Heroes turning evil? Rumor has it some Avengers will join Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom in Secret Wars, calling him their savior. Who’s flipping sides—Cap? Thor? Let’s speculate! [link] #MCU #DoctorDoom #SecretWars

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is no stranger to shaking things up, but the latest rumor about Avengers: Secret Wars might be its wildest twist yet. Picture this: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, fractured and desperate, with some turning their backs on the team to kneel before Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. According to a March 6, 2025, FandomWire article, industry insider Alex Perez has dropped a bombshell—certain Avengers will reportedly go rogue in Secret Wars, siding with Doom because, to them, he’s not the villain but the savior they’ve been waiting for. This isn’t just a plot twist; it’s a seismic shift that could redefine the MCU, blending moral ambiguity with multiversal mayhem. With Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars on the horizon, Kevin Feige seems to be cooking something darker—and more deliciously chaotic—than ever before.

The Multiverse Mess: A Setup for Betrayal

Let’s set the stage. The Multiverse Saga has been a rollercoaster since Loki Season 1 cracked open the timelines in 2021. He Who Remains (Jonathan Majors) kept the multiverse on a leash, pruning anything that didn’t fit his Sacred Timeline. Then Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) stabbed him, unleashing infinite realities—and infinite problems. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduced incursions—colliding universes that spell doom for all involved—and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) showed the TVA scrambling to manage the fallout. Now, with Majors out and Downey stepping in as Doctor Doom for Doomsday (May 1, 2026) and Secret Wars (May 7, 2027), the MCU’s pivoting hard. Perez’s scoop suggests these incursions are the tipping point, pushing some Avengers to see Doom as the only way out of a crumbling multiverse.

What’s an incursion? Imagine two universes smashing into each other like cosmic bumper cars—only one survives. The Avengers, already battered post-Endgame, face a reality where their home, Earth-616, could be next. Doom, a genius with a god complex, might have a plan: consolidate the multiverse into something he controls, like the comic’s Battleworld. To some heroes, that’s not tyranny—it’s survival. Perez hints they’ll “side with Doom” because “to them, Doom is their savior,” a chilling echo of the 2015 Secret Wars comic where Doom rules as a god-emperor. But who’s desperate enough to flip?

The Turncoats: Who Might Join Doom?

Speculation’s rife, but let’s narrow it down. Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Tony Stark (Downey) are gone—unless variants emerge—but the current Avengers roster offers plenty of candidates. Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a prime suspect. After Multiverse of Madness, he’s seen the multiverse’s fragility firsthand, even wielding the Darkhold to stop an incursion. If Doom offers a solution—say, pruning timelines like He Who Remains did—Strange’s pragmatism might sway him, especially with the Time Stone gone and magic as his only weapon.

Then there’s Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), the new Captain America. Captain America: Brave New World (2025) pits him against a world skeptical of heroes. If incursions threaten Earth and governments falter, Sam might see Doom’s iron-fisted order as a necessary evil—a shield for humanity, even if it’s green and cloaked. Or consider Thor (Chris Hemsworth), who’s lost Asgard twice. With New Asgard vulnerable, aligning with Doom to save his people could tempt the Thunder God, especially if Loki (Tom Hiddleston), now guarding the timelines, nudges him that way.

Newer heroes like Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) or Peter Parker (Tom Holland) could also waver. Carol’s cosmic perspective might align with Doom’s grand vision, while Peter, haunted by No Way Home’s sacrifices, might gamble on Doom to protect his world. Perez doesn’t name names, but the Russo brothers—helming both films—love a moral gray zone. Think Civil War’s Tony vs. Steve, but galaxy-sized.

Doom as Savior: A Comic Twist Reborn

In the 2015 Secret Wars comic, Doom doesn’t just conquer—he creates. After the multiverse collapses, he steals the Beyonders’ power, forging Battleworld from reality’s scraps. He’s a tyrant, sure, but also a preserver, shielding survivors from oblivion. The MCU’s Doom could follow suit, positioning himself as the multiverse’s last hope. Downey’s casting—swapping Iron Man’s heroism for Doom’s menace—adds layers. Tony died to save one universe; now, as Doom, he might justify mass pruning to save them all, a twisted mirror of his Endgame sacrifice.

Perez’s hint that Doom’s followers see him as a “savior” suggests a propaganda win. Maybe he broadcasts across realities: “I’ll end the incursions—join me or perish.” To desperate Avengers, that’s not a threat—it’s a lifeline. The Russo brothers, who turned Infinity War into a gut punch and Endgame into a triumph, could make this division epic. Picture Strange and Sam clashing with Thor and Carol, each side believing they’re right, with Doom’s shadow looming over it all.

Feige’s Master Plan: Chaos Before Calm?

Kevin Feige’s been juggling the MCU’s post-Endgame slump—Quantumania flopped, The Marvels underperformed—but Deadpool & Wolverine’s $1.3 billion haul proves he’s still got juice. Swapping Kang for Doom after Majors’ exit was a curveball, but this rumor shows it’s no panic move. Feige’s weaving a tapestry where heroes falter, villains rise, and the multiverse bends. Doomsday might set the stage—Doom unveiling his plan—while Secret Wars delivers the payoff: a fractured Avengers, a godlike Doom, and a reset button for Phase Seven.

Why turn heroes evil? It’s not just shock value. The MCU’s bloated with characters—over 30 films deep—and incursions offer a clean slate. If Doom consolidates realities, Feige could prune the chaff, keeping fan-favorites and rebooting the rest. Imagine a post-Secret Wars Earth-616 with X-Men and Fantastic Four baked in, not bolted on. It’s risky—fans might hate seeing Thor or Strange “go bad”—but the Russos thrive on bold swings. Civil War split the team and paid off; this could too.

The Stakes: A Divided Legacy

Here’s the kicker: this twist could outshine Endgame. That film united the Avengers against Thanos; Secret Wars might pit them against each other, with Doom as the fulcrum. The emotional weight of Nat’s sacrifice or Tony’s snap could pale next to Sam betraying Steve’s shield or Strange abandoning the Sanctum. Downey’s Doom, once the MCU’s heart as Iron Man, now breaking it as a savior-villain, is poetic—and brutal.

Will it work? Maybe. The MCU’s stumbled lately, but the Russo brothers’ track record—$2.8 billion for Endgame—buys trust. If they nail the why—showing heroes’ despair as incursions loom—fans might buy the betrayal. Leak risks aside (Feige’s famously spoiler-averse), Secret Wars could be a gut-wrenching, galaxy-spanning epic that redefines the Avengers’ legacy. For now, it’s a rumor, but one that’s got us hooked. Who’s siding with Doom? We’ll find out in 2027—unless the multiverse spills the beans first.