Daily Archives: June 6, 2020

A collection of universes is called a multiverse. If there are enough universes in a multiverse, can almost anything happen? No. Common models of the universe arent big enough.

The argument that anything can happen in a multiverse is nicely presented in a 2011 scene in the sitcom The Big Bang Theory (20072019) involving consummate nerd Sheldon Cooper and Penny, the girl next door (here).

Penny: Morning, Sheldon! Come dance with me!

Sheldon: No.

Penny: Why not?

Sheldon: While I subscribe to the Many Worlds theory, which posits the existence of an infinite number of Sheldons in an infinite number of universes, I assure you that in none of them I am dancing.

Penny: Are you fun in any of them?

Sheldon: The math would suggest that in a few Im a clown made of candy. But I dont dance.

Renowned physicist Max Tegmark has made a similar statement with a greater degree of seriousness in Scientific American (2003):

Is there a copy of you reading this article? A person who is not you but who lives on a planet called Earth, with misty mountains, fertile fields and sprawling cities, in a solar system with eight other planets? The life of this person has been identical to yours in every respect. But perhaps he or she now decides to put down this article without finishing it, while you read on.1

There are many theories of the multiverse, positing various flavors.2 Many physicists champion the idea. Others are skeptical.3 Some scientists even contend that studying the multiverse doesnt count as science.4

A commonly quoted upper bound on the number of possible universes in the multiverse is the enormous number5, 101000. Thats a 1 followed by a thousand zeros. A 1 followed by 12 zeros, or 1012 is a trillion. A stack of one trillion dollar bills is 67,866 miles high. That is more than twice the circumference of the earth. Say a trillion, trillion, trillion eighty three times and its still short of 101000.

At first glance, it looks as if there is nothing that we cannot do in such an enormous space. A closer look shows that this is not the case. Heres why not:

If there is a universe where you read this article and one where you dont, two universes are needed. Suppose, in addition, that in one universe you are bald and in another you have hair. That takes four universes:

Lets add one more difference. In one universe, you have at least 10 toes and in another you have more than 10 toes. Now eight universes are needed to handle this additional case. Every new contingency we add doubles the size of the required number of universes.

What if a contingency is added that offers three possibilities? An example of such a triple is that you have one, two, or more than two eyes. The number of universes now multiplies by three. The necessary size of the number of universes is seen to grow exponentially with respect to the number of these contingencies.

We can work backwards, starting with the proposed number of universes. If there are 101000 universes in the multiverse, how many binary (only two choices) contingencies can we have?

Only 3,322.

This means that if a count is doubled 3,323 times, the result will be more than 101000. Get out paper and pencil and try it. Write, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and on and on. On the 3,323rd entry, the count will be over 101000.

3,222 contingencies is nothing! You or I can easily make a list this long and quickly exhaust the multiverse. Heres a portion of my list:

1.You read this article, you dont.

2.You are bald. You have hair.

3.You have at least 10 toes. You have more than 10 toes.

3321.You never had an appendix. You have or had an appendix.

3322.Your blood is red. Your blood is green (like Mr. Spocks)

So the multiverse of 101000 universes isnt big enough to let a lot happen.

But some multiverse models predict bigger numbers of component universes. One extreme model estimates the number of universes to be 1 followed by 1010,000,000 zeros.6 Thats some multiverse! A lot can happen here and no list of contingencies can be made. The list would be too long to write one contingency on each of the roughly 1080 atoms in our universe.

But, some claim, there is an infinite number of universes in the multiverse. That is ludicrous because there are no infinities in the physical world. Even if there were, Cantors theory of the infinite shows that, if there were an infinite number of contingencies, not all contingency combinations could be accounted for by an infinite number of universes.

Therefore, even if there is an infinite number of universes with an infinite number of contingencies, thenamong an infinite number of Sheldonsits possible that none of the Sheldons dance. 7

Note: Much of the content in this article is borrowed from: Marks, Robert J. Diversity Inadequacies of Parallel Universes: When the Multiverse Becomes Insufficient to Account for Conflicting Contradistinctions. Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 71, no. 3 (2019): 146-153.

1 Max Tegmark, Parallel Universes, Scientific American 288, no. 5 (2003): 4051.2 Max Tegmark Parallel Universes, in Science and Ultimate Reality: Quantum Theory, Cosmology and Complexity, ed. Barrow, Davies, and Harper.3 Jim Baggott, Farewell to Reality: How Modern Physics Has Betrayed the Search for Scientific Truth (New York: Pegasus Books, 2014); George F. R. Ellis, Does the Multiverse Really Exist?, Scientific American 305, no. 2 (2011): 38-43; George Ellis and Joe Silk, Scientific Method: Defend the Integrity of Physics, Nature News 516, no. 7531 (2014): 321; Anna Ijjas, Paul J. Steinhardt, and Abraham Loeb, Cosmic Inflation Theory Faces Challenges, Scientific American 316, no. 2 (2017): 3239; and Sarah Scoles, Can Physics Ever Prove the Multiverse Is Real?, Smithsonian.com (April 19, 2016).4 Tom Siegfried, Making Sense of Many Universes, Knowable Magazine (April 26, 2018).5 Andrei Linde and Vitaly Vanchurin, How Many Universes Are in the Multiverse?, Physical Review D 81, no. 8 (2010): 083525.6 Ibid.7 The explanation of this point gets mathy, so I refer my fellow nerds in search of deeper truth to take a look at my more detailed paper.

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Is Big Bang Theory's Sheldon Right re the Multiverse? | Mind Matters - Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence

Doctor Stranges upcoming experience with the multiverse in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness could be motivated by his actions in Avengers: Infinity War. The end of the Infinity Saga doesnt mean the end of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which will continue expanding with new characters (such as the Eternals and Shang-Chi) and new stories from previously introduced heroes, among those Black Panther and Doctor Strange.

The MCU reached its peak with Avengers: Infinity War, which saw Thanos collecting all the Infinity Stones and wiping out half of all life in the universe, and Avengers: Endgame, where the surviving heroes joined forces to reverse the snap and were later joined by the rest of the MCU to defeat the Mad Titan and his armies once and for all. One character that played a very important role in this was Doctor Strange, who in Infinity War saw 14,000,605 futures thanks to the Time Stone and revealed to Iron Man that in only one of those they won the fight. Later, in Endgame, Strange reminded Iron Man of that, and so Stark made the ultimate sacrifice with the final snap.

Related: How Far Into The 14,000,605 Futures Did Doctor Strange See?

Doctor Strange was among the characters that didnt survive Thanos snap, but his revelation about the one future where they won had a big impact, and it played a big role in the Mad Titans defeat. Following the Battle of Earth, Doctor Strange was seen at Tony Starks funeral, but the effects that the initial snap and the battle had in him (and everyone else aside from Spider-Man, who closed the Infinity Saga with Spider-Man: Far From Home) are unknown. With that in mind, it could be possible that his experience with the multiverse in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will be motivated by his experience with it inInfinity War heres how.

The multiverse in the MCU has already been introduced, but theres still a lot to learn about it. In Doctor Strange, during the scene where Stephen Strange is sent on a trip through many dimensions, the Ancient One explains that this universe is only one of an infinite number. Worlds without end, thus confirming the existence of a multiverse in the MCU. It was also explained that Agamotto was the first Sorcerer Supreme to detect the presence of other dimensions within the multiverse, and so dedicated his life to protecting the Earth realm from extra-dimensional threats. Although he briefly visited dimensions like the Astral and Mandelibus ones, Strange has only interacted with one: the Dark Dimension. Strange arrived there to confront Dormammu, and created a time loop that would trap them forever unless Dormammu listened to his offer.

Stranges next on-screen experience with the multiverse happened in Avengers: Infinity War, when he took some time to explore millions of possible outcomeswith thehelp of the Time Stone. Thanks to this, Strange realized that their battle against Thanos wasnt going to be easy, as there was only one future where they won. Iron Man was then aware that whatever they did shouldnt be taken lightly, and knew he had to take action to make sure that this was that one future where they defeated Thanos and company. Of course, all of these experiences with the multiverse were possible thanks to the Time Stone, but as all the Infinity Stones were returned to the exact moments they were taken from, its yet to be seen how Strange will travel through the multiverse without the Time Stone.

Now that the Time Stone is back safely with the Ancient One in a different timeline, its unknown how Doctor Strange 2 will bring the multiverse but that doesnt mean its impossible. Naturally, there are already many fan theories suggesting ways in which the multiverse can be introduced in Doctor Stranges new solo adventure, and they all involve other characters. The most popular ones are all about Scarlet Witch, who has been confirmed to appear in Doctor Strange 2 and whose TV series, WandaVision, will tie-into the film.

Related: WandaVision: What The Marvel/Disney+ Series' Title Really Means

The first one suggests Scarlet Witch will be the villain in Doctor Strange 2, based on her history in the comics. At one point, Scarlet Witch gave birth to twins, who turned out to be an illusion created by her fragmenting mind. The Avengers erased all memory of the babies, but a comment from Wasp triggered Wandas memories, and thus she suffered a nervous breakdown. Given her abilities to control reality, she created major chaos triggered by her emotional and mental instability. Scarlet Witch was also able to restructure reality itself, even creating an alternate timeline where she granted everyone their hearts desires (which obviously didnt turn out well). Now, as WandaVision has teased different scenarios where Vision is still alive and with Scarlet Witch, including one where they have twins, its possible that the series will show Wandas mind beginning to crumble after the loss of Vision, which would then lead to the multiverse madness being unleashed.

Another theory, which can serve as an extension of the previous one, explains that Scarlet Witch is already navigating through the multiverse because she either wants to bring Vision back or shes exploring her powers and both could go very wrong, making way to major chaos across the MCU. Strange would then be the one to fix it, without Scarlet Witch being the villain of the story but the one who triggers it.

Scarlet Witch could also team up with Doctor Strange to save the multiverse instead of sending it into chaos, and the one to kickstart themadness could be none other than Loki. The God of Mischief is coming back in his own TV series, which will also tie-into Doctor Strange 2 (though that doesnt necessarily mean he will appear in it). As this is the Loki from 2012, meaning that its the villainous version of the character and not the one who betrayed Thanos to save his brother and the rest of Asgard, he will surely be up to no good, especially now that hes in possession of the Tesseract. By escaping with it, Loki created a different timeline, so hes already in the multiverse, which includes alternate timelines as well as different dimensions. Loki has been confirmed to involve time travel, and if hes using the Space Stone to do so, its very possible it will get out of control, unleashing chaos across the multiverse.

Other theories suggest the multiverse madness has already happened, given the timelines created during Avengers: Endgame. Doctor Strange 2 would then see the title character trying to keep the chaos unfolded by it under control, going back in time across all those Endgame timelines though, once more, the big question is how he will do that as he doesnt have the Time Stone anymore, but Scarlet Witch could be of help.

Related: Doctor Strange 2 Could Introduce The NEXT Sorcerer Supreme

While the general assumption is that Endgame will be responsible for Doctor Stranges multiverse madness, it could actually be motivated by the previous Avengers film. Although Endgame saw the creation of alternate timelines thanks to the time heist and the Infinity Stones, the moving force of the multiverse madness could be Stranges experience in Infinity War, where he saw all those different futures. This was proof of how powerful and extensive the multiverse is, but it also left many questions about how those alternate futures work and the impact they can have on the rest.

Doctor Stranges mission, then, could be to further explore how the multiverse works and the many different possibilities it has to offer, not just in terms of alternate timelines but dimensions as well, which could in turn help fix the chaos created by Scarlet Witch or Loki, though this could easily unleash some of the darkest and most dangerous parts of the multiverse without the intervention of the aforementioned characters. As mentioned above, the damage that the Battle of Earth left in Strange is unknown, so he could also be looking to either fix something or get the Time Stone back, which would require a visit to some of those alternate timelines he saw in Infinity War or, simply, he could be curious about those futures he probably wasn't able to see at that point, as he vanished after the snap.

Plot details on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness are a mystery, so everything from the villain to what will kickstart the multiverse madness is unknown, but its unlikely the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame wont have an impact on Stranges upcoming adventure, especially after his experience with all the possible outcomes and the loss of the Time Stone.

Next: Every Upcoming Marvel Movie (2020-2022)

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Adrienne Tyler is a features writer for Screen Rant. She is an Audiovisual Communication graduate that wanted to be a filmmaker, but life had other plans (and it turned out great). Prior to Screen Rant, she wrote for Pop Wrapped, 4 Your Excitement (4YE), and D20Crit, where she was also a regular guest at Netfreaks podcast. She was also a contributor for FanSided's BamSmackPow and 1428 Elm. Adrienne is very into films and she enjoys a bit of everything: from superhero films, to heartbreaking dramas, to low-budget horror films. Every time she manages to commit to a TV show without getting bored, an angel gets its wings.

When she's not writing, you can find her trying to learn a new language, watching hockey (go Avs!... But also Caps and Leafs), or wondering what life would have been like had Pushing Daisies, Firefly, and Limitless not been cancelled. Breakfast food is life and coffee is what makes the world go round.

Guillermo del Toro said hi to her once. It was great.

"Vnligheten r ett sprk som de dva kan hra och de blinda kan se".

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Doctor Strange 2 Theory: The Multiverse Madness Is Motivated By Infinity War - Screen Rant

The Dragon Ball Super anime has been on hiatus for over a year now, with no confirmed plans of when it will continue. Of course there have been plenty of rumblings about what's happening behind the doors of Toei Animation; a special Dragon Ball division of the company was formed, and there's been rumor that the franchise is looking to expand itself in significant ways. A lot of Dragon Ball fans have been calling for one big change: spinoffs of the main Dragon Ball Super series, which would allow more of the ever-growing list of fan-favorite characters shine!

There's no guarantee that the next Dragon Ball anime will be a continuation of Super - after all, the series has always reinvented itself by launching new installments (Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super...). However, Dragon Ball Super is unique in the fact that it has single-handedly catapulted more new characters to "iconic" and/or "fan-favorite" level than any of the preceding series. Lord Beerus, Whis, Jiren, Hit, Kale, Caulifla, Cabba, Zamasu, Goku Black, Grand Zeno, and the Gods of Destruction. They're all breakout hits, and that's not even counting new character transformations like Super Saiyan God, Super Saiyan Blue, SSGSSE, Ultra Instinct, Super Saiyan Ros, and Golden Freeza. Dragon Ball Super has made such a big impact on so many fronts, fans can never seem to get their fill of the new characters they want to see more of.

Other than introducing a whole new slew of popular characters, Dragon Ball Super has achieved one other big thing: introducing a whole new Dragon Ball Multiverse. We learned that Goku and Vegeta's universe is just no. 7 in a long list of alternate universes - and one of the weaker ones, at that. We've also learned about the divine powers that govern this multiverse, beyond the kais, after being introduced to destroyer gods, angels, and even several versions of the God-King himself, Grand Zeno. Not only did Dragon Ball Super introduce all these new realms, it also baited the hook for fans to want to learn more about them. There's a universe where an entire Saiyan race became heroic warriors instead of mercenaries (Universe 6), and another that has its own Avengers-style peacekeeping force (Universe 11). Those two are already major entries on fans' wish-list, with so much more still unexplored in the new Dragon Ball mutiverse.

As you can see, Dragon Ball Super has (if nothing else) been a monster when it comes to generating new content for the franchise. Fans have been spending more and more time discussing what to do with all that new content, and inevitably the subject of spinoffs has come up. Both Dragon Ball fans and the series' stars seem to agree that we've reached a point where the franchise really needs to branch out, in order to breathe. We've broken down why Goku needs his own Dragon Ball Gods series; and the Dragon Ball Z-Fighters need a series of their own in order to shine again, but the Dragon Ball Multiverse spinoffs are just as viable. There's room for everyone under this massive tent!

So how should Dragon Ball begin utilizing its Multiverse spinoffs? The easy answers are with the Universe 6 Saiyans and Universe 11 Pride Trooper team. Kale, Caulifla, and Jiren were easily the biggest breakout stars of Dragon Ball Super's Tournament of Power arc, and they're the characters want to learn more about, ASAP. So why not give Universe 6 and 11 their own new storylines? The Universe 6 Saiyans have been set up for a great arc crossing over with Vegeta, who already pledged to visit their Universe. Universe 11 was probably the most fleshed out new realm we saw in Dragon Ball Super, with Jiren and his Pride Trooper team being the most fleshed-out new characters. Jiren has an entire backstory and mysterious nemesis which still needs to be resolved - a storyline which could easily segue into the main Dragon Ball Super continuity. That seems like the easiest "win" for the first attempts at Dragon Ball Super Multiverse spinoffs - so when coudl we see it happen.

Right now, we're still in the holding pattern of waiting for Toei Animation to announce the next stage of the Dragon Ball Super franchise - the next feature film release, or a new series that will follow DBS. Meanwhile, the Dragon Ball Super manga has opened a new chapter, which has introduced a fearsome new villain (Moro), and pushed Goku and Vegeta to new levels of transformative power. We're still waiting to see if that manga arc will inspire the big franchise expansion into spinoffs and such, so hopefully the upcoming climax of the story will deliver.

Disclosure: ComicBook is owned by CBS Interactive, a division of ViacomCBS.

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Dragon Ball Needs a New Anime to Explore the Multiverse - ComicBook.com

Marvel could make Fox's X-Men movies part of the MCU's multiverse through Quicksilver actor Evan Peters, who has reportedly been cast in WandaVision.

Marvel Studios could make the X-Men movies part of the MCU's multiverse through Fox's Quicksilver actor, Evan Peters, who has reportedly been cast in WandaVision. Peters played Marvel's mutant speedster and the son of Magneto in X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, and the final film in the main series, X-Men: Dark Phoenix.

The initial casting of Evan Peters as Quicksilver came at an interesting time, as X-Men: Days of Future Past was in development right when Marvel was working on the sequel to The Avengers. The plan for Avengers: Age of Ultron was to introduce three more members of Earth's Mightiest Heroes: Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, and Vision, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson was cast in the role of Quicksilver. Since Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch were two of a small number of characters whose rights were shared by Marvel and Fox, it was possible for each studio to have their own version of Pietro Maximoff. Both studios using the same character at the same time brought a lot of interest to the actors' portrayals of the character, and comparisons between the two were unavoidable.

Related:How Marvel Phase 4 Is Already Incorporating X-Men Into The MCU

Avengers: Age of Ultron killed off Quicksilver but kept Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), whereas the X-Men franchise continued to reuse Quicksilver, but avoided his sister. Quicksilver fans were understandably disappointed that the classic Avenger was abandoned by the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and despite numerous rumors of his return, Quicksilver has remained dead in the MCU. Time travel and alternate realities being added as new concepts for the MCU to play with has fueled speculation that Aaron Taylor-Johnson's Quicksilver could make a comeback, but it's possible that the X-Men version will be utilized in his place. Before, it was never possible before for any X-Men character to be used in any way in the MCU, but with their rights restored to Marvel, Marvel can not only use Cyclops and Wolverine, but now they can go a step further and make the X-Men MCU canon. Here's how that could work.

Marvel hinted at the existence of alternate realities when Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) mentioned the number of possible outcomes of the battle with Thanos (Josh Brolin) in Avengers: Infinity War. The concept was firmly established in Avengers: Endgame when the Avengers created an alternate reality by tampering with the timestream. Based on its title, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will presumably go there again by creating a story that involves the Sorcerer Supreme and Scarlet Witch exploring other dimensions. Due to the deep connection between the Phase 4 MCU movies and Disney+ shows, WandaVision is expected to set up Scarlet Witch's Doctor Strange 2 role. That would mean that WandaVision too could touch on various parallel universes.

Parallel universes could be what was shown in footage for WandaVision, which contained glimpses of several different versions of Scarlet Witch and Vision (Paul Bettany). It looks like WandaVision will reimagine the couple in several different scenarios, with each one being reminiscent of a sitcom from a particular era. It appears that what's happening here is that Wanda is using her reality-warping abilities from the comics, but it could be that Wanda has instead found herself in the multiverse, living out all the versions of what her life could have been.

Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige has teased that the MCU's Scarlet Witch will become more like the hero from the comics, and this has led some to believe that when she begins to develop the powers of her comic book counterpart, she'll begin to rewrite reality and cause all sorts of havoc. Fans have theorized that Scarlet Witch will use her new abilities to resurrect Quicksilver, but it could be that Marvel does indeed want to use Pietro - just not the version of the character that everyone is expecting. Instead, Marvel could bring in Evan Peters' takeon Quicksilver, who was admittedly more popular than the MCU interpretation.

Related:WandaVision Theory: Scarlet Witch Is Already Inside The MCU Multiverse

While visiting alternate realities in the multiverse, Scarlet Witch could go looking for her brother, and discover that in one world, her brother is a totally different person. In the X-Men movies, his name is "Peter", not "Pietro". His backstory and personality differs from the MCU hero as well. That being said, he still has his super speed and his most distinguishing physical characteristic, which is his silver hair. A meeting between Wanda and Peter would draw parallels to what the Arrowverse did with "Crisis on Infinite Earths" when it allowed its version of the Flash (Grant Gustin) to meet the DCEU's Scarlet Speedster, played by Ezra Miller. It became one of the most talked-about moments that ever occurred in the Arrowverse, and a scene in WandaVision with Fox's Quicksilver would have a similar reaction.

As for how important he could be, it could just be a single scene, but the report that Evan Peters is playing a "key role" suggests that he'll have a significant amount of screen time for at least one episode. It could be that he'll even share an adventure with Scarlet Witch and Vision.

Evan Peters appearing in WandaVision as Quicksilver - even if it was just a blink-and-you-missed-it cameo - would mean that the events and characters featured in the X-Men movies share their own corner of the MCU's multiverse. This scenario with Peters isn't too different from what some are thinking could happen with Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy in Doctor Strange 2. Such a move would expand the scope of the MCU in a big way and allow for some fun cameos, but that doesn't mean that this is how Marvel will bring the X-Men into the MCU. Now that Marvel and Disney finally has the rights to the characters, they'll of course still seek to create their own versions of Marvel's Merry Mutants. Marvel won't rely on Fox's, unless they have one or two specific characters they'd like to use.

WhileHugh Jackman's Wolverine would be high on everyone's radar and would make for an excellent cameo in a future Marvel project, Evan Peters' Quicksilver is perhaps an even better choice. Marvel's treatment of Quicksilver hasn't been well-received, considering that he was killed off in his first movie (despite being a major Avengers character). Many feel that the MCU needs a Quicksilver, and if Aaron Taylor-Johnson's character is off the table, a good solution to this problem is to bring in a version of the character who audiencesliked even more.

More:Marvel Has Big Problems Introducing The X-Men To The MCU

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Nicholas Raymond is a staff features writer for Screen Rant. He has a degree in journalism from the University of Montevallo. He is the author of the psychological thriller and time travel novel, "A Man Against the World." Nicholas' love for telling stories is inspired by his love for film noir, westerns, superhero movies, classic films, foreign cinema, and wuxia. He also has interests in ancient history. His favorite actors are Tyrone Power, Charlton Heston, and Eleanor Parker. His favorite film is Casablanca, and his favorite director is Alfred Hitchcock. He can be reached by email at cnrmail@bellsouth.net and on Twitter at @cnraymond91.

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Marvel Theory: X-Men Movies Are Part Of The MCU Multiverse - Screen Rant

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 10: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets and Russell Westbrook #0 react on the bench before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Toyota Center on March 10, 2020 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

The Whiteboard is The Step Backs daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning.

The concept of the multiverse posits that there are infinite parallel universes, each an echo of every other, and that, collectively, they represent every possible variation of the universe we live in. That is to say, there is a universe where humans never evolved and that some form of carnivorous ferns are the dominant lifeform on earth. There is another where every single thing is exactly as you know it to be today, except you also have a small mole above your left eyebrow. There is also one in which the NBA triumphantly resumes play as the COVID-19 pandemic recedes, and the Houston Rockets win the NBA championship.

If were really leaning into the theory here, there are actually infinite universes where the Rockets win the title, each slightly different than the last, but for the sake of brevity, well focus on one in particular.

In this universe, the Rockets title is marked with an asterisk (literal or figurative, it doesnt really matter for our purposes here), in recognition that the circumstances under which it was won are utterly unique in the history of the NBA. It feels fitting though because a great many fans and media members treat the entire Rockets organization as something other as though everything they do could be marked with an asterisk.

Yes, James Harden is an exceptional offensive force and what he does is accommodated by the letter of the basketball rule book. But for many, his modus operandi stands in direct opposition to the spirit of said rules. He gets an asterisk for his step-back 3-pointers and for the way he has woven foul-seeking into the fiber of being and for taking the long view, understanding that the value of maximizing outcomes across thousands of possessions is more important than maximizing any single individual possession.

Daryl Morey gets an asterisk for being basketballs Elon Musk, albeit without the self-righteous pomp and slimy condescension. His asterisk is for prioritizing ideas first, second and third, with practicality a distant fourth, and existing in a universe where he has both the freedom and resources to chase inspiration.

Mike DAntoni gets an asterisk for his presumed disinterest in defense, for his (mostly illusory) willingness to just hand-wave away certain unwritten rules of basketball and focus only on the bright and shiny things that put points on the scoreboard. Westbrook gets an asterisk for being Westbrook. Austin Rivers gets an asterisk because of his dad. Robert Covington and P.J. Tucker get asterisks for the presumption of masquerading as centers when everyone knows what they really are. Danuel House gets an asterisk for putting a u in his first name where there should be an i.

The Rockets accumulate some additional asterisks along the way to this multiverse title as well. Some opponent suffers a key injury at an inopportune time. Another opponent has a bad game. Another appears to be victimized by a bad call at a key moment and another is surprisingly knocked out in an earlier round, saving the Rockets the trouble.

Somewhere, there is a universe where the Rockets can escape their asterisks. Where they can blot them out with achievements so compelling, or where the fundamental laws of the basketball universe have evolved in a warped direction, where they represent the norm. But its not the universe were imagining and its not the universe that you and I exist in. In these two echoes, the Rockets are still thoroughly othered. In one, they reach their ultimate goal. They are redeemed in a handful of minds, solidified as righteous evidence for those who already worship at their altars and hand-waved away by the same people who have been waving hands at them for years.

In the other, well, I guess well just have to wait and see

The NBAs title race is wide-open for now, but many of the leagues top stars are set to become free agents over the next few years. How will the free agencies of LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard and others change the league?

The WNBA is trying to figure out how to play their season, keep everyone safe and capitalize on a surge in popularity. What scenarios are on the table?

Weve heard a billion different plans for resuming the season and conducting the 2020 NBA Playoffs. Ben Ladner and Alec Liebsch debate the pros and cons of the different structures.

Based on betting odds, the Oklahoma City Thunder had a better than 50 percent chance of winning at least one title in the last decade. But they werent the only team that was this close to immortality.

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The Whiteboard: Dispatches from the multiverse, where the Rockets win it all - FanSided

Doctor Strange : Fans were in heavy shock when they saw Doctor Strange evaporate away as Thanos snapped his unclean fingers!

Fantasies about getting a second Doctor Strange film felt difficult to occur around then.

In any case, since Marvel cherishes their fans, Doctor Strange came back with a blast in Avengers Endgame to join his partners in shielding the universe.

Wonder affirmed Specialist Strange 2 at San Diego Comic-Con, on April 2019, as a piece of Phase 4 Movie. They titled it Specialist Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Starting at now, the film is planned to be discharged on May 7, 2021, turning into the fourth film in Phase 4.

Lamentably, a few issues may prompt a deferral in the discharge date. As indicated by the sources, the arrangement was to film the film in May 2020.

Be that as it may, due to coronavirus pandemic, shooting can get dropped and get delayed. This may prompt an adjustment in the discharge date.

Starting at now, just Benedict Cumberbatch And Benedict Wong are affirmed to repeat their separate jobs.

In Comic-Con it was reported that Elizabeth Olsen would likewise assume her job as Scarlett Witch in this film. The remainder of the cast is yet to be affirmed.

Since this is a Marvel film, they have kept a tight lip with respect to what will the plot involve.

The ex-executive of the film, Scott Derrickson alluded to Comic-Con this would be Marvels first blood and gore flick.

In spite of the fact that, Marvel affirmed that itd stay a PG-13 film.

Stay Tuned! More updates on its way!

Also read:-Black Widow Every Details About Its Releasing, Cast, Plot And Why Excitments Are High For This Movie?

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Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness Every Details About Its Releasing, Cast, Plot And Who Will ... - Finance Rewind

Rick and Morty features a ton of various gods, some of which are absolutely strange, bizarre and powerful.

The Rick and Morty pantheon features a diverse collection of the omnipotent and the worshiped that exist in and outside of known reality. Rick is often called upon to do battle with these super entities, some of which are really impressive, extremely powerful, and super weird.Rick's spiritual apathy is often represented in the depictions of these powerful beings and the devotion they inspire. As a result, their interactions escalate into one form of conflict or another.

Recently, Rickvanquished one of an implied multitude of Zeuses over some misguided paternity issues. However, Zeus isn't the only god in theRick and Mortymultiverse. Here are a few of the strangest and most powerful gods in the popular animated series.

Related:Rick and Morty's Latest Adventure Reveals Their Biggest Sidekick... Is Jesus?!?!

Unity is a hive mind driventodominate all sentient life and ascend to godhood. Rick's relationship with Unity, a former lover with whomhe then rekindles a sexual spark, is one of the early indications that Rick sees himself on par with and perhaps even beyond the ken of the most powerful beings in creation.

In Season 2, Episode 7, "Big Trouble in Little Sanchez," a paragon version of her husband, Jerry, envisions Beth as a goddess. A reflection of Rick himself whichexists only in the purified mind of her submissive husband, she appears devoid of personal affections andslaughters anything that displeases her.

Shleemypants is a fourth-dimensional enforcer of the timeline, granted immense powers in doing so. Though there is no component of idolatry, he serves as a guardian of the status quo. He operates within the multiverse as something of a god-like gatekeeper, curbing infractions of the cosmic order. He represents the deist clockmaker version of godhood, mostly apathetic to the destruction or creation wrought by creation's inhabitants but steps in to restore the gears of machination.

Related:Rick and Morty Is Now Anime... in Dimension WTM72

The devil himself has crossed swords with Rick and Morty in multiple media platforms. Lucius Needful is the curator of cursed things that will grant what you desire for a price you are probably not willing to pay. This homage to Stephen King's mythos is a fairly standard portrayal of Lucifer as a powerful charlatan or nefarious djinn. It's another example, however, of how Rick can go toe to toe with the most powerful forces in existence, even the Fallen Angel of the Old Book.

The Cromulons are a race of disembodied cranial totems disruptinggalaxiesdemanding to be entertained upon penalty of annihilation. One-part Galactus, one-part Ryan Seacrest, their tribute takes the form of talent contests with Alderaan like stakes. Fickle and all-powerful,Rick treats them with the same opprobrium he holds for all would be supreme beings.

An alien named Tony discovers atoilet isolated in a remote corner ofinaccessible paradise created for the sole purpose of Rick's leisure dumps. When Rick discovers that Tony has been idling upon his throne, he sequesters him in a chemical tank that allows him to experience his own personalized version of heaven complete with a sovereign lord. Poop Jesus, a benevolentgod who grants all the fecal disposal wishes of Tony's dreams, only inspires Rick's contempt.

Related:Rick and Morty Theory: Rick Is a Grown-Up Morty, Stuck in a Time Loop

The One True Morty is a paradox.His dogma is vehemently anti-Rick, proselytizing independent Mortyness that breaks the chains that bind them in servitude to narcissistic geniuses incarnated throughout infinite dimensions. He is worshiped by lesser Mortys and seems to be actualized in Morty C-137, who delivers them from enslavement. However, the Morty's weren't being enslaved by a Rick, but by one of their own who seemed content and maybe even encouraged their zealotry. Rick is scapegoated as an evil that the Morty's themselvesrepresent, perhaps characterizing an overarching flaw inherent to human worship of other humans.

Finally bringing us to the most powerful deity in the multiverse, Rick Sanchez C-137. "Now I have become Death, the destroyer of worlds," is an apt depiction, though it only represents a fraction of Rick Sanchez's achievements. He has created a pocket universe home to billions of sentient beings that serve as his car battery. The Dream Interceptor he crafted grants him access to dreamslike the god Morpheus, and his portal gun allows him to traipse through the cosmos instantaneously like a drunken egomaniacal Hermes. The representations of god throughout the show express his vast disappointment with their inability to live up to thestandards he has so effortlessly surpassed and the false ideologies that he believes supports them.

KEEP READING:How Many Times Rick & Morty Have Changed Universes

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Creator/writer of The Hidden Scribes and COVID39 podcasts. Film screener for the Austin Film Festival and holder of passionate opinions e.g. M>DC+(Wars-Sequels~GOAT)/( Game(Breaking(The Wire)Bad)of Thrones-2 last seasons)=FACTS. Raised by Dungeons and Dragons, judges people who liked "Signs", and solidly chicken on the which came first ideological spectrum.

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Rick and Morty: The Strange and Powerful Gods of the Multiverse, Explained - CBR - Comic Book Resources

WandaVision the Marvel Cinematic Universe series centred on Wanda Maximoff/ Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) will reportedly resume filming in July in Los Angeles, California. The Disney+ miniseries was one of many productions that had to shut shop in March amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but with lockdowns now lifting in parts of the US, Hollywood is seemingly preparing to go back to work.

The Tampa Bay Comic Convention (TBCC) brings word of WandaVision resuming production. In a Facebook post, it said: We finally received word from Paul Bettany's representation, and unfortunately Paul had to cancel his appearance at TBCC this year due [to] being called back by Disney for WandaVision filming in July, in Los Angeles.

TBCC is scheduled for July 1012. It's also a little surprising to see a convention go ahead as planned, which will lead to crowding at a time when most events have been called off to help maintain social distancing and slow the spread of COVID-19 infections.

Marvel fan site MCU Cosmic was the first to report on the news. It also said that WandaVision was mostly done with filming in March, which /Film concurs with, and that post-production on WandaVision had been going on remotely, with everyone working from home.

Set after Avengers: Endgame in the 2020s, WandaVision also stars Teyonah Parris (Dear White People) as a grown-up Monica Rambeau, first seen in Captain Marvel in the 1990s; Randall Park as FBI agent Jimmy Woo from Ant-Man and the Wasp; Kat Dennings as Jane Foster's (Natalie Portman) assistant Darcy Lewis from Thor and Thor: The Dark World; and Kathryn Hahn (Bad Moms) as a new character who's a nosy neighbour, as EW reported.

Olsen has previously revealed that WandaVision will partly take place in the 1950s as well. The Disney+ series will also tie into the Doctor Strange sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, due in March 2022. WandaVision will likely use some form of time travel to take place in both the 2020s and 1950s, and the multiverse argument to bring back Vision, who died in Avengers: Infinity War, as fans will recall.

WandaVision is expected to release in December on Disney+ Hotstar.

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WandaVision to Resume Filming in July in Los Angeles: Report - Gadgets 360