At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Marvel Studios unveiled exciting news about the future of the MCU, including the surprising announcement that Robert Downey, Jr. will return as Doctor Doom. Doom is set to play a pivotal role in the Multiverse Saga, with major appearances in both 2026's Avengers: Doomsday and 2027's Avengers: Secret Wars. Adding to the excitement, Kelsey Grammer will reprise his role as Beast in Doomsday, following his cameo in 2023's The Marvels. These developments have sparked speculation that Avengers: Doomsday might be setting the stage for an Avengers vs. X-Men narrative.
Marvel Cinematic Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show
18 Images
What Is Avengers vs. X-Men?
The Avengers and X-Men have a long history of collaboration and conflict, dating back to their early days in the 1960s. While they've often united to save the world in events like 1984's Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars and 2008's Secret Invasion, their 2012 crossover, Avengers vs. X-Men, is unique for pitting them against each other.
The tension in Avengers vs. X-Men arises from a dire situation for the mutant population. Following Scarlet Witch's actions in 2005's House of M, mutants are nearly extinct, and internal divisions within the X-Men, such as the rift between Wolverine and Cyclops, add to the chaos. The arrival of the Phoenix Force, seen as a potential savior by Cyclops and a threat by the Avengers, ignites the conflict.
Art by Jim Cheung. (Image Credit: Marvel)
The Avengers aim to destroy the Phoenix Force before it reaches Earth, but their efforts result in the cosmic entity splitting into five pieces, empowering Cyclops, Emma Frost, Namor, Colossus, and Magik, who become the Phoenix Five. This leads to a power struggle with the Avengers retreating to Wakanda, which is later flooded by Namor. The Avengers' hope rests on Hope Summers, the first mutant born after the decimation, who eventually absorbs the Phoenix Force and, with Scarlet Witch's assistance, restores the mutant gene.
Art by Olivier Coipel. (Image Credit: Marvel)
How the MCU Is Adapting Avengers vs. X-Men
Details about Avengers: Doomsday remain sparse, with only the title and cast confirmed so far. Originally announced as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the film's focus shifted from Kang to Doom after Marvel's split with Jonathan Majors. Currently, the MCU lacks an official Avengers team, and the X-Men presence is limited to a few characters like Iman Vellani's Kamala Khan and Tenoch Huerta's Namor, with classic X-Men members appearing from other universes.
Who Are the Mutants of the MCU?
Here's a list of confirmed MCU mutants from Earth-616:
- Ms. Marvel
- Mr. Immortal
- Namor
- Wolverine
- Ursa Major
- Sabra/Ruth Bat-Seraph
The status of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch as mutants remains unclear in the MCU.
Given the current state of the Avengers and X-Men in the MCU, an Avengers vs. X-Men movie seems unlikely. However, the multiverse could provide the backdrop for such a conflict. We theorize that Avengers: Doomsday might feature a war between the MCU and the heroes of another universe, specifically the X-Men from the Fox universe. This could be inspired by both the AvX comic and the first chapter of the 2015 Secret Wars series, where an Incursion threatens the survival of both universes.
Art by Jim Cheung. (Image Credit: Marvel)
In this scenario, an Incursion between Earth-616 and Earth-10005 could force the Avengers and X-Men into a battle for their worlds' survival. This could lead to epic superhero matchups and test the loyalties of characters like Ms. Marvel and Deadpool.
How Doctor Doom Fits In
Art by Bryan Hitch. (Image Credit: Marvel)
Doctor Doom, an opportunistic villain, could exploit the conflict between the Avengers and X-Men to further his own ambitions. Historically, Doom has manipulated heroes and stolen powers from beings like Silver Surfer and the Beyonder. In Avengers: Doomsday, he might see the X-Men as a means to weaken the Avengers, setting the stage for his larger plan to achieve godhood.
Doom's role is crucial in the lead-up to Secret Wars, where his actions contribute to the multiverse's collapse. Avengers: Doomsday might reveal that Doom is orchestrating the multiverse's downfall, with the Avengers vs. X-Men conflict serving as a stepping stone in his grand scheme.
How Avengers: Doomsday Leads Into Secret Wars
Originally planned as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Avengers: Doomsday is expected to set the stage for Avengers: Secret Wars. Drawing from the 2015 Secret Wars comic, the film might end with the multiverse's destruction, leading to the creation of Battleworld, a patchwork reality ruled by Doom.
Art by Alex Ross. (Image Credit: Marvel)
In this scenario, Avengers: Doomsday could serve as a loose adaptation of Avengers vs. X-Men, paving the way for the dark status quo of Secret Wars, where a diverse lineup of Marvel heroes from various universes unites to restore the multiverse and overthrow Doom.
For more insights into the MCU's future, explore why Secret Wars benefits from Downey's Doom and stay updated on all upcoming Marvel projects.
Note: this article was originally published on 09/02/2024 and updated on 03/26/2025 with the latest news about Avengers: Doomsday.
Latest Downloads
Downlaod
Top News
