5 Events in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that, if they had happened differently, could have changed everything

Below is a list of 5 pivotal moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that could have changed everything if they'd happened different or hadn't happened at all. Of course, these aren't the only moments that could be considered for this list, but these are important ones.

1. Tony Stark's kidnapping in Iron Man:

Before he was kidnapped, Tony Stark had been a typical rich businessman making his money from his father's weapons industry. However, if he was never kidnapped, he not only would not have developed his first suit, but he also wouldn't have developed any reservations regarding the selling and distribution of the weapons that have his name is plastered all over.

Without any empathy for the people his weapons would be used against, his company would have continued to make bigger and more dangerous weapons. However, that assumes that Tony Stark isn't killed by his kidnappers either after making the Jericho missile or refusing to. Most likely, Tony Stark would have been killed by the Ten Rings and Obadiah would take over Stark Industries.

That means there would be no Vision, and of course no Ultron.

2. If Ultron was never created:

When Tony Stark and Bruce Banner created Ultron, that set a lot of important future events into motion. A few of many things that wouldn't have happened if Ultron wasn't created would be:

- Wanda and Pietro wouldn't have joined the Avengers

- Pietro wouldn't have died

- Sokovia wouldn't have been destroyed

- There would be no Sokovia Accords

- There wouldn't have been the signing of the Sokovia Accords, so King T'chaka wouldn't have died

- Vision wouldn't have been "born"

- Zemo wouldn't feel the need to get revenge against The Avengers because his family wouldn't have died in Sokovia

This last one actually brings me to the next one on this list.

3. If Zemo didn't split up The Avengers:

Zemo is basically the reason why The Avengers lost in Avengers: Infinity War. Because they were split up instead of standing together against Thanos, they had a smaller chance in defeating him. Perhaps Tony Stark would have figured out how to get the mind stone out of Vision's head and destroyed it sooner and they were able to prevent Thanos from getting the time stone. There are a lot of possibilities to what could have happened if The Avengers weren't split up in Infinity War.

4. If Ego didn't tell Quill he was the one who put the tumor in his mother's head:

If Ego hadn't said this, Quill wouldn't have found out Ego's true evil intent and gone along with Ego's plan. This would have resulted in the universe's destruction. With many planets getting destroyed by the father-son celestial duo, would Thanos still attempt his plan? Would any of the infinity stones get destroyed or lost due to this? How much of the story would have been affected?

Also, this means Earth would have been destroyed. How would this effect The Avengers? Would any of them survive?

5. If Gamora went with Thor to Nidavellir or sacrificed herself before Thanos was given the chance to capture her:

In Avengers: Infinity War, Gamora knows that she is the only being who would be able to tell Thanos where the soul stone is. Still, she decides to go with Quill, Mantis, and Drax to Knowhere where they are planning to confront and kill Thanos.

If she went with Thor to Nidavellir, he wouldn't have gotten the soul stone as easily. She would have went with Thor to Nidavellir and then Wakanda, where Thanos would then be able to capture her. However, Nebula may have escaped and Gamora wouldn't have felt the need to save her by telling Thanos where the stone is. He probably would have found another way to get it out of her, but it is hard to say.

If she had died before Thanos had the chance to capture her, Thanos wouldn't have gotten the stone at all. Even if he had found where it was, Gamora is more than likely the only being MCU Thanos has ever and will ever love.

"You knew I'd come." - Gamora

"I counted on it." - Thanos

Bonus: If Odin didn't save Loki as a baby

One bonus important event that I wanted to include but not delve as deeply into would be if Odin hadn't rescued Loki and instead had let him die as a baby. Many events would have gone differently. He wouldn't have attacked New York in The Avengers, he wouldn't have taken the throne at the end of Thor: The Dark World, and who knows how other events would have happened if Loki wasn't there.

Those are 5 (and a bonus) of many events that occurred in the MCU that could have changed the story if they'd gone differently. Thank you for reading!