For the last two years, Marvel and Disney have been making it extremely clear that the MCU's Disney+ line-up will have a significant impact on the cinematic universe going forward, tying directly into the blockbuster films.
Based on the series released so far, it's clear these comments weren't exaggerated as WandaVision set the stage for the reality-bending adventures of the Doctor Strange sequel. Meanwhile, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier introduced Marvel fans to the next Captain America as Sam Wilson finally donned the stars and stripes while wielding the iconic shield.
Despite these game-changing events already having a substantial impact on the MCU, it seems Marvel Studios won't be stopping there as Loki appears set to have the biggest effect yet on the universe's future.
KEVIN FEIGE TEASES MAJOR MCU IMPACT OF LOKI
As the premiere of Loki moves ever closer, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige sat down with Empire Magazine to discuss the latest Disney+ series in a segment that will feature in the outlet's next issue.
During the discussion, Feige emphasized the significance of the time-traveling adventure, calling it “tremendously important” while revealing it will have “more impact on the MCU than any of the shows thus far:”
“It’s tremendously important. It perhaps will have more impact on the MCU than any of the shows thus far. What everybody thought about WandaVision, and was sort of true, and The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, which was sort of true, is even more sort of true for Loki.”
Additionally, the MCU producer went on to promise the series' characters, including Tom Hiddleston's Loki, will “change and evolve” throughout the six-hour outing:
“You want to see, after six hours or so, characters change and evolve. We don’t make these shows to not be radical, right?”
WHAT FUTURE MOVIES COULD LOKI SET THE STAGE FOR?
It's been known for some time now that WandaVision would directly set up Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and the Scarlet Witch's role in the film. However, it didn't become clear until the day of the finale that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was preparing Sam Wilson to lead his own cinematic outing in a fourth installment of the Captain America film franchise.
Based on these two prior examples, Marvel is clearly using its Disney+ series as precursors to larger stories on the big screen, so what exactly could Loki be setting the stage for?
The time heist of Avengers: Endgame introduced MCU fans to the concept of time travel for the first time in the cinematic universe, something it seems keen to explore in a bigger way going forward. After all, Loki will see Hiddleston's character working with Owen Wilson's Mobius and the rest of the Time Variance Authority in an era-hopping crime thriller.
Of the Phase 4 projects announced so far, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania clearly appears to have the most time-travel action planned with Johnathon Major's set to play futuristic villain Kang the Conqueror. Many fans have speculated that the time-bending threat could make his debut earlier than expected in Loki due to the villain's history with the Timekeepers who appear to have a role in the Disney+ series.
However, the streaming debut of the God of Mischief doesn't seem to be the end of the line for this variant of Loki as the Disney+ series has already teased plans for a second season down the line.
Loki will premiere its first episode Wednesday, June 9, 2021, exclusively on Disney+.
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