An Avengers: Doomsday theory shakes up the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a huge way by putting heroes against themselves with a heartbreaking twist. One of the best films in the MCU was based on a collision between heroes. That happens to be Captain America: Civil War. The movie was essentially an Avengers film with Captain America at its center. Despite Steve Rogers and Tony Stark’s opposing opinions about the Sokovia Accords leading to a huge battle between MCU heroes, they were never trying to kill each other during that fight.

However, Avengers: Doomsday‘s story will be darker than that of the Captain America film, which means all bets are off. For some time now, it has been believed that major MCU stars could be returning for the anticipated Marvel movie as evil versions of their characters. While the Multiverse Saga certainly allows that to happen, there would be a more impactful way of still having heroes fight without resorting to the easiest alternative. That is where a new MCU theory comes in, as it uses what is known about Avengers: Doomsday‘s cast to suggest an incredibly dark story could happen.

MCU Stars Are Returning For Avengers: Doomsday

The Movie’s Main Villain Is Played By The Franchise’s Biggest Actor

Several MCU stars were always going to be coming back for Avengers: Doomsday. After all, Marvel Studios’ Avengers movies have grown exponentially in size since the first one was released in 2012. The Avengers franchise now uses characters from all over the MCU, which means the upcoming film could include the new Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Young Avengers, and more. However, besides the confirmed return of actors still in the franchise, like Anthony Mackie as Captain America and Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, stars who had left the MCU are also back for Avengers: Doomsday.

Robert Downey Jr. will play Doctor Doom in the movie, leaving Iron Man behind to become the main villain of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga. Reports claim that Captain America franchise stars Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell are also returning for the film. With Downey’s confirmed return and Evans reportedly joining him, all the original Avengers are back in the franchise in some form. Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, and Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye never left. As for Scarlett Johansson, she is a producer on Thunderbolts*, reigniting her working relationship with Marvel. This could all tie into the next Avengers movie.

Avengers: Doomsday Theory Pits The New Avengers Against The MCU’s Original Heroes With A Twist

The Avengers Face An Impossible Situation

One of the most popular theories about Avengers: Doomsday hangs on RDJ’s casting. With the actor as Doctor Doom, many believe that the original Avengers cast could come back as multiverse villains, either playing dark versions of their heroes, like Evans as Hydra’s Captain America from the comics, or new villains, as is Downey’s case. However, a new Avengers: Doomsday theory has a more heartbreaking suggestion about how the MCU could use the original Avengers now that they are all back in the franchise in some form, and it would be epic.

According to the theory, after incursions started to pop up in the MCU, Avengers: Doomsday could lead to the new Avengers fighting off a final incursion. It would be between Earth-616, the MCU’s main universe, and another where a very similar version of the original Avengers live. Only one universe can survive, so the audience is forced to be split between cheering the new Avengers on or supporting a version of the MCU’s original Avengers, the most beloved heroes in the franchise, to save their universe. This would cause conflicting feelings for MCU heroes — as they kill friends — and fans.

How Marvel Comics Sets Up The Perfect Avengers Vs Avengers Battle

Time Will Run Out For The MCU’s Multiverse Saga

In the “Time Runs Out” storyline in Marvel Comics, multiple teams of heroes fight one another. There is a growing concept of them versus us, as the Illuminati, a team that has already appeared in the MCU, believed that the answer to saving its universe was destroying other universes. Steve Rogers, as the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D., gets two teams of Avengers to fight the Illuminati and Sunspot’s Avengers team. The comic book version of the story the Multiverse Saga will tell was all-in on the idea of heroes fighting each other and the inner turmoil they faced as universes collided.

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Avengers: Doomsday can play with that same concept. Multiple superhero teams could come to blows over how to handle incursions. By using the original Avengers — Downey could easily play both Doctor Doom and an Iron Man variant — the MCU would create a conundrum for Eath-616’s heroes. That could even lead to some of them not wanting to fight the other heroes, while a portion of the characters could be in favor of destroying other universes to save theirs. The Avengers have the potential to be ᴀssembled again and later divided over morality questions in Avengers: Doomsday.

All Announced 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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