Marvel Comics has long used universe designations to differentiate between versions of characters depicted in their multiverse. Earth-616 has been the designation for the main Marvel Comics universe, whereas Earth-199999 was established as the MCU’s designation, reinforcing that the two would tell different stories with different variants of characters.
Confusingly, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness seemed to contradict this by designating the MCU as Earth-616, while others interpreted this as an official classification of the MCU. However, the trailer for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, released on April 4, includes a reference to the MCU as Earth-199999, contradicting the designation made in Doctor Strange 2. Fans on Twitter expressed relief that this clears up confusion caused by designation numbers becoming plot points.
What About Peter B. Parker’s Universe Designation?
While the trailer clarifies the confusion about the MCU’s universe designation, it does not address Peter B. Parker’s origin universe also being called Earth-616 in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. One possible explanation is that Peter B. Parker is the comics version of Peter, many years down the road, as time passes slowly in the comics. Another explanation is that the designation number could be retconned in the Spider-Verse films, as they have modeled themselves on comics storytelling tools. Either way, this will need to be addressed for continuity to line up.