Is AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY and SECRET WARS Gearing Up to Be an Avengers/X-Men Crossover?

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As a lifelong comic book enthusiast and moviegoer, I must say that the prospect of an Avengers/X-Men crossover has been a dream come true for me ever since I first flipped through the pages of those iconic comics as a child. The idea of seeing Thor clash with Storm, Wolverine go toe-to-toe with Hulk, or Scarlet Witch square off against Jean Grey’s Phoenix form is nothing short of exhilarating!

Following the blockbuster hit of Deadpool & Wolverine, which marked the integration of Fox mutants into a larger narrative, the burning question becomes “What’s in store next?” for these mutant characters within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)? Given that many of the most iconic X-Men from the Fox era were absent from the film, it seems likely that Kevin Feige is planning a grand sendoff for the A-list X-Men. This plan likely involves bringing together the Avengers and the X-Men on screen for the first time, which could very well happen in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

Absolutely, the comeback of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom is a significant move to maintain the current excitement for the MCU following Deadpool and Wolverine. However, if Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige truly aims to create an event that would entice even the most fatigued and desensitized MCU fans to watch in cinemas, it could be an epic Avengers/X-Men crossover. To put it more precisely, it might as well be a grand Avengers/Fantastic Four/X-Men crossover, given the Fantastic Four will appear in Doomsday and Secret Wars. Recent hints indicate that Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and Marvel’s Mutants are on a collision course with potential multiverse consequences.

The X-Men Hints So Far in the MCU

Ever since Disney took over Fox in 2019, there’s been a buzz among fans about when the X-Men will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Even She-Hulk made a point to ask during her series. So far, Marvel Studios has been taking things slow and steady. We got a hint of mutants in Ms. Marvel, and Patrick Stewart reprised his role as Charles Xavier in Multiverse of Madness. We’re not sure if Evan Peters’ Quicksilver in WandaVision is just a joke or hiding something more significant. The most exciting news, however, is the return of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in Deadpool & Wolverine, along with many other Fox Marvel mutants.

As a long-time Marvel fan who has grown up with the X-Men and their struggles against prejudice and discrimination, I can’t help but feel a surge of excitement at the prospect of seeing the classic X-Men back in action once again. With Kelsey Grammar reprising his role as Beast, working at the X-Mansion from the original films, it feels like we’ve taken a step closer to that long-awaited reunion.

Will These MCU Mutants Be the X-Men We Know?

Is it possible that the X-Men we’re discussing involve the ones from the original Fox X-Men films? The lab where Beast was working bore a striking resemblance to the underground medical bay in those movies. The Charles Xavier we saw in Doctor Strange on Earth-838 seems quite similar to the one from the X-Men: The Animated Series, but that same Charles was killed by the Scarlet Witch. Yet, the Beast’s Charles appears to be alive. This suggests that Beast might belong to the classic X-Men movie universe rather than Earth-838, or at least a variant of it. Keep in mind that the appearance of comic book Beast and live-action Henry McCoy are known to change over time.

X-Men: Days of Future Past May Hold the Answer

Fans familiar with the Fox’s X-Men film series know that the storyline and consistency can be confusing at times, to say the least. However, by the end of X-Men: Days of Future Past, Wolverine, played by Logan, found himself in a new era upon waking up, essentially experiencing a favorable ending where Charles Xavier was still alive and the school was operational. Notably, deceased characters like Cyclops and Jean Grey were also alive and thriving. Even Kelsey Grammer’s Beast made an appearance in this scene. This event unfolds canonically in 2023. The incident at Winchester, where Charles Xavier inadvertently caused mass casualties using his powers as depicted in Logan, occurred later in 2028. In the universe of Earth-10005 (as seen in Deadpool & Wolverine), it appears that an active X-Men team persists, possibly the same one Beast is associated with in The Marvels.

As a die-hard gamer, I’ve got a theory about the latest Marvel post-credits scene. The music cue from Days of Future Past feels like a clue, suggesting we’re in that optimistic ending timeline where they’ve preserved the best parts of the original films and discarded what fans disliked. Specifically, it seems they’ve done away with the unnecessary deaths of our favorite X-Men characters. Moreover, the comic-book accurate costumes for Logan and Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine hint at this new X-Men timeline being a patchwork of the old one. It’s like a fresh start, but with familiar faces. The Russo Brothers now hold the reins to this new reality.

Deadpool & Wolverine May Set the Stage for an Avengers/X-Men: Battle Royale

After diving into the latest action-packed adventure with Deadpool and Wolverine, it’s clear that the secondary characters from the Fox X-Men universe took center stage. If this blockbuster was intended as a heartfelt goodbye to the Fox X-Men universe, it feels rather peculiar that Marvel Studios head honcho, Kevin Feige, didn’t invite any of the heavyweights to the party. But then again, when you ponder about it, it makes sense that he might be saving them for an epic showdown like Doomsday or Secret Wars.

Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers and Secret Wars Will Likely Be Adapted

In 2015, the comic book series “Secret Wars,” penned by Jonathan Hickman, unfolded as a catastrophic event following multiple universe collisions that led to the destruction of all but two realities – the original 616 universe and the Ultimate Universe (Earth 1610). These surviving realities then clashed against each other in a fight for survival. Unfortunately, neither universe was spared; instead, what remained was merged by Doctor Doom into a new realm known as “Battleworld.” With Doctor Doom being confirmed as the antagonist for the next two Avengers films, the possibility of an on-screen adaptation of this narrative has become increasingly likely.

In the hypothetical scenarios of “Doomsday” and “Secret Wars,” we might witness a unique tale unfolding. Instead of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) facing off against itself, it would be the MCU Earth versus the Fox X-Men universe’s Earth. We’re talking about Earth-616 (The Sacred Timeline) squaring off against Earth-10005 (X-Men Earth). The combatants would include the Fantastic Four, tasked with protecting their respective realities from extinction. This fight isn’t about right or wrong, much like “Captain America: Civil War.” Given the circumstances, who wouldn’t strive to save everyone they care about from total obliteration?

X-Men vs. Avengers: A Battle Fans Have Waited Decades to See

Viewing it from a passionate spectator’s perspective, the conflicts would be unmissable showdowns, such as Thor against Storm, Wolverine against Hulk, Scarlet Witch against Phoenix, and so forth. Admittedly, an A-list roster of Avengers versus an A-list roster of X-Men is a vast array of characters. However, it’s worth noting that “Civil War” managed to handle 18 main characters, while “Infinity War” and “Endgame” featured 30, all while ensuring each character had a meaningful role. Therefore, an Avengers/X-Men crossover is not impossible. It’s no surprise that screenwriter Stephen McFeely, who worked on “Civil War,” “Infinity War,” and “Endgame,” received a call from Kevin Feige. McFeely, along with his writing partner Christopher Markus, has demonstrated a remarkable ability to orchestrate multiple superheroes seamlessly and infuse emotional stakes into these comic book battles.

Following the conclusion of “Secret Wars,” it’s highly likely that the Marvel Cinematic Universe will undergo some form of renewal, even if it’s a gentle one. A fresh X-Men film might introduce new iterations of these characters. However, the classic versions will still have their farewell moments before this change occurs. The original X-Men films were instrumental in sparking the Marvel superhero cinema trend post-Blade, which demonstrated to the public that such stories could work on the big screen. This paved the way for Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy and eventually the MCU. If “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars” are meant to mark the end of not just one narrative phase, but also reaching back before the inception of the MCU, there could be no more fitting way to conclude than with a grand finale.

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2024-08-09 02:03