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

At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Marvel Studios unveiled exciting updates about the future of the MCU, including the surprising announcement that Robert Downey, Jr. will return to the franchise as Doctor Doom. Doom is set to play a pivotal role in the climax of 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 2023's *The Marvels*. These developments have sparked speculation about whether *Avengers: Doomsday* might secretly be an *Avengers vs. X-Men* movie. Let's delve into Marvel's *Avengers vs. X-Men* storyline and explore how it could be adapted for the MCU.

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What Is Avengers vs. X-Men?

The Avengers and X-Men have been intersecting since their early 1960s debuts, collaborating in numerous stories like Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars (1984) and Secret Invasion (2008). However, Avengers vs. X-Men (2012) stands out as a unique narrative where the two teams clash rather than cooperate. The tension arises during a dark period for the X-Men, following Scarlet Witch's actions in House of M (2005), which drastically reduced the mutant population and threatened their extinction. Additionally, internal conflicts between Wolverine and Cyclops led to the formation of rival schools, further complicating the situation.

The conflict escalates with the arrival of the Phoenix Force from space. The Avengers view it as a dangerous threat to Earth, while Cyclops sees it as the last hope for mutantkind. When the Avengers attempt to destroy the Phoenix Force, the X-Men perceive it as an act of war. The story is enriched by unexpected alliances, with Wolverine siding with the Avengers and Storm torn between her loyalties to both teams.

Avengers vs. X-Men unfolds in three acts. Initially, the X-Men are the underdogs fighting to protect the Phoenix Force. The situation shifts when Iron Man's weapon splits the Phoenix into five pieces, empowering Cyclops, Emma Frost, Namor, Colossus, and Magik, who become the Phoenix Five. In the second act, the Avengers retreat to Wakanda, which is soon flooded by Namor, leading them to pin their hopes on Hope Summers, the first mutant born post-House of M, to absorb the Phoenix Force. The final act sees Cyclops, possessed by the Phoenix, turning into Dark Phoenix and killing Charles Xavier. Despite this tragedy, the story concludes on a hopeful note as Hope and Scarlet Witch use the Phoenix's power to restore the mutant gene.

How the MCU Is Adapting Avengers vs. X-Men

Details about Avengers: Doomsday are scarce beyond its title and cast, which have seen changes since its initial announcement as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. The MCU currently lacks an official Avengers team, and the X-Men presence is minimal, with only a few mutants like Iman Vellani's Kamala Khan and Tenoch Huerta's Namor introduced. Classic X-Men characters have appeared from alternate universes, such as Patrick Stewart's Professor X and Kelsey Grammer's Beast.

Who Are the Mutants of the MCU?

Here’s a quick rundown of every mutant character confirmed to exist in the MCU on Earth-616:

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

It's unclear if Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch will be revealed as mutants in the MCU.

Given the current state of the Avengers and X-Men in the MCU, an Avengers vs. X-Men movie might focus on a multiverse conflict. We theorize that Avengers: Doomsday could build on the post-credits scene from The Marvels, where Monica Rambeau finds herself in the Fox X-Men universe. This setup could lead to an Incursion between the MCU and Earth-10005, forcing the Avengers and X-Men to fight for their respective worlds' survival.

This narrative could draw inspiration from the first chapter of the 2015 Secret Wars series, where an Incursion between the classic Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe leads to a battle for survival. In Avengers: Doomsday, the conflict might involve epic superhero matchups, such as Captain America vs. Wolverine, and explore characters' conflicting loyalties, like Ms. Marvel's potential connection to the X-Men.

How Doctor Doom Fits In

Doctor Doom's role in Avengers: Doomsday could be pivotal, as he is known for exploiting conflicts to his advantage. He might see the X-Men of Earth-10005 as a means to weaken the Avengers, making Earth-616 more vulnerable to his schemes. Doom's history of manipulating heroes and stealing powers aligns with his potential role as the orchestrator behind the scenes, similar to Zemo in Captain America: Civil War. Additionally, Doom's central role in the comic's Secret Wars buildup, where his war with the Beyonders leads to the multiverse's collapse, suggests he could be the catalyst for the MCU's multiverse crisis.

How Avengers: Doomsday Leads Into Secret Wars

Originally announced as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Avengers: Doomsday is expected to lead directly into Avengers: Secret Wars, much like Infinity War led into Endgame. Drawing from Secret Wars #1, Doomsday might end with the multiverse's destruction due to the Avengers and X-Men's failure to unite against the looming threat. This could set the stage for Battleworld, a patchwork reality ruled by Doctor Doom, leading into Secret Wars.

Avengers: Doomsday could be a loose adaptation of Avengers vs. X-Men, setting up a dark status quo for Secret Wars, where a diverse lineup of Marvel heroes from various universes unite to restore the multiverse and overthrow Doom.

For more on the future of the MCU, learn 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.