Did Doctor Who just confirm the Marvel Cinematic Universe exists in the Whoniverse? Here's what we know

In Doctor Who, almost anything is possible. The Doctor has encountered historical figures, mythical creatures, and even nods to major pop culture franchises. However, the recent episode The Story & the Engine takes that approach to another level by canonically inserting nothing less than the very Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) into the Whoniverse. Yes, they really did it!

In a pivotal moment, the Doctor recounts watching the Marvel movies up to Avengers: Endgame, in a sequence that serves as a crucial narrative beat that reframes the MCU as a tangible cultural product within the Doctor Who universe. It's not that surprising that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is acknowledged in the lore of Doctor Who series now, considering the partnership between BBC and Disney.

"Saga and I watched Marvel movies together, up until 'Endgame'. She didn't like Thor--muscles were too small. I played chess with Bastet. I let her think that she let me let her win. She kicked my ass, thoroughly! And Anansi purposely lost a bet to make me marry one of his daughters. I know the gods," said the Doctor.

Furthermore, UNIT’s headquarters, which has appeared in a lot of Doctor Who previous episodes, has already drawn attention to both Marvel fans and Whovians alike for its resemblance to the Avengers Tower. A connection that once was just a visual nod, now gains a potential explanation with the confirmation that the MCU exists as a recognized cultural entity in the Whoniverse. Brilliant, right?

However, what does this unexpected connection entail for Doctor Who? And what could it signal for the future of UNIT and its evolving presence in the series? There’s more to unpack than a mere passing reference.

The Marvel movies as canon in the Whoniverse

The scene between the Doctor, the Barber and Abena in The Story & the Engine reframes the Marvel movies as cultural fixtures in the Whoniverse. During the conversation, the Doctor specifies that they watched the films up to Avengers: Endgame, marking it a distinct moment that positions the MCU as part of the same world inhabited by the Doctor, their companions and enemies.

The implications go beyond a simple reference. Doctor Who has mentioned fictional media before, but naming a major film franchise adds another layer to its worldbuilding, suggesting that characters in the Whoniverse are consuming the same media as us, the viewers, creating a unique overlap between fiction and reality. Very timey-wimey indeed.

Choosing Marvel isn’t just about name-dropping a popular series. Yes, there is the abovmentioned Disney factor, however, built on interrelated narratives, the MCU embraces this just like Doctor Who has been increasingly doing in recent seasons. So, acknowledging Marvel as part of the Whoniverse helps the show to fit with a franchise recognized for its rich world-building and intricate narrative.

UNIT’s headquarters and the Avengers Tower

There’s something familiar about the UNIT headquarters. Looming over the London skyline with a familiar silhouette, all glass and steel? A little too reminiscent of a certain Avengers Tower, right? The resemblance isn’t subtle at all. It’s the kind of visual echo that makes you squint, tilt your head, and wonder if the Doctor’s world is starting to bleed into another universe altogether. A meeting of multiverses? Bring them on!

But now we know it’s more than just a striking design choice. The Doctor’s offhand mention that the Marvel movies exist in the Whoniverse suddenly recasts the UNIT building as something more deliberate. If the MCU is part of their reality, then UNIT might just be taking architectural cues from the world’s mightiest heroes.

The Avengers Tower is a symbol of power and technology, a fortress in the sky (even if reframed in Thunderbolts*). And now UNIT has its version, a base that feels less like the old bunker of past seasons and more like a sleek, superhero command center. What does that say about UNIT’s evolving role in the series? And what else might they have borrowed from the Marvel playbook?

UNIT is watching, and now it’s watching from a tower that casts a very long, very Avengers-shaped shadow.

UNIT and the rise of superhero culture

UNIT has always been Earth’s frontline defense against whatever the universe throws at it. Aliens, monsters, rogue Time Lords. They’ve handled it all. But with their imposing new headquarters, they’re starting to look less like a shadowy government agency and more like a fully branded super-team.

The Avengers Tower dominates the skyline in the MCU, a towering emblem of power, tech, and heroics. And now UNIT’s base is doing something similar in Doctor Who. It’s almost as if they’re taking cues from the Marvel playbook, swapping out secret bunkers and underground bases for skyscrapers and steel.

The change is not subtle at all. It's a declaration that UNIT is coming out of the shadows and into the limelight. But what does that imply about their intentions? Are they just borrowing a visual language, or are they positioning themselves as Earth’s answer to the Avengers?

The Doctor has always been the universe’s one-man rescue squad, a rogue force that doesn’t need a tower or a uniform to save the day. But UNIT’s new look suggests they might be going for something more structured, more controlled, and a lot more visible.

What happens when UNIT starts acting like a superhero team? And what does that mean for a Doctor who’s never played by anyone’s rules but their own?

What comes next for Doctor Who?

The MCU is more than a pop culture nod in Doctor Who. It’s a cultural marker that reshapes how we see the Whoniverse, merging reality and fiction in ways that complicate the show’s narrative landscape.

With UNIT adopting a more heroic, larger-than-life presence, it feels like Earth is gearing up to play in a bigger league, one where the lines between military force and superhero squad are starting to blur. The Doctor has always operated outside those lines, the rogue protector who doesn’t need a tower or a uniform to save the day. But if UNIT is taking cues from the Avengers, what other cultural icons might Doctor Who decide to pull into its ever-expanding universe?