The following contains spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, now in theaters.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase Four is at a place of change, adapting modernity and shedding outdated definitions that have been there since the beginning. With many meaningful characters finding their paths in the broader arena of the Multiverse, the phase of change offers new opportunities with unlimited potential. Let's connect all the dots from WandaVision to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and revisit the significant developments in Phase Four so far.
The story of the original Avengers was coming to an end. After Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) died, bringing back the other half of the population, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) left his shield behind. Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) was tying up loose ends from his weaponized past to secure his home life. With five years gone, the world was in pain and in need of new inspiration. The Falcon and Winter Soldier saw Sam Wilson/The Falcon (Anthony Mackie) claiming Rogers' shield, taking on the responsibility as the new Captain America. However, the second generation of Captain America was no longer about Super-Soldier Serum, weapons and perfect image in wartime but about a person making changes and earning it the hard way.
The new Earth-based heroes' stories also mainly revolve around their choices, determination and recognition of their potential. Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) forged her path as the new "Hawkeye" (for the lack of a better name) in Hawkeye, continuing Clint's legacy and rewriting Hawkeye's original design as an arrow aiming at a target. Black Widow honored the story of Natasha Romanoff, who set free a group of trained assassins from the Red Room. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings saw Shang-Chi embracing his heritage as the rightful owner of the Ten Rings. The upcoming Ms. Marvel and She-Hulk will also introduce brand-new heroes, Kamala Khan and Jennifer Walters.
Loki, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, on the other hand, tapped into the Multiverse concept while establishing new threats and villains. Loki introduced the idea of the Sacred Timeline, the Time Variance Authority, alternative realities, nexus events, variants and the new antagonist Kang the Conquerer, who is a bigger threat than Thanos and may appear as anyone and any form in different realities. Loki variant Sylvie killed Kang the Conquerer and released the Sacred Timeline from his control, setting the stage for a possible multiversal war.
In Spider-Man: No Way Home, three different Peter Parkers united in Earth-616 when Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) tore the borders between universes by accident and attracted previously defeated villains, giving viewers a glimpse at the Multiverse's danger. At the end of the film, Doctor Strange erased everyone's memory of Peter Parker, sending everyone back to their respective universes. Unlike Spider-Man: No Way Home, Multiverse of Madness saw the Multiverse's beauty and unlimited potential. However, with the unsafe practice of the Darkhold, Strange variants are also set to be potential and existing threats to the Multiverse.
After Vision's death, Wanda's (Elizabeth Olsen) grief triggered the creation of her own reality in Westview, NJ, and set her on the path of claiming her throne as the Scarlet Witch, the rightful owner of the Darkhold, which she destroyed in every universe at the end of Multiverse of Madness. At this point, it's unclear what was the source of her reality creation ability, but WandaVision and Multiverse of Madness have established just how powerful she could be. On the other hand, Vision was reborn without the Mind Stone when the government rebuilt the synthezoid, and Westview's Vision restored his memories. He was last seen leaving Westview.
Additionally, Phase Four introduced new groups of superbeings who are more powerful and diverse than ever: America Chavez, a possible nexus being with the ability to travel in the Multiverse; the Eternals, immortal beings who saved the Earth from the birth of a Celestial; Moon Knight and Layla El-Faouly, avatars of Egyptian gods. Aside from main protagonists, cameos also bear great potential in Phase Four: Game of Thrones actor Kit Harington's Black Knight and Harry Styles' Eros made brief appearances in Eternals; Doctor Strange's comic book wife Clea entered the picture in Multiverse of Madness; WandaVision and Multiverse of Madness featured Monica and Maria Rambeau as crucial side characters.
Phase Four is undoubtedly massive, as it's setting up a bigger stage and a new level for Earth-based heroes, gods and multiversal superbeings. Nostalgia and possibilities are at their highest. As more movies and series come up next in the MCU, more information will also become available.