If it was not for Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, we would not have this concept of the cinematic universe. The MCU established a new way of tying several films, series, and comics together to weave a gigantic cinematic universe. But surprisingly, a new fan theory claims that the 2008 film was never a part of the canonical universe.
The success of Iron Man started the Marvel Cinematic Universe which went on to become one of the greatest pop culture phenomenons. It amassed a massive worldwide fandom and established Robert Downey Jr. as one of the greatest names in the industry. However, a new theory states that the MCU had its inception from Iron Man 2 and not the 2008 blockbuster.
Is Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man not a part of the primary MCU?
If the question about the first MCU project is asked, any Marvel connoisseur would answer Iron Man. As described in Ben Fritz’s book The Big Picture: The Fight for the Future of Movies, the 2008 Robert Downey Jr. starrer was made after getting advice from a group of children. Its success led the present Kevin Feige cartel to plan out a new cinematic universe.
According to a Reddit user @Pietin11, 2008’s film was never a part of the main MCU universe. The fan started his theory by presenting one of the most controversial MCU debates regarding Earth-616 and Earth-199999. Presently, it is established that the events of the MCU take place in Earth-616. However, the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z: Vol. 5, released soon after Iron Man referenced the universe as Earth-199999.
[Marvel] I humbly present to you, my dumbest fan theory of all time. The film Iron Man (2008) is not set in the MCU.
byu/Pietin11 inFanTheories
Although the debate is likely to go on for a long time at least until Avengers: Secret Wars, the MCU has confirmed on several occasions that it takes place in Earth-616. Here the theorist explained that the Official Handbook did not designate the number to the “MCU” but to the “Iron Man Movie (2008)”. He also adds that following Iron Man, we got two of the biggest recasts, Rhodey and Bruce Banner so it may be possible that Earth-199999 was solely designated to the universe shown in Iron Man and the events in MCU actually kicked off from Iron Man 2.
Pietin11 explained that the term “MCU” was officially coined by Kevin Feige for the first time on Iron Man 2‘s sets. So there can be a strong possibility that Earth-199999 and Earth-616 are identical universes and 199999’s events also happened in 616 but with a small twist- with Don Cheadle’s Rhodey and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk (instead of Terrence Howard and Edward Norton).
In Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Miguel O’Hara also referenced the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home but instead of Earth-616, he referred to it as Earth-199999. This also proves that the events in Earth-616 also take place in Earth-199999.
Is the confusion regarding Earth-616 and Earth-199999 over yet?
The repeated inconsistencies in giving an official universe number to MCU’s Earth have always led to conversations and debates. It was originally known that 616 was the official comics universe. But during Phase 1, a big “616 Universe” written on a chalkboard by scientist Erik Selvig cemented that MCU is also 616.
Later Mysterio’s comments in Spider-Man: Far From Home and the Earth-838 beings in Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness also referred to the MCU as 616. But once again Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse raised debates after Miguel O’Hara referred to the MCU as 199999.
Last year a book titled The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Official Timeline, confirmed that the MCU is indeed Earth-616. The book opens with Miss Minutes saying- “welcome to the guidebook on the beings and events that make up the universe known as 616, also known as the Sacred Timeline” (via Comic Book Movie). Although the fans can present several loopholes within the universe, it looks like the MCU wants to stick to Earth-616 until it reboots the universe with Secret Wars.
Everything in the MCU can be streamed on Disney+.
