The MCU Is Seemingly Introducing a Major Storyline That Will Directly Lead into ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’

The past few days have been monumental for MCU fans. With the release of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, Kevin Feige hinted at the beginning of the “mutant era” in the MCU. Additionally, Marvel Studios’ SDCC panel unveiled the title for ‘Avengers 5’ and introduced Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom.

Given the recent teasers, along with the latest scoops and leaks, we now have a strong sense of what ‘Secret Wars’ and its preceding events will entail.

The Multiverse and Incursions have been central themes in the MCU, and it’s highly probable that we’re witnessing the setup for the ‘Time Runs Out’ storyline, which will lead directly into ‘Secret Wars’, mirroring the events in the comics.

In the comics, the ‘Time Runs Out’ event sees Earth facing a dire threat from Incursions, where Earth-616 is on a collision course with alternate realities. These Incursions stem from the Beyonders’ attempts to annihilate the multiverse. The Illuminati, now disbanded and acting in secrecy, devise a series of drastic and morally dubious plans to prevent these worlds from colliding with Earth-616. Their strategies involve using the Infinity Gauntlet and various other destructive weapons crafted by different faction members.

The Illuminati are deeply divided by internal strife and are poised to clash with the Avengers, a complex subplot that has been developing for some time. Their plans lead to the devastation of countless lives, as key figures each pursue their own agendas and seek personal revenge.

Ultimately, the ‘Time Runs Out’ storyline culminates in the collision of Marvel’s Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610) with Earth-616, resulting in the destruction of both realities.

The narrative continues in ‘Secret Wars,’ where God Emperor Doom seizes the power of the Beyonders to create a new realm, Battleworld, from the remnants of the shattered multiverse.

So, how does this relate to the MCU? Incursions and the Illuminati have already made their debut. The Illuminati were hinted at in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,’ and even though Wanda swiftly dealt with them, the faction is likely to make a return.

In the MCU, Incursions are believed to result from multiversal travel. In ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ Kang attributes the instability and incursions to a multiversal war among his variants. However, with the MCU moving away from Kang, this storyline may be adjusted.

Additionally, it was confirmed at this year’s SDCC and in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ that the X-Men and the Fantastic Four exist in separate realities from the MCU.

‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ is set in an alternate, retro-futuristic New York, while ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ concludes with Deadpool rescuing Earth-10005. Given these developments, it’s clear that the incursions will eventually bring the Fantastic Four and the X-Men from Deadpool’s universe to Earth-616, as there is no “Ultimate Universe” in the MCU to collide with Earth-616.

Additionally, it’s confirmed that the Fantastic Four will appear in ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’ Since Reed Richards plays a crucial role in both ‘Time Runs Out’ and ‘Secret Wars,’ it makes sense for the Fantastic Four to transition to Earth-616 by the end of the film.

As for Doctor Doom, he is likely to play a pivotal role in ‘Doomsday.’ Based on Robert Downey Jr.’s SDCC remark, “Same task, different mask,” it appears that Doom will attempt to save the Multiverse by creating Battleworld and selecting specific heroes to preserve, reflecting a significant shift in his role.

For the past year, rumors have suggested that ‘Secret Wars’ will act as a reboot for the MCU, potentially leaving only the X-Men, Fantastic Four, and possibly the Young Avengers in the cinematic universe. This aligns with the comic book storyline, where ‘Secret Wars’ also reset the entire universe.

We can also expect a dramatic clash between the X-Men and the Avengers as their realities collide. Both teams will likely be focused on their own survival and harboring deep mistrust toward each other.

What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments below!