One of Disney+’s biggest original genre-blending shows was so compelling that it spawned countless fan theories during its nine-episode run. With Disney holding the keys to some of pop culture’s biggest franchises, it’s no wonder that streaming shows for brands like Marvel and Star Wars have become fodder for fervent online (and offline) debates and speculation. For the most part, Disney+’s original productions have fed into and even forever changed their respective franchise’s timelines and narrative arcs, introducing new heroes, villains, and universe-changing lore.
This was especially true when Disney+ first started releasing shows under the Marvel Cinematic Universe banner. Nobody really knew what to expect. How much of an impact would these shows have on the franchise’s primary timeline, and how would they change the characters’ powers and backstories? As the first MCU show officially released on the platform, WandaVision had to lead by example, not only giving two of the MCU’s most powerful heroes their deserved time in the spotlight but also offering a glimpse as to how much Marvel’s Disney+ shows may change the wider, soon-to-be multiverse.
Given the miniseries’ reality-bending premise, Vision’s suspicious resurrection following the tragic events of Avengers: Infinity War, Wanda Maximoff’s on-the-fritz powers, and decades of possible comic book source material, it’s no wonder new fan theories popped up online week after week, especially following the nearly two-year gap between Spider-Man: Far From Home‘s release in 2019 and WandaVision‘s debut in 2021. It was the dawn of a new era for the MCU, after all. Anything could happen next.
Though many of the show’s wildest fan theories never came true (Evan Peters’ role was especially devious after his portrayal of X-Men’s Quicksilver), WandaVision provided the best of both worlds, allowing fans to enjoy their rampant speculation and comic book deep dives while offering an emotionally complex, character-driven, superpowered story.
Despite So Many Fan Theories, WandaVision Still Delivered A Mostly Satisfying Finale
A show like WandaVision could have easily been overwhelmed by the number of fan theories it spawned; it’s difficult to recover when audiences become so invested in what could be that they end up being disappointed in what the show actually is. Thankfully, though, WandaVision provided a generally satisfying reveal and final episode. With Wanda’s grief as the story’s driving force rather than any nefarious behind-the-scenes villainy, WandaVision retained its emotional heart without falling back on over-the-top superhero spectacle.
Of course, the finale did still include a magical fight between Wanda’s made family and Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness, as well as a confrontation between two versions of Vision. Still, even those battles were more grounded than the MCU’s standard superhero fare. Vision vs. Vision became a philosophical debate rather than a fist fight. The resolution of Wanda’s duel with Agatha allowed her to free the trapped residents of Westview and gain full control of her powers for the first time.
When a final episode provides such an emotionally satisfying (if still devastating) conclusion, comic book lore becomes inconsequential. WandaVision offered audiences an MCU experience unlike any that had come before. While the fan theories generated well-deserved hype for the show and created a genuine sense of community during a time of global isolation — WandaVision premiered in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic — it was more than good enough to stand on its own, too.
Some WandaVision Fan Theories Have Since Come True
Elizabeth Olsen in WandaVision.
Though plenty of WandaVision theories never came true, some did, in the long run, become part of the MCU’s continuity. Many believed that Marvel’s Mephisto, the nefarious deal maker and devil impersonator, was behind the Westview Hex and Wanda’s out-of-control powers. While Mephisto had nothing directly to do with Wanda’s TV-inspired prison, the villain was eventually name-dropped in WandaVision‘s sequel/spinoff, Agatha All Along, before the character himself made a surprise appearance in 2025’s six-episode miniseries Ironheart, played by the one and only Sacha Baron Cohen.
Earth-1610 · Multiverse Edition How Well Do You Know Marvel’s Ultimate Universe?
🌏OriginsEarth-1610
⚡HeroesUltimates
💥EventsUltimatum
☠VillainsThe Maker
💫LegacyReborn
01
The Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610) was launched in 2000 with a reimagined version of Marvel’s most popular teenage superhero. Which comic series kicked off the Ultimate line?
✓ Correct! Ultimate Spider-Man #1, written by Brian Michael Bendis with art by Mark Bagley, launched in October 2000 and retold Peter Parker’s origin for a modern audience. It became the flagship title of the Ultimate line and ran for 160 issues.
✗ That answer didn’t survive Ultimatum! The answer is Ultimate Spider-Man. Written by Brian Michael Bendis, it was the first Ultimate title, debuting in 2000. The Ultimates and Ultimate X-Men followed in 2001, while Ultimate Fantastic Four didn’t launch until 2004.
02
In the Ultimate Universe, Peter Parker’s Spider-Man eventually died heroically. A new character then took up the Spider-Man mantle and later crossed over into the main Marvel universe. Who is this character?
✓ Correct! Miles Morales debuted in Ultimate Fallout #4 (2011) after Peter Parker’s death in the “Death of Spider-Man” storyline. Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli, Miles became one of Marvel’s most beloved characters and later migrated to Earth-616 after Secret Wars (2015).
✗ That answer didn’t survive Ultimatum! The answer is Miles Morales. Ben Reilly is the Scarlet Spider clone from Earth-616, Miguel O’Hara is Spider-Man 2099, and while Gwen Stacy existed in the Ultimate Universe, she didn’t become Spider-Woman there — that’s Earth-65’s Spider-Gwen.
03
The Ultimates was the Ultimate Universe’s version of the Avengers. This series reimagined the team as a government-sponsored superhero squad. Who wrote the influential first two volumes of The Ultimates?
✓ Correct! Mark Millar, alongside artist Bryan Hitch, created The Ultimates (2002) and The Ultimates 2 (2004). Their cinematic, widescreen approach to superhero storytelling heavily influenced the Marvel Cinematic Universe, particularly the first Avengers film.
✗ That answer didn’t survive Ultimatum! The answer is Mark Millar. Bendis wrote Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate X-Men, Jeph Loeb took over the Ultimates later with volume 3, and Jonathan Hickman wrote the 2024 Ultimate Universe relaunch. Millar and Bryan Hitch defined The Ultimates.
04
In the Ultimate Universe, many characters were dramatically different from their main universe counterparts. Ultimate Reed Richards underwent a shocking transformation, becoming a major villain. What villain name did Ultimate Reed Richards adopt?
✓ Correct! The Maker is one of the most terrifying villains to come out of the Ultimate Universe. After being rejected by Sue Storm and experiencing a mental breakdown, Ultimate Reed Richards turned evil, stretching his brain to enhance his already genius-level intellect and becoming a multiversal threat.
✗ That answer didn’t survive Ultimatum! The answer is The Maker. The Thinker is a different FF villain, Doctor Doom is a separate character entirely (though Ultimate Doom was Victor Van Damme), and Molecule Man is an Earth-616 entity. The Maker survived Secret Wars and became a major threat across the multiverse.
05
The Ultimate Universe suffered a catastrophic event that killed off many major characters and dramatically changed the line’s direction. What was this controversial crossover event called?
✓ Correct! Ultimatum (2008–2009), written by Jeph Loeb, saw Magneto use Thor’s hammer to reverse Earth’s magnetic poles, causing massive global devastation. Characters like Wolverine, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, and many others were killed, making it one of the most controversial Marvel events ever.
✗ That answer didn’t survive Ultimatum! The answer is, ironically, Ultimatum itself. Cataclysm was a later event involving Galactus attacking the Ultimate Universe, Secret Wars (2015) ended the Ultimate Universe entirely, and Ultimate Fallout dealt with the aftermath of Peter Parker’s death.
06
Ultimate Nick Fury was redesigned to look very different from his main universe counterpart. His new appearance was so popular that it influenced a major casting decision in the MCU. Who was Ultimate Nick Fury visually modeled after?
✓ Correct! Artist Bryan Hitch, with Mark Millar’s approval, deliberately modeled Ultimate Nick Fury after Samuel L. Jackson in The Ultimates. Jackson himself gave permission for his likeness to be used, and was later cast as Nick Fury in the MCU — one of the most perfect comics-to-film casting decisions ever.
✗ That answer didn’t survive Ultimatum! The answer is Samuel L. Jackson. Bryan Hitch specifically used Jackson’s likeness when redesigning Nick Fury for The Ultimates. Jackson actually gave his blessing, reportedly in exchange for first refusal on any film role — which led to his iconic MCU casting.
07
The Ultimate Universe was eventually destroyed during Jonathan Hickman’s Secret Wars (2015) event, with some characters migrating to the main Marvel universe (Earth-616). Which of these characters did NOT originate in the Ultimate Universe?
✓ Correct! Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel) was created for the main Earth-616 universe, debuting in Captain Marvel #14 (2013) and getting her own series in 2014. Miles Morales, The Maker, and Jimmy Hudson (Wolverine’s son) all originated in the Ultimate Universe before crossing over.
✗ That answer didn’t survive Ultimatum! The answer is Kamala Khan. She was created by G. Willow Wilson and Sana Amanat for the main Marvel universe (Earth-616), not the Ultimate Universe. Miles Morales, The Maker, and Jimmy Hudson (Ultimate Wolverine’s son) all came from Earth-1610.
08
In 2024, Marvel relaunched the Ultimate Universe with a new line of comics set on a reimagined Earth-6160. This new Ultimate Universe features a world where who has secretly controlled everything from behind the scenes?
✓ Correct! In Jonathan Hickman’s 2024 Ultimate Universe relaunch, The Maker (Ultimate Reed Richards) has secretly reshaped Earth-6160 from behind the scenes, preventing many heroes from ever gaining their powers and manipulating global events. The new Ultimate line follows heroes discovering and resisting his hidden influence.
✗ That answer didn’t survive Ultimatum! The answer is The Maker (Reed Richards). In the 2024 Ultimate Universe relaunch by Jonathan Hickman, The Maker has been secretly pulling strings on Earth-6160, suppressing the emergence of superheroes and reshaping the world to his design. He is the central antagonist of the new Ultimate line.
Briefing Complete Your Ultimate Clearance
/ 8
Are you an Ultimate expert — or still reading Earth-616?
However, Mephisto’s long-awaited appearance had nothing on the Scarlet Witch’s eventual turn to the dark side. During WandaVision, many believed that Wanda had created the Hex on purpose, either in service of Mephisto or for her own terrifying purposes. Instead, it was eventually revealed that the Hex’s creation was almost an involuntary reaction to her grief, an unexpected outlet for her building powers and deep-seated trauma. Wanda wasn’t evil in WandaVision, but she did become a full-on villain in WandaVision‘s movie “sequel,”Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, going on a murderous, multiversal rampage in search of her lost sons.
WandaVision proved that Marvel Studios could capably tell an emotional character story while keeping casual, comic book, and die-hard MCU fans invested week after week. The only other Marvel Cinematic Universe show that has come close to cultivating that same kind of fan-fueled frenzy is Loki, and fans really wanted Mephisto to be part of that, too.
All episodes of WandaVision are streaming now on Disney+.
