Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Captain America: Brave New World.The Avengers are only in the early stages of reforming in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it’s already beginning to seem like a Dark Avengers project could be coming sooner than expected. While many terrifying villains have appeared in the MCU, this superhero team, which has appeared in different iterations in Marvel Comics and was originally created by Norman Osborn after the events of Secret Wars, could be next. With a few unique twists, I believe the Marvel Cinematic Universe is setting up similar conditions, with even more interesting heroes and villains.

The MCU has spent a great deal of time examining morality in their series. There have been many MCU heroes who have become villains, with the most notable being Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. They have also done the opposite, with the ridiculously powerful Loki, the antagonist of The Avengers, being made into a hero. With all of this in mind, I believe that Marvel is planning to do even more with subverting character expectations, and this could be an important part of the next few films in the saga.

Captain America’s Ending Sets Up Other Multiverse Heroes

The Conflicts Of Secret Wars And Doomsday Will See Other Iterations Of Familiar Heroes

The ending of Captain America: Brave New World saw Samuel Sterns behind bars, but the villainous Leader did have some foreboding words to say about the future. With Sterns locked up on the Raft, the character reveals that he has been studying the Multiverse, and warns Captain America that there are other characters in other worlds who may come to theirs soon. It becomes clear that other iterations of this world will be at odds with it in the future, and that this could lead to destructive and terrifying conflict.

You think you’re the only ones? You think this is the only world? We’ll see what happens when you have to protect this place from the others.

With this in mind, it makes sense that there will be other iterations of each hero in the Multiverse, and that they will each have their own goals. There have been theories and rumors concerning a version of Captain America that could appear in Avengers: Doomsday, and it is more than likely that other variants will appear as well. Marvel has shown that the multiverse is a vast and complicated place, full of possibilities, and it is now made clear that conflict will be found between these other Earths and the heroes of Earth-616.

Why Other Heroes Could Still Be The Villains Of Doomsday

These Villains Could Likely Think Of Themselves As Heroes

Even with Leader being the villain of Brave New World, he makes an important point in its ending scene, commenting that “We share the same world, don’t we?” This is an interesting reflection that could help set up how conflicts are handled in the upcoming Avengers film. Even though there are other concerns concerning morality, the fact is that the fundamental survival of one’s universe is of such paramount importance that it would see villains and heroes fighting side by side against other iterations of themselves.

With Robert Downey Jr.’s powerful Doctor Doom already confirmed, and other stars including Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson rumored to appear in the upcoming Avengers film, it seems likely that a new team of Dark Avengers could be ᴀssembled. While working to save their own universe, and to survive total annihilation, would be seen as an act of heroism to them, it would be at the cost of Earth-616. For this reason, the morality at the center of the next Avengers film will surely be complex and challenging for viewers.

The Dark Avengers Could Be Totally Different In The MCU

The Dark Avengers Were A Lot Different In The Comics

In the comics, the Dark Avengers were a team formed by Norman Osborn after the events of Secret Wars. Many members of the team were not genuinely heroic, but were posing that way to support their own nefarious ends. They naturally grew out of the Thunderbolts team, and while the cast of the MCU’s Thunderbolts team is being revealed in the upcoming film, they too are much different, and seemingly less sinister, than this force. I believe if there are Dark Avengers introduced in the MCU, they need to be the antagonistic variants of the familiar heroes.

Having this team face the MCU’s greatest heroes could make for so many compelling moments and images. Knowing that Robert Downey Jr. is playing Doctor Doom already plays into this outlook on the team, and seeing other versions of characters, from Sam Wilson to Ant-Man, also fighting against the Avengers, is too great a prospect to miss. They would be a foe that would be hard to root for, but also extremely hard to root against. I can’t wait to see how this happens and is balanced with the story of Doomsday.

The Avengers are Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and I have a hard time grappling with the idea that some of them may become terrifying villains within the next two years. Contending with these character iterations, and seeing the damage that they may do to Earth-616, sounds like it will make for some genuinely emotional moments in the upcoming films. The Dark Avengers are a frightful team, but this iteration could also have something genuine and relatable at its core – and that might make them an even greater threat.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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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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