Stan Lee was the creator of many different Marvel Cinematic Universe properties, but the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars has the perfect opportunity to subvert expectations by using one of his most important rules. Marvel movies and MCU characters have differed from the comics in ways both big and small, and much of this has been to great success. Evolving these rich characters and innovative ideas to make the era makes a lot of sense, and it is important that the filmmakers continue to utilize this flexibility. This could result in an excellent twist to the upcoming Avengers film.

The MCU has a lot of work to do to get to Secret Wars, including the introduction of several important Marvel characters. The plot of the upcoming film is set to see the clashing of several different universes together. This will include variants of familiar characters, as well as recognizable actors from Marvel’s past playing different roles. Still, there is one Golden Rule that Stan Lee insisted upon in his stories, and the MCU has tended to follow it up to this point. Acknowledging that rule in Secret Wars could be incredibly effective.

Stan Lee’s Golden Marvel Rule Has Been Held To By The MCU For Its Whole Run

Every MCU Bad Guy Has Had Some Good In Them

Stan Lee’s Golden Rule insisted that no villains were made totally bad, through and through, just as no heroes were entirely and perfectly good. In a Soapbox column from March 1969, Lee outlined this outlook, explaining that “One of the greatest barriers to real peace and justice in this troubled world is the feeling that everyone on the other side of the ideological fence is a “bad guy”.” Following this outlook, most MCU villains have been imbued with complexity. This has allowed some of the strongest villains to have relatable ideas.

Thanos was looking for balance, and Killmonger was looking for meaningful structural change. Vulture was just looking to navigate a difficult world, and find a way to support his family. By giving these villains relatable needs, they were made more fully human and relatable. Rather than focusing on cartoonish desires only for control or domination, none of these MCU villains have been entirely evil. That being said, with the multiverse at their disposal, now might be the right time to address the implications of that Golden Rule.

The MCU’s Marvel Rule Makes A Major Villain Twist In Avengers: Secret Wars Possible

If Every Villain Has Good In Them, The Right Circumstances Can Make Them Heroes

Avengers: Secret Wars has the perfect opportunity to bring all the villains throughout the MCU together to fight on the side of good. The upcoming film is set to see the clashing of various worlds, and this will challenge the idea of morality, and attempt to find a good solution that is for the betterment of all. Having the heroes and villains aligned in their goals, especially as so many of these villains have proven to have goodness in them, could make for some exceptional MCU moments.

The best and worst castings in the MCU are all possible to bring back for the upcoming event film, and circumstances appear to be unlikely to have heroes and villains from the same universe on opposite sides. While Thanos was looking for balance in the universe, that same balance would be found in the weighing of the multiverse. It therefore seems likely that this rule could be used to set up a compelling cooperation between heroes and villains alike from Marvel’s incredible history.

Having MCU’s Heroes & Villains Team Up In Avengers: Secret Wars Would Be A Perfect Payoff Of The Franchise’s History

Giving The Villains And Heroes The Same Goal Could Be Extremely Effective

Many Marvel characters have changed sides over the course of the franchise. Loki is perhaps the best example of this, and with some heroes becoming villains in the upcoming MCU films, it is likely that the inverse will happen as well. Characters from throughout Marvel’s entire history, no matter their villainy or their goals, will be necessarily aligned with the heroes to stop the destruction of their universe. Introducing such a transcendent threat could give an incredible opportunity to have the heroes and villains fight side by side.

Seeing Doctor Strange fighting alongside Kaecilius, or Thor working with Malekith and Gorr, could make for some incredible sequences. Aligning the good and evil of the MCU, and crafting a team that truly harkens back all the way to the franchise’s origin, and villains like Iron Monger, could be a strong way to make Secret Wars feel even bigger than Avengers: Endgame. If this is the franchise’s intent, there is no better way that they could pull this off nearly as effectively.

Whatever happens in Avengers: Secret Wars, the film is likely to bring back all kinds of heroes and villains from across the multiverse. Where their allegiances will lie will likely be fundamental, and rooted in their own universes. Using the franchise’s history, examining Stan Lee’s Golden Rule, could be the perfect way to make all of this tie together in a compelling and satisfying way. No matter how this is done, Avengers: Secret Wars could be better for it.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

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  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
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  Spider-Man Homecoming 4

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  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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