Is Avengers: Doomsday Secretly an Avengers vs. X-Men Movie?

If you're a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you likely remember the unexpected bombshell dropped at San Diego Comic-Con 2024: Robert Downey, Jr. is back in the MCU as Victor von Doom, better known as Doctor Doom. This revelation came with the announcement that Doom will play a pivotal role in the climax of the Multiverse Saga, connecting both Avengers: Doomsday in 2026 and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027. Adding another layer of intrigue, Kelsey Grammer is reprising his role as Hank McCoy, or Beast, in Doomsday, expanding on his brief appearance in The Marvels.

Could there be even more surprises in store? Could Avengers: Doomsday be secretly Avengers vs. X-Men? Evidence suggests this might indeed be the case.

But why would the Avengers and X-Men clash? Haven’t they learned anything from Batman v Superman? Let’s explore Marvel’s Avengers vs. X-Men storyline and how it could translate to the MCU.

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What Is Avengers vs. X-Men?

The Avengers and X-Men have intersected since their inception in the early 1960s, joining forces on numerous occasions like 1984’s Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars and 2008’s Secret Invasion. However, 2012’s Avengers vs. X-Men stands out because it marks a rare instance where the two teams are pitted against each other.

Why the sudden enmity? AvX occurs during a tumultuous period for the X-Men. Scarlet Witch’s actions in 2005’s House of M drastically reduced the mutant population to just a few hundred, pushing the species to the brink of extinction. Internal divisions among the X-Men deepen when Wolverine and Cyclops part ways, forming rival factions. Amidst this chaos arrives the Phoenix Force, heading toward Earth from deep space.

This is where tensions escalate between the Avengers and X-Men. The Avengers view the Phoenix as an imminent threat capable of destroying Earth if left unchecked. Cyclops, however, believes the Phoenix represents mutantkind’s last hope for survival. When the Avengers devise a plan to eliminate the Phoenix Force before it reaches Earth, the X-Men interpret this as an act of war.

Part of the appeal of AvX lies in the unexpected alliances. Wolverine, previously aligned with the Avengers, sides with them initially, while Storm struggles between her roles as both an Avenger and a teacher at Wolverine’s school. Even Professor X shows mixed feelings toward Cyclops’s approach.

AvX unfolds in three distinct phases. In Act 1, the X-Men fight to prevent the Avengers from destroying the Phoenix Force. By Act 2, Iron Man’s Phoenix-killing weapon splits the entity into five parts, empowering Cyclops, Emma Frost, Namor, Colossus, and Magik as the Phoenix Five. Now on the defensive, the Avengers retreat to Wakanda, only for Namor to flood the region, turning the tide against them.

Act 3 culminates in Cyclops becoming the Dark Phoenix after absorbing all fragments of the Phoenix Force. Despite stopping him, the combined forces of the Avengers and X-Men suffer a devastating loss: Cyclops kills Professor X. Fortunately, AvX concludes on a hopeful note as Hope absorbs the Phoenix Force, wipes it out of existence, and restores the mutant gene.

How the MCU Is Adapting Avengers vs. X-Men

We know little about Avengers: Doomsday beyond its title and cast, with even those details evolving over time. Initially announced as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the focus shifted from Kang to Doom after Marvel parted ways with Jonathan Majors. Currently, the MCU lacks a formal Avengers team, a situation unchanged even after Captain America: Brave New World.

Similarly, the X-Men are yet to fully materialize within the MCU. So far, we’ve encountered only a few mutants, including Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan and Tenoch Huerta’s Namor. Classic X-Men characters appear exclusively from alternate 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 Wolverines in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Who Are the Mutants of the MCU?

Here’s a quick overview of confirmed mutants in the MCU:

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

It’s unclear whether Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch will eventually be revealed as mutants in the MCU.

Why might Marvel Studios adapt Avengers vs. X-Men now, given the disarray of one team and the nonexistence of the other? The answer likely involves the multiverse.

We suspect Avengers: Doomsday will draw inspiration from both the AvX comic and the first chapter of the 2015 Secret Wars series. The latter depicts the Marvel and Ultimate Universes nearing collapse due to an Incursion. The MCU has already explored Incursions in films like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and The Marvels.

Based on post-credits scenes in The Marvels, Kelsey Grammer’s Beast is seen tending to Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau after she prevents an Incursion. This suggests Monica is stranded in Fox’s X-Men universe—or one very similar. Given the nature of Incursions, it’s only a matter of time before another breach occurs, threatening both realities.

Our theory posits that Avengers: Doomsday will frame the conflict between the Avengers and X-Men as a battle between Earth-616 and Earth-10005. This could serve as the final chapter for the Fox X-Men characters, allowing them to face the MCU’s heroes in a climactic showdown.

In this scenario, the Avengers and X-Men must decide the fate of their respective worlds, leaving no room for compromise. This setup mirrors Secret Wars #1, where the Avengers and Ultimates fight knowing one Earth must perish for the other to survive.

How Doctor Doom Fits In

Doctor Doom is a master manipulator who thrives on chaos. His schemes often involve exploiting others' powers or orchestrating conflicts to his advantage. For instance, he once sought to seize Wakanda’s vibranium and orchestrated Scarlet Witch’s actions in House of M, leading to the near-extinction of mutants.

Doom would relish the opportunity to exploit a brewing conflict between the Avengers and X-Men. He might view the X-Men of Earth-10005 as a means to weaken the Avengers of Earth-616, paving the way for his dominion. If Doomsday parallels Civil War, Doom could be the幕后操纵者, much like Zemo in that film.

Moreover, Doom plays a crucial role in the buildup to Secret Wars in the comics. The multiverse’s collapse stems from Doom’s war with the Beyonders. We anticipate a similar revelation in the MCU, suggesting Doom’s machinations are responsible for the impending multiverse crisis.

How Avengers: Doomsday Leads Into Secret Wars

Originally, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty was intended to segue directly into Avengers: Secret Wars, akin to Infinity War and Endgame. Although the title changed to Doomsday, the film remains a key precursor to Secret Wars.

Drawing from Secret Wars #1, we expect Doomsday to conclude tragically, mirroring the comic’s bleak ending. The multiverse collapses as the Avengers and X-Men squabble, failing to unite against a greater threat.

Just as in Infinity War, this failure underscores the necessity for unity. Rather than leveraging brilliant minds like Shuri, Hulk, or Beast, the heroes waste precious time fighting each other.

If Doomsday follows suit, the multiverse will be destroyed, leaving Battleworld—a fragmented reality composed of remnants of destroyed universes. In Secret Wars, a diverse roster of heroes, including past and present favorites, will rally to restore the multiverse and overthrow Doom.

For more insights into the MCU’s future, check out why Secret Wars needed Downey