New rumors about Avengers: Judgment Day are circulating online and suggest that Marvel Studios could be drawing heavily on Jonathan Hickman’s famous Avengers and Secret Wars comic book story.
The information comes from Cryptic HD on X, who responded to a fan question about how closely the next film will follow Hickman’s career.
According to Cryptic, the film will borrow key elements from the story, but will change certain aspects to make it work better for the MCU.
Warning: Potential spoilers may be found below.
Loki can replace the Beyonders
One of the biggest rumored changes involves Loki.
Cryptic claims that Loki will essentially replace the Beyonders in the story. In Hickman’s comics, the Beyonders are powerful cosmic beings responsible for destroying universes during the events of Incursion leading up to Secret Wars.
In the rumored film version, Loki could take on a similar narrative role driving the broader multiversal conflict.
The rumor also claims that Marvel will introduce a character inspired by Black Swan. In the comics, Black Swan serves Doom and warns of incoming incursions that cause universes to collide and destroy each other.
More inspired by the new avengers and the secret wars
The rumor also suggests Avengers: Judgment Day pulls more from the Hickman New Avengers and Secret Wars stories rather than the Time Runs Out story.
“Time is Running Out” is the final arc of Hickman’s Avengers saga where the Illuminati fight to stop the collapse of the multiverse.
However, Cryptic notes that the MCU may have already referenced that story via the Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness post-credits scene.
Because of this, Time Runs Out may not be fully explored in Avengers: Judgment Day unless it expands during refeeding.
Doom’s identity may be hidden
Another interesting rumor involves Doctor Doom himself.
Cryptic states that Doom’s identity may remain hidden for Avengers: Judgment Day while secretly carrying out his plans behind the scenes.
Rumor has it that Doom followers will also appear in the film without any clear explanation. Their identities would reportedly be kept hidden to preserve a later reveal.
This approach mirrors a moment in Hickman’s comics when Doctor Strange discovers that Doom is secretly operating under the identity of Rabum Alal.
If accurate, the film may present the broader plan of Doom and his mysterious followers before fully revealing who he is and what he’s trying to accomplish.
Avengers: Judgment Day Release
Marvel Studios is moving towards Avengers: Judgment Day as one of the next big crossover events in the MCU.
The film reunites Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans later this year following their appearance at the upcoming Oscars ceremony, where the two will perform.
Marvel has scheduled Avengers: Judgment Day for release on December 18, leading to secret wars in 2027.