14 Biggest Events That Happen In-Universe In The MCU’s 2025

2025 has already happened in the world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and included some of the most game-changing events in the franchise’s history. While the early projects of the MCU were set primarily in the years in which they were released, this went through some significant changes following Avengers: Endgame’s five-year time jump. 2019’s Endgame was set primarily in 2023, and the MCU timeline is still running ahead, meaning while 2025 has only just started for us, it’s already happened in the MCU.

Marvel Studios’ official timeline book clearly explains all the major events of 2025, spanning many of Phase 4’s projects, including She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, Thor: Love and Thunder and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. While the MCU now seems to be exploring 2026, leading up to Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, 2025 was a huge year for the world of the MCU. New MCU heroes stepped up to the plate, and some of Marvel’s most powerful villains made their mark.

14

Jennifer Walters’ She-Hulk Is Hired To GLK&H’s Superhuman Law Division

She-Hulk: Attorney At Law (2022)

While Jennifer Walters became enhanced by the gamma-irradiated blood of her cousin, Bruce Banner, in 2024, 2025 saw her out herself to the world as She-Hulk. After a skirmish with тιтania in the courtroom, Tatiana Maslany’s She-Hulk became an instant celebrity, but was also fired from the district attorney’s office, possibly ending her career as a lawyer. This opened the door for her to take on a more superhuman-focused role, however, as She-Hulk was quickly snapped up for the new Superhuman Law Division at GLK&H.

Named after some of the founding members of Marvel Comics, Martin Goodman, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg and Holliway is a prominent law firm in Marvel Comics and, now, in the MCU. The fact that She-Hulk has already become the face of GLK&H’s Superhuman Law Division is very exciting for the MCU, even though She-Hulk herself hasn’t yet been confirmed to be returning. She-Hulk and GLK&H could take on any number of cases involving superpowered individuals in the MCU’s future.

13

She-Hulk Deals With тιтania, Intelligencia, Emil Blonsky’s Abomination, Donny Blaze & Leapfrog (& Meets KEVIN)

She-Hulk: Attorney At Law (2022)

After revealing herself to the world as She-Hulk, Jennifer Walters was inadvertently thrust into a world of superpowered individuals, forcing her to become a superhero in her own right, even if she didn’t want to. Her first ᴀssignment at GLK&H was to facilitate the parole of Emil Blonsky, a.k.a. the Abomination, who had fought Walters’ cousin in the streets of Harlem back in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. She-Hulk also had several run-ins with enhanced influencer тιтania throughout She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.

As well as handling тιтania and helping Emil Blonsky, She-Hulk also found herself embroiled in a misogynistic plot by Intelligencia, led by Todd Phelps, helped Wong deal with Donny Blaze’s unauthorized magic use and fought alongside Matt Murdock’s Daredevil to save their shared costume designer from Leapfrog. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’s episodic format presented the perfect opportunity to debut some interesting but minor characters, but the series finale might have introduced one of the franchise’s most important figures. She-Hulk proved her strength by breaking into the “real world” and convincing KEVIN to rewrite her story in a fantastic twist.

12

Marc Spector & Steven Grant Work Together As Moon Knight

Moon Knight (2022)

While She-Hulk made herself known in Los Angeles in 2025, Moon Knight also revealed himself to the world further East. Until 2025, Steven Grant had no idea that he was actually an alternate personality inside the body of Marc Spector, a former mercenary who had entered into a dangerous deal with the Egyptian God of the moon, Khonshu. Oscar Isaac did a fantastic job at portraying Marc Spector and his alters in Moon Knight, and displaying Steven Grant’s curious and courageous nature when discovering that he is the costumed antihero known as Moon Knight.

Moon Knight recently appeared as an Avenger in What If…? season 3, episode 1, “What If… the Hulk Fought the Mech Avengers?,” but his live-action future hasn’t been confirmed.

Moon Knight was set entirely in 2025, so this was a huge year for Marc Spector, Steven Grant and the mysterious third alter, Jake Lockley. Spector battled Arthur Harrow and his monsters in Europe and a London museum, while Grant helps their wife, Layla El-Faouly, track down Ammit’s ushabti. Spector and Grant became a more unified individual after their experience with Taweret in the Duat, and soon learned exactly how to work as one. This culminated in an epic battle between Moon Knight and Arthur Harrow, and Khonshu and Ammit, yet Moon Knight’s MCU future is still uncertain.

11

Layla El-Faouly Becomes The Scarlet Scarab

Moon Knight (2022)

While 2022’s Moon Knight put Oscar Isaac’s costumed hero front-and-center, the 2025-set series also introduced another formidable, godly-empowered hero in the MCU. Moon Knight’s finale saw May Calamawy’s Layla El-Faouly become the avatar to the Goddess Taweret, transforming her into the Scarlet Scarab, the MCU’s first Egyptian superhero. As the Scarlet Scarab, El-Faouly received similar gifts to those of Moon Knight, divinely empowered by Taweret just as Spector was by Khonshu, and this was a brilliant development for the MCU.

By debuting Layla El-Faouly as the Scarlet Scarab, Marvel Studios brought another powerful female hero into the MCU, making 2025 an even more exciting year. She was such an interesting addition that El-Faouly’s version of the Scarlet Scarab went on to appear in Marvel Comics, but her future in the MCU hasn’t yet been confirmed. It would be a shame for the Scarlet Scarab to be forgotten by Marvel Studios after such an impressive debut, as she deserves to have a role in the MCU for many years after 2025.

10

Scott Lang Publishes His Book

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) & Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it news ticker in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever confirmed that 2025 was also the year that Scott Lang published his book, “Look Out for the Little Guy.” This book detailed his superhero career, and revealed details of the Avengers’ actions during Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, ensuring the world knew of the heroism of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and their allies. “Look Out for the Little Guy” was later released as a physical book you can buy in the real world, following on from Scott Lang’s tour in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was the first movie in the MCU’s Phase 5, but also one of the MCU’s most controversial, especially after Jonathan Majors was arrested and convicted in 2023, removing Kang the Conqueror from the MCU.

Because of him revealing the Avengers’ actions in “Look Out for the Little Guy,” Scott Lang became a true celebrity in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. This was a great place for him to pick up prior to journeying into the Quantum Realm to battle Kang the Conqueror, which seemingly takes place in 2026, though this hasn’t yet been confirmed by Marvel Studios, only hinted at. Scott Lang’s book presents a turning point for the MCU, as the public is now completely aware of the Avengers’ actions, leaving very few secrets.

9

Namor Hunts Riri Williams & Attacks Wakanda

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Revealing the existence of Scott Lang’s book wasn’t the only event in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to happen in 2025, as the majority of the sequel’s main storyline also took place in this year. These events began when the CIA used vibranium-tracking technology designed by Riri Williams to find vibranium in the ocean, prompting Namor and the Talokanil to finally come out of hiding. This spurred Shuri and Okoye to bring Riri Williams to Wakanda, but this led Namor right to their door, and he proved himself a significant threat.

Namor is a steadfast leader and protector of his underwater society, and this was put front-and-center when he waged war on Wakanda, flooding the streets of the Golden City and blowing up its main tower, killing Queen Ramonda in the process. This was a devastating attack for Wakanda, ridding the secretive African nation of its newest monarch only a year after the sudden death of T’Challa. Even so, this was a remarkable show of strength for Namor, and one that prompted Shuri to take some desperate action.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Marvel Studios elected not to recast T’Challa’s Black Panther after Chadwick Boseman’s sudden pᴀssing in 2020, which spurred Ryan Coogler to write T’Challa out of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, having the Wakandan King and protector die because of an undisclosed illness. This left a huge void in the MCU, as Wakanda was left without a Black Panther, since Killmonger had the remaining heart-shaped herbs destroyed in Black Panther. Leтιтia Wright’s Shuri is one of the smartest people in the MCU, however, so this didn’t stop her.

After the death of her mother and Namor’s growing threats on Riri Williams, Shuri finished developing a synthetic heart-shaped herb, using a vibranium bracelet gifted to her by Namor to complete her work. This allowed her to step up and become the MCU’s new Black Panther in 2025, which gave her the abilities necessary to take down Namor. Despite the introduction of this exciting new hero, Marvel Studios still hasn’t brought Shuri’s Black Panther back to the MCU, and recent reports of T’Challa’s possible recasting have thrown her future as a hero into doubt.

7

Maya Lopez Returns To Tamaha, Learns About Her Ancestry & Takes On Kingpin

Echo (2024)

While the majority of the MCU’s 2025-set stories were released as part of Phase 4, Echo was released in January 2024 as part of the MCU’s Phase 5, and the first series to release under the Marvel Spotlight banner. Echo picked up after the events of Hawkeye, which ended with Alaqua Cox’s Maya Lopez shooting her “Uncle,” Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin. Following this, Maya Lopez returned to her home in Tamaha, Oklahoma, in Echo, going back to her roots to come to terms with her realization that her father figure is a formidable villain.

The next series scheduled to release under the Marvel Spotlight banner is Wonder Man, which is expected to premiere in December 2025.

In Tamaha, Maya Lopez learned about her ancestry, leading all the way back to the first Choctaw leader, Chafa. Her lineage grants her incredible abilities, as her ancestors echo through her, which allows her to finally bring Kingpin to his knees in Echo’s finale. Maya Lopez’s connection to Daredevil in Echo suggests she may return to the MCU in the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again series, which could develop her story past 2025. It was wonderful to see Native American culture represented so beautifully in Echo, so hopefully this continues.

6

Gorr’s Daughter Dies & He Renounces The Gods

Thor: Love & Thunder (2022)

Even after the events of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Moon Knight, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Echo, 2025 was far from over in the MCU. Next came the events of 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder, which began with the tragic death of Gorr’s daughter, Love, who fell victim to the famine and drought on Gorr’s world. Love’s death led Gorr into the presence of his God, Rapu, who revealed that he didn’t care an ounce about his followers, prompting Gorr to claim the Necrosword for himself and use it to slay Rapu and renounce the MCU’s Gods.

Marvel Studios received criticism for wasting both Christian Bale and Gorr the God Butcher in Thor: Love and Thunder.

Gorr the God Butcher began his journey to the Altar of Eternity, where he could wish for all the universe’s Gods to be eradicated, and Eternity would have granted this wish. The Necrosword granted Gorr unmatched powers, and made him capable of killing Gods with ease, a fate that befell the likes of the Sky Lords of Indigarr, Falligar the Behemoth and many more unidentified deities. Christian Bale’s Gorr was truly haunting, and his quest to destroy the MCU’s Gods made 2025 a very dangerous year for these powerful beings.

5

Kamala Khan Becomes Ms. Marvel

Ms. Marvel (2022)

After Gorr had claimed the Necrosword, but before Thor had caught wind of his actions, back on Earth, Kamala Khan found her great-grandmother’s mysterious bangle and unlocked her mutant-Djinn hybrid genes. This gave her access to the energy from the Noor Dimension that was already inside her DNA, allowing her to create hard-light constructs, which enabled her to become the young Jersey City superhero, Ms. Marvel. Kamala Khan quickly became a fan-favorite in the MCU’s Phase 4, thanks in part to Iman Vellani’s incredible performance.

Once she had unlocked her powers, Kamala Khan learned about her heritage as a Clandestine, and fought alongside the Red Daggers and her school friends to stop Najma and the other Clandestine from unleashing the Noor Dimension on Earth. Kamala even found herself time traveling back to 1942 during the Parтιтion to save her grandmother, before eventually dealing with the Department of Damage Control as Ms. Marvel. Kamala Khan has been set up as one of the most exciting new heroes in the MCU, so it surely won’t be long before she returns after her experience in The Marvels.

4

Thor Battles Gorr The God Butcher & Jane Foster Sacrifices Herself

Thor: Love & Thunder (2022)

2025 didn’t only include Gorr the God Butcher beginning his war against the Gods of the MCU, but also marked the end of this journey, as Chris Hemsworth’s Thor soon caught wind of Gorr’s activities. Thor: Love and Thunder saw Thor and Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster, a.k.a. the new Mighty Thor, join forces to take on Gorr. At first, they travel to Omnipotence City with Valkyrie and Korg in hopes of amᴀssing a godly army, but they are unsuccessful. They soon learn of Gorr’s hopes to find Eternity, however, which leads them into an epic final battle.

This ends tragically for Jane Foster, as she sacrifices her power to destroy the Necrosword and render Gorr powerless, though ultimately loses her battle with her aggressive cancer. This death and Thor’s pleading prompts Gorr to instead wish for his daughter, Love, to be resurrected, which Eternity allows. Thor adopts Love after Gorr’s death, setting up exciting new stories for Thor in the future, though it’s unclear when either he or Love will return to the MCU. Surprisingly, 2025 also saw Jane Foster enter Valhalla, which could prove important in an upcoming MCU movie.

3

Jack Russell & Elsa Bloodstone Free Man-Thing During A Hunt At Bloodstone Manor

Werewolf By Night (2022)

The events of the MCU’s first Special Presentation, 2022’s Werewolf By Night, also took place in 2025, introducing Gael García Bernal’s Jack Russell into live-action. Standalone in the MCU’s Phase 4, Werewolf By Night saw Russell masquerade as a monster hunter after the death of legendary hunter Ulysses Bloodstone, to help his trapped friend, Man-Thing, and he soon employed the help of Ulysses’ estranged daughter, Laura Donnelly’s Elsa. Jack Russell was revealed to be the тιтular Werewolf by Night, much to the shock of the other hunters.

It was brilliant to see the world of the MCU expand into new territory with this new exploration of monster-focused stories. Werewolf By Night has, so far, had no impact on the MCU’s main timeline, though with projects such as Blade and a possible Midnight Sons movie on the horizon, Jack Russell, Elsa Bloodstone and Man-Thing could all soon return to the MCU. Werewolf By Night never addressed its place in the MCU’s timeline, but Marvel Studios official timeline book confirms this Special Presentation takes place in 2025.

2

The Guardians Of The Galaxy Buy Knowhere & Celebrate Christmas With Kevin Bacon

The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)

Similarly, 2022’s The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, the MCU’s second and most recent Special Presentation, also took place in 2025, during the Christmas period. This Holiday Special picked up after the events of Avengers: Endgame and Thor: Love and Thunder, with the Guardians of the Galaxy team still reeling after the death of Zoe Saldaña’s Gamora. The Holiday Special revealed that the тιтular team had recently purchased Knowhere, and had begun transforming it into their base of operations, which laid the foundations for 2023’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Knowhere, the severed head of a ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Celestial, first appeared as the site of the Collector’s museum in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and was where Thanos claimed the Reality Stone in Avengers: Infinity War.

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special also gave us a glimpse at what the Holiday period was like on Earth in 2025, as Mantis and Drax journeyed to Earth to collect Kevin Bacon as a Christmas present for Peter Quill. A musical spectacular, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special was the perfect Christmas treat for the MCU, and rounded off 2025 nicely as it took place right at the end of the year. This presumably confirmed that every subsequent project, including Secret Invasion, The Marvels, Agatha All Along and more, are set in 2026 or later.

1

The MCU’s Multiverse Expands

What If…? (2021-2024)

Every episode of Marvel Animation’s What If…? series takes place in a different universe, and sometimes in vastly different time periods. However, the continued development of these stories throughout Phases 4 and 5, the timeline of 2025 in the MCU, suggests that the multiverse has carried on expanding exponentially since Sylvie killed He Who Remains and unleashed the Sacred Timeline in Loki season 1’s finale. This will seemingly come to a head in Marvel Studios’ upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars.

MCU What If…? Season	Premiere Date	Episodes
What If…? Season 1	August 11, 2021	9
What If…? Season 2	December 22, 2023	9
What If…? Season 3	December 22, 2024	8

The continued expansion of the multiverse will likely lead to some destructive incursion events threatening the multiverse in Phase 6. With the debut of new heroes in What If…?’s final season, however, including the Watcher-empowered Exiles team, it’s possible these characters could make the move from animation into live-action to join the fight in the MCU’s main continuity. Exploring these alternate worlds and variant characters in What If…? underlines the fact that 2025 was one of the biggest years yet in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.