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The MCU fan theories in 2023 are getting wilder with the Marvel Cinematic Universe easing into phase 5 of its projects. Adam Warlock has been unlocked, Skrulls are popping up everywhere and mutants (or the enhanced) have been unleashed.
1. Adam Warlock recreating the Infinity Stones
Adam Warlock plays a much more significant role in the comics than he does in the MCU. He eventually even comes to claim the infinity gauntlet for himself and reshapes the universe according to his will.
In Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is seen with a gem on his head without any explanation. It might very well be an easter egg hinting at the infinity stones being brought back to existence by the mighty Warlock.
2. The Marvels will introduce mutants as "enhanced" individuals
There's a lot you can expect from "The Marvels" (2023) movie, from fun action sequences to interesting crossover plot points. One of the major things that the movie is supposed to do is unveil mutants as "enhanced individuals." The line-up for the Young Avengers has anyway been clear since WandaVision premiered.
3. S.W.O.R.D will replace S.H.I.E.L.D as the quasi-fascistic organization in the MCU
WandaVision introduced us to the Sentient Weapon Observation and Response Division or S.W.O.R.D. This organization helped rebuild the soulless white version of Vision that later just took off on its own following the ship of Theseus's conversation with the red version. SWORD will probably help fund and train the superheroes in the MCU.
4. Skrulls will show up all across the MCU timeline.
To save any spoilers for people who haven't caught up with the MCU Secret Invasion series, Skrulls have infiltrated every level of the planet Earth. Also, all Skrulls are not good guys (duh) in the MCU leading to morally complex characters emerging with time in both movies and series.
5. A version of the Black Widow is alive just like Gamora
When Cap's returning all the stones in Endgame there is a huge possibility that he tried to find a way to save Natasha Romanoff aka The Black Widow. Now while this might not be the same Natasha, or might be one from a similar timeline we are definitely expecting to see the Black Widow.
Phase 4 MCU Fan Theories
Here are the Marvel Cinematic Universe Fan Theories in phase 4 of its plotlines in 2021:
a. Neither Sam nor Bucky is the next Captain America
The upcoming " The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" series seemingly puts the Falcon in the shoes of Captain America. This was sort of confirmed at the end of "Avengers: Endgame" where an aged Cap passes on The Shield to the Falcon played by Anthony Mackie. But as we fans know from experience, the MCU rarely makes things simple.
Remember the time the Infinity War trailer showed the Hulk charging into action against an unseen force? This turned out to be a misleading clue as it was Banner who fought the "space dogs" in the Hulkbuster suit. There was also the trailer for "Thor 3: Ragnarok" where Thor was shown with two fully functional eyes, wielding his lightning powers.
One easter egg in the trailer of "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" shows the falcon running onto a football field, high-fiving a person dressed comically as Cap. This clue along with sources in the industry have hinted at Wyatt Russell taking on the mantle of Captain America.
Russell has shown his action chops in the 2018 movie "Overlord," making him a sensible choice for the role (apart from him looking exceptionally caucasian I guess!)
b. The Avengers will all become legacy characters
"Avengers: Endgame" brought to a close, a decade of world-building, character growth, and exposition. This meant the MCU would have to breathe new life into its storytelling, requiring new superheroes and newer storylines. Enter WandaVision, introducing the viewers to the concept of a multiverse (apart from the brief visual in Dr. Strange).
The end of Wanda Vision saw Wanda Maximoff (played brilliantly by Elizabeth Olsen) hear her spontaneously created "chaos magic" children Billy and Tommy call out to her. To any fan paying attention, this would mean Wanda seeking out her children, regardless of the universe they're in. If and when she brings her children into Earth 616, the present Marvel continuity, they might be a fitting prelude to "The New Avengers" storyline.
Some of "The New Avengers" characters have already been announced by Feige himself - the first Pakistani superhero Ms. Marvel aka Kamala Khan, Shang-Chi, She-Hulk, Blade (Mahershala Ali), and more. Whether they will be brought together in an apocalypse level event or meet through intersecting plotlines, is yet to be seen.
What this ultimately means for "The Avengers" is roles that are reduced to lengthened cameos (probably multi-verse related) or flashback sequences for exposition. Either way, MCU is probably going to reboot "The Avengers" franchise.
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c. Avengers vs. X-men
Wanda Vision saw a cameo from the X-Men universe with Evan Peters reprising the role of Quicksilver. As it turned out, it was the doing of the Salem witch "Agnes" who controlled a Westview resident (named Ralph Bohner!) into playing the part of Wanda's brother in the sitcom world Wanda created.
While this doesn't mean much on paper and might be a distraction, it might actually serve as an easter egg for an upcoming X-men MCU inclusion. Most fans and sources have theorized that this mutant-superhero integration might happen from a conflict or from Wanda wiping out all the mutants ( No more Mutants!).
d. The Fantastic Four will bring Galactus to the MCU
Post Thanos, there is a huge hole to be filled by a Big Bad in the Marvel Universe timeline. There have been widespread rumors about the entry of the planet-eating god celestial Galactus, being brought to life by the energy of the Gauntlet snap.
While this does not guarantee the arrival of the first family of Marvel, it would seem like a good way to introduce the Fantastic Four. Other Big Bads who might take the place of Galactus include Kang the Conqueror, Mephisto (the Marvel version of Satan), and Gorr the God Butcher.
e. After reading the Darkhold, Wanda has become a Nexus Being.
The Darkhold is a book that could unlock the powers of Wanda as "The Scarlet Witch", making her more powerful than any celestial in existence. One massive implication of Wanda unlocking her full potential would be for her to either travel to every reality in existence or live in every reality simultaneously.
This makes her a Nexus being, capable of a certain level of omniscience, but what it really does is, make it easier for Marvel to switch between universes in a snap.
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