At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Marvel Studios unveiled exciting news about the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), including the surprising announcement that Robert Downey, Jr. will return to the MCU to play Doctor Doom. Doom is set to play a pivotal role in the culmination of the Multiverse Saga, featuring prominently in both 2026's Avengers: Doomsday and 2027's Avengers: Secret Wars. In another twist, Kelsey Grammer will reprise his role as Beast in Doomsday, following his cameo in 2023's The Marvels. This raises the question: could Avengers: Doomsday secretly be an Avengers vs. X-Men movie?
Marvel Cinematic Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show
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What Is Avengers vs. X-Men?
The Avengers and X-Men have been crossing paths since their debut in the early 1960s, collaborating on numerous occasions to save the world, as seen in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars (1984) and Secret Invasion (2008). However, Avengers vs. X-Men (2012) stands out as it portrays a conflict rather than cooperation between the two teams.
This storyline unfolds during a challenging time for the X-Men, following the events of House of M (2005), where Scarlet Witch's actions drastically reduced the mutant population, pushing them towards extinction. Internal conflicts between Wolverine and Cyclops, resulting in the formation of rival schools, add to the chaos. The arrival of the Phoenix Force from space escalates tensions.
Art by Jim Cheung. (Image Credit: Marvel)
The Avengers view the Phoenix as a threat to Earth's safety, whereas Cyclops sees it as the key to mutantkind's survival. The Avengers' plan to destroy the Phoenix Force is perceived as a declaration of war by the X-Men. Interestingly, not all heroes align with their expected sides; Wolverine, despite his history with the Avengers, initially joins them, while Storm grapples with her allegiances to both teams.
The narrative of Avengers vs. X-Men is divided into three acts. In Act 1, the X-Men struggle to protect the Phoenix Force, but Iron Man's weapon splits it into five parts, empowering Cyclops, Emma Frost, Namor, Colossus, and Magik, creating the Phoenix Five. Act 2 sees the Phoenix Five overpowering the Avengers, who retreat to Wakanda. Namor's actions lead to a catastrophic flood, and the Avengers pin their hopes on Hope Summers, the first mutant born post-House of M, to absorb the Phoenix Force.
Art by Olivier Coipel. (Image Credit: Marvel)
The final act culminates in a battle against Cyclops, who becomes the Dark Phoenix after absorbing the Phoenix fragments. The combined forces of the Avengers and X-Men defeat him, but not before he kills Charles Xavier. The story concludes with Hope and Scarlet Witch using the Phoenix's power to restore the mutant gene, ending on a hopeful note despite Cyclops' incarceration.
How the MCU Is Adapting Avengers vs. X-Men
Details about Avengers: Doomsday remain sparse, with the title and cast still in flux. Originally announced as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the focus shifted from Kang to Doom after Marvel Studios severed ties with Jonathan Majors. Currently, the MCU lacks an official Avengers team, and the X-Men presence is minimal, limited to characters like Iman Vellani's Kamala Khan and Tenoch Huerta's Namor, with cameos from alternate universes such as Patrick Stewart's Professor X and Kelsey Grammer's Beast.
Who Are the Mutants of the MCU?
Here’s a list of confirmed mutants in the MCU on Earth-616:
- Ms. Marvel
- Mr. Immortal
- Namor
- Wolverine
- Ursa Major
- Sabra/Ruth Bat-Seraph
The status of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch as mutants in the MCU remains unclear.
Given the current state of the Avengers and X-Men, an Avengers vs. X-Men movie might unfold as a multiverse story, pitting the MCU against the heroes of the Fox universe. The post-credits scene in The Marvels hints at this, showing Monica Rambeau trapped in the Fox X-Men universe. The concept of Incursions, seen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and The Marvels, suggests a potential conflict between Earth-616 and Earth-10005, leading to a battle for survival.
Art by Jim Cheung. (Image Credit: Marvel)
Inspired by the first chapter of the 2015 Secret Wars series, Avengers: Doomsday could depict a scenario where the Avengers and X-Men fight due to an Incursion, echoing the comic's theme of two universes clashing. This setup could lead to thrilling matchups and complex loyalties, such as Ms. Marvel's connection to other mutants and Deadpool's admiration for the Avengers.
How Doctor Doom Fits In
Art by Bryan Hitch. (Image Credit: Marvel)
Doctor Doom's role in Avengers: Doomsday could be that of an opportunistic villain, manipulating the conflict between the Avengers and X-Men to his advantage. Known for his schemes and power grabs, Doom might see the X-Men as a tool to weaken the Avengers, making the world more susceptible to his plans. His involvement in the multiverse's collapse, as seen in the comics, suggests that Doomsday might reveal Doom as the architect behind the multiverse's destruction, setting the stage for Secret Wars.
How Avengers: Doomsday Leads Into Secret Wars
Originally planned as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Avengers: Doomsday is expected to lead directly into Avengers: Secret Wars, much like Infinity War and Endgame. The film might mirror the tragic ending of Secret Wars #1, where the multiverse collapses while heroes are distracted by their conflict. The Avengers and X-Men's failure to unite could lead to the creation of Battleworld, with Doom as its God Emperor.
Art by Alex Ross. (Image Credit: Marvel)
Avengers: Doomsday could serve as a loose adaptation of Avengers vs. X-Men, setting the stage for Secret Wars, where a diverse lineup of Marvel characters attempts to restore the multiverse and overthrow Doom.
For more on the MCU's future, explore why Secret Wars needs Downey's Doom as its villain 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.
