While Marvel Studios is yet to confirm plans for a Secret Wars movie in MCU Phase 4 and beyond, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness may have already set up the groundwork for a chaotic multiverse crossover battle. Doctor Strange 2’s introduction of “Incursions” and America Chavez’s (Xochitl Gomez) multiverse jumping abilities along with Wanda’s (Elizabeth Olsen) destruction of heroes from another universe could be the start to adapting Jonathan Hickman‘s critical acclaimed Marvel comics.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
With a little help from Defender Strange or better put, Zombie Strange – the Sorcerer Supreme (Benedict Wong) and Doctor Strange manage to quell the Scarlet Witch though not without a few causalities on Earth-838. However, visiting the parallel universe and learning about Strange’s incursions in tampering with the book of Vishanti is Marvel’s first possible hint at multiversal collusion that could end with the destruction of every universe including Earth-616. Though more on that for later, while fans are thrilled at the possibility, their immediate concern is the painstaking long wait, possibly a decade to see it happen.
Some veteran Marvel fans are even joking about living long enough to see the big setup with Fantastic Four’s Doctor Doom at the center of the aftermath. It took 10 years for Marvel Studios to complete the Infinity War saga over 22 films so one can only wonder about the time period required to establish this roadmap. Readers can check out reactions below.
Do people seriously not know where it’s going? It was practically spelled out at the end credits of MoM, Two words, Secret Wars. pic.twitter.com/BEt7sAK7Me
— Aztecc (@JustAztecc) May 8, 2022
Apparently #secretwars is trending. Secret Wars? Been there, done that!😄 pic.twitter.com/xzc6FMaGoW
— John Semper Jr. (@johnsemper) May 9, 2022
Secret Wars is trending, so here's one of the best moments from Secret Wars when Dr. Doom killed Thanos. pic.twitter.com/yjoDl3Rtea
— Robert Jefferson (@comicsexplained) May 8, 2022
Secret Wars is trending and tbh the only way I see Secret Wars in the movies working is if they give Doom his own seperate movies. We need people to onow how much of a force of nature he is pic.twitter.com/Pz3XFm9egz
— Blue (@BlueMaverickX) May 8, 2022
Now I gotta stay alive long enough to see Secret Wars in live action pic.twitter.com/rQBmEBWRpQ
— monky ape (@damonkyman) May 6, 2022
Nerds are funny, y’all
We literally got a Doctor Strange/Scarlet Witch movie with multiple realities, the Darkhold, Chthon mythos, Secret Wars teases.
And folks crying that Ruffalo’s Hulk didn’t meet Bana’s and say “wow, you’re big” while Hugh Jackman and Tobey Maguire wrestle
— Richard Newby (@RICHARDLNEWBY) May 8, 2022
I don’t understand how comic book fans can watch Loki, What If and Multiverse of Madness and not see that Secret Wars is the endgame 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Qi8gMWx8I7
— Joshua Chenault (@joshuachenault1) May 9, 2022
hope they all meet up in secret wars so the most oddly specific group of marvel twitter stans shit themselves pic.twitter.com/E7vhkOXnnc
— Neb | 🏳️🌈 (@NebsGoodTakes) May 8, 2022
Secret Wars is a really cool event but um uh… it works best bc of two LONG ass comic runs surrounding the Avengers and F4, how tf is the MCU gonna handle this
— yehu (@comicyehu) May 8, 2022
If Feige is a smart man (and I'm sure he is), he will play a looong game with Secret Wars in the MCU. Everything we just saw in #MultiverseofMadness should be the beginning of that long and expanded storyline. There is no need to rush with this. pic.twitter.com/X7XYRDq16t
— Filip || ŁZM 💛💙 (@lysy_z_marvela) May 8, 2022
I’m so excited for the MCU to tackle Secret Wars because it’ll be the second time they adapt a crossover comic event thats actually GOOD, after Infinity War/Endgame, & look how well that turned out pic.twitter.com/N8XVCmA2Qt
— Chef Big Dog (@BorkEternal) May 8, 2022
I need to see Spidey meet his superhero family SO BAD in MCU Secret Wars pic.twitter.com/ZaWDwOEo4z
— Jedi Hearts: KINGDOM HEARTS IV / Versus XIII (@Jedi_Hearts) May 9, 2022
Wasn’t a bad start for America Chavez. This is certainly not the last time we will see her. This character is definitely gonna be in the “new generation” of Marvel characters, maybe a new team of Avengers…Secret Wars?? https://t.co/bkfoyar4jX
— Kaleb Hanson-Richart (@kalebmohawks) May 8, 2022
Heading into Secret Wars like pic.twitter.com/Bq6CHc8ItD
— Charlie Schneider (@AwesomEmergency) May 9, 2022
It’s all leading to Secret Wars, the path is there. Be patient people and enjoy the ride. https://t.co/JTm2G6IolZ
— ReedReads 🏳️🌈 (@ReedReads4) May 8, 2022
Can't wait for Secret Wars! God Emperor Doom will be amazing! pic.twitter.com/vogHIqAKTj
— Sam, the Geeky Citizen (@GeekyCitizen) May 8, 2022
What is the Secret Wars story in Marvel comics?
To put it in simpler terms, Secret Wars is the beginning of the end to the larger Marvel universe and yes that includes every parallel plane of existence in the multiverse. The end of the world caused by Secret Wars isn’t an event that can be stopped even with the Infinity Gauntlet or the Illuminati’s smartest/strongest members. With universes colliding and heroes fighting each other to save their own planet, it eventually ends with all the earths merging to form the Battleworld, where Doctor Doom is God.
For Marvel to explore this arc would require a fitting groundwork with the introduction of the Fantastic Four, Namor the Submariner, Molecule man and a few more pivotal superheroes. Also, it would be in a timeline where the new generation, the kids of Marvel’s greatest heroes are established as well.
How Doctor Strange 2 hints at Secret Wars with Fantastic Four
For starters, John Krasinski’s Reed Richards mentioning he’s a parent, essentially confirming Franklin and Valeria Richards is a bread crumb hint for Secret Wars. Although it’s a variant from another universe – it does signal that Marvel’s first family won’t just prioritize the four OG. It will be interesting to see how the new generation will play out in this multiverse chaos.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is out in theatres.
