Avengers: Secret Wars is set to be the concluding project of Phase 6 in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). At the same time, it will serve as the culmination of the overarching narrative known as the Multiverse Saga, which runs from 2021 to 2026. However, this sixth Avengers installment is also expected to be the final journey of the Avengers as they face off against the formidable villain Kang the Conqueror, defending their realities from imminent threats.
Together with The Kang Dynasty, the fifth Avengers film, Secret Wars is regarded as Marvel Studios’ most ambitious project since Avengers: Endgame in 2019. To achieve this, the closing of the Multiverse Saga will need to bring forth the largest-scale battles, featuring the greatest number of superheroes from various realities within the Marvel universe.
There have been reports indicating that Secret Wars will introduce many characters from past “games,” returning to the big screen. This includes Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff, and other superheroes from outside the MCU, such as characters from 20th Century Fox’s X-Men franchise or variants of characters that appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
However, if Secret Wars can transcend the immense shadow cast by Endgame, this film may also provide the most satisfying conclusion for the Avengers, a high-stakes ending worthy of Marvel’s most iconic team.
Secret Wars as a Culmination for the Avengers
At its core, Secret Wars is a battle of the multiverse and will showcase the full might of all Avengers, spanning past, present, and possibly even future realities across multiple dimensions. However, with the overwhelming number of superheroes involved, Marvel will need to find ways to manage the “army” for the conflict to avoid overwhelming the audience with the scale of this blockbuster. The duration will inevitably remain one of the significant challenges filmmakers must face. If too many prominent characters are included in one project, it may leave little room for character development and the unique traits of each hero.
Secret Wars is also seen as an opportunity for Marvel Studios to bid farewell to many superheroes who have been closely associated with the MCU for years, such as War Machine, Hawkeye, Hulk, and Thor. The sacrifices of these characters will resonate with the future scenarios that Tony Stark foresaw in the beginning of Avengers: Age of Ultron. The stakes will also bring closure to the successful cycle of the Avengers, with surviving members trying to navigate their roles amid this new reality.
Moreover, if Kang serves as the “final boss” of Secret Wars instead of the Beyonder as in the original comic, many possibilities will arise, viewing the Avengers as the catalysts that have triggered numerous incursions into the MCU. However, the upcoming project has already hinted at the villain’s knowledge about the Avengers before the events, as seen in Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania. The concept itself has already pulled various elements from the past into the reality of Earth-616, putting a target on all beings in the multiverse.
This may also evoke memories of themes previously addressed in Captain America: Civil War: Do the Avengers need to be monitored by any organizations or other governing bodies? If so, the temporary dissolution of the Avengers might be entirely plausible, as the consequences of a multiverse conflict could be far more severe than what Thanos once caused.
The MCU is Preparing for New Directions for the Avengers
Phase 4 of the MCU has been marked by several “stumbling blocks” due to a lack of cohesion between its films. Projects like Moon Knight or Eternals currently have minimal ties to the overarching narrative of the MCU. This inconsistency may stem from Marvel Studios secretly developing numerous new characters that could potentially replace the Avengers in the future.
Marvel Studios has confirmed that Phase 5 will conclude with the blockbuster Thunderbolts, which can be seen as an anti-Avengers team, comprising characters that are more villainous within the MCU. Under the leadership of the Winter Soldier, this team is set to be complete and operational before the events of Secret Wars unfold.
Additionally, there are two other notable projects currently in development within the MCU, including Fantastic Four (scheduled for release on February 14, 2025) and The Marvels (premiering on July 28 of this year). Each of these projects is expected to play a significant role in the ongoing conflict depicted in the sixth Avengers film, although their specific roles remain somewhat ambiguous and have yet to be clearly defined.
Furthermore, even though it has not been officially confirmed, Marvel Studios is also rumored to be developing the Young Avengers, featuring members like Kate Bishop, Riri Williams, Cassie Lang, Kid Loki, and Kamala Khan. This does not include other superhero groups like Midnight Sons, Defenders, or West Coast Avengers, where characters like Moon Knight, Blade, Jack Russell, and Elsa Bloodstone can fully harness their abilities and roles.
Finally, we cannot overlook the inevitable introduction of the X-Men characters, who will soon join the MCU following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019. Currently, Marvel Studios has already introduced some characters into Earth-616, alongside the upcoming contributions of Deadpool and Wolverine from different timelines. There will be no surprises if, after the Multiverse Saga concludes with the events of Secret Wars, the X-Men become central figures in the MCU, effectively taking the place of the Avengers.
The emergence of various new teams will undoubtedly diminish the Avengers’ significance, especially as they continue to form under similar objectives. Ultimately, the Avengers’ fundamental purpose has been to protect Earth and humanity. When too many superhero groups share the same goals, the necessity for the Avengers will diminish significantly.
Avengers Films are No Longer the Premier Focus of the MCU
In the first three phases (Infinity Saga), the Avengers played a crucial role in the overall narrative of the MCU. This is primarily why each phase has presented at least one Avengers blockbuster, with The Avengers concluding the first phase in 2012; Avengers: Age of Ultron premiering in 2015, closing Phase 2; and Phase 3 leading to the two-part saga Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
However, this formula has drastically changed as the MCU enters the Multiverse Saga, where the Avengers have almost been sidelined in Phases 4, 5, and will only return in the final installment of Phase 6, namely Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. This suggests that Marvel Studios is striving to reduce the reliance on the Avengers as a narrative centerpiece in films geared towards the threats they face.
Avengers blockbusters often garner considerable audience attention due to the crossover events — when superheroes from different realms come together to face a common enemy. However, Phases 4, 5, and 6 are demonstrating that the MCU does not need the Avengers to accomplish its goals, as crossover events have been more frequent, appearing in projects like Spider-Man: No Way Home and The Marvels.
The Future of the Avengers After Secret Wars
Currently, Marvel Studios remains quite secretive about the projects in Phase 6, as well as the subsequent phases after the Multiverse Saga concludes. However, if the Avengers cease to be active following the events of Secret Wars, they could still potentially return in the future, but with diminished prominence compared to the first three phases.
With the emergence of numerous new characters, there will be no surprise if Marvel Studios decides to temporarily put the Avengers on hold in upcoming projects. Ultimately, this could provide essential time for new superhero teams like the Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four, X-Men, or Young Avengers to shine. This will allow the MCU to delve deeper, diversify, and avoid overwhelming the audience with a plethora of characters.
Having built a solid foundation for numerous different characters, Marvel Studios will have more strategies to develop the MCU. And when aiming to create blockbuster hits like Endgame, or the upcoming Secret Wars, it is entirely possible to interweave these new characters together to deliver the most engaging and spectacular battles. This remains the ideal scenario for the Avengers to re-emerge and continue capturing the audience’s heart, just as they have done throughout the last decade.
Source: Marvel Studios, ScreenRant
