As we know, Avengers 4 will likely require some tricky inter-dimensional manipulation and time travel to undo Thanos' big snap that killed half the universe. As we also know, back in the real world, Disney and 21st Century Fox are completing a merger, which gives the Marvel Cinematic Universe access to properties that were formerly owned by a separate company, such as X-Men and Fantastic 4. And, as Disney CEO Bob Iger said earlier this year, the company plans to “expand iconic movie franchises like Avatar, Marvel’s X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Deadpool, Planet of the Apes, Kingsman, and many others.”
So, the gears are all in motion for this great meeting of the Marvel characters to happen as soon as Avengers 4. One interesting fan theory on Reddit explains how the reversal of Thanos' snap could cause the introduction of both The Fantastic 4 and Mutants. If the snap can bring Captain Marvel back to Earth to help, certainly it could bring the Fantastic 4 back as well.
All of this brings people that are not on Earth, back as well. Meaning the F4 are introduced as scientists exploring the negative zone and ripped back to Earth forcefully through the Negative Zone (Reed and Sue theorised that humans could have randomly been “switched” to this zone like the real-life phase change) barrier--giving them abilities.
This is seen as the ultimate insult by a former colleague of Richards’. He was also in an accident that forever changed him, and instead of praise, his human rights violations came to light and he was forever thrown into darkness. That’s right baby, Mole Man is the villain this time. He brings to light an accident that Reed had “caused” as graduate student. This revelation paints doubt over his incredible abilities and instead neglect (Doom was the injured party. SEQUEL SET UP).
So, how will this work for X-Men? Well, the snap will trigger mutations that were already happening in the Marvel Cinematic Universe:
Have the 1950/60s see the depths to which S.H.I.E.L.D (as of Winter Soldier) went to in order to create enhanced individuals. They created a dirty bomb that had no effect on those tested(think about real-life Carbon-14). It was abandoned. This was the origins of the work seen in Avengers 2 that created Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. The difference being the bomb’s energy surged across the planet creating mutants out of developing fetuses in gestation—it unlocked a gene). Very few of these fetuses would develop abilities.
We see two familiar figures come together in college in the 1980s and use their gifts in similar ways to help others like them. The generation they were a part of had children, Millennials. These would be the modern mutants. After the snap? Another wave of energy would hit. This would cause mutant abilities to unlock in the genes to develop throughout this new generation. People in their 30s to people just hitting puberty. This new gene would be unlocked in future generations as well(meaning we can get Bishop).
You can even have one of those soldiers impacted by my aforementioned bomb be James ‘Logan’ Howlett. He was changed, and then turned into a weapon by S.H.I.E.LD. He isn’t as storied as the comics, but everything else can be adapted. Sabretooth too. Now, all of this commotion on a universal scale brings attention to Earth. This means the new Phrase 4 will deal with larger threats.
One thing is clear, with many of the current heroes' contracts expiring, Marvel and Disney need to begin planning some major characters to introduce in the next phase of the MCU. With Avengers 4 acting as the end of a chapter, it's the perfect time to introduce an entire new generation of beloved heroes. Despite the whole universe destruction thing, we at least have something to thank Thanos for.
Matt Miller is a Brooklyn-based culture/lifestyle writer and music critic whose work has appeared in Esquire, Forbes, The Denver Post, and documentaries.
