Avengers: Doomsday and its to-be sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars are almost certain to kill off some characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with some heroes in particular being more likely for the chopping block. The last major two-part crossover the series had, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, saw the deaths of important MCU characters, including Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Loki, and Gamora. It stands to reason that the Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars duo will be just as calamitous.

I’m reasonably certain as to who is in the most danger of dying in the upcoming tentpole MCU films. Metacontextually, actors who have been beholden to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for a long time are likely eager to complete their multi-picture deal MCU contracts, finally allowing them to move on to other projects without the baggage of another superhero blockbuster looming over their heads. In terms of the story, there are multiple characters that make sense to pᴀss away due to finishing their arcs or comic precedence.

10

Doctor Doom

Might perish like so many other Marvel villains

If I had to pick one character practically guaranteed not to survive the events of Avengers: Secret Wars, it would have to be Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. The most exciting upcoming villain of the MCU is more likely than not to survive his debut appearance, only to perish in the follow-up film. This would follow the precedent set by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, even if the former wasn’t technically his first MCU movie appearance.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has the chance to do something really different with Doctor Doom by keeping him around as a persistent threat to loom over the heroes in future films, something the trigger-happy franchise has only really done once before. Sadly, Downey Jr.’s absurdly high salary for Doctor Doom and his significance as the face of Iron Man will likely prevent this. This is a shame considering Doom’s comic importance, but is easily the most likely outcome.

9

Loki

Could stand-in for Molecule Man

Loki is a character who has already experienced death many times throughout the MCU, from his many fake-out deaths to his real one at the hands of Thanos. Now, the 2012 variant of Loki that went on to star in his own self-тιтled series rules at the center of time as the God of Stories. This unique position may make him a great stand-in for an important comic figure with no live-action adaptation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Interestingly, there have been multiple Marvel comic crossovers with the тιтle Secret Wars, with the 2015 series that brought Miles Morales into the main comic timeline possibly even overshadowing the original. In that version of events, Molecule Man is key in instigating the multiversal events that follow before eventually being killed by Doctor Doom. As a similarly powerful being, I could easily see Loki taking on this role, finally sacrificing himself one last time to prove his heroism after over a decade in the MCU.

8

Bucky Barnes

Has been there since almost the very beginning

Another character who has been with the MCU since as early as Phase One has been Bucky Barnes. The journey of Bucky through the MCU has been a rough one, going from an idealistic soldier from Brooklyn to a traumatized cybernetic killer to a sitting congressman. If there’s one character I’m positive is nearing the end of their arc in the franchise, it’s none other than the Winter Soldier himself.

With the worst of his trauma and his HYDRA control more or less conquered, Bucky might not have much to do following his appearance in the cast of Thunderbolts*. It might be fitting for him to finally go out in a blaze of glory in Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars, a gut punch that would surely devastate audiences. Bucky’s actor, Sebastian Stan, has also increased his non-MCU profile in recent years with performances like The Apprentice, meaning he may be eager to close out his contract.

7

Thor

Is in an awkward spot in the franchise

Much like his brother, Thor is in grave danger going into both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Thor himself has already suffered more loss than perhaps any other hero in the MCU, losing his mother, his father, his weapon, his brother, his eye, his girlfriend, and even his very nation. The only thing Thor truly has left to lose is his adoptive daughter Love and his own life.

Last left watching over his new charge on some remote planet, Avengers: Doomsday might be the last chance the MCU has to bring Thor back into the fold. If they do, it seems doubtful that he’d be able to survive, as Doctor Doom taking out a being as powerful as Thor could be a grave way to demonstrate just how threatening he is. After all, Thor doesn’t have much more drama to mine from his current simple life.

6

Doctor Strange

Has become a magical Iron Man

I would argue that no one has fulfilled the void in charisma the MCU has been suffering since Steve Rogers’ retirement and Tony Stark’s death like Doctor Strange. Essentially a magical version of Iron Man, Doctor Strange has shown up in supporting roles in other heroes’ films like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Thor: Ragnarok. Him and Spider-Man have more or less been the face of the franchise in terms of popularity, making them in grave danger going into the next two Avengers films.

Between the two, Doctor Strange is far more likely to die, having already made his way through many post-Avengers: Endgame films. It’s likely that Benedict Cumberbatch is more than ready to finally let the role go, and Doctor Strange has already more than fulfilled his role as an inspiration and mentor to young heroes like America Chavez and Spider-Man. As one of the most powerful magic users in the MCU, he’s also the best choice to go up against Doctor Doom in a one-on-one fight that could easily spell his literal doom.

5

Wong

A steadfast supporting character whose life isn’t guaranteed

If the MCU ends up being too weary of killing off major heroes again after seeing Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans return to them eventually, it’s the less popular heroes who might be in the most danger. Much like Doctor Strange, Wong is a powerful magic wielder who has somehow snuck his way into many unrelated MCU projects, including Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Audiences certainly enjoy Wong, but his death wouldn’t cause the same kind of upheaval as the тιтle characters.

Wong could be another way to represent just how terrifying of a force sorcerer Doctor Doom is, besting even the current Sorcerer Supreme in the mystic arts. It’s easy to see Wong’s death playing out similarly to Heimdall’s in Avengers: Infinity War, perhaps getting off one last crucial spell alerting the other heroes to the danger of Doom before his demise. It would be a shame to see him go, but Wong’s death might be even more likely than Doctor Strange’s.

4

Kang

Has officially been replaced as the next major villain

One character whose death has been practically confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars is none other than Kang the Conqueror. Once to be posited as the next major multi-movie threat to unite the Avengers, the combination of a lukewarm audience reception and actor Jonathan Majors’ firing from the MCU has led to Kang taking a backseat to Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. While Kang has been confirmed to at least still appear in the upcoming films in some capacity, it seems unlikely that he’d survive.

It’s easy for me to imagine a scenario in which Kang’s death is used simply to sell the threat of Doctor Doom. Kang might show up ready to conquer the multiverse in all of his glory only to be instantly destroyed by the arrival of Doom, gravely signifying the next major antagonist of the franchise. The MCU has never been one to keep its villains alive unnecessarily, and Kang’s life seems to be in grave danger going into the upcoming crossovers.

3

Hawkeye

It’s astounding he’s made it this far

If there’s one original Avenger that’s been a surprise with how long he’s survived, it’s Hawkeye. The team’s designated archer, Hawkeye’s lack of superpowers and lack of solo film have made him the brunt of many jokes over the years, constantly teased as the weakest original Avenger. Yet Hawkeye has somehow managed to outlive Black Widow, Iron Man, and Steve Rogers’ career as Captain America, always managing to get away from certain death by the skin of his teeth.

Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars might finally be the time to kill off Hawkeye as a lovable but ultimately expendable supporting hero. His archery somehow managed to survive against Thanos’ army, but the likes of Kang and Doctor Doom might finally be too much for the boots-on-the-ground hero. I’m shocked Hawkeye has made it as far as he has, and with no real arc on the horizon for him after the release of his series, it seems like his fate is all but sealed.

2

War Machine

In danger of being replaced

Ever since the death of Tony Stark, the closest hero to fulfilling Iron Man’s armored archetype has been War Machine. Though he was revealed to be a Skrull for much of his career in Secret Invasion, James Rhodes is one of the most impactful heroes still kicking from Phase One. He was promised to finally get a solo project, but the nebulous state of Armor Wars five years after its initial announcement doesn’t bode well for War Machine’s continued future in the franchise.

Part of this may be due to Riri Williams’ Ironheart taking over as the spiritual successor to Iron Man in the franchise, a younger hero with a lot of room to explore still. This paints a dire picture for Rhodey’s chances of survival going into Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Don Cheadle is already 60 years old, and his character’s fading relevance in the MCU may just be enough to put War Machine in the upcoming films’ kill count.

1

Nick Fury

Has already had one fake-out death

Nick Fury is the closest hero gunning for Loki’s record with two fake-out deaths, including Thanos’ snap. There since the very inception of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury has long served as the series’ connective tissue with the formation of the original Avengers initiative, and it’s difficult to imagine the franchise without him. That being said, I’m still nervous for Nick Fury’s ability to come out of the upcoming crossover films unscathed.

At 76 years old, it’s safe to say that Samuel L. Jackson wouldn’t be opposed to finally closing off the chapter in his career that the MCU has been. Narratively, Nick Fury’s pᴀssing might signal the official pᴀssing of the torch from the old guard of the Avengers to a new team consisting of the franchise’s greener heroes. Fury’s death would be a surefire way for Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars to emotionally affect audiences just as heavily as Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame did.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  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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  MCU Spider-Man 4

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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