Avengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warsare set to shake up theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)with the potential to feature evil variants of heroes like Iron Man and Captain America, but it could also be a chance for one of the newest heroes to unveil their dark side.
Marvel movies have come a long way sinceIron Mandebuted in 2008. Since then, dozens of heroes have debuted, and close to 40 feature films have come out, expanding the world of the MCU. On the heels of the Infinity Saga, Marvel began to explore the multiverse, and the potential for variants in these stories.
Now, theMultiverse Saga is almost at an end- but before it resolves inAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars, Marvel Studios is chasing one of the most ambitious goals it’s ever faced, as itsets up a story with various heroes and villainsfrom across the Multiverse.
The MCU’s Evil Iron Man & Captain America Theory Seems Very Possible For The Upcoming Avengers Movies
Ever sinceLoki, the reality of variants in the MCU has been confirmed. The term variants refers to different multiversal versions of a character, who often have minor or major differences. In the case of Loki, many of his variants looked the same, but some were older, younger, a different species, or a different gender, as was the case with Sylvie.
InDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Stephen Strange learns about various versions of himself from across the multiverse, and despite his heroic and good nature, many of hisvariants appear to fall along a darker path. Ultimately, it seems this may also be true for all the other familiar heroes from the MCU.
For instance, Tony Stark started his life as an entitled and selfish man whose greatest contributions to society were weapons of mass destruction that were being sold to both sides of a war. As such, it’sconceivable that an evil version of this character existsin another timeline.
Meanwhile, the more noble and courageous Steve Rogers is the epitome of selflessness at the start of his hero’s journey, but according to comics,variants of Steve who joined HYDRAexist. With both of these in mind, the theories that an evil Iron Man and Captain America are set to appear soon do make sense.
This would be jarring and shocking, but it’s also an exciting and compelling way to set up the new generation of heroes, as theyovercome evil versions of their idols and old friendswho look just like the original leaders of the Avengers.
Vanessa Kirby’s Evil Sue Storm Hopes Are Entirely Possible If The Villain Theory Comes True
If the MCU is to bring in villainous variants, it would stand to reason to also include some newer heroes. With the reality of the multiverse already established, and its multitude of variants having been laid out,Marvel Studios has an opportunity to do some things that they may never get a chance to repeatin future stories.
This is especially interesting given that, according to Vanessa Kirby - who plays The Invisible Woman inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps- it’s adream of hers to explore the darker side of her character, Sue Storm (viaVariety).
There’s something about meeting the hardest parts of yourself in Malice that felt extremely poignant to me. I’m really hopeful I might be allowed to be Malice at some point for her.
Malice is a version of Sue Storm that is largely consumed by her own darkness, and gives in to the violent and brutal nature of her abilities. After all,Sue could easily use her force fields in a lethal way, creating bubbles inside her rivals and expanding them to literally obliterate the competition.
Malice seems like a far cry from the Sue Storm that appeared inFirst Steps, and her comic book origins suggest that several tragedies and interference from characters like Psycho-Manpush Sue over the edgebefore she becomes this character. As such, adapting a villainous variant may be the only way for the MCU to use this storyline.
Why Having An Evil Sue Storm Would Make Sense For Avengers: Doomsday Or Avengers: Secret Wars
Sue Storm’s full history hasn’t been laid out in the MCU, but her diplomacy, level-headed approach to challenging situations, and her maternal instincts have all been shown in great detail. And, all things considered, it doesn’t feel like this version of Sue is on the verge of blowing her enemies up.
However, the Fantastic Four and Franklin are set to be a pivotal part ofAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars, which suggests the lines between worlds like Earth-616 and Earth-828 may be blurred, andvariants from different timelines may end up gathered together.
This all makes sense when considering the likelihood of a Battleworld scenario in the upcomingAvengersmovies, wherevariants of heroes and villains will be forced to competetogether and against one another. As such, Kirby may well have her dreams come true, and get a shot at playing a less noble version of Sue Storm.
This would likely be Malice - following a similar track to what plays out in the comics - but it could also be an original variant created for the film, helping the new age of heroes explore the brightest and darkest sides of themselves ahead of some multiversal reset.
Whatever the situation turns out to be, now is the most appropriate time to introduce these variants of familiar heroes, old and new, before closing the door on the Multiverse Saga. With this in mind, it seemsAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warsare the perfect places for a major spot of villain spectacle before the next saga begins.
Avengers: Doomsday
Cast
Avengers: Doomsday is the fifth Avengers film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will bring together heroes, new and old, to face off against Victor von Doom - played by the returning Robert Downey Jr.. Avengers 5 will also mark the beginning of phase 6 of the MCU.
Avengers: Secret Wars
Avengers: Secret Wars is an anticipated installment in Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, serving as the finale of The Multiverse Saga. Scheduled for release in December 2027, the film’s plot remains under wraps, fueling curiosity about its role in the expansive Marvel narrative.
