Following recent casting news for Marvel Studios’ highly-anticipated Avengers: Doomsday, I’m convinced the Phase 6 crossover movie is about to introduce the most twisted version of the Avengers team that the MCU has ever seen. Ever since Kevin Feige revealed that the Russo brothers would be returning to direct and that Robert Downey Jr. would be starring as Doctor Doom, I’ve been incredibly excited about Avengers: Doomsday. Robert Downey Jr. isn’t the only formerly-retired MCU veteran returning in Avengers: Doomsday, however, which has me even more intrigued.

Avengers: Doomsday‘s impressive cast has seen some exciting additions in recent months. Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will be opposed by Sam Wilson’s Captain America, the Fantastic Four, the Thunderbolts and Spider-Man, and I’m thrilled that Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell have also been confirmed to be returning. The fact that two of the MCU’s original Avengers team actors will be coming back, though seemingly in different roles, makes me think that Marvel Studios could be setting up a faithful adaptation of Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars event in the best way.

Robert Downey Jr & Chris Evans Returning For Avengers: Doomsday Raises One Big Avengers Theory

Marvel May Be Introducing An Evil Avengers Team

Since Marvel Studios hasn’t revealed who he’ll be playing in Avengers: Doomsday, I’ve loved seeing theories that Chris Evans will be rejoining the MCU as a villain. This would see him follow in Robert Downey Jr.’s footsteps, as Downey Jr. played Tony Stark’s Iron Man for over a decade before being recast as Doctor Doom. I would love to see Chris Evans suit up as a HYDRA-indoctrinated Captain America or another iconic Marvel villain, and this makes me think that Marvel will be bringing a wild Avengers: Doomsday theory to fruition in 2026.

I reckon Doctor Doom and Chris Evans’ new villain could be primed to be a part of an evil Avengers team from across the MCU’s multiverse, perhaps a twisted version of the original Avengers team’s line-up. This could see Downey Jr., Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner and, possibly, Scarlett Johansson team-up once again, but as dark versions of their classic MCU heroes. I think this would be a fantastic story to explore in Avengers: Doomsday, and this could fit into the overarching Multiverse Saga narrative perfectly.

Marvel Comics Make The Alternate Universe Avengers Theory More Likely

Two Avengers Teams Battle In Marvel Comics’ Time Runs Out

In the lead-up to Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars event in 2015, Jonathan Hickman’s Time Runs Out arc saw the heroes of various Earths fight to save their worlds from destructive incursions. Namely, the Avengers teams of Earth-616 and Earth-1610 both sought a way to save their reality, knowing the only way to do that would be to destroy the other Earth. I reckon debuting a dark Avengers team in Doomsday would be a great way to adapt this storyline, as this team could fight to save their world by trying to destroy the MCU’s Earth-616.

In Marvel Comics’ Time Runs Out, the Illuminati and the Cabal do succeed in wiping out alternate worlds, but incursions ravage the multiverse nonetheless, which leads directly into the events of Secret Wars, with Doctor Doom creating Battleworld from the fragmented universes. I’d love to see this storyline adapted for the MCU in the lead-up to 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars, and debuting a dark mirror to the Avengers team would set this up perfectly. I reckon this could see Marvel Studios adapt a story far bigger than Thanos’ quest for the Infinity Stones.

Pitting The MCU’s New Avengers Against An Alternate Universe Iteration Sets Up A Story That Could Compete With The Infinity Saga

Adapting Time Runs Out & Secret Wars Would Be Huge For The MCU

The MCU’s Infinity Saga came to an end with the Avengers team and various other heroes of the 616-Universe fighting the Mad тιтan, Thanos, in the ruins of Avengers HQ. The Battle of Earth was epic, widely considered to be the peak of the MCU so far, but I think that pitting the Avengers against a darker alternate version of the iconic superhero team would contribute to the MCU’s biggest battle yet. The Avengers wouldn’t only be facing one villain who wants to claim a MacGuffin, but many superpowered villains who want to kill them all to save their world.

This motivation would make a dark Avengers team, featuring the likes of Doctor Doom and perhaps a HYDRA version of Captain America, among others, far more dangerous and threatening than Thanos ever was. Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame are, by a wide margin, Marvel’s most successful movies yet, but this theory could see Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars knock them off the top spot. I’m very excited about the prospect of seeing Time Runs Out play out on-screen, especially with the likes of Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans back at the helm.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Captain America: Brave New World

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  February 14, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Thunderbolts*

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  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Spider-Man Homecoming 4

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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