At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Marvel Studios unveiled exciting updates for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), including the surprising news that Robert Downey, Jr. will return to the MCU as Doctor Doom. Doom is set to play a pivotal role in the Multiverse Saga, featuring prominently 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 The Marvels in 2023.

This announcement has sparked speculation about the nature of Avengers: Doomsday. Could it be a secret adaptation of the Avengers vs. X-Men storyline? Given the current state of the MCU, with no official Avengers team and only a handful of mutants introduced, such a crossover seems ambitious but intriguing.

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What Is Avengers vs. X-Men?

The Avengers and X-Men have a long history of collaboration and conflict in the comics, dating back to the 1960s. Notable team-ups include Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars in 1984 and Secret Invasion in 2008. However, the 2012 Avengers vs. X-Men storyline is particularly significant because it pits the two teams against each other.

The tension arises from a dire situation for the X-Men, following Scarlet Witch's actions in House of M, which reduced the mutant population to near extinction. The Phoenix Force, a powerful cosmic entity, becomes the focal point of the conflict. The Avengers aim to destroy the Phoenix before it reaches Earth, viewing it as a threat, while Cyclops sees it as the last hope for mutantkind. This disagreement leads to a full-scale war.

The storyline unfolds in three acts. In Act 1, the X-Men fight to protect the Phoenix, but Iron Man's attempt to destroy it results in the entity splitting into five pieces, empowering Cyclops, Emma Frost, Namor, Colossus, and Magik—the Phoenix Five. Act 2 sees the Avengers on the defensive as the Phoenix Five assert their dominance, culminating in Namor flooding Wakanda. The Avengers pin their hopes on Hope Summers, the first mutant born post-House of M, to absorb the Phoenix and end the Phoenix Five's reign.

Act 3 features a climactic battle where Cyclops, possessed by the Phoenix, becomes the Dark Phoenix and kills Professor X. The story concludes with Hope and Scarlet Witch using the Phoenix's power to restore the mutant gene, leaving Cyclops imprisoned but hopeful for the future of mutantkind.

How the MCU Is Adapting Avengers vs. X-Men

While details about Avengers: Doomsday remain sparse, the film's title and cast have evolved. Initially titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the project shifted focus from Kang to Doom after Marvel's split with Jonathan Majors. The MCU currently lacks an official Avengers team, and the X-Men presence is minimal, with characters like Kamala Khan and Namor introduced, alongside alternate universe versions like Patrick Stewart's Professor X and Hugh Jackman's Wolverine.

Who Are the Mutants of the MCU?

Confirmed Earth-616 mutants in the MCU include:

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

The status of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch as mutants remains uncertain in the MCU.

The potential for an Avengers vs. X-Men adaptation seems tied to the multiverse concept. Our theory is that Doomsday might feature a conflict between the MCU's Avengers and the X-Men from the Fox universe, building on the post-credits scene in The Marvels where Monica Rambeau finds herself in a universe similar to the Fox X-Men's Earth-10005.

In this scenario, an Incursion between Earth-616 and Earth-10005 could force a battle for survival, drawing inspiration from the first chapter of the 2015 Secret Wars series. This conflict could lead to epic superhero matchups and internal struggles among characters like Ms. Marvel and Deadpool.

How Doctor Doom Fits In

Doctor Doom's role in Doomsday adds another layer of complexity. Known for his manipulative schemes and power grabs, Doom could exploit the conflict between the Avengers and X-Men to weaken them both. His actions might mirror those of Baron Zemo in Captain America: Civil War, orchestrating events from behind the scenes. Furthermore, Doom's involvement in the collapse of the multiverse in the comics suggests he could be the mastermind behind the MCU's multiverse crisis.

How Avengers: Doomsday Leads Into Secret Wars

Avengers: Doomsday is expected to set the stage for Avengers: Secret Wars, much like Infinity War did for Endgame. The film might end with the destruction of the multiverse, leaving only Battleworld, a patchwork reality controlled by Doom. This would lead into Secret Wars, where heroes from various universes unite to restore the multiverse and overthrow Doom.

For more on 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.