True Story: Every Way The Netflix Show Pokes Fun At The MCU

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Netflix’s True Story!

The Netflix series True Story is a rare dramatic role for Kevin Hart, but it also contains a few humorous jabs at the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In limited series, Hart plays a comedian and actor named “The Kid” who returns home to Philadelphia on tour, which is complicated by a reunion with his parasitic older brother, Carlton (Wesley Snipes). True Story follows up Kevin Hart’s dramatic performance in Fatherhood but also has some biting satire of the entertainment industry. The most memorable of these moments are directed at the superhero genre and MCU specifically.

Although Hart has yet to appear in a Marvel movie or series, he does have some experience with superhero films. After appearing in a reoccurring role for horror movie spoofs, Scary Movie 3 and Scary Movie 4, Hart was cast in Superhero Movie, a parody of the genre co-starring Leslie Nielsen. In 2019, the True Story star also jokingly expressed his interest in appearing in Dwayne Johnson’s DCEU superhero film, Black Adam. Although that did not happen, Hart was cast in DC League of Super-Pets, an animated DC film that also stars Johnson.

In True Story, Hart’s The Kid has recently starred in a popular superhero film, increasing his fame and net worth drastically. This newfound success is what makes The Kid a target to those looking to profit off him, instigating key events in the series, but it is also an opportunity to gently poke fun at the Marvel films. The superhero film The Kid is a star of could be referencing any in the genre, but there are a few specific nods to the MCU.

The Antiverse In True Story

The superhero film The Kid has had recent success from True Story is called The Antiverse, which is a blatant reference to Marvel’s Multiverse. The Disney+ series Loki introduced the Multiverse for Phase 4 of the MCU, which will come into focus with Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange: Multiverse Of Madness. There isn’t much seen of The Antiverse, aside from one scene shown at a charity screening and the marketing material displayed around Philadelphia during The Kid’s trip. Although none of this refers to the Multiverse, these brief glimpses of The Antiverse do show a telling casting choice.

True Story’s Chris Hemsworth Cameo

The Kid’s co-star in The Antiverse is Chris Hemsworth, who is well known for his portrayal of Thor in the MCU. Hemsworth’s cameo is brief, though he is seen in the film’s advertising throughout the series. Although there is no mention of Thor or Hemworth’s appearances in the MCU, The Kid does indirectly acknowledge the Marvel franchise when he tells a radio DJ, “I’m in a conversation now with Anthony Mackie and Don Cheadle about [the] best black superhero.” Cheadle replaced Terrence Howard as James Rhodes/War Machine in the Iron Man franchise and has continued to appear as the character in the MCU, while Mackie has played Sam Wilson/Falcon since Phase 2 and will be the new Captain America following the events of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.

True Story’s Sequel & Spin-Off Plans

The reason the films of Marvel are called a cinematic universe is the shared world of the various sequels, spin-offs, and related superhero films. Throughout the course of True Story, The Kid reveals plans for a sequel to The Antiverse while visiting a hospital cancer ward. He is also offered a spin-off/stand-alone film focusing on his character from the series. True Story focuses less on the content of this franchise and more on the business of superhero films. Scheduling for The Kid becomes problematic, paralleling the numerous Marvel movies that have been canceled or delayed over the years, often due to conflicting schedules of the movie stars attached. When The Kid desires time away from work to spend with his son, it threatens to end the stand-alone project before it begins.

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