Reviewing Four Insane Theories About 'Avengers: Endgame'

It's no secret that Avengers: Endgame will make big changes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and bring the stories of so many characters to a close. While there will be a few heroes bowing out of the franchise for good, there are still some new additions that will carry the torch into the next major storyline that will go on until 2028. Marvel announced their lineup of release dates not too long ago; however, they have yet to attach movies. For now, it's only natural to guess what will be coming out and when.

Before we can experience the other side of the fourth Avengers adventure, it's time to take a step back and look at some outlandish fan theories about what will happen within the three hour runtime before the credits roll (none of which include Ant-Man entering an orifice). Each theory will have a verdict weighing its credibility and likeliness to happen.

Only Captain America will die.

The Theory: While it would be safe to assume that the body count for this movie would be much higher, and that Thor would be among the deceased, Iron Man and Captain America are the only characters whose stories feel truly complete. As harsh as this may sound, they have nothing left to contribute, and having them killed off would bring about some form of closure. Not to mention it's fairly evident that Chris Hemsworth isn't done with his character, and after completely reinventing the Norse god in Ragnarok, Kevin Feige and Taika Watiti would want to explore this new side in a fourth installment. However, Tony Stark has demonstrated some father figure qualities in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and with his desire to start a family with Pepper, his time as Iron Man may be up, but he still has a reason to live. Steve Rogers on the other hand, has had self-sacrifice running through his veins since The First Avenger, having his final mission end with him willingly giving up his own life to save countless others would be a worthy note for him to end on.

The Verdict: Out of all the theories on the list, this one seems the most plausible. Ever since Captain America crashed the plane into the ice, it's no secret that he's prepared to die for the safety of the world. Of course, it wouldn't be all that interesting if the finale to an eleven-year story only had one death, but as far as this theory goes on talking about the death of Steve Rogers, it's fairly rock solid.

Scarlet Witch breaks the universe.

The Theory: The Avengers are successful in their mission, but something happens along the way that shatters everything. Scarlet Witch being one of two heroes with the power of the Mind Stone inside her, it's possible that she can feel the effects of the other stones, and a slight memory of them. Being aware of what happened, and the memory of Vision dying being too much to bear, she inadvertently goes insane, her power taking hold of her and breaking reality itself. This would result in a cataclysmic event more devastating than the snap, as her fellow heroes would be near powerless to stop her, unless they managed to obtain the stones themselves and revert the effects. That would completely change Thanos as a villain, to an accomplice to the Avengers.

The Verdict: Scarlet Witch is definitely one of the more nerfed (weakened) characters in the MCU when compared to her comic book counterpart, that power of the Mind Stone isn't without merit. After all, she did hold back Thanos, who had five of the six stones, with one hand while the other Avengers were tossed aside like rag dolls. However, exploring that idea would require another movie at the least, as the Mad Titan has been sold as the ultimate bad guy for the past six years, and to have him switch sides would make the buildup seem like a waste of time. It's a cool idea, but not a likely outcome.

Thanos survives.

The Theory: Last time we saw the Mad Titan, he was peacefully watching the sunrise on a farm, content that he had brought balance to the universe. Of course, once Earth's Mightiest Heroes get their act together and prepare for one final battle, the expectation is that Thanos will not survive the events of the movie. Being equipped with a new sword, his armor, and the Infinity Gauntlet, he's not going down without a fight, and he may not even go down at all. There's already plans for an Eternals movie, a project that Marvel Studios has hinted Josh Brolin may be a part of. Granted, it most likely will take place sometime in the past, but that may be a red herring. The Eternals film could touch upon the aftermath of Endgame, and a side plot could be about a search for Thanos as he is the only non-celestial being capable of wielding all six Infinity Stones. This would be a major callback to the comics, as in the "Infinity Gauntlet" event, he escaped death and lived a peaceful life as a farmer.

The Verdict: Initially, the idea was that the Avengers didn't reverse the effects of the snap, but with the trailer for Spider-Man Far From Home out and about, that theory was shot down quickly. This theory seems a little plausible given how Marvel Studios doesn't completely ignore the comics, but the farmer Thanos ending was already shown in Infinity War, having it end almost exactly the same would feel inconclusive.

A New Beginning

The Theory: With the Fantastic Four and the X-Men now under the Disney umbrella, fans are hoping that the characters would eventually make their MCU debut. However, that may be years, perhaps another decade away, as the studio already has their hands full with making sequels for Spider-Man, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and Guardians of the Galaxy. On top of that, they have to find a new home for their Netflix shows, as well as handle their network programs such as Cloak and Dagger and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and their upcoming Disney+ shows. But, all this setup is leading to a mind-bending revelation that everything, with the possible exception of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3, takes place in a completely alternate reality, where some of the most notable events in the timeline never happened. For one reason or another, the price to resurrect those who disappeared in the snap may be too high, and the Avengers realize that the only way to save their friends and loved ones is to create a brand new timeline using the Quantum Realm.

The Verdict: Time travel has been hinted at thanks to some behind-the-scenes photos of a blond Tony Stark, Ant-Man, and Captain America on a set that resembles the Battle of New York from the first Avengers. Retconning nearly a decade's worth of movies is bold, but also problematic, because once you introduce a device such as time travel, then the lore gets all twisted up. This theory seems to come from wishful thinking that Endgame will create a new timeline where Marvel's First Family and the Mutants join their fellow Marvel characters, making it easier for them to be incorporated into the MCU. As much as everyone would love to see Wolverine team up with Hulk, or Reed Richards work with Tony Stark, it wouldn't make sense, storywise.

There's only one way to confirm/debunk these theories, and the many others not listed here, to see Avengers Endgame when it arrives in theaters.