Before
we
even
get
started,
we
have
to
make
a
few
things
clear.
The
first
is
that,
for
simplicity’s
sake,
we
will
be
referring
to
the
multiple
chains
of
events
that
take
place
across
the
X-Men
films
as
different
“timelines.”
Now
that
the
Marvel
Cinematic
Universe
has
taken
a
dab
hand
to
talking
about
the
concept
of
the
multiverse—and
the
myriad
ever-evolving
realities
of
the
Fox
X-Men
films
are
now
a
distinct
reality
within
themselves,
as
we
got
to
see
in
The
Marvels’
post-credits
scene—what
is
an
actual
chronological
timeline,
and
what
is
a
divergent
reality
of
its
own,
have
become
blurred.
There
is
a
real
possibility
that,
given
the
tweaks
and
changes
between
them,
the
MCU
might
reveal
that
the
events
of
the
X-Men
films’
soft
reboot
starting
in
First
Class
occupy
a
distinct
reality
different
to
the
one
introduced
in
2000's
X-Men.
But
given
the
interplay
between
those
films,
and
then
the
addition
of
stories
like
Logan
and
the
Deadpool
films,
it’s
just
easier
to
talk
about
them
with
a
persistent
chronological
through
line
as
if
they
are
just
branching
timelines
for
a
singular
reality.
We
might
find
out
in
Deadpool
&
Wolverine!
But
that
also
brings
us
back
to
how
we’ll
be
referring
to
these
timelines.
From
what
we
can
gather,
we’re
going
to
be
playing
with
at
least
five
distinct
timelines
of
continuity
we’ll
detail
as
follows:
Timeline
A:
The
continuity
established
in
the
first
three
X-Men
movies
(X-Men,
X2,
and
The
Last
Stand),
as
well
as
X-Men
Origins:
Wolverine
and
The
Wolverine,
and
seen
in
Days
of
Future
Past
as
well
as
at
the
post-credits
sequence
of
The
Marvels.
Timeline
B:
The
continuity
of
the
X-Men
“prequel”
films
First
Class,
Days
of
Future
Past,
Apocalypse,
and
Dark
Phoenix.
We’re
going
to
make
the
assumption
that
a
good
chunk
of
the
history
of
timelines
A
and
B
are
the
same
until
a
moment
in
Days
of
Future
Past—Mystique
choosing
whether
or
not
to
assassinate
Bolivar
Trask,
the
designer
of
the
Sentinel
Program—creates
a
split
between
them.
Timeline
C:
This
is
the
near-future
dystopian
continuity
that
serves
as
the
backdrop
for
Logan.
Although
the
film
stars
Hugh
Jackman
as
Wolverine
and
Patrick
Stewart
as
Professor
X,
enough
here
is
different
that
it’s
easier
to
contain
it
as
its
own
timeline.
Deadpool
&
Wolverine’s
director,
Shawn
Levy,
has
said
the
events
of
Logan
are
very
important
to
the
new
movie,
to
boot.
Just
as
a
completely
random
aside,
we’re
going
to
slot
The
New
Mutants
into
this
timeline,
for
reasons
we’ll
get
into
later—there’s
enough
connections,
but
the
movie
is
standalone
enough
it
could
potentially
be
linked
to
other
continuities
or
exist
as
its
own
separate
thing.
Timeline
D:
This
is
the
continuity
of
Deadpool,
Deadpool
2,
and
parts
of
Deadpool
&
Wolverine.
Although
the
Deadpool
films
have
links
to
both
Timelines
A
and
B,
they
are
mostly
through
metatextual
nods
rather
than
explicit
story
elements,
so
once
again,
it’s
easier
to
contain
these
films
in
their
own
timeline.
Timeline
E:
This
is
the
“Sacred
Timeline”
of
the
Marvel
Cinematic
Universe’s
prime
reality,
Earth-616.
The
awakening
of
mutantkind
is
largely
a
mystery
in
this
timeline,
but
it
becomes
important
here
as
it’s
where
firstly
the
events
of
The
Marvels
takes
place,
and
secondly
it’s
where,
presumably,
at
least
some
elements
of
Deadpool
&
Wolverine
will
take
place,
connected
by
the
extra-temporal-reality
space
occupied
by
the
Time
Variance
Authority.
Don’t
worry,
we’ll
label
each
event
with
what
timeplace
it
occurs
in,
as
well
as
what
movie
it
is
portrayed
in.
Without
further
ado,
let’s
start
at
the
beginning,
shall
we?
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