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Throughout its duration, the series “Loki” delves into the intricate concept of time and its influence on our choices. It prompts viewers to ponder whether possessing foreknowledge of our life’s trajectory would motivate us to alter it. Furthermore, it raises the intriguing prospect of entire worlds materializing from those divergent decisions. What if these newly formed realities posed an existential threat to the very fabric of creation?
These existential questions become the focal point for Loki, portrayed by Tom Hiddleston, as he becomes ensnared in the clutches of the Time Variance Authority (TVA) during the first season of his show. The TVA prides itself on safeguarding the “Sacred Timeline” — the natural course of time — while diligently excising any “variant” deviations that emerge. As the initial season of “Loki” unfolds, a profound revelation about the true essence and significance of the Sacred Timeline emerges, illuminating its pivotal role in shaping the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Sacred Timeline Is the Result of Kang the Conqueror’s Machinations
In the majority of Season 1 of “Loki,” the eponymous character embarks on a pursuit of a variant of himself named Sylvie (portrayed by Sophia Di Martino). Sylvie is driven by a desire to dismantle the Time Variance Authority (TVA) due to the trauma she endured at their hands. This mission is fueled by the revelation that Loki, too, is a variant, having diverged from the timeline during the Battle of New York at the conclusion of “The Avengers.” In a surprising turn of events, Loki chooses to aid Sylvie in her quest. As their journey unfolds, they ultimately arrive at the end of time, where they encounter a cryptic figure known as “He Who Remains,” portrayed by Jonathan Majors.
He Who Remains discloses a staggering revelation, asserting that he is the architect behind the Sacred Timeline. Years prior, he encountered multiple versions of himself, which led to a catastrophic war spanning both time and space. To avert utter chaos, He Who Remains established the Sacred Timeline and established the TVA to eliminate any divergent timelines. Driven to madness by prolonged isolation, He Who Remains extends an unexpected offer to Sylvie and Loki — the opportunity to assume control of the TVA. Sylvie, however, rejects this proposition and ultimately ends his life in the Season 1 finale, setting off a cascade of diverging timelines.
Prior to his appearance in “Loki,” Jonathan Majors had been announced to portray Kang the Conqueror — a formidable time-traveling adversary who has clashed with the Avengers on numerous occasions. This revelation was followed by the announcement at San Diego Comic-Con that Majors’ Kang would be a significant antagonist in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” as well as in “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” and “Avengers: Secret Wars.” Marvel Studios’ clear intention was to position Kang as a threat on par with Thanos, and Majors’ lauded portrayal of He Who Remains seemed to reinforce that conviction.
The repercussions of the Sacred Timeline’s fragmentation reverberate throughout Marvel Studios’ forthcoming offerings, most notably in the animated series “What If…?”. This series centers on the Watcher, portrayed by Jeffrey Wright, who observes the various worlds born from the splintering timelines. One universe portrays Doctor Strange succumbing to megalomania in his pursuit to save Christine Palmer, while another depicts the Avengers and other heroes succumbing to a “quantum virus,” transforming them into flesh-eating monsters.
In the realm of cinematic adventures, Doctor Strange’s next venture, aptly titled “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” sees him navigating through time and space, contending with the Scarlet Witch, portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen, who yearns for a reality where her children thrive.
Among all the characters, Spider-Man stands to be the most profoundly affected by the apocalyptic events stemming from alternate dimensions. In “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” Tom Holland’s web-slinger seeks assistance from Doctor Strange after his identity is exposed by Mysterio, played by Jake Gyllenhaal. However, Strange’s spell misfires, drawing in a multitude of adversaries from different dimensions, including Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, reprising their roles as alternate versions of Peter Parker.
While “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is not part of the MCU, it nonetheless invokes elements reminiscent of “Loki.” Miguel O’Hara, voiced by Oscar Isaac, discusses the Web of Life and Destiny with Miles Morales, voiced by Shameik Moore, presenting a graph that intriguingly resembles the Sacred Timeline. Furthermore, the film’s opening acknowledges the events of “No Way Home” by referring to “Doctor Strange and the little nerd from Earth-19999.”
The origins of the Sacred Timeline, as well as the multiversal conflict involving He Who Remains, find their roots in Marvel Comics canon, particularly in the Secret Wars miniseries penned by Jonathan Hickman and illustrated by Esad Ribic in 2015. This narrative builds upon Hickman’s prior work in titles such as “Fantastic Four,” “Avengers,” and “New Avengers,” which explored multiversal “incursions” — events culminating in the collision of two alternate Earths, leading to the fracturing of time and space. Doctor Doom manages to salvage fragments of the Multiverse and amalgamate them into a new world, over which he reigns as a god-like figure. It falls upon Reed Richards and a select group of heroes to topple Doom’s dominion, ultimately leading to the restoration of reality.
Much like “Secret Wars,” the MCU appears to be drawing heavily from Hickman’s narrative. References to incursions and the Illuminati — a covert council of superheroes dedicated to thwarting them — are made in “Multiverse of Madness.” “Fantastic Four” introduces a council of alternate Reed Richards, while one of the post-credit scenes in “Quantumania” features an expansive army of Kang variants. In the comics, Kang is a future relative of Reed, strengthening this connection. Ultimately, the forthcoming “Secret Wars” adaptation seems poised to draw inspiration from Hickman and Ribic’s rendition rather than the original 1984 maxiseries — albeit with Kang assuming Doom’s role. The shattering of the Sacred Timeline may signal a grim turn of events for the MCU, but it also sets the stage for a potential grand finale for one of the world’s most iconic franchises.