Avengers: Doomsday - A Secret Clash with X-Men?

At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Marvel Studios unveiled thrilling updates about the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), including the sensational news that Robert Downey, Jr. is returning to the MCU to play Doctor Doom. This iconic character will be central to the climax of the Multiverse Saga, playing pivotal roles in both 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday and 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars. Adding to the excitement, we learned that Kelsey Grammer will reprise his role as Beast in Doomsday, following his cameo in 2023's The Marvels. This development has sparked speculation that Avengers: Doomsday might secretly be an Avengers vs. X-Men movie, a concept that's been stirring fans' imaginations.

Is it possible there's more to this equation than we realize? Could Avengers: Doomsday be setting the stage for a monumental clash between these two iconic superhero teams? There's growing evidence to suggest this might indeed be the case.

But why would the Avengers and X-Men fight? Haven't they learned anything from past superhero conflicts like Batman v Superman? To understand this potential storyline, let's delve into Marvel's Avengers vs. X-Men comic and explore how this epic crossover could be adapted into the MCU.

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show

18 ImagesWhat Is Avengers vs. X-Men?

The Avengers and X-Men have been intersecting since their debut in the early 1960s. They've collaborated on numerous occasions, such as in 1984’s Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars and 2008’s Secret Invasion, to save the world. However, 2012’s Avengers vs. X-Men (AvX) is unique because it portrays a conflict rather than cooperation between these teams.

The tension in AvX arises during a tumultuous period for the X-Men. Following Scarlet Witch’s actions in 2005’s House of M, the mutant population is drastically reduced, facing extinction. Additionally, internal conflicts lead to a schism between Wolverine and Cyclops, resulting in rival schools. Amid this chaos, the Phoenix Force, a powerful cosmic entity, approaches Earth.

The conflict between the Avengers and X-Men escalates when the Avengers perceive the Phoenix Force as a threat capable of destroying Earth, while Cyclops views it as the last hope for mutantkind. The Avengers' plan to eliminate the Phoenix Force before it reaches Earth is seen as an act of war by the X-Men.

AvX is intriguing because it doesn't follow expected alliances. Wolverine, a long-time Avenger, initially sides with the Avengers, while Storm, a member of both teams, is torn between her loyalties. Even Professor X shows less support for Cyclops than one might anticipate.

The storyline unfolds in three acts. In the first act, the X-Men, as underdogs, fight to protect the Phoenix Force. However, Iron Man's attempt to destroy the Phoenix results in the cosmic entity splitting into five parts, empowering Cyclops, Emma Frost, Namor, Colossus, and Magik, forming the Phoenix Five.

During the second act, the Phoenix Five's power shifts the balance, forcing the Avengers to retreat to Wakanda. The situation escalates when Namor floods Wakanda, and the Avengers pin their hopes on Hope Summers, the first mutant born post-House of M and the original target of the Phoenix Force, to absorb its power and end the Phoenix Five's reign.

The final act sees Cyclops, possessed by the Phoenix Force, becoming the Dark Phoenix. The combined forces of the X-Men and Avengers manage to stop him, but not before he kills Charles Xavier. Despite this tragedy, AvX concludes on a hopeful note with Hope and Scarlet Witch using the Phoenix's power to restore the mutant gene, leading to a resurgence in mutant numbers.

How the MCU Is Adapting Avengers vs. X-Men -------------------------------------------

Details about Avengers: Doomsday are scarce beyond its title and cast, which have evolved significantly. Initially titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the project shifted focus from Kang to Doom after Marvel parted ways with Jonathan Majors. Currently, the MCU lacks an official Avengers team, a situation unchanged even after Captain America: Brave New World.

On the X-Men front, the MCU has introduced only a few mutants so far, including Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan and Tenoch Huerta’s Namor. Classic X-Men characters have appeared from other universes, such as Patrick Stewart’s Professor X in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Kelsey Grammer’s Beast in The Marvels, and Hugh Jackman’s many Wolverines in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Who Are the Mutants of the MCU?

Here’s a list of every mutant character confirmed in the MCU on Earth-616:

• Ms. Marvel
• Mr. Immortal
• Namor
• Wolverine
• Ursa Major
• Sabra/Ruth Bat-Seraph

It's also worth noting that Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are traditionally mutants, but their status in the MCU remains uncertain.

Given the current state of both teams, why would Marvel attempt an Avengers vs. X-Men movie? The answer lies in the multiverse. We speculate that Avengers: Doomsday will be a multiverse story, not about pitting the MCU's Avengers against its own X-Men, but rather against the X-Men of the Fox universe. This could serve as the final chapter for the Fox X-Men characters.

Our theory is that Avengers: Doomsday builds on the post-credits scene from The Marvels, where Grammer’s Beast tends to Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau, who is trapped in a universe similar to the Fox X-Men's Earth-10005. This unresolved situation could lead to another Incursion, threatening the destruction of both worlds.

The MCU's take on AvX might draw from the first chapter of the 2015 Secret Wars series. In Secret Wars #1, an Incursion between the classic Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe forces the Avengers and the Ultimates into a battle where one Earth must be destroyed to save the others. Similarly, Avengers: Doomsday could feature an Incursion between Earth-616 and Earth-10005, leading to a clash between the Avengers and X-Men to save their respective worlds.

This setup would allow for epic superhero showdowns, such as Captain America vs. Wolverine, Hulk vs. Colossus, and Thor vs. Storm. It could also create internal conflicts, with characters like Ms. Marvel and Deadpool caught between loyalties.

Do you think Avengers: Doomsday is secretly an Avengers vs. X-Men story? ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, it's time for them to fight.No, Marvel is building to something else.

AnswerSee ResultsHow Doctor Doom Fits In -----------------------

While the MCU seems poised for a clash between the Avengers and X-Men, how does Doctor Doom fit into this narrative? Is he necessary when the teams already have a reason to fight?

Doctor Doom is the epitome of an opportunistic villain, always seeking more power and manipulating heroes to achieve his goals. He has a history of stealing powers and manipulating events from behind the scenes, such as attempting to assassinate Black Panther and influencing Scarlet Witch's actions in House of M.

Doom could exploit the conflict between the Avengers and X-Men to weaken them, making the world more vulnerable to his schemes. If Doomsday is akin to Captain America: Civil War in the Multiverse Saga, Doom would be the Zemo figure orchestrating events from the shadows.

Moreover, Doom is central to the build-up to Secret Wars in the comics, where his war with the Beyonders leads to the multiverse's collapse. We expect Doomsday to reveal Doom's role in the deteriorating state of the MCU's multiverse, using the war between the Avengers and X-Men as a stepping stone toward his ultimate goal of creating a new reality.

How Avengers: Doomsday Leads Into Secret Wars ---------------------------------------------

Originally announced as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Avengers 5 has been reimagined as Avengers: Doomsday, yet it remains a crucial precursor to Avengers: Secret Wars. Like Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, these films are interconnected, with Doomsday setting the stage for Secret Wars.

Drawing inspiration from the first chapter of the 2015 Secret Wars comic, we anticipate Doomsday to conclude similarly, with the multiverse collapsing as the Avengers and X-Men battle. This failure to unite against the looming threat of the multiverse's destruction mirrors the tragic outcome in Secret Wars #1.

If Avengers: Doomsday follows this path, the multiverse will be obliterated, leaving only Battleworld, a patchwork reality formed from the remnants of destroyed universes. In the comic, Doctor Doom becomes the God Emperor of Battleworld, a role we expect him to assume in Secret Wars.

Avengers: Doomsday might be a loose adaptation of Avengers vs. X-Men, setting up a dark scenario where the multiverse is destroyed, and existence is reduced to Battleworld. Avengers: Secret Wars could then feature a grand assembly of Marvel characters from various universes, working together to restore the multiverse and overthrow Doom.

For more insights into the MCU's future, explore why Secret Wars finally has the villain it needs in Downey's Doom, and stay updated on every Marvel movie and series in development.

Note: this article was originally published on 09/02/2024 and updated on 03/26/2025 with the latest news about Avengers: Doomsday.