sacrifice his innate need for chaos, for
(09:09):
drama in favor of stability, and for Loki that's a
huge personal sacrifice, and we had to see his relationship
with Thor in this reality. If Loki's a good king,
respect it, imagine how that deepens their brotherly bond. Maybe
he shows up in a thor or five not as
a problem or comic relief, but as a genuinely powerful,
respected ally a co ruler in.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
The cosmos, or maybe back in his own show or.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Back in Luki season three. Imagine the TVA finding this variant.
He's the perfect success variant. Isn't he proof that maybe
their methods, however messed up, could accidentally lead to cosmic stability?
The irony is delicious right next, so we're really leaning
into challenging the core moral foundations of the MCU. We're
talking the ultimate Heravillain flip flops, and we have to
(09:55):
start with probably the most jarring, terrifying concept, one with
deep roots in the comics, Captain in America as Hydra's champion.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Oh yeah, that's the ultimate betrayal, isn't it taking the
symbol of American virtue, everything Steve Rogers stood for and
twisting into well into fascism.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
It's pure tragedy. And yeah, we're definitely referencing that incredibly
shocking Captain America Steve Rodgers comic storyline where you know,
CAP himself was revealed as a lifelong Hydra agent. Now,
the MCAU doesn't need to replicate that exact continuity breaking reveal,
but they could easily introduce a variant, maybe a Steve
who came out of the ice in a disserent reality
and was found not by Shield but by Hydra, indoctrinated
(10:32):
immediately before his moral compass could really reset in the
modern world.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
So you get this dark mirror Steve Rogers, same unwavering loyalty,
same peak physical condition, but pointed towards institutional evil exactly.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
And the real insight here, according to the Deep Dive sources,
is that this variant becomes a powerful thematic weapon. Hydro
cap forces the MCU and the audience to confront an
uncomfortable truth. Symbols like the shield, they're just vessels, depends
entirely on who wields them and crucially the institution that
shaped that person. This variant would embody Hydra's twisted vision
(11:07):
of order through control, wielding that shield with cold, ruthless,
terrifying precision.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Which puts immense emotional pressure on our current heroes, especially
Sam Wilson. Right, he just spent a whole series grappling
with what that shield means, trying to redefine Steve's legacy
for a new era.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Precisely, Sam is out there trying to abhor the meaning
of the shield in a world that's messy and complicated.
Hydrocap is the perfect foil. He carries the symbol but
embodies its utter corruption. Their confrontation wouldn't just be a
physical fight. It'd be this profound ideological battle. Loyalty, democracy, fascism,
What the symbol represents, It's all on the table. This
(11:44):
concept digs deep into themes of corruption, choice, the power
of ideology. He'd be a chilling antagonist for Captain America four,
or a central figure at a multiversal crossover designed to
shake the very foundations of heroism.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Okay, so if that's the ultimate dark inversion, let's flip
it again. Let's look at the heroic side of it, the
ultimate redemption story. Maybe Thanos as a hero.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Wow?
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Okay, Fano the Mad Titan, his entire identity in the
Infinity Saga was defined by that that horrifyingly twisted utilitarian genocide.
He had the intellect, the strength, the will to solve
universal problems, but his method was monstrous. What if in
some other reality he channeled all that.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
For good, right, hero Thanos offers potentially the single most
significant redemptive arc imaginable in the MCU. Think about it,
not just a brute fighting on the right side, but
maybe the leader of a cosmic resistance. The research suggests
a scenario where he's fighting a genuinely existential threat, something
far worse than he ever was, maybe corrupted celestial gon
(12:42):
rogue or a version of Kang who makes Stanus's methods
look tame. But this is the crucial nuance, the analysis
points out. His heroism is likely still driven by that
same ruthless, utilitary in efficiency. He might use the Infinity
Gauntlet for good this time, sure, but he's probably still
making the brutal, tough calls that the Avengers always shy
away from me. Meaning if sacrificing one planet or one
(13:04):
population guarantees universal stability against this bigger threat, hero Thanos
probably still makes that call. He does the horrifying math,
which forces our heroes and us to question if the
ends really justify such brutal means, even against a greater evil.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
So he's not suddenly Captain America with purple skin. He's
still terrifying, maybe even a necessary anti hero Exactly.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
He's not cuddly, and that creates fantastic dramatic tension. Think
about the existing Avengers, the Guardians. They'd struggle immensely to
trust him. How could they? He's the living embodiment of
their worst trauma.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Yeah, the PTSD alone, right, Even if he's fighting alongside
them against a common enemy, his mere presence would breed
constant suspicion, paranoia, the dynamic of trying to coordinate, to
strategize with the heroic version of your ultimate nightmare.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
That's incredibly rich territory for storytelling.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
This feels like a perfect fit for a big cosmic story,
maybe Guardians of the Galaxy VIL four, or perhaps he
could be introduced via the Eternals, given his background and
potential knowledge of celestials.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
For sure, it forces everyone, characters and audience alike to
really grapple with what defines a hero? Is it intention?
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Power? Is it methodology, hero Thanos makes all those questions unavoidable. Okay,
moving into our third section, now Here we're looking at
variants whose powers come from totally different places than we expect,
and that fundamentally changes the kinds of conflicts they face,
both internally and externally. We kick off with a concept
that feels especially relevant given where the MCU is heading.
(14:36):
Spider Man as a mutant.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Right, are Peter Parker the main MCU one. His whole
deal is defined by that spider bite, right, and the
immense guilt the responsibility that comes with it with great power,
that whole mantra.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Exactly, But imagine an alternate timeline, another universe where Peter
Parker's abilities, the wall crawling, the super strength, the spider
SCN's tingling, they don't come from radiation. They come from
an ex gene. He's born with it instantly. That puts
him in a completely different context, likely a mutant dominated reality,
and it fundamentally shifts his entire struggle. Well. Instead of
Peter's main conflict being internal, managing his secret identity, dealing
(15:12):
with the guilt of Uncle Ben, that personal responsibility, a
mutant Spider Man struggle becomes primarily external societal He's grappling
with being feared, hated, hunted, not because of a mistake
he made, like letting that burglar go, but simply because
of what he is, because he was born different. It
adds this heavy layer of societal prejudice systemic fear to
(15:33):
his usually pretty optimistic character. Imagine trying to be the
friendly neighborhood Spider Man when the neighborhood fundamentally hates and
fears you just for existing.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Wow. Yeah, that adds a whole different kind of weight
to the character. He's fighting crime and fighting bigotry constantly.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Exactly two fronts always, and the analysis we looked at
really highlights this. This variant is the perfect bridge. He's
the ideal way to connect the Spider Man mythology we
already know and love with the inevitable rival of the
X Men in the MCU. You could easily see him
pop up in something like Deadpool and Wolverine, maybe giving
us a glimpse of a world where mutants are the norm.
(16:09):
Or perhaps you could even anchor a future X Men reboot. Yeah,
he's a familiar face dealing with this core mutant struggle
of identity and acceptance.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Okay, Next up, let's flip the script on a hero
defined by her lack of powers. Black widow as a
super soldier, Natasha Romanov. I mean she was always so
formidable precisely because she wasn't enhanced, right, It was all
skilled discipline, training, her strategic mind. She held her own
amongst gods and monsters using just that. So this research
envisions an alternate reality where she did go through some
(16:38):
kind of super soldier program, maybe a Russian version, maybe
something else. She gets the enhanced strength, agility, durability puts
her physically on par with someone like Captain America.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
And think about what that does to the Red Room concept.
Instead of just creating elite spies, maybe in this reality
they were churning out a discipline army of enhanced operatives superspies. Literally.
The contrast is huge because so much of Natasha's identity,
her grit, was tied to her human vulnerability, her ability
to outthink, outmaneuver powered opponents using pure skill and intellect.
(17:10):
Take that away, give her powers. Who is she? Then?
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Right? Does it change her character stakes? If she's physically enhanced,
is that power maybe corrupt her? Does she lose that precision,
that emotional control she had as a spy.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
That's the core question. It could create this heightened sense
of tragedy actually, or maybe deeper moral compromise. If you're
a super soldier, the Red Room would demand even more
from you, right send you on riskier, morally darker missions,
knowing you can physically take the punishment. This super soldier
Black Widow might be a more brutally effective weapon. Yeah,
(17:42):
but maybe she's far colder, more detached emotionally than the
Natasha we knew. The character study becomes about how that
physical power might calcify her already formidable emotional walls. Does
it make her less human? You could introduce this variant
in a few ways, maybe a Black Widow sequel exploring
alternate Redroom programs or tie. Or she could appear in
a multiversal team up, maybe representing an Earth where a powered,
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militaristic version of Shield or the Red Room took over.
The visual loan are tactl in Natasha versus this physically
imposing powerhouse is great narrative fuel.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Okay, Finally, in the section, let's look at another character
defined by raw power, but take it in a darker
direction Hulk as a cosmic gladiator.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Yeah, this one definitely pulls from the classic Planet Hult
comic storyline, but frames it as a more tragic variant reality. See.
The core tragedy of Bruce Banner is always that struggle
for control, right man versus monster. In this timeline, the
concept is he never wins that struggle. He never finds
balance and never gets control over the Hulk persona. He's
just pure brutal, unstoppable rage, maybe captured early in his transformations,
(18:46):
taken off world and forced into those intergalactic gladiatorial arenas,
fighting constantly under the thumb of someone like the Grand Master.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
So he's completely stripped of Banner's intellect in this version,
just purer rage mostly.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Yeah, He's primarily this unbound, primal engine of destruction, and
this is important for the tragedy. The analysis suggests he
has to retain some tiny, deeply buried flicker of Bruce's conscience,
just enough to recognize the horror of his own brutality,
maybe enough to suffer from it, but absolutely not enough
to control the Hulk. His existence is just this endless,
agonizing loop of high stakes violent combat. For others, entertainment
(19:22):
that's bleak it is, but it offers two really potent
things for the MCU. First, obviously incredible high stakes action sequences,
pure cosmic spectacle Hulk unleashed like never before. Second, it
puts a laser focus on that enduring theme, the struggle
between man and monster, but played out on this huge,
(19:42):
tragic cosmic stage. His total lack of intellectual control makes
him starkly different from Professor Hulk or Smart Hulk. He's
just raw, suffering power.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
And his redemption arc. If he ever encountered our heroes,
maybe Thor or the Guardians out in space, that would
be massive. It would force Bruce Banner to confront the
nightmare scenario of what he could have become if he'd
completely failed to integrate his two halfs exactly.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
It's a perfect mirror for our Hulk's journey. This variant
fits beautifully into a future thora movie or maybe a
Guardian's film, leveraging those cosmic settings they've already built up
and just imagined the visuals a scarred battle armored, perpetually
and raised Hulk fighting in the pits of Sakar at
some other alien world. It's undeniably cinematic.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Right now we're really dialing it up. We're moving into
the truly cosmic, the god tear concepts, and we have
to start with a character whose power levels are already
frankly kind of bonkers. Scarlet Witch as a celestial being.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Yeah, Wanda Maximov, her chaos magic, We've already seen it
warp reality on a talent sized scale, right, yeah, takedown
incredibly powerful beings. This variant concept basically says, what if
that wasn't the ceiling. What if her connection to chaos
magic elevates her far far beyond just being a powerful
witch oor nexus being. What if she evolves or exists
(20:57):
in another reality as a genuine cosmic entity on the
level of the Celestials themselves or maybe even the Watcher,
wielding reality altering abilities, not just locally but on a galactic,
maybe even universal scale, potentially as a creator or more likely,
given her history as a destructive force.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Wow, Okay, a celestial level Wanda. That immediately makes her
a pivotal figure in any multiversal story. She could easily
go toe to toe with established cosmic players like the Eternals,
or just completely overwhelm entire teams like the Guardians of
the galaxy.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Absolutely, But the crucial narrative hook here, according to the
Deep Dive of Analysis, isn't just the scale of her power,
it's the emotional toll of that omnipotence. This celestial Wanda,
she would likely still echo the core struggles of our
mc Uwanda, the grief, the loss exactly, the grief over vision,
maybe losing her children across realities, the trauma with Pietro,
(21:47):
all intensely human pains. But when a being with celestial
level power grieves, the consequences are catastrophic. Universe altering her
emotional instability wouldn't just affect her, it would trigger cosmic events.
Imagine her collapsing entire solar systems may be subconsciously just
trying to recreate some lost ideal or manifesting entire realities
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based purely on a fleeting emotional whim.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
That's genuinely terrifying. Her personal sorrow becomes a galactic weapon
of mass destruction.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Precisely it connects her very relatable human pain directly to
multiversal level destruction. This kind of character, the analysis argues,
feels almost essential for something like Avenger's Secret Wars. She
becomes a walking weeping cosmic catastrophe. She embodies the inherent
danger of unlimited, unchecked power, especially when filtered through a flawed,
(22:37):
grieving human psyche elevated to godhood. She's not just a
villain you punch. She's a force of nature that the
heroes have to figure out how to either stop, contain,
or maybe somehow redeem.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Okay, shifting gears to our final specific variant concept another hero,
but one embracing a much darker, more authoritarian destiny. Captain
Marvel as a Cree warlord, right.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Carol Danvers in our main MCU. She's evolved into the
beacon of heroism, guided by her rediscovered humanity, her connection
to Earth, or sense of justice. This variant is the
polar opposite, a stark, powerful contrast. This is Carrol Danvers,
who fully embraces her Cree heritage, not just acknowledges it,
but leans into the military discipline, the rigid structure, the
(23:18):
authoritarian tendencies of the Cree Empire at its worst, and
she leads it with an absolute iron fist. She uses
her immense cosmic power not to protect the underdog, but
to enforce predominance or rigid, militaristic rule across vast swaths
of the galaxy.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
So this really explores that absolute power corrupts absolutely idea,
specifically by stripping away the human element, the compassion that
grounds our Carol. What would that look like visually?
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Do you think the analysis suggests a very distinct aesthetic,
hardened Cree battle armor, maybe incorporating imperial colors definitely, a
more rigid militaristic posture and presence, commanding legions of Cree
soldiers accusers maybe, and possessing this unwavering, almost terrifying sense
of conviction in the Creeway being the right way. Crucially,
she would likely view our MCU Carroll as weak, flawed,
(24:05):
overly sentimental for choosing to protect Earth, this primitive planet,
instead of using her power to impose order on a
chaotic cosmos. The loss of her human empathy that connections
to Maria and Monica, that's the key element that makes
her a warlord, not just a powerful Creed. Introducing this
Cree warlord Carol maybe in Captain Marvel III, maybe as
a major player and a cosmic crossover event, would create
(24:27):
incredible conflict for our Carol. It forces her to literally
confront her own potential for tyranny.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
Like looking in a dark mirror exactly, she.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Sees what she could become if she ever let go
of that human core, that moral compass. It generates huge
internal tension for the main character, making her question her identity,
her purpose, the source of her strength. This variant isn't
just an external threat, it's an ideological one that cuts
right to the heart of who MCU Carol is.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Okay, so we've gone through ten pretty dense, really complex
variant ideas. We've got sorcerers, Supreme Tony, starkulating and arrogant
hero Thanos, tragically efficient, Celestial Wanda, cosmically dangerous pre Warlord Carol.
The list goes on. We've talked about their potential. Look,
the philosophical clashes they represent, the emotional conflicts they'd bring.
(25:13):
So boiling it all down, what's the big strategic takeaway here?
Why do these ten specific concepts, according to the research,
matter so much for where the MCU is heading.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
They matter because fundamentally they are the creative engine that's
going to power the franchise beyond the Infinity saga. Yeah,
the analysis we reviewed is really clear on this. These
kinds of specific high concept variants. They let the MCU
break into totally new territory. We can get genuine cosmic
epics with a character like Warlord Carol. We can get
(25:42):
gritty street level character studies with mutant Spidey, or maybe
psychological horror with dark Old Strange. It opens up genre possibilities,
and maybe even more importantly, like we discussed earlier, they
serve as those crucial narrative mirrors. They drive conflict, They
force growth in our main timeline heroes. Keeping a story
that's been running for decades fresh and relevant. That's absolutely essential.
(26:04):
These variants are a key tool for doing that.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
And the beauty of the whole multiverse setup is that
there's so many ways to actually bring these characters in.
It's not just one path, right. The research we looked
at mapped out several pretty specific strategic avenues for integrating
these complex variants.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
Yeah. Absolutely. First off, you've got the standalone stories. These
are perfect for concepts that are really rich creatively but
maybe don't need to completely derail the main timeline. Things
like the philosophical puzzle of Iron Man as a source
of Supreme or the sociological commentary baked into Spider Man
as a mutant What If territory exactly. Future seasons of
(26:39):
What If are the ideal home for these They can
offer these really high quality, self contained stories that deepen
the overall mythology, explore cool ideas without overly complicating the
main ongoing narrative. Then second, and this is probably the
most crucial integration point, you have the major crossovers concepts
that have genuinely universe breaking potential hero Thanos, Celestial cre
(27:00):
Warlord Carol, maybe even Hydrocap. These characters feel absolutely tailor
made for the big multiversal events, especially Avengers Secret Wars.
They can show up as part of multiversal teams, maybe
their key allies, maybe they're high level pawns manipulated by Kang,
or maybe they're formidable adversaries in their own right as
realities collapse. They are essential for dramatically raising the stakes
as the multiverse saga bills to its climax.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Right, and finally, there's the idea of using them as
narrative glue, weaving them into the fabric of the ongoing
flagship series.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Percisely, shows like Loki, especially if we get a season
three or the next Doctor Strange movie, they already have
the built in mechanisms, the TVA, the mystic arts to
act as connective tissue. These shows can weave variance, especially
the really high functioning or reality altering ones like All
Father Loki or Dark Hold Strange, directly into the plot,
show us the minute by minute consequences of the multiverse
(27:51):
breaking down or reforming, using these characters as examples. And
of course let's not forget the strategic value of teasers,
just brief cameos, maybe on essential appearances in upcoming films
like Captain America, Brave New World or Thunderbolts, just enough
to plant to seed, build some anticipation into their larger,
more significant roles coming down the line.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Yeah, it feels abundantly clear listening to all this, The
Multiverse isn't just a gimmick. Their plan with it really
is the structural foundation for their storytelling for the foreseeable future,
certainly for the next decade as the MCU pushes towards
Secret Wars and whatever comes after. These specific, detailed, often
challenging variants seem like the primary way they can honor
(28:30):
the huge legacy of the comics while still forging genuinely new,
exciting paths for the cinematic universe itself hashtag tech.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Outro So wrapping it all up, I think the key
takeaway is just how much character exploration the variant concept unlocks.
It really feels like the MCU's greatest asset for innovation
right now. Whether these variants offer these incredible redemptive arcs
like a hero Fanos, or these deeply tragic falls from
grace like hydrocap or just pure awesome spectacle like a
cosmic gladiator Hulk, they consistently open doors to stories that
(29:01):
feel both emotionally resonant, hitting you right here, and visually spectacular,
and fundamentally they keep redefining what it even means to
be a hero or a villain by constantly showing us
just how thin that line between them can truly be.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
That fine line. Yeah, as we've talked about with characters
like Thanos or Steve Rogers, it often seems to hinge
on just one tiny shift in their circumstances, doesn't it.
Tony Stark's genius gets pointed at ruins instead of robotics.
Steve Rogers gets thought out by the wrong people and
becomes a symbol of fascism. Thanos decides his immense power
should be used for cold rational altruism instead of cold
(29:34):
rational genocide. One change, entirely different destiny. So maybe this
is the final thought we want to leave you with today,
something that really builds on all these themes of identity, morality,
destiny that we've been digging into. If a character's core
path or entire destiny, someone like Steve Rogers, someone like Thanos,
can be completely flipped, totally inverted by just one single
(29:55):
change in their timeline, does free will actually matter as
much as we think, or is character in the end,
maybe just a function of circumstance. It makes you think,
doesn't it. How much of your own identity, who you
believe yourself to be might just be a result of
the specific timeline, the specific circumstances you happen to be
born into, rather than the conscious choices you feel like
you've made along the way. Something to chew on,
Welcome to the deep dive. You know, if there's one
single idea that's just completely reshaped the Marvel Cinematic Universe lately,
even you really set its course for the future, it's
got to be the multiverse. It feels like we've done
on this massive journey right from the kind of sterile,
bureaucratic vibe of the TVA and Loki, then navigating all
that heavy emotional stuff in Spider Man No Way Home,
and then the am just diving headfirst into the pure chaos,
(00:23):
the reality hopping madness of Doctor Strange and the multiverse
of madness. And the common thread, the thing linking all
these huge shifts, it's the variant that, you know, alternate
take on a character. We thought we had figured out
a totally fresh perspective on old Face. So today we've
got this fantastic stack of research, some really deep source
material focusing on ten specific and honestly pretty unexpected multiversal
(00:45):
character ideas the MCU could potentially run with our mission today,
we're diving deep. We want to explore the real potential
here and not just cool cameos, right, but how these
variants could genuinely push the creative envelope, maybe inject new genres,
and definitely deepen the themes as we hurtle towards Avengers
Secret Wars.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Absolutely, I mean the variant concept, it's probably the single
most powerful creative tool the MCU has in its arsenal
right now, Seriously, it's way more than just you know,
throwing in a familiar face for fan service. It's like
a narrative reset button they can hit whenever they need it.
It lets the franchise completely reimagine characters we know inside out,
test the very limits of who they are, their core identity,
(01:23):
and crucially, they can do all that without messing up
decades of history for the main timeline heroes we've followed
for so long.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Okay, yeah, let's unpack that a bit, the power of
the variant, because, like you said, it's not just putting
someone in a different suit.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Precisely, the moment you introduce a variant, you're immediately messing
with the audience's head. You challenge everything they expect about
that character's morality, their path, their destiny. They become the
these narrative mirrors. So take doctor Strange, right, our main Strange.
He has to face his own temptations the lure of
power when he bumps into a corrupted version of himself.
(01:57):
Or look at Loki. Oh yeah, Loki's a prime exam
He learned so much about identity, about self worth by
meeting all those different Lokis. Some are heroes, some are
well utterly ridiculous, like an alligator. Right, but these encounters,
they force the main characters and us watching to really
look at their own choices, their own morality, all within
(02:17):
this context of infinite possibilities. What could they have become?
Speaker 1 (02:22):
And that idea, that framework, It leads us perfectly into
our first batch of concepts. This set really focuses on
that intersection of intellect, magic, and authority. We're taking characters
known for one thing, science, magic, whatever, and just flipping
the script entirely, kicking things off with a big one,
a variant concept that on the surface feels like a
(02:43):
total contradiction but actually holds immense storytelling potential. Iron Man
as Sorcerer's supreme, the.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Ultimate rationalists, right, the tech genius trading in his arc
reactors and repulsarrays for what mistable amulets and incantations exactly.
It's a paradox is built on contrast and that's exactly
why the analysis we looked at suggests it could work
so incredibly well.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
So this scenario, the one laid out in the research,
it suggests that okay, same life changing injury that pushed
our TONI towards building the suit, but in this reality,
maybe technology fails him completely. So this Tony Stark variant
seeks out the ancient one, not for a cure, not
for tech, but for like mystical enlightenment. His engineering brain,
his entire intellect, gets funneled entirely into the mystic arts.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Right. But here's the interesting angle, the deep dive insight.
This Tony wouldn't see magic the way strange, does, you know,
as this chaotic, beautiful art form. No, he treated like
applied physics, like a system that hasn't been properly defined yet.
But he's going to be the one to quantify it.
He try to rationalize magic, stabilize it, make reality warping
predictable repeatedly. Wow. Imagine Stark's ego, his arrogance, applied to magic.
(03:51):
He wouldn't just cast a spell. He'd want to engineer
the spell, define its parameters, optimize its energy output, which
honestly could make his magic dangerously rigid. Maybe that's his
fatal flaw.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Okay, wait, though, I mean, isn't Sorcerer Supreme Tony kind
of unbelievable? This is the guy who spent his life
mocking magic, calling it parlor tricks. How do the theories
handle that massive personality shift? He'd need discipline, patients, things
not exactly synonymous with Tony Stark.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Well, the thinking is it comes out of desperation first off,
and then finding a new outlet for that massive ego.
Tony's core drive fundamentally is control, solving problems, fixing things.
So if technology completely lets him down after his injury,
magic becomes the only problem left to solve. He sees
the chaos of magic not as something beautiful or spiritual,
(04:41):
but is something messy that needs structure, needs him to
structure it, just like he tried to structure the Avengers.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Okay, so it taps into his need for order.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Exactly and visually think about it. His slingering doesn't just
open portals. Maybe it creates these complex holographic schematics first.
Or he uses ancient rooms not just for protection, but
integrated into armour for like enhanced targeting or power distribution.
It says, perfect weird blend of his two worlds.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
The ultimate hybrid. Yeah, you could see how.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
That could fit in totally. I mean, the analysis suggests
he's perfect for a we if episode, a cool standalone story,
but maybe even more interesting imagine him as a supporting
character in a future Doctor.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Strange movie, like a mentor figure.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Maybe, or maybe a rival a Wise but like deeply
controlling master sorcerer who clashes hard with Strange's more improvisational,
chaotic style. It forces that skeptical Tony to finally grapple
with the truly irrational, weird parts of the universe. Huge
potential for character growth there.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Okay, sticking with Doctor Strange, but flipping the coin the
temptation of power. Our next concept is genuinely chilling. It
takes a hint we already saw and just cranks it
up to eleven. Doctor Strange as a dark, old, corrupted villain.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah we saw Strange supreme dabble, didn't we? In Multiverse
of Badness flirting with that forbidden knowledge. But this variant,
this is the full blown nightmare scenario. He's completely utterly
corrupted by the dark hold, and not because he was desperate,
like maybe Strange Supreme was, but because he chose it,
he willingly submitted to that power. So now he's this
(06:10):
tyrannical sorcerer ruling his reality and maybe eyeing others with
an iron fist, all powered by forbidden magic, but.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Using the Dark Hold Again, doesn't that feel a little
repetitive after a multiverse of madness? How does this variant
stand out from the evil Strange we already met.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
That's a fair question. I think the difference lies in
the nature of the evil. The Strange Supreme we saw
was tragic, right, driven by grief and desperation. This variant,
the analysis suggests, is calculated. He's terrifyingly effective. He's not
just using the Dark Hole's power wildly, he's using the
knowledge within it, quantifying weaknesses in the multiverse, exploiting them strategically.
(06:47):
Imagine his usual wit, that sharp intellect, but twisted into
pure cold menas.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Okay, that's darker.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Yeah, he would just you know, blast his enemies. He'd
mentally dismantle them first, break them down, which forces our
main MC Strange to confront his own deepest vulnerabilities, his
own constant temptation towards taking shortcuts towards using that unchecked power.
This guy, this dark hold Strange. He needs to be
saved for something big. The placement is key, not just
(07:14):
a quick cameo. He should be like the central maybe
recurring threat in Doctor Strange three, or even bigger or
even bigger, maybe one of the main antagonists in a
full of Interest film. Yeah, because he elevates the stakes
beyond just physical threats. How do Captain America or Hulk
fight a guy who doesn't use fists but use a
strategic existential reality manipulation? It forces everyone to operate on
(07:36):
a different level.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Okay, let's shift gears, moving away from sorcery and intellect
more towards kingship and this variant it's about a character
maybe finally getting what he always wanted, but in the
best possible way. Loki as all Father of Asgard. Loki's
whole arc, especially in his own series, it's been about
finding self worth right, moving beyond just being the god
(07:57):
of mischief. So this is a variant. He actually use it.
He gets the throne, he rules as guard, but critically,
he does it without malice. He finds genuine wisdom, maybe
even compassion. He successfully takes Odin's place, perhaps after some
different chain of events, as a truly benevolent leader.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Yeah, this is Loki finally getting that validation he craved
for centuries. Yeah, but the twist is he realizes that
validation comes with this monumental weight of responsibility. The analysis
paints this Loki as mature, reflective. He'd still have that
trickster charm. Absolutely, he'd probably still use misdirection and clever
tactics against Asgard's enemies, but he'd blend that cunning with
the real sense of gravity, the kind of true monarch needs.
(08:37):
This is the Loki who proved that destiny isn't fixed,
you know, it could be shaped by choice.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
So what does that actually look like a good king Loki?
Does he manage to steer Asgard away from Ragnarok in
his timeline?
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Maybe that's the juicy dramatic question, isn't it. This role
forces Loki to handle real political crises, protect the Nine romes,
deal with threats that aren't just about his own ambition.
He has to grow up, basically confront the massive burdens
of godhood head on. The theory suggests this Loki would
have to constantly sacrifice his innate need for chaos, for
(09:09):
drama in favor of stability, and for Loki that's a
huge personal sacrifice, and we had to see his relationship
with Thor in this reality. If Loki's a good king,
respect it, imagine how that deepens their brotherly bond. Maybe
he shows up in a thor or five not as
a problem or comic relief, but as a genuinely powerful,
respected ally a co ruler in.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
The cosmos, or maybe back in his own show or.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Back in Luki season three. Imagine the TVA finding this variant.
He's the perfect success variant. Isn't he proof that maybe
their methods, however messed up, could accidentally lead to cosmic stability?
The irony is delicious right next, so we're really leaning
into challenging the core moral foundations of the MCU. We're
talking the ultimate Heravillain flip flops, and we have to
(09:55):
start with probably the most jarring, terrifying concept, one with
deep roots in the comics, Captain in America as Hydra's champion.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Oh yeah, that's the ultimate betrayal, isn't it taking the
symbol of American virtue, everything Steve Rogers stood for and
twisting into well into fascism.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
It's pure tragedy. And yeah, we're definitely referencing that incredibly
shocking Captain America Steve Rodgers comic storyline where you know,
CAP himself was revealed as a lifelong Hydra agent. Now,
the MCAU doesn't need to replicate that exact continuity breaking reveal,
but they could easily introduce a variant, maybe a Steve
who came out of the ice in a disserent reality
and was found not by Shield but by Hydra, indoctrinated
(10:32):
immediately before his moral compass could really reset in the
modern world.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
So you get this dark mirror Steve Rogers, same unwavering loyalty,
same peak physical condition, but pointed towards institutional evil exactly.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
And the real insight here, according to the Deep Dive sources,
is that this variant becomes a powerful thematic weapon. Hydro
cap forces the MCU and the audience to confront an
uncomfortable truth. Symbols like the shield, they're just vessels, depends
entirely on who wields them and crucially the institution that
shaped that person. This variant would embody Hydra's twisted vision
(11:07):
of order through control, wielding that shield with cold, ruthless,
terrifying precision.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Which puts immense emotional pressure on our current heroes, especially
Sam Wilson. Right, he just spent a whole series grappling
with what that shield means, trying to redefine Steve's legacy
for a new era.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Precisely, Sam is out there trying to abhor the meaning
of the shield in a world that's messy and complicated.
Hydrocap is the perfect foil. He carries the symbol but
embodies its utter corruption. Their confrontation wouldn't just be a
physical fight. It'd be this profound ideological battle. Loyalty, democracy, fascism,
What the symbol represents, It's all on the table. This
(11:44):
concept digs deep into themes of corruption, choice, the power
of ideology. He'd be a chilling antagonist for Captain America four,
or a central figure at a multiversal crossover designed to
shake the very foundations of heroism.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Okay, so if that's the ultimate dark inversion, let's flip
it again. Let's look at the heroic side of it, the
ultimate redemption story. Maybe Thanos as a hero.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Wow?
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Okay, Fano the Mad Titan, his entire identity in the
Infinity Saga was defined by that that horrifyingly twisted utilitarian genocide.
He had the intellect, the strength, the will to solve
universal problems, but his method was monstrous. What if in
some other reality he channeled all that.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
For good, right, hero Thanos offers potentially the single most
significant redemptive arc imaginable in the MCU. Think about it,
not just a brute fighting on the right side, but
maybe the leader of a cosmic resistance. The research suggests
a scenario where he's fighting a genuinely existential threat, something
far worse than he ever was, maybe corrupted celestial gon
(12:42):
rogue or a version of Kang who makes Stanus's methods
look tame. But this is the crucial nuance, the analysis
points out. His heroism is likely still driven by that
same ruthless, utilitary in efficiency. He might use the Infinity
Gauntlet for good this time, sure, but he's probably still
making the brutal, tough calls that the Avengers always shy
away from me. Meaning if sacrificing one planet or one
(13:04):
population guarantees universal stability against this bigger threat, hero Thanos
probably still makes that call. He does the horrifying math,
which forces our heroes and us to question if the
ends really justify such brutal means, even against a greater evil.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
So he's not suddenly Captain America with purple skin. He's
still terrifying, maybe even a necessary anti hero Exactly.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
He's not cuddly, and that creates fantastic dramatic tension. Think
about the existing Avengers, the Guardians. They'd struggle immensely to
trust him. How could they? He's the living embodiment of
their worst trauma.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Yeah, the PTSD alone, right, Even if he's fighting alongside
them against a common enemy, his mere presence would breed
constant suspicion, paranoia, the dynamic of trying to coordinate, to
strategize with the heroic version of your ultimate nightmare.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
That's incredibly rich territory for storytelling.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
This feels like a perfect fit for a big cosmic story,
maybe Guardians of the Galaxy VIL four, or perhaps he
could be introduced via the Eternals, given his background and
potential knowledge of celestials.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
For sure, it forces everyone, characters and audience alike to
really grapple with what defines a hero? Is it intention?
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Power? Is it methodology, hero Thanos makes all those questions unavoidable. Okay,
moving into our third section, now Here we're looking at
variants whose powers come from totally different places than we expect,
and that fundamentally changes the kinds of conflicts they face,
both internally and externally. We kick off with a concept
that feels especially relevant given where the MCU is heading.
(14:36):
Spider Man as a mutant.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Right, are Peter Parker the main MCU one. His whole
deal is defined by that spider bite, right, and the
immense guilt the responsibility that comes with it with great power,
that whole mantra.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Exactly, But imagine an alternate timeline, another universe where Peter
Parker's abilities, the wall crawling, the super strength, the spider
SCN's tingling, they don't come from radiation. They come from
an ex gene. He's born with it instantly. That puts
him in a completely different context, likely a mutant dominated reality,
and it fundamentally shifts his entire struggle. Well. Instead of
Peter's main conflict being internal, managing his secret identity, dealing
(15:12):
with the guilt of Uncle Ben, that personal responsibility, a
mutant Spider Man struggle becomes primarily external societal He's grappling
with being feared, hated, hunted, not because of a mistake
he made, like letting that burglar go, but simply because
of what he is, because he was born different. It
adds this heavy layer of societal prejudice systemic fear to
(15:33):
his usually pretty optimistic character. Imagine trying to be the
friendly neighborhood Spider Man when the neighborhood fundamentally hates and
fears you just for existing.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Wow. Yeah, that adds a whole different kind of weight
to the character. He's fighting crime and fighting bigotry constantly.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Exactly two fronts always, and the analysis we looked at
really highlights this. This variant is the perfect bridge. He's
the ideal way to connect the Spider Man mythology we
already know and love with the inevitable rival of the
X Men in the MCU. You could easily see him
pop up in something like Deadpool and Wolverine, maybe giving
us a glimpse of a world where mutants are the norm.
(16:09):
Or perhaps you could even anchor a future X Men reboot. Yeah,
he's a familiar face dealing with this core mutant struggle
of identity and acceptance.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Okay, Next up, let's flip the script on a hero
defined by her lack of powers. Black widow as a
super soldier, Natasha Romanov. I mean she was always so
formidable precisely because she wasn't enhanced, right, It was all
skilled discipline, training, her strategic mind. She held her own
amongst gods and monsters using just that. So this research
envisions an alternate reality where she did go through some
(16:38):
kind of super soldier program, maybe a Russian version, maybe
something else. She gets the enhanced strength, agility, durability puts
her physically on par with someone like Captain America.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
And think about what that does to the Red Room concept.
Instead of just creating elite spies, maybe in this reality
they were churning out a discipline army of enhanced operatives superspies. Literally.
The contrast is huge because so much of Natasha's identity,
her grit, was tied to her human vulnerability, her ability
to outthink, outmaneuver powered opponents using pure skill and intellect.
(17:10):
Take that away, give her powers. Who is she? Then?
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Right? Does it change her character stakes? If she's physically enhanced,
is that power maybe corrupt her? Does she lose that precision,
that emotional control she had as a spy.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
That's the core question. It could create this heightened sense
of tragedy actually, or maybe deeper moral compromise. If you're
a super soldier, the Red Room would demand even more
from you, right send you on riskier, morally darker missions,
knowing you can physically take the punishment. This super soldier
Black Widow might be a more brutally effective weapon. Yeah,
(17:42):
but maybe she's far colder, more detached emotionally than the
Natasha we knew. The character study becomes about how that
physical power might calcify her already formidable emotional walls. Does
it make her less human? You could introduce this variant
in a few ways, maybe a Black Widow sequel exploring
alternate Redroom programs or tie. Or she could appear in
a multiversal team up, maybe representing an Earth where a powered,
(18:05):
militaristic version of Shield or the Red Room took over.
The visual loan are tactl in Natasha versus this physically
imposing powerhouse is great narrative fuel.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Okay, Finally, in the section, let's look at another character
defined by raw power, but take it in a darker
direction Hulk as a cosmic gladiator.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Yeah, this one definitely pulls from the classic Planet Hult
comic storyline, but frames it as a more tragic variant reality. See.
The core tragedy of Bruce Banner is always that struggle
for control, right man versus monster. In this timeline, the
concept is he never wins that struggle. He never finds
balance and never gets control over the Hulk persona. He's
just pure brutal, unstoppable rage, maybe captured early in his transformations,
(18:46):
taken off world and forced into those intergalactic gladiatorial arenas,
fighting constantly under the thumb of someone like the Grand Master.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
So he's completely stripped of Banner's intellect in this version,
just purer rage mostly.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Yeah, He's primarily this unbound, primal engine of destruction, and
this is important for the tragedy. The analysis suggests he
has to retain some tiny, deeply buried flicker of Bruce's conscience,
just enough to recognize the horror of his own brutality,
maybe enough to suffer from it, but absolutely not enough
to control the Hulk. His existence is just this endless,
agonizing loop of high stakes violent combat. For others, entertainment
(19:22):
that's bleak it is, but it offers two really potent
things for the MCU. First, obviously incredible high stakes action sequences,
pure cosmic spectacle Hulk unleashed like never before. Second, it
puts a laser focus on that enduring theme, the struggle
between man and monster, but played out on this huge,
(19:42):
tragic cosmic stage. His total lack of intellectual control makes
him starkly different from Professor Hulk or Smart Hulk. He's
just raw, suffering power.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
And his redemption arc. If he ever encountered our heroes,
maybe Thor or the Guardians out in space, that would
be massive. It would force Bruce Banner to confront the
nightmare scenario of what he could have become if he'd
completely failed to integrate his two halfs exactly.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
It's a perfect mirror for our Hulk's journey. This variant
fits beautifully into a future thora movie or maybe a
Guardian's film, leveraging those cosmic settings they've already built up
and just imagined the visuals a scarred battle armored, perpetually
and raised Hulk fighting in the pits of Sakar at
some other alien world. It's undeniably cinematic.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Right now we're really dialing it up. We're moving into
the truly cosmic, the god tear concepts, and we have
to start with a character whose power levels are already
frankly kind of bonkers. Scarlet Witch as a celestial being.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Yeah, Wanda Maximov, her chaos magic, We've already seen it
warp reality on a talent sized scale, right, yeah, takedown
incredibly powerful beings. This variant concept basically says, what if
that wasn't the ceiling. What if her connection to chaos
magic elevates her far far beyond just being a powerful
witch oor nexus being. What if she evolves or exists
(20:57):
in another reality as a genuine cosmic entity on the
level of the Celestials themselves or maybe even the Watcher,
wielding reality altering abilities, not just locally but on a galactic,
maybe even universal scale, potentially as a creator or more likely,
given her history as a destructive force.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Wow, Okay, a celestial level Wanda. That immediately makes her
a pivotal figure in any multiversal story. She could easily
go toe to toe with established cosmic players like the Eternals,
or just completely overwhelm entire teams like the Guardians of
the galaxy.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Absolutely, But the crucial narrative hook here, according to the
Deep Dive of Analysis, isn't just the scale of her power,
it's the emotional toll of that omnipotence. This celestial Wanda,
she would likely still echo the core struggles of our
mc Uwanda, the grief, the loss exactly, the grief over vision,
maybe losing her children across realities, the trauma with Pietro,
(21:47):
all intensely human pains. But when a being with celestial
level power grieves, the consequences are catastrophic. Universe altering her
emotional instability wouldn't just affect her, it would trigger cosmic events.
Imagine her collapsing entire solar systems may be subconsciously just
trying to recreate some lost ideal or manifesting entire realities
(22:08):
based purely on a fleeting emotional whim.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
That's genuinely terrifying. Her personal sorrow becomes a galactic weapon
of mass destruction.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Precisely it connects her very relatable human pain directly to
multiversal level destruction. This kind of character, the analysis argues,
feels almost essential for something like Avenger's Secret Wars. She
becomes a walking weeping cosmic catastrophe. She embodies the inherent
danger of unlimited, unchecked power, especially when filtered through a flawed,
(22:37):
grieving human psyche elevated to godhood. She's not just a
villain you punch. She's a force of nature that the
heroes have to figure out how to either stop, contain,
or maybe somehow redeem.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Okay, shifting gears to our final specific variant concept another hero,
but one embracing a much darker, more authoritarian destiny. Captain
Marvel as a Cree warlord, right.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Carol Danvers in our main MCU. She's evolved into the
beacon of heroism, guided by her rediscovered humanity, her connection
to Earth, or sense of justice. This variant is the
polar opposite, a stark, powerful contrast. This is Carrol Danvers,
who fully embraces her Cree heritage, not just acknowledges it,
but leans into the military discipline, the rigid structure, the
(23:18):
authoritarian tendencies of the Cree Empire at its worst, and
she leads it with an absolute iron fist. She uses
her immense cosmic power not to protect the underdog, but
to enforce predominance or rigid, militaristic rule across vast swaths
of the galaxy.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
So this really explores that absolute power corrupts absolutely idea,
specifically by stripping away the human element, the compassion that
grounds our Carol. What would that look like visually?
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Do you think the analysis suggests a very distinct aesthetic,
hardened Cree battle armor, maybe incorporating imperial colors definitely, a
more rigid militaristic posture and presence, commanding legions of Cree
soldiers accusers maybe, and possessing this unwavering, almost terrifying sense
of conviction in the Creeway being the right way. Crucially,
she would likely view our MCU Carroll as weak, flawed,
(24:05):
overly sentimental for choosing to protect Earth, this primitive planet,
instead of using her power to impose order on a
chaotic cosmos. The loss of her human empathy that connections
to Maria and Monica, that's the key element that makes
her a warlord, not just a powerful Creed. Introducing this
Cree warlord Carol maybe in Captain Marvel III, maybe as
a major player and a cosmic crossover event, would create
(24:27):
incredible conflict for our Carol. It forces her to literally
confront her own potential for tyranny.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
Like looking in a dark mirror exactly, she.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Sees what she could become if she ever let go
of that human core, that moral compass. It generates huge
internal tension for the main character, making her question her identity,
her purpose, the source of her strength. This variant isn't
just an external threat, it's an ideological one that cuts
right to the heart of who MCU Carol is.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Okay, so we've gone through ten pretty dense, really complex
variant ideas. We've got sorcerers, Supreme Tony, starkulating and arrogant
hero Thanos, tragically efficient, Celestial Wanda, cosmically dangerous pre Warlord Carol.
The list goes on. We've talked about their potential. Look,
the philosophical clashes they represent, the emotional conflicts they'd bring.
(25:13):
So boiling it all down, what's the big strategic takeaway here?
Why do these ten specific concepts, according to the research,
matter so much for where the MCU is heading.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
They matter because fundamentally they are the creative engine that's
going to power the franchise beyond the Infinity saga. Yeah,
the analysis we reviewed is really clear on this. These
kinds of specific high concept variants. They let the MCU
break into totally new territory. We can get genuine cosmic
epics with a character like Warlord Carol. We can get
(25:42):
gritty street level character studies with mutant Spidey, or maybe
psychological horror with dark Old Strange. It opens up genre possibilities,
and maybe even more importantly, like we discussed earlier, they
serve as those crucial narrative mirrors. They drive conflict, They
force growth in our main timeline heroes. Keeping a story
that's been running for decades fresh and relevant. That's absolutely essential.
(26:04):
These variants are a key tool for doing that.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
And the beauty of the whole multiverse setup is that
there's so many ways to actually bring these characters in.
It's not just one path, right. The research we looked
at mapped out several pretty specific strategic avenues for integrating
these complex variants.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
Yeah. Absolutely. First off, you've got the standalone stories. These
are perfect for concepts that are really rich creatively but
maybe don't need to completely derail the main timeline. Things
like the philosophical puzzle of Iron Man as a source
of Supreme or the sociological commentary baked into Spider Man
as a mutant What If territory exactly. Future seasons of
(26:39):
What If are the ideal home for these They can
offer these really high quality, self contained stories that deepen
the overall mythology, explore cool ideas without overly complicating the
main ongoing narrative. Then second, and this is probably the
most crucial integration point, you have the major crossovers concepts
that have genuinely universe breaking potential hero Thanos, Celestial cre
(27:00):
Warlord Carol, maybe even Hydrocap. These characters feel absolutely tailor
made for the big multiversal events, especially Avengers Secret Wars.
They can show up as part of multiversal teams, maybe
their key allies, maybe they're high level pawns manipulated by Kang,
or maybe they're formidable adversaries in their own right as
realities collapse. They are essential for dramatically raising the stakes
as the multiverse saga bills to its climax.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Right, and finally, there's the idea of using them as
narrative glue, weaving them into the fabric of the ongoing
flagship series.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Percisely, shows like Loki, especially if we get a season
three or the next Doctor Strange movie, they already have
the built in mechanisms, the TVA, the mystic arts to
act as connective tissue. These shows can weave variance, especially
the really high functioning or reality altering ones like All
Father Loki or Dark Hold Strange, directly into the plot,
show us the minute by minute consequences of the multiverse
(27:51):
breaking down or reforming, using these characters as examples. And
of course let's not forget the strategic value of teasers,
just brief cameos, maybe on essential appearances in upcoming films
like Captain America, Brave New World or Thunderbolts, just enough
to plant to seed, build some anticipation into their larger,
more significant roles coming down the line.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Yeah, it feels abundantly clear listening to all this, The
Multiverse isn't just a gimmick. Their plan with it really
is the structural foundation for their storytelling for the foreseeable future,
certainly for the next decade as the MCU pushes towards
Secret Wars and whatever comes after. These specific, detailed, often
challenging variants seem like the primary way they can honor
(28:30):
the huge legacy of the comics while still forging genuinely new,
exciting paths for the cinematic universe itself hashtag tech.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Outro So wrapping it all up, I think the key
takeaway is just how much character exploration the variant concept unlocks.
It really feels like the MCU's greatest asset for innovation
right now. Whether these variants offer these incredible redemptive arcs
like a hero Fanos, or these deeply tragic falls from
grace like hydrocap or just pure awesome spectacle like a
cosmic gladiator Hulk, they consistently open doors to stories that
(29:01):
feel both emotionally resonant, hitting you right here, and visually spectacular,
and fundamentally they keep redefining what it even means to
be a hero or a villain by constantly showing us
just how thin that line between them can truly be.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
That fine line. Yeah, as we've talked about with characters
like Thanos or Steve Rogers, it often seems to hinge
on just one tiny shift in their circumstances, doesn't it.
Tony Stark's genius gets pointed at ruins instead of robotics.
Steve Rogers gets thought out by the wrong people and
becomes a symbol of fascism. Thanos decides his immense power
should be used for cold rational altruism instead of cold
(29:34):
rational genocide. One change, entirely different destiny. So maybe this
is the final thought we want to leave you with today,
something that really builds on all these themes of identity, morality,
destiny that we've been digging into. If a character's core
path or entire destiny, someone like Steve Rogers, someone like Thanos,
can be completely flipped, totally inverted by just one single
(29:55):
change in their timeline, does free will actually matter as
much as we think, or is character in the end,
maybe just a function of circumstance. It makes you think,
doesn't it. How much of your own identity, who you
believe yourself to be might just be a result of
the specific timeline, the specific circumstances you happen to be
born into, rather than the conscious choices you feel like
you've made along the way. Something to chew on,
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