TheMarvel Cinematic Universeis known for its interconnected storytelling, but not every major event happens on-screen. Some ofthe MCU timeline’s most pivotal developments occur between films or shows, leaving audiences to piece together the details from dialogue or brief flashbacks. While this technique allows for tighter narratives and avoids redundancy, it also means audiences sometimes miss out on crucial moments that could have been incredible to witness.
The MCU spans multiple movies, TV shows, and even supplementary material like tie-in comics. Many of these tie-in comics depict events that occur between projects, explain in more detail events that the MCU seemingly omitted. While some skipped events were wisely omitted to streamline storytelling, others left gaps that felt abrupt or underserved. This ranking evaluates these events based on how important they were for the MCU’s overall narrative, while also assessing how effective or disappointing skipping them were.
10Spider-Man’s Origin Story
Before Captain America: Civil War
When Spider-Man made his MCU debut inCaptain America: Civil War, audiences quickly noticed a major omission – his iconic origin story. By the timeSpider-Man: Homecomingarrived, it was clear the MCU had no intention of revisiting Peter Parker’s radioactive spider bite, Uncle Ben’s tragic death, or his first days as a hero. Instead, Petervaguely references what happened in a passing commentto his best friend, Ned.
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This was a brilliant choice, as audiences had already seen two full cinematic retellings of Spider-Man’s origin in the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield eras. Skipping it allowedHomecomingto focus on a fresh take, with Peter already established in the world of superheroesand jump straight into the action. While some fans may have missed a direct acknowledgment of Uncle Ben, the decision ultimately helped integrate Spider-Man smoothly into the MCU without unnecessary repetition.
9Thanos Intercepts And Destroys The Asgardians
Between Thor: Ragnarok And Avengers: Infinity War
Thor: Ragnarokended on a hopeful note, with Thor leading the surviving Asgardians to a new home. However, before anybody could fully enjoy their escape,Avengers: Infinity Waropened with a grim scene – their ship had already been intercepted and devastated by Thanos. This shocking developmentset the harrowing stakes immediately, but the fact that the battle happened off-screen left some wishing they had seen the confrontation.
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While the scene itself is effective in establishing Thanos’ ruthless efficiency, it also felt abrupt, considering how much emphasisRagnarokplaced on the survival of the Asgardians. Seeing Thor and the others struggle against Thanos’ Black Ordercould have been an epic moment, yet the decision to skip it kept the story moving at a breakneck pace. Still, its significance in setting up Thanos’ dominance in the MCU cannot be understated.
8Bruce Banner Reconciles With Hulk
Between Avengers: Infinity War And Avengers: Endgame
One of the most unexpected character shifts inAvengers: Endgamewas the emergence of Professor Hulk – a fully integrated version of Bruce Banner and the Hulk. However, audiences never saw how this transformation happened. InInfinity War,Bruce struggled to get the Hulk to emergeafter their brutal defeat by Thanos. ByEndgame, five years had passed, and Banner casually explained that he had figured out a way to merge his two halves.
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This major development completely altered the trajectory of the Hulk’s character, yet audiences were given only a brief explanation instead of witnessing the transformation firsthand. Considering how much tension existed between Banner and Hulk throughout the MCU, thiscould have been a fascinating and emotionally rich story. Instead, viewers were left to imagine how it unfolded, which felt like a missed opportunity for deeper character exploration.
7Hulk Fathers A Son On Sakaar
Before Thor: Ragnarok
The MCU has had its fair share of surprise reveals, but none were as abrupt as the introduction of Hulk’s son, Skaar, inShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law. In the final episode, Hulk casually introduces his teenage son with zero buildup or explanation, leaving audiences scratching their heads. Given that Hulk had spent time on Sakaar duringThor: Ragnarok, it’simplied that this event took place sometime before or during his time as a gladiator.
However, the reveal felt completely random, with no foreshadowing or narrative weight behind it. If Skaar is meant to play a major role in future MCU projects, his introductioncould have benefited from more setup. Instead, it felt like an afterthought, which could weaken his impact going forward. This remains one of the most jarring off-screen developments in the MCU and highlights the occasional pitfalls of skipping key moments.
6Baron Mordo’s Crusade Against Dr. Strange and the Sorcerers
Between Doctor Strange And Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
At the end ofDoctor Strange(2016), Karl Mordo embarks on a personal crusade to rid the world of sorcerers, setting up a thrilling potential conflict for future films. However, by the timeDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness(2022) arrives,Mordo’s campaign is reduced to a mere off-hand comment. According to Stephen Strange, Mordo went mad and spent years hunting him, yet none of these confrontations are shown on-screen.
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Given Mordo’s previous relationship with Strange and the gravity of his mission, this arc had the potential for an incredible film or Disney+ series. It waspresumed that this would be depicted as part of theDoctor Strangesequeland was highly anticipated. Unfortunately, skipping over this development not only undermines the character’s progression but also removes a significant antagonist from Strange’s story without proper payoff.
5Captain America Breaks The Avengers Out Of The Raft
Between Captain America: Civil War And Avengers: Infinity War
Captain America: Civil War(2016) ends with Steve Rogers breaking his imprisoned allies out of the Raft, a top-security underwater prison for super-powered individuals. However, the actual breakout is never shown, only implied through a brief sequence of Captain America arriving and smiling at his imprisoned allies. Considering the Raftis supposed to be nearly impenetrable, witnessing how Cap and his team orchestrated the escape would have made for an exciting, high-stakes action sequence.
Additionally, it would have provided more clarity on how heroes like Falcon, Scarlet Witch, and Ant-Man managed to go underground afterward. By omitting this event, the MCUbypassed an opportunity for a thrilling momentthat could have reinforced Captain America’s resourcefulness and leadership while also showcasing a daring rescue that could have rivalled some of the franchise’s best action set pieces.
4The Avengers During The Blip Years
WhenAvengers: Endgame(2019) begins, five years have passed since Thanos' Snap. Natasha Romanoff leads a new team consisting of War Machine, Captain Marvel, Rocket Raccoon, and Nebula. However, audiencesnever see this version of the Avengers in action.
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This period of the MCU could have provided a compelling storyline, showing how the remaining heroes dealt with cosmic threats, maintained order on Earth, and adjusted to a world devastated by the Snap. Watching Natasha evolve into a true leader while working alongside an eclectic mix of heroes would have added depth to her character arc,making her sacrifice later in the film even more impactful.While brief moments hint at their operations, skipping over this period means missing out on what could have been a unique take on the Avengers, operating with limited resources in a changed world.
3Thanos Invades Xandar For The Power Stone
Before Avengers: Infinity War
By the timeAvengers: Infinity War(2018) begins, Thanos already possesses the Power Stone, having acquired it from Xandar, the home of the Nova Corps. However, this momentous event is never shown on-screen, reduced to a mere line of exposition from Thor. Given Xandar’s significance inGuardians of the Galaxy(2014) and the buildup of the Nova Corps as defenders of peace, seeing Thanos’ assault on the planetwould have provided a visually stunning battle sequence.
It also would have established the Mad Titan’s power more effectively, showing him demolishing an entire force of protectors before he even obtains the full Infinity Gauntlet. Additionally, thefall of Xandar could have set up a future storyline for the Nova Corpsor even introduced Richard Rider (Nova) into the MCU. By skipping this invasion, the MCU missed an opportunity to deliver a defining Thanos moment and expand its galactic lore.
2Thanos Recruits Loki To Find The Tesseract
Between Thor And The Avengers
One of the most pivotal alliances in the MCU’s early days was between Thanos and Loki, leading to the Chitauri invasion depicting inThe Avengers(2012). However, the details of how Thanos recruited Loki, provided him with the Chitauri army, and manipulated him into seeking the Tesseract are never explicitly shown. Instead, this partnership isonly hinted at through exposition in later films.
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Witnessing this interaction would have added much-needed depth to Loki’s arc, showing how he was coerced or convinced to work with Thanos. It also could haveprovided key insights into Thanos' long-term strategyfor acquiring the Infinity Stones. With both characters being fan favorites, a direct depiction of their negotiations and power dynamic would have been a fascinating addition to the MCU’s early narrative, offering more weight to Loki’s actions inThe Avengers.
1Captain America Returns The Infinity Stones
After Avengers: Endgame
After defeating Thanos, Steve Rogers embarks on a mission to return the Infinity Stones to their proper places in time, preventing catastrophic timelines from branching off. However, this journey – arguably one of the most significant in MCU history – is never shown on-screen. Audiences are left to wonder how Steve navigated the various timelines, what challenges he faced, and how he returned the Soul Stone to Vormir,possibly confronting Red Skull.
This event not onlyhad massive ramifications for the multiversebut also led to Steve deciding to remain in the past and live a life with Peggy Carter. Watching his interactions with past MCU characters and seeing how he resolved each timeline discrepancy would have made for an incredible standalone film or Disney+ series. By leaving this adventure to the imagination, theMCUmissed out on what could have been one of its most emotionally and narratively rich stories.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
