A new MCU theory suggests that an iconic hero’s death at the hands of Doctor Doom could be the catalyst to bring together the highly-anticipated Young Avengers team. Throughout the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, Marvel has introduced a number of young superpowered characters, spurring theories that the Young Avengers team will soon be making their live-action debut. However, there has been no word on when this exciting new Avengers team will come together, which makes the group’s future in the MCU uncertain.

Marvel Studios has recently introduced many young superheroes to the MCU, though some have taken more prominence than others. Kamala Khan, Kate Bishop, Cᴀssie Lang, Billy and Tommy Maximoff, America Chavez and Riri Williams have been top of the list of possible Young Avengers members in the MCU, but, so far, only two of these heroes have crossed paths. With Doctor Doom looming as a significant threat in Phase 6, a new theory explains how the Young Avengers could form to battle Robert Downey Jr.’s supervillain, but also spells bad news for another legendary hero.

The Young Avengers’ MCU Future Is Uncertain

The Marvels Delivered The MCU’s Only Young Avengers Tease

Theories have been rife regarding the Young Avengers team’s formation ever since WandaVision debuted Billy and Tommy Maximoff, the magically-created and recently-reincarnated children of the Scarlet Witch and Vision. Possible new members of the Young Avengers have appeared in almost every Multiverse Saga project, but it’s only been 2023’s The Marvels that has delivered an actual tease toward the team coming together. After battling Dar-Benn alongside Carol Danvers and Monica Rambeau, Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan set out to form her own superhero team by enlisting the help of Kate Bishop.

Kate Bishop’s appearance at the end of The Marvels provided the first confirmation that Marvel Studios does, indeed, intend to bring together the Young Avengers, with Kamala, Kate and Cᴀssie Lang being teased as the team’s first official members. In November, the new Worlds of Marvel experience on the Disney Treasure cruise liner featured Cᴀssie along with America Chavez and Riri Williams, teasing their role in the Young Avengers team, too. Even so, Marvel has not revealed when the Young Avengers will form, but a new theory posits a strong answer.

Doctor Doom Killing Hawkeye Inspires The Young Avengers To Form: MCU Theory Explained

Clint Barton Formed A Bond With Kate Bishop In The Hawkeye Series

A theory shared by Reddit user Fickle_Future7827 suggests that the Young Avengers could officially come together in either Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars to battle Doctor Doom. More surprisingly, the theory notes that the team could form in order to avenge the death of a fallen hero, namely Clint Barton’s Hawkeye, who formed a close friendship with Kate Bishop in Phase 4’s Hawkeye series. As the oldest possible member of the team, it makes sense that Kate Bishop would have a hand in forming and leading the Young Avengers, and this theory puts her in that sorry position.

\n”‘};
window.arrayOfEmbedScripts[“reddit”] = “null”;

Jeremy Renner has appeared as Clint Barton’s Hawkeye in nine MCU projects, across film, TV and animation, since making his debut in 2011’s Thor. Hawkeye is a founding member of the Avengers, and one of the MCU’s most notable superheroes, despite having no innate superhuman abilities. He became mentor to Kate Bishop in Marvel’s Hawkeye series, so his theorized death in Doomsday or Secret Wars would certainly motivate the new Hawkeye to band together with other young heroes to stage an attack on Doctor Doom, but this could end in tragedy for them all.

RDJ’s Doctor Doom Needs To Prove Himself To Be A Terrifying Threat

Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Is Replacing Kang The Conqueror

Several beloved heroes lost their lives in the battle against the Mad тιтan, Thanos, in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, including Loki, Heimdall, Gamora, Vision, Natasha Romanoff and Tony Stark. It stands to reason that other heroes will meet the same fate when taking on Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom in Phase 6’s upcoming crossover movies, since Doom has replaced Kang the Conqueror and his variants as the Multiverse Saga’s new primary antagonist. Doctor Doom is one of Marvel’s most formidable and well-known supervillains, and Marvel needs to make sure this translates into the live-action MCU with very little development.

While there is speculation that Robert Downey Jr. might make his debut as Doctor Doom in 2025’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, it’s unlikely the MCU’s newest villain will get much development before 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday. This means Doctor Doom will need to make his power known quickly in Doomsday, and killing an Avenger would accomplish this very easily. Since Black Widow and Iron Man are already ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, and Steve Rogers retired in Endgame, that leaves only Thor, Bruce Banner and Hawkeye on the chopping block. Unfortunately, Hawkeye seems like the hero Doom could most easily defeat.

Hawkeye’s Legacy Would Be Perfect If This MCU Theory Turns Out To Be True

Kate Bishop & The Young Avengers Would Become Hawkeye’s Legacy Heroes

Considering the journey that Clint Barton has been on over the last decade-and-a-half, it will always be surprising that Jeremy Renner initially asked for the hero to be killed off during his second appearance in 2012’s The Avengers. Thankfully, Marvel didn’t listen, and Hawkeye has gone on to become a hugely important hero and doting father in the MCU. This is a legacy that could be retained forever if Doctor Doom dispatches of Hawkeye in the MCU’s Phase 6, especially if this is the vehicle for the Young Avengers finally coming together.

Jeremy Renner’s January 2023 snowplow accident threw his MCU future into jeopardy, and while he has since had a speedy and incredible-to-see recovery, it’s possible the actor may not want to stick around in the MCU for much longer. Hawkeye is a very demanding and physical role, so while Renner has expressed interest in returning in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, this could be the end of the line for Hawkeye. If this is the case, Kate Bishop and the Young Avengers would become the perfect custodians of Hawkeye’s legacy, just as others have been for the other fallen Avengers.

Upcoming MCU Movies

• 
  
  

  
  

  Captain America: Brave New World

  Release Date

  
  February 14, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Spider-Man Homecoming 4

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse