Continuity is a tricky thing. Have too little and it’s pointless, have too much and it’s constricting. Ever since Iron Man (2008) ended with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) telling Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) he was “part of a bigger universe,” the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has altered the cinematic landscape through successfully introducing an interconnected “shared universe” and mega-franchises to the big screen. The validation of The Avengers’ (2012) success led to many imitators, including the upcoming “MonsterVerse” crossover Godzilla vs. Kong and attempt of Marvel Comics’ constant counterpart, DC Comics, with the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).
Although undeniably appear in the MCU’s wake and facing constant comparisons, the DCEU can boast certain advantages from Marvel Movies, like an overall darker tone and more individualistic films. Plus, the DCEU actually has tighter continuity than the MCU. This seems strange, since the DCEU has long been labeled a “mess” that will utilize a Flashpoint-style “reset” of its universe, but on a technical level, the MCU has made more continuity mistakes. Admittedly, this primarily a product of the MCU’s success. It has far more projects than the DCEU – 23 to its 9 – and started longer ago, and the result of having bigger territory is that it’s easier for continuity cracks to appear.
The MCU has done a fantastic job steadily expanding its universe, all collected in the overarching “Infinity Saga.” But closer inspection reveals not every step was precisely engineered. For instance, Iron Man has Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) discussing a new Governmental agency with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), admitting that they’re “working on” the name, before revealing that it’s S.H.I.E.L.D. However, films like Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Ant-Man (2015) and Captain Marvel (2019) all show that S.H.I.E.L.D. existed decades, at least, before Iron Man.
This demonstrates how “Phase One” MCU wasn’t completely confident about how the movies would develop. S.H.I.E.L.D.’s mention teased the MCU’s future, but couldn’t predict how it would reverberate into its past. A similar thing happened in Thor (2011), which featured an Easter Egg of an Infinity Gauntlet in Odin’s Vault. This becomes contradicted when Thanos (Josh Brolin) has his own, custom-made, Infinity Gauntlet. Although, Thor: Ragnarök (2017) would retroactively “correct” this minor continuity error by Hela (Cate Blanchett) revealing Odin’s version was “a fake.”
MCU projects can’t always predict where the overall story will take them. Another, more subjective, continuity shift is how Iron Man says he and Pepper Potts are “taking a break” in Captain America: Civil War. But when he next appears in Spider-Man Homecoming (2017), Tony and Pepper are back together, and Homecoming even ends on them getting engaged. Again this is not exactly a “mistake” – it’s very possible for Tony and Pepper to work out their issues between movies – but simply demonstrates how the MCU can often change course.
However, Spider-Man: Homecoming does feature the MCU’s most concrete continuity errors. An opening scene shows the aftermath of The Avengers, before a title-card flashes forward “eight years later.” But if the assumption is that (modern-day) MCU films take place in the year they’re released, and The Avengers happened in 2012, then Homecoming occurs in 2020. This timeline would be fine, if strange, so long as it’s kept consistent, but other MCU films contradict this. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) has Tony mention that The Avengers happened “six years ago,” reaffirming that it takes place in 2018, even if it’s set after Homecoming.
The rest of the MCU has essentially ignored Homecoming’s “eight years later” title-card. Even MCU director Joe Russo has commented it was a “very incorrect eight years.” Although the MCU’s timeline becomes complicated again when you consider Avengers: Endgame (2019) takes place “five years” after Infinity War, meaning it and the MCU going forward are set in 2023.
This internal timeline is easy to ignore, but Homecoming features more blatant continuity issues. It opens with an alternative viewpoint of Civil War from Spider-Man’s (Tom Holland) perspective, as he films a vlog. Therefore, we see him amidst the airport battle, including when Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) grows giant as a distraction behind him. Spider-Man mumbles to the camera how “he’s big now, I gotta go,” before taking off. However, this directly contradicts Civil War, which featured Spider-Man shouting “holy s***!” at him. It is possible that such “errors” arise from Homecoming being a co-production between Disney and Sony, and therefore subject to different processes and rigor than other MCU films. Although the likely answer is simply that each filmmaker thought their own Spider-Man reaction was funny.
Another studio division was between Marvel Studios and Marvel TV, with Kevin Feige reportedly having “frustrated” relationships with Marvel Entertainment CEO Ike Perlmutter and Marvel TV head Jeph Loeb. So although properties like Marvel’s Netflix shows (Daredevil, Jessica Jones etc.) and ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. nominally existed in the MCU, their overlap was minimized. Netflix’s Defenders shows make fleeting references to New York’s destruction from The Avengers and “the big blonde dude with the hammer,” but not much else, while later MCU events were ignored by the Netflix shows (and vice-versa). The fact Luke Cage and the MCU have double-booked actors, Alfre Woodard and Mahershala Ali, further shows they should be considered separately.
Things were slightly different with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., given how Phil Coulson originated in Iron Man and the first few seasons made copious references to the Avengers and the wider MCU. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. even featured MCU supporting characters like Nick Fury, Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), and Lady Sif (Jaime Alexander). Indeed, the show’s entire status quo was radically altered – and drastically improved – by Captain America: The Winter Soldier revealing that HYDRA had been secretly infiltrating S.H.I.E.L.D.
However, it became clear such continuity was a one-way street. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. could only play second-fiddle to the mainstream MCU, and would not impact the films. Gradually, the series became disconnected from MCU continuity, so that even though they namecheck Thanos in the Season 5 finale, the show makes no mention of Infinity War’s events.
Marvel’s new Disney+ shows are far more connected to the MCU, dealing with major characters reacting to the aftermath of Endgame. Such shows are considered “more” canon, and therefore further erase Marvel TV. This becomes clear when, in WandaVision, Agatha Harkness (Kathyrn Hahn) showcases “the Darkhold” and its magical properties. However, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. also featured the Darkhold in its fourth season, with Ghost Rider (Gabriel Luna) eventually taking it to Hell to “keep it safe.” It is possible there are multiple Darkholds, or that Agatha somehow recovered it from Ghost Rider. But since the design and functionality are completely different it’s safe to assume WandaVision simply didn’t consider Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s continuity and that Marvel TV is not considered canon.
The DCEU has been accused of being “rushed,” Following Man of Steel (2013), which introduced Superman (Henry Cavil) as the “first” superhero in a relatively “realistic” world, Batman v Superman (2016) radically expanded the DCEU by showing that Batman (Ben Affleck) has operated for years, and that Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) has existed since WW1. Diana’s reclusive characterization in Batman v Superman and Justice League (2017) clashes against her open intervention in her solo films. Although Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) makes a point of Diana hiding her public existence, this is only half-heartedly done to fit with Batman v Superman’s explanation.
But although the DCEU was somewhat compressed, it does not have the same continuity errors as the MCU. Ironically, since the DCEU is more fast-and-loose with details than the MCU, it can “get away” with much more. Cramming Justice League (both versions) with multiple first appearances might make it overstuffed, but also leaves less room for contradiction. Similarly, Birds of Prey (2020) makes minimal references to Suicide Squad (2016), but Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) also doesn’t contradict her previous DCEU appearance. The MCU invests more in continuity, and therefore faces more downsides, while the DCEU is more relaxed with telling stand-alone stories, and therefore faces fewer issues.
This extends to DC featuring “non-canon” films. Marvel has teased at the multiverse but not yet committed, but DC has wholeheartedly embraced it. Both Joker (2019) and Matt Reeve’s upcoming The Batman take place outside DCEU continuity, thereby allowing creative freedom without immediate concerns of consistency or “world-building.” And unlike Marvel TV’s half-hearted attempt to connect to the MCU, DC’s TV shows can operate in their own separate timeline.
So, the CW’s bustling Arrowverse can feature their own interpretation of mainstream characters, whilst also having its Flash (Grant Gustin) briefly meet the DCEU’s Flash (Ezra Miller) during “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” By having DCEU properties explicitly exist in separate universes, they possess a clean break from dogged continuity, and do not have to maintain the same detailed consistency – and face the same associated issues – as the MCU.
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