The Marvel Cinematic Universe has adapted a number of popular characters and storylines onto the big screen from the mainstream Marvel universe, which is designated as Earth-616. However, the MCU also took inspiration from the Ultimate Marvel line of comics, designated as Earth-1610.
The Ultimate Universe updated and modernized popular heroes without years of burdensome continuity. Some of Ultimate Marvel's updated costumes were used for inspiration on the big screen, but there were a number of other moments from the Ultimate Universe that influenced the development of the MCU that we'll be taking a closer look at today.
10 Tony Stark's Personality Was Based On His Ultimate Counterpart
The MCU launched in 2008 with Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, which used an updated version of his 616 origin that saw the character create his armor after he was injured and captured during wartime.
However, the characterization of Tony Stark was heavily influenced by his Ultimate Marvel counterpart and his early personality as a womanizing playboy, while similar in the 616, was much more exaggerated in the alternate reality which worked well for the big-screen take on the character.
9 Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury Was Based On The Ultimate Version
Iron Man only teased the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and his eventual role with the Avengers in the final moments of the movie, as Samuel l. Jackson appeared in a post-credit scene as S.H.I.E.L.D. super-spy Nick Fury to tease his Avengers Initiative.
While the original Nick Fury of the 616 universe was quite different, The Ultimates introduced a new take on the character that resembled Samuel L. Jackson which led the actor to contact Marvel Studios about his involvement, leading to his continued appearances in the MCU.
8 S.H.I.E.L.D. Formed The Avengers Instead Of Rick Jones
The MCU's team of Avengers was formed by Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. to serve as Earth's superpowered response team against powerful threats like Loki, which mimicked Ultimate Marvel's own formation of The Avengers known as The Ultimates.
While Loki also served as the impetus for the formation of The Avengers in the mainstream 616 reality, it was actually young Rick Jones and his Teen Brigade that first assembled the team together, which might not have worked as well in the MCU given the complete absence of Rick Jones.
7 The Hulk Used Ultimate Marvel's Super-Soldier Based Origin Story
Bruce Banner's debut as the Hulk in the MCU was also taken from Ultimate Marvel's modernized origins, as it was through his attempts to replicate Captain America's super-soldier serum using experimental gamma technology that led to his transformation into the Hulk.
The 616 version of Hulk's origin saw Bruce Banner caught in an experimental gamma bomb blast after he attempted to save young Rick Jones from accidental exposure, further highlighting the many differences caused by Rick Jones' absence in the MCU.
6 Black Widow And Hawkeye's Beginnings As S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents
Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow and Clint Barton/Hawkeye were the only two members of the original roster of the MCU's Avengers who didn't receive origin stories as they were already established S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who further revealed a connected past.
Their relationship and history as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents come from Ultimate Marvel's The Ultimates series, as both characters first appeared as villains in the 616 universe before joining with the Avengers, with Hawkeye only starting to work with S.H.I.E.L.D. well after he established his costumed career.
5 The Chitauri Aliens Were Originally From The Ultimate Universe
2012's The Avengers saw Loki head to Earth on a mission from a powerful new master that was only later revealed to be Thanos, though Loki wasn't alone in his attack on Earth as he was provided with a powerful alien army known as the Chitauri.
The Chitauri first appeared in Ultimate Marvel's The Ultimates which introduced the shape-shifting aliens as replacements for the Skrulls. The Chitauri were also worked into the history of Earth as they allied with Nazi forces during WWII to become lasting enemies of Captain America when he thawed in the future.
4 Hawkeye's Family Comes From The Ultimate Universe
One of the biggest surprises in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron was the reveal of Clint Barton's secret hidden farmhouse where his wife and children lived in seclusion away from any of the potential enemies he made as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.
While Hawkeye in the 616 remains mostly single and childless, his Ultimate Marvel counterpart had a family who was equally protected by S.H.I.E.L.D., though they were tragically murdered when Ultimate Black Widow revealed her dark allegiances and turned on The Ultimates.
3 Ned Leeds Is Based On Miles Morales' Best Friend Ganke Lee
When Spider-Man was introduced to the MCU in Captain America: Civil War he was an amalgamation of his 616 and 1610 counterparts in that he was a superpowered teenager with a modernized costume and a presumably classic origin.
However, a new best friend was introduced for Peter Parker in 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming that also blended both universes as he resembled Miles Morales/Ultimate Spider-Man's best friend Ganke Lee, though he was named Ned Leeds to reference a Daily Bugle employee from the 616 universe.
2 Stormbreaker Is Based On Ultimate Thor's Hammer
2017's Thor: Ragnarok featured the destruction of Thor's enchanted hammer Mjolnir by his sister Hela, which forced him to embrace his powers as the God of Thunder. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough for his battle with Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and he created a powerful new weapon named Stormbreaker.
While the name of his new hammer was ripped from 616's Beta Ray Bill character, the design of the weapon came from Ultimate Thor's hammer, which later became War Thor's hammer in the 616 universe before it revealed its true form as Undrajarn the All-Weapon for Jane Foster/Valkyrie.
1 Spider-Man's Heroic Mentorship Came From Ultimate Marvel
Iron Man first recruited Spider-Man onto his side in Captain America: Civil War, though he continued working with the young hero as his mentor in Spider-Man: Homecoming where he provided the young hero with his first two Stark suits.
Nick Fury took further interest in Peter Parker in 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home after the death of Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame, which was influenced by the Ultimate Marvel versions of the characters and their desire to help the young Spider-Man find his true potential, which didn't happen for years in the 616 universe.