“Time. Space. Reality. It’s more than a linear path. It’s a prism of endless possibility.” This intro by the Watcher (Jeffery Wright) came to define What If…? throughout its three-season run, as it offered different takes on the end of the Marvel Universe. But it’s a statement that feels far more fitting to Warner Bros. Pictures and its “Elseworlds” banner. Taking its name from alternate versions of the DC Universe, which include classics like Kingdom Come and Gotham by Gaslight, the “Elseworlds” films will feature different versions of DC heroes in addition to the films that James Gunn and Peter Safran are crafting for DC Studios. So far, the “Elseworlds” banner has brought in critical acclaim and box office gold, particularly where Jokerand The Batmanare concerned. I think Marvel Studios could use an Elseworlds model of its own, especially if it wants to regain some of its cultural momentum.
Having Standalone Stories Could Let Marvel Studios Pull In New Fans — and Win Back Lapsed Ones
One of the biggest criticisms of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that it often felt like “homework” at times. If you want to watch one MCU film or television series, it’s often connected to other films or television series. Take Thunderbolts*. While it was one of the more well-received Marvel movies in recent years, Thunderbolts* couldn’t exist without The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Black Widow, Ant-Man and the Wasp, or Hawkeye. That’s four separate projects already, and I’m not even getting into the buildup that led to each Avengers movie. In a way, the MCU has hit an issue that comic fans have brought up about getting into comics: the continuity gets to be a stumbling block, rather than a feature, as it’s often hard to recommend comics to new readers without bogging them down in so much history. And while the MCU was already heading toward that point, it’s starting to show. Having a standalone project could work wonders, as it would provide a great entry point for new fans, while fans who felt burned out or stepped away from the franchise would have a new story to follow without the fear of catch-up.
Marvel Studios actually did launch a standalone story that was a huge hit. That story? Werewolf by Night. It didn’t just look and feel different from other MCU entries, but as Marvel Studios’ first “Special Presentation,” it hit the sweet spot between being a TV series and a movie. On top of that, the story of Jack Russell (Gael García Bernal) is intriguing enough to hook viewers while also hinting at a larger story, especially when it comes to his friendship with the Man-Thing. I saw Werewolf by Night when it premiered at Fantastic Fest in 2022, and the response was almost unanimously positive. Disney is reducing Marvel’s streaming projects across the board, but I feel like more Special Presentations are needed. It could make for some great standalone stories, not to mention that it could give some fan-favorite characters a chance. Marvel Television/Animation/Streaming head Brad Winderbaum has hinted that he’d like to bring Danny Ketch, aka Ghost Rider, to the screen; that would be a perfect way to do a new take on Ghost Rider while following in Werewolf by Night‘s footsteps.
Marvel Studios Has Already Begun To Tell Stories That Aren’t Connected to the MCU
Marvel Studios might have been testing the waters for reception to its own “Elseworlds” stories, especially since most of its recent projects haven’t been tied to the MCU’s “Sacred Timeline”. Deadpool & Wolverine, which was a massive success last year, only features one scene in the Sacred Timeline; the rest takes place on Earth-10005, aka the home of 20th Century Fox’s X-Men films. X-Men ’97picks up in another timeline after the events of X-Men: The Animated Series. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manoffers an alternate take on how Peter Parker would operate if he were mentored by Norman Osborn, who’d become his archnemesis as the Green Goblin. But the biggest example is The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which takes place on an entirely different Earth from the Sacred Timeline. This was the best approach that director Matt Shakman could have taken, as it allows for a fresh take on the First Family while also letting Shakman pay homage to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby‘s original vision for the Fantastic Fourcomics. Depending on how much Avengers: Doomsdayand/or Avengers: Secret Warsshakes up the MCU, I’d love to see more of this type of story.
An ‘Elseworlds’ Format Fits Certain Heroes, and Could Allow Marvel To Return to Certain Projects
The best way to utilize an “Elseworlds” format for Marvel Studios is to either give alternate universe projects to characters who don’t normally fit in the MCU, or to revisit other versions of certain characters. Since Blade has had multiple struggles with production, why not make it an Elseworlds tale and have Mahershala Ali slay vampires without having to worry about how it fits in the MCU? With Andrew Garfield open to returning as Spider-Man, particularly if the story’s weird enough, an Elseworlds approach could explore what’s happened to him before or after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Even What If…? had some episodes that could provide their own Elseworlds series or movies, particularly the “Mech Avengers”. As a longtime mecha fan, I can definitely say that “Avengers, Pacific Rim style” would definitely be worth a watch. The beauty of the Marvel Universe is that it has a plethora of characters that have inspired amazing comics. It’s time that Marvel Studios took that approach, especially with the different approach you can bring to certain characters.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps premieres in theaters on July 25, 2025.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
-
July 25, 2025
- Runtime
-
130 Minutes
- Director
-
Matt Shakman
- Writers
-
Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee
- Producers
-
Jamie Christopher, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Tim Lewis
-
Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic
-
Sue Storm / The Invisible Woman
-
Joseph Quinn
Johnny Storm / Human Torch
-
Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Ben Grimm / The Thing
