Marvel Sparks Avengers vs. X-Men Casting Speculation

You might assume a five-hour video showcasing chairs labeled with names would be free of Marvel Cinematic Universe Easter eggs, yet dedicated fans suspect one is concealed within the shadows.

To recap, Marvel recently unveiled the cast of Avengers: Doomsday through a video that gradually presented chairs bearing the names of MCU actors. The video confirmed 26 additional actors who will join Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom in the superhero ensemble. This reveal unfolded over nearly five and a half hours.

While most have shifted their focus to debating the implications of the cast announcement for Avengers: Doomsday itself, a few have meticulously analyzed every detail of the chairs and their accompanying shadows. Their persistence may have paid off, as some now believe they have uncovered... something.

Redditor True_Confusion_295, whose username fittingly reflects the sentiment, remarked, "I feel like a conspiracy theorist circling things in red," while pointing out that a shadow cast by one chair resembles an 'X' superimposed over an 'A'. The interpretation? A potential hint at Avengers vs. X-Men.

I feel like a conspiracy theorist circling things in red
byu/True_Confusion_295 inmarvelstudios

Marvel surprised audiences by confirming the return of several stars from Fox's X-Men film series. Veteran actors from the Fox universe, including Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden, are now officially set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday. Grammer, famous for his role as Beast in the Fox X-Men franchise, made his MCU debut in a post-credits scene in The Marvels. Stewart, who portrayed Charles Xavier/Professor X in the X-Men films, previously appeared in the MCU as a member of the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. McKellen (Magneto), Cumming (Nightcrawler), Romijn (Mystique), and Marsden (Cyclops) have yet to make their official MCU debuts. Even Channing Tatum is returning as Gambit following his notable appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine. This naturally leads to the question: Could Avengers: Doomsday secretly be an Avengers vs. X-Men film?

Perhaps, when the film is finally released, fans will look back on this moment as the first subtle tease of the highly anticipated superhero clash, hidden within a chair's shadow. Or perhaps not.

Shadow-based letter theories are not the only conspiracies emerging from Marvel's announcement video. At the end, Robert Downey Jr. delivers a slightly unsettling 'shhh' to the camera, raising a finger to his lips. Why? It could be a 'don't tell anyone' gesture hinting that production is about to commence. Could it be a tease for Avengers: Secret Wars? Or maybe a nod to further casting announcements yet to come?

Alternatively, could it be a reference to Agatha from WandaVision? And, by extension, a potential surprise appearance of the Scarlet Witch, despite actress Elizabeth Olsen's suggestions to the contrary?

Doom x Agatha.#AvengersDoomsday pic.twitter.com/3LX38W5Kc0

— Cosmic Marvel (@cosmic_marvel) March 26, 2025

Earlier this month, co-directors the Russo brothers described Avengers 5 and 6 as a "new beginning" that will establish the foundation for the subsequent Phase 7 of the MCU.

"The only thing I’ll say about the movie is this: we love villains who perceive themselves as the heroes of their own narratives," Joe Russo stated. "That’s when they become three-dimensional and more compelling. With an actor of Robert Downey's caliber, it's essential to craft a fully-realized, complex character for the audience. That is a major focus for us."

Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for release on May 1, 2026, with Secret Wars following approximately a year later in May 2027. Before these, Thunderbolts* arrives in May 2025, the TV series Ironheart debuts in June, and Phase 6 launches with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July.

In October, Marvel Studios added three untitled film projects to its 2028 release calendar: February 18, 2028; May 5, 2028; and November 10, 2028. It appears increasingly probable that one of these releases will be an X-Men film.