Ms. Marvel actress slams MCU’s Mysterio Plot Hole

Iman Vellani and Kevin Feige

On Disney+, Marvel Studios' newest streaming series is off to a great start. The sitcom stars Iman Vellani as 16-year-old Kamala Khan, an Avengers superfan living in New Jersey who comes to inherit a mystery bangle that appears to empower her with cosmic superpowers. Vellani, of course, is a big fan of the MCU and hasn't been hesitant about sharing her views and viewpoints on the franchise.


Since 2021, the MCU has been working on a multi-project story arc centred on parallel realities. The core MCU is known as Earth-616, as introduced in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Since 2008's Iron Man, this is the universe in which all the action takes place. Earth-616 is the current name for the universe in which the Marvel comic novels are set. The Marvel Cinematic Universe was given the label Earth-199999 in extra materials, although this was retconned in the Doctor Strange sequel. For fans who aren't paying close attention, it can all be a little confusing. Iman Vellani, on the other hand, is one noteworthy admirer who is paying attention.


Earth-616 Debate: Iman Vellani's Take

Spider-Man and Mysterio

Ms. Marvel actress Iman Vellani discussed why the Marvel Cinematic Universe's true Multiversal designation is actually Earth-19999 with Deadline:

“I have this argument with Kevin [Feige] every single time I see him in person. It’s not 616. The MCU is definitely 199999. It’s five nines. And all this happened because Kevin Feige made a joke in an interview about how long the MCU would stand for and he said, ‘199999 years.’ But we need a number and you can’t take it from the Marvel comics canon, because that was like the main comics canon where all the main events took place."


Vellani went on to explain the distinction while mentioning Mysterio. Quentin Beck, nicknamed Mysterio, wreaked havoc on Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Far From Home, claiming to be from an alternate dimension and having arrived on "Earth-616" as a consequence of a struggle with an elemental creature.

Vellani chastised the "Earth-616" phrase, claiming that Beck should not have been aware of the designation because he was "just an actor":


"And in that canon, Kamala’s an Inhuman, and there’s Lockjaw. House of M took place with the X-Men. Where’s all that in the MCU if it’s 616, huh?… I rest my case. Also, how does Mysterio… why was Mysterio in the MCU right about 616, because he mentioned it. Why would he know anything? He’s just an actor.”

Related: Ms. Marvel Star Iman Vellani Calls Shah Rukh Khan’s DDLJ ‘Sexist’ and ‘Outdated’

The actress also mentioned that Kamala Khan is off enjoying her own adventures on Earth-616 in the form of a comic book: "There is in the universe of 616!" Yes, in the comics. "For the time being, you get what you get."


Kamala Khan in the Multiverse of Madness


In Iman Vellani's statements, there's a lot to unpack. To begin with, the MCU was designated as Earth-199999 in the pages of Marvel Comics. Officially published guidebooks and the like contained this information. This premise was thrown on its head when Doctor Strange 2 came out. Audiences were informed that Strange and America Chavez' original universe, the primary MCU, is Earth-616 during their visit to Earth-838, which contradicted previous information.


It's worth noting that Earth-616 may only have been used by Baxter Foundation scientists for the film and not the genuine Multiversal classification.


Moving on, Mysterio did claim to have landed on Earth-616, but he was far from "just an actor," as Vellani stated. Quentin Beck was portrayed as a brilliant scientist and inventor in the film. He also had a team of people working for him to help sell Mysterio's story and illusion so that "Nick Fury" and Peter Parker would hand over control of the deadly EDITH protocols. It's not a stretch to believe Beck collaborated with some brilliant minds who concluded that the MCU may represent Earth-616.

Related: Ms. Marvel already has a hate group, and it's pathetic

None of this is meant to diminish Vellani, who is clearly a dedicated and enthusiastic Marvel fan with a wealth of knowledge. It's feasible that the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be known as both Earth-19999 and Earth-616 from a cosmic perspective. More answers will undoubtedly be provided as Marvel Studios continues to explore the Multiverse.


Marvel Studios' next film Ms. Marvel releases new episodes every Wednesday on Disney+.


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