We finally have an official Marvel timeline – thanks to this new MCU book

Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man
(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

The Marvel timeline, for most, won’t matter too much. Movies and shows take place roughly in the order they were released, right? Look a little deeper, however, and there’s years of convoluted and confusing chronology to untangle. Case in point: Thor, The Incredible Hulk, and Iron Man 2, inexplicably, take place in the same week.

Now we can settle years of debates and headaches over what goes where and what comes before (or after) certain projects. That’s right, we now have an official answer to the correct MCU timeline – thanks to this new Marvel book.

Marvel Studios’ The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Official Timeline is set for release on October 24, 2023 and will clear up any questions you may have about the correct order of the MCU.

"Created in close collaboration with Marvel Studios, it will answer the biggest questions: what happened, when, where, and why," the book’s synopsis reads. "Follow the entire story of the MCU from before the Big Bang to the Blip and beyond."

Curiously, the release arrives just weeks after Loki season 2 debuts on Disney Plus. Given how the series has messed with time just as often as the God of Mischief has betrayed his allies, it’ll surely be the perfect companion as Loki and Mobius head out to fix time later this year.

For more, check out our complete guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order. Then join us as we look towards the MCU’s future with a rundown of Marvel Phase 5, Marvel Phase 6, and all the upcoming Marvel movies coming your way.

Bradley Russell

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at 12DOVE, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

Read more
Loki
Marvel timeline: The MCU movies and TV shows in chronological order
Black Panther, Iron Man, Vision, War Machine, and Black Widow at the Berlin airport in Captain America: Civil War - part of our guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order
How to watch the Marvel movies in order (release date and chronological order)
Captain America: Brave New World
When does Captain America: Brave New World take place on the Marvel timeline?
Upcoming Marvel movies and shows: Daredevil, Thunderbolts, Wonder Man
Upcoming Marvel movies and shows: Every new MCU release and more we know about
Marvel Phase 5: Charlie Cox in Daredevil Born Again (2025)
Marvel Phase 5: new release dates, cast news, and more
Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom
Marvel Phase 6 release dates, news, leaks, rumors, and more
Latest in Superhero Movies
Batman and Catwoman talking
Robert Pattinson is hoping to team up with his The Batman co-star Zoe Kravitz on another project soon
The cast of Thunderbolts
Thunderbolts director says the new Marvel movie is inspired by Toy Story 3: "Can they get out of the trash can together?"
Robert Downey Jr announces his Doctor Doom casting at San Diego Comic-Con 2024
"He is so dialed in": Robert Downey Jr. is coming up with backstory and costume ideas for Doctor Doom ahead of Avengers: Doomsday
Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in The Batman
Robert Pattinson worries he will be a "f*cking old Batman" by the time filming on The Batman 2 finally starts
Lewis Pullman as "Bob" in Thunderbolts
The first look at Thunderbolts' Sentry suit seemingly leaked in new Marvel merchandise
Spider-Man: No Way Home
This is why fans think Spider-Man will become the MCU's most important character after Avengers: Doomsday
Latest in News
Balatro
Balatro creator started "properly playing the game myself about a week before launch" and had "a pretty emotional moment" where he realized it's "actually fun"
Death Stranding 2 Collector's Edition
Hideo Kojima reveals Death Stranding 2: On the Beach release date, and the Collector's Edition includes exactly what I predicted it would
Kingmakers
Kingmakers is a strategy game about taking on medieval armies with a gun, but its devs thought the giant mech was too much
The Witcher 3 lead says "not many games" were trying to match the RPG back in 2015, and that meant "there was a risk" to making it in the first place
The Blood of Dawnwalker
The Witcher 3 dev says his new vampire RPG Blood of Dawnwalker wants to challenge genre conventions, but only if "we're changing them to actually achieve some goal"
Daredevil recap: The Defenders
Marvel fans are discussing which of the Netflix series characters would have survived the Blip