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

At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Marvel Studios unveiled exciting updates about the future of the MCU, including the surprising return of Robert Downey, Jr. as Doctor Doom. Doom will play a pivotal role in the Multiverse Saga's climax, featuring prominently in both 2026's Avengers: Doomsday and 2027's Avengers: Secret Wars. Additionally, Kelsey Grammer will reprise his role as Beast in Doomsday, expanding on his cameo in 2023's The Marvels. These announcements have sparked speculation that Avengers: Doomsday might be a covert Avengers vs. X-Men movie, a notion supported by several intriguing hints.

Is it possible that Avengers: Doomsday is setting the stage for a clash between the Avengers and the X-Men? Given their history in the comics, this could be an epic showdown. The 2012 Avengers vs. X-Men storyline, where the two teams went head-to-head, could serve as a blueprint for the MCU. In the comics, the Avengers and X-Men had a tumultuous relationship, collaborating on countless occasions but also facing off due to differing ideologies and the Phoenix Force's arrival on Earth.

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What Is Avengers vs. X-Men?

The Avengers and X-Men have been intertwined since their early days in the 1960s, collaborating in iconic events like Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars and Secret Invasion. However, 2012's Avengers vs. X-Men marked a significant departure, as it depicted a fierce rivalry between the two teams. The tension stemmed from the X-Men's dire situation following Scarlet Witch's actions in House of M, which left the mutant population on the brink of extinction. Amidst internal schisms, the arrival of the Phoenix Force escalated the conflict.

The Avengers viewed the Phoenix as a catastrophic threat, while Cyclops saw it as a beacon of hope for mutants. This ideological divide led to a full-scale war. The narrative is split into three acts, with the Phoenix Force ultimately empowering Cyclops, Emma Frost, Namor, Colossus, and Magik, forming the Phoenix Five. The Avengers, retreating to Wakanda, pinned their hopes on Hope Summers to absorb the Phoenix and end the Phoenix Five's reign. The climax saw Cyclops, possessed by the Phoenix, killing Charles Xavier, but Hope and Scarlet Witch eventually eradicated the Phoenix, restoring the mutant gene.

Art by Jim Cheung. (Image Credit: Marvel)

How the MCU Is Adapting Avengers vs. X-Men

While details about Avengers: Doomsday are still emerging, the shift from Avengers: The Kang Dynasty to Doomsday reflects a significant pivot in the Multiverse Saga, particularly after Marvel's departure from Jonathan Majors and the focus on Doctor Doom. Currently, the MCU lacks a cohesive Avengers team, and the X-Men presence is minimal, with only a few mutants like Kamala Khan and Namor introduced. The X-Men seen so far have been from alternate universes, suggesting a multiverse-centric approach to Avengers vs. X-Men.

Who Are the Mutants of the MCU?

Here's a list of confirmed mutants in the MCU's Earth-616:

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

Note that Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, traditionally mutants, have yet to be confirmed as such in the MCU.

The MCU's Avengers vs. X-Men could be a multiverse story, pitting the MCU against the Fox universe's X-Men. This theory is bolstered by the post-credits scene in The Marvels, where Beast cares for Monica Rambeau, who seems trapped in the Fox X-Men universe. The looming threat of Incursions, as seen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and The Marvels, could force a battle between Earth-616 and Earth-10005, with the survival of both worlds at stake.

Art by Jim Cheung. (Image Credit: Marvel)

Drawing inspiration from Secret Wars, Avengers: Doomsday might depict a scenario where an Incursion necessitates the destruction of one Earth to save the other. This could lead to epic superhero showdowns and complex loyalties, with characters like Ms. Marvel and Deadpool caught between worlds.

How Doctor Doom Fits In

Art by Bryan Hitch. (Image Credit: Marvel)

Doctor Doom's role in Avengers: Doomsday is crucial. Known for his opportunism and manipulation, Doom could exploit the conflict between the Avengers and X-Men to further his own ambitions. His history of power theft and manipulation, including his involvement in Scarlet Witch's actions in House of M, suggests he could use the war to weaken both teams, setting the stage for his rise to power. As in the comics, Doom's machinations might be the catalyst for the multiverse's collapse, positioning him as the God Emperor of Battleworld in Secret Wars.

How Avengers: Doomsday Leads Into Secret Wars

Originally titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Avengers: Doomsday is set to be a precursor to Avengers: Secret Wars, much like Infinity War led into Endgame. Drawing from the first chapter of the 2015 Secret Wars comic, Doomsday is likely to end with the multiverse's destruction, leaving only Battleworld. The Avengers and X-Men, distracted by their conflict, fail to prevent the collapse, setting the stage for Doom's rule in Secret Wars. This dark turn will pave the way for a massive crossover in Secret Wars, where heroes from various universes unite to restore the multiverse and overthrow Doom.

Art by Alex Ross. (Image Credit: Marvel)

For more on 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.*