Marvel Studios’Lokiis only two episodes in, but it’s already generated a whole lot of buzz among viewers. Given that the plot of the show is heavy on themes of time travel and alternate timelines, it’s almost inevitable that the Trickster God’s story will influence the Marvel Cinematic Universe in some significant way. One theory, in particular, suggests that the events of the show are linked to the upcomingAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniafilm, which is also expected to be full of time-bending twists.
Essentially, the theory posits that the Time Variance Authority (TVA), which hadTom Hiddleston’s Loki in their possession, is actually located in the Quantum Realm, where “time and space become irrelevant.” Screenshots from 2018’sAnt-Manand the Waspshow a glimpse of a city that seems to resemble the TVA, convincing fans of the theory’s validity. Since the TVA is responsible for keeping all of the multiverse’s timelines in check, it would make sense for the city to be located in a dimension where time travel is possible.
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If the TVA really is in the Quantum Realm, it could explain the mystery behind how the TVA operates. Firstly, we know that time passes differently in the Quantum Realm. WhenJanet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), the wife of Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), got lost in the realm, she mentioned that “time and space work very differently” there. Such words have been echoed by Owen Wilson’s Mobius in a recent episode ofLoki, during a scene where the God of Mischief asked him how long he had been in the TVA.
Additionally, whenPaul Rudd’s Ant-Mangot trapped in the dimension after the Blip, he thought he was only there for five hours when in reality, he had been there for five whole years. He later realized that the Quantum Realm could be used to travel between timelines, giving him the idea to send the Avengers through the dimension and back in time to retrieve the Infinity Stones. So, if the Avengers were able to use the Quantum Realm to time travel, then it’s possible that the TVA uses it for that purpose as well.
But how does this all tie intoQuantumania? Well, the recent reports confirm thatJonathan Majors' Kang the Conqueror, one of the Time Keepers linked to the TVA, will be the film’s central villain. Although Majors has said that Kang will not be making an appearance inLoki,his involvement inQuantumaniaalone hints at the TVA/Quantum Realm theory possibly bearing some degree of truth.
Lokiis now streaming on Disney Plus with new episodes released every Wednesday.
