During San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Marvel Studios unveiled exciting updates about their future projects, with a major surprise being Robert Downey, Jr.'s return to the MCU as Doctor Doom. Doom is set to play a crucial role in the climax of the Multiverse Saga, prominently featured 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. This has sparked speculation about the film's plot, with many wondering if Avengers: Doomsday could be a secret adaptation of the Avengers vs. X-Men storyline. Could it be that the Avengers and X-Men are gearing up for a monumental clash?
The idea of the Avengers and X-Men fighting might seem counterintuitive, especially after the lessons learned from films like Batman v Superman. Yet, the Avengers vs. X-Men comic series offers a rich narrative that could be thrillingly adapted for the MCU. Let's dive into what makes this crossover so compelling and how it might unfold on the big screen.
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The Avengers and X-Men have been intersecting since their debut in the early 1960s, often teaming up to save the world in stories like Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars (1984) and Secret Invasion (2008). However, the 2012 Avengers vs. X-Men series marks a significant departure, pitting the two teams against each other.
The tension arises during a dark period for the X-Men, following Scarlet Witch's actions in House of M (2005), which drastically reduced the mutant population to near extinction. This crisis is compounded by internal strife, with Wolverine and Cyclops leading rival factions. The arrival of the Phoenix Force from space escalates the situation, with the Avengers viewing it as a threat to Earth, while Cyclops sees it as the mutants' salvation. The Avengers' plan to destroy the Phoenix Force before it reaches Earth sparks a war with the X-Men.
The story's intrigue is heightened by unexpected allegiances. Wolverine, a long-time Avenger, initially sides with the Avengers, while Storm, a member of both teams, finds herself torn. Even Professor X's stance is not as supportive of Cyclops as one might expect.
AvX unfolds in three acts. In Act 1, the X-Men fight to protect the Phoenix Force, but Iron Man's weapon splits it into five pieces, empowering Cyclops, Emma Frost, Namor, Colossus, and Magik, who become the Phoenix Five. Act 2 sees the Avengers retreating to Wakanda, only for Namor to flood the nation, leading to a desperate plan involving Hope Summers to absorb the Phoenix Force. The climax in Act 3 sees Cyclops, possessed by the Phoenix Force, turning into the Dark Phoenix and tragically killing Charles Xavier. Despite this, Hope and Scarlet Witch manage to eradicate the Phoenix Force and restore the mutant gene, offering a bittersweet resolution.
Details about Avengers: Doomsday are still emerging, especially after the film's title shift from Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, following the studio's split with Jonathan Majors and a narrative pivot from Kang to Doom. Currently, the MCU lacks a formal Avengers team, a situation unchanged by Captain America: Brave New World. On the X-Men side, the MCU has introduced only a few mutants, such as Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan and Tenoch Huerta’s Namor, with classic X-Men characters like Patrick Stewart’s Professor X and Kelsey Grammer’s Beast appearing from alternate universes.
Here's a list of confirmed Earth-616 mutants in the MCU:
It's worth noting that Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, traditionally mutants, have not yet been confirmed as such in the MCU.
The question remains: why adapt Avengers vs. X-Men now, with the Avengers disorganized and the X-Men non-existent in the MCU? The answer likely lies in the multiverse. We theorize that Avengers: Doomsday will be a multiverse story, pitting the MCU against the heroes of another universe, specifically the Fox X-Men universe. This could be the final chapter for the Fox X-Men characters, building on the post-credits scene from The Marvels where Kelsey Grammer’s Beast cares for Monica Rambeau, who appears trapped in the Fox X-Men universe.
The film may draw inspiration from the 2015 Secret Wars series, where an Incursion between universes threatens their existence. In Avengers: Doomsday, an Incursion between Earth-616 and Earth-10005 could force the Avengers and X-Men into conflict, each fighting for their world's survival. This setup promises thrilling superhero confrontations, from Captain America vs. Wolverine to Thor vs. Storm, and could explore the internal conflicts of characters like Ms. Marvel and Deadpool.
While the Avengers and X-Men have their reasons to clash, Doctor Doom adds another layer of complexity. Known for his cunning and manipulation, Doom could exploit the conflict to further his own ambitions, perhaps weakening the Avengers by pitting them against the X-Men. His role could mirror that of Zemo in Captain America: Civil War, orchestrating events from the shadows.
Doom's significance extends to the broader narrative of the Multiverse Saga, as seen in the comics where his war with the Beyonders leads to the multiverse's collapse. In Avengers: Doomsday, Doom might be revealed as the catalyst behind the multiverse's instability, using the Avengers vs. X-Men conflict as a step toward his ultimate goal of godhood.
Originally announced as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Avengers: Doomsday is now poised to lead directly into Avengers: Secret Wars. Drawing from the first chapter of the 2015 Secret Wars comic, the film might end with the multiverse's destruction due to the ongoing battle between the Avengers and X-Men. This tragic outcome would set the stage for Secret Wars, where the remnants of the multiverse form Battleworld, ruled by Doctor Doom.
In this scenario, Avengers: Doomsday serves as a loose adaptation of Avengers vs. X-Men, setting up a dire new reality where the multiverse is gone, and existence is reduced to Battleworld. Avengers: Secret Wars would then see a diverse array of Marvel heroes, from Anthony Mackie’s Captain America to Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man, unite 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 movies and series.
Note: this article was originally published on 09/02/2024 and updated on 03/26/2025 with the latest news about Avengers: Doomsday.
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