MCU Hints at Avengers vs. X-Men with Doomsday Cast?

What initially appeared as a straightforward five-hour chair reveal for Avengers: Doomsday might hold a secret Marvel Comics reference. Eagle-eyed fans are convinced they've spotted a hidden X-Men connection lurking in the shadows of the cast announcement video.

The X-Files: MCU Edition

Marvel Studios' unconventional casting reveal featured plush chairs gradually displaying names of actors joining Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom saga. While most viewers focused on the 26 confirmed cast members, some detectives turned their attention to the flickering shadows.

Reddit user True_Confusion_295 sparked speculation when they noticed a chair's shadow forming what resembles an "X" over an "A" shape. This immediately sent the Marvel fandom into speculation mode about potential Avengers vs. X-Men foreshadowing.

X-Men Alumni Enter the MCU

The timing seems suspiciously coincidental given Marvel's confirmation of multiple Fox X-Men veterans joining the production. Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), and other legacy X-Men actors will appear alongside MCU stalwarts.

This revelation has fans questioning whether Avengers: Doomsday might secretly serve as Marvel's adaptation of the famous "AvX" comic storyline. With Grammer already making his MCU debut in The Marvels' post-credits scene and Stewart previously appearing in Doctor Strange 2, the pieces appear to be falling into place.

The Downey Cryptogram

Robert Downey Jr.'s mysterious "shhh" gesture at the video's conclusion has become another focal point for theories. Possible interpretations range from teasing future casting announcements to hints about Avengers: Secret Wars connections.

Some particularly inventive fans suggest it might reference WandaVision's Agatha Harkness, potentially indicating Scarlet Witch's involvement despite Elizabeth Olsen's previous comments.

Building the Future

Directors the Russo brothers have described the upcoming Avengers films as foundational for Marvel's Phase 7. Joe Russo emphasized their focus on creating complex antagonists, particularly important when working with actors of Downey's caliber.

With Thunderbolts* arriving May 2025 and The Fantastic Four kicking off Phase 6 in July, Marvel Studios continues expanding its universe. Recent additions to the 2028 release calendar suggest the long-awaited X-Men reboot may finally be imminent.