How ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Connects Directly to the MCU

Movies are facing something of a crossroads these days. Many fans are pondering how Hollywood will change in the age of streaming. And the divide between blockbusters movies — as epitomized by the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) — and smaller, more adult-oriented stories continues to grow. So it’s especially noteworthy when the two intersect in the way Everything Everywhere All At Once does with the MCU.

‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ tackles the multiverse

The concept of the multiverse is nothing new. Science fiction stories have tackled it forever, but the idea of endless parallel universes co-existing certainly seems to be having a moment. Both the MCU and the competing DC Extended Universe are bringing in past iterations or their superhero characters thanks to the introduction of the multiverse into the movies. And Everything Everywhere All At Once takes its own distinctive approach to it too.

The movie follows Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh) as she discovers she might be the only person who can save the multiverse of ultimate destruction. And directors Dan Kwan and Danil Scheinert — collectively known as “Daniels” — bring the same offbeat sensibility to their second movie that made their first, 2016’s Swiss Army Man, such a wild, divisive ride for fans and critics. But a shared interest in the multiverse isn’t the only connection to the MCU.

The movie features direct connections to Marvel movies

A veteran of the business going back to the mid-1980s, Yeoh herself ties Everything Everywhere All At Once to the MCU. The actor appears briefly in 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as Aleta Ogord and then has a larger role as Ying Nan in 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. How fitting that the Everything Everywhere All At Once actor be among the few stars to play more than one role in the MCU.

But easily the most surprising tie between Everything Everywhere All At Once and Marvel lies behind the scenes. While most fans might not know it, Joe and Anthony Russo are among the producers of the Daniels’ movie. The Russo brothers have a long-standing history with the MCU, having directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.

Audiences will get more multiverse in theaters very soon

Just because Everything Everywhere All At Once shares story elements and talent with the MCU doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. The Marvel movies are designed to appeal to as broad an audience as possible. Meanwhile, the Daniels would likely be the first to admit their movie offers a much more specific tone and feel.

Nevertheless, fans of multiverse stories are in luck. Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness promises to be Marvel’s wildest journey through parallel dimensions so far. Still, it’s not likely that Yeoh’s Evelyn Wang will make an appearance. But fans can at least imagine an MCU in the multiverse where she becomes a superhero.