There has never been a franchise in entertainment history studied and scrutinized like the MCU, with fans poring over every last detail to see how it all connects. Everyone can’t know everything about the storied franchise. As a result, some facts about the movies and now shows are only known to a select few.

Easter eggs and speculative elements aren’t enough for some diehard Marvel Cinematic Universe fans. It offers a fascinating look at what goes on behind the scenes and into the world of the characters—this, as well as hints at what might have been and even what might be.

Captain Marvel was initially in the Age of Ultron.

The comic book Captain Marvel has a variety of powerful incarnations. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there were nearly two. To make room for Captain Marvel, a scene was shot with a stand-in joining the new Avengers team at the very end of Avengers: Age Of Ultron.

Since Carol Danvers will be introduced in her film, Marvel Studios decided to keep the existence of the almost-Captain Marvel a secret from everyone. Well, except the most dedicated fans.

Fury’s Big Week

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are well aware of the series’ many interconnected films and television shows’ complex plots. People don’t always realize how close they are to one another. In a comic book tie-in called “Fury’s Big Week,” three MCU films, including Iron Man 2, Thor, and The Incredible Hulk, are set in the same week.

A What If..? episode exploits this fact by having Hank Pym kill the forming Avengers before they can form. There’s a shocking revelation about the Marvel Cinematic Universe in this episode, too: Nick Fury had contacted The Wasp about joining S.H.I.E.L.D.

Actors Play Fandral in a Variety of ways

Fandral, one of the Warriors Three who fight alongside Thor in his movies, has been played by three different actors in the MCU. Some fans may have noticed, but only diehards were likely aware of this. Josh Dallas portrayed Fandral in Thor, while Zachary Levi portrayed the character in Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Levi was initially scheduled to appear in the first film. This didn’t work out either. Stuart Townsend was brought in to replace him. As for the second movie in which he was cast, Dallas was forced to withdraw due to scheduling conflicts, and Levi was recast.

Captain Marvel Featured Gemma Chan As Another Character.

It’s a well-known fact that Gemma Chan is playing Sersi in the upcoming Eternals film. Gemma Chan has appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before, but not as Sersi. This year’s Captain Marvel cast her as Minn-Erva, the Kree Starforce’s most ruthless and efficient member.

Gemma Chan had a brief but significant role in the climactic battle, but it’s not the end for her. Sersi is one of the immortal Eternals who live on Earth. Because of this, she is unlikely to die in the same way as her character.

Mighty Thor: Battle Royale

Only the most ardent MCU fans know that Thor: Ragnarok had a completely different title in Japan when it was released there. The movie was renamed Mighty Thor: Battle Royale in Japan, a nod to a famous Japanese entertainment genre. ‘Battle Royale’ is a 2000 Japanese film that depicts students fighting to the death.

It’s possible that this title made more sense in Japan, where the Norse mythological term Ragnarok is less well-known. Arena combat made more sense when viewed through the lens of Battle Royale’s tournament combat.

The “Photon” moniker

Captain Marvel has a minor detail that MCU fans may have noticed, but it has a lot of potential meaning. ‘Photon’ is Maria Rambeau’s Air Force callsign in the 2019 film. Her memorial plaque at SWORD in WandaVision further mentions this fact, as does the quotation above. When it comes to Marvel Comics characters, Monica Rambeau, Maria’s daughter, goes by Photon.

Photon’s use as Monica’s superhero moniker isn’t likely to be arbitrary. Because of this, it could become her official moniker for future MCU projects.

Named in Honor of Alyssa Milano

As a child of the 1980s, Peter Quill is a frequent source of ’80s references in the MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy. In addition to Pac-Man and David Hasselhoff, Milano is a powerful symbol of his devotion. Alyssa Milano, the actress, best known for her role in Who’s The Boss? in the 1980s, inspired the name of his spaceship.

While the origins of Milano’s name are not made clear in the film, writer and director James Gunn revealed that the character is named after the actress in a 2014 tweet.

https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/494193606794547200?s=20

Madripoor is a significant location.

Madripoor is a location featured in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. It was probably not on the minds of the majority of moviegoers. Comic book fans know that this obscure island nation is one of the essential fictional countries. This, and that it has strong connections to the X-Men in the Marvel Universe.

In the MCU, Madripoor is the first significant element of mutant lore. Wolverine has spent a lot of time alone in this country, especially in the 1980′ and 1990’s comics.

The Meaning of August 23rd

There are very few people who are aware of the significance of August 23rd other than diehards. When the first trailer for Spider-Man: N.W.H. was released on the same day as the calendar in WandaVision, speculation was bolstered. Even though it may have been a fluke, many fans believe this is a more profound significance.

WandaVision may have a connection to Avengers #238, a comic book that appears on August 23rd. Monica Rambeau is one of The Vision’s friends, and the two go head-to-head in the finale.

Spider-man’s License Plates

As far as Marvel Comics is concerned, 8/23 isn’t the only obscure fact about Spider-Man. Only the most ardent Spider-Man fans are aware that specific issues of the Marvel Comics series are also referenced in the MCU’s Spider-Man films, most notably in license plates. A.S.M., which stands for The Amazing Spider-Man, is a common prefix for these references in the first two films.

Two of the most notable are ASM 2865 and ASM 212, which pay homage to the first appearance of Molten Man and Hydro-Man in Amazing Spider-Man #212, respectively.