The MCU’s Avengers: Secret Wars Can Make A Bizarre Comics Crossover A Reality In Live-Action

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One upcoming animated MCU show could lead directly into Avengers: Secret Wars and present unprecedented action sequences, if Marvel Studios stays close to the source material. The Russo Bros.’ Avengers: Secret Wars is set to raise the already high bar left by Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Doomsday, with presumably more characters and higher stakes for the whole Marvel multiverse. If Avengers: Endgame‘s final battle was packed, and Avengers: Doomsday‘s cast is brimming with Marvel icons, then Avengers: Secret Wars will certainly break records.

Taking its title into account, the MCU’s Avengers: Secret Wars will probably draw inspiration from all Secret Wars and Secret Wars-related comic book storylines. Marvel’s 2015 Secret Wars might be the MCU’s main source of inspiration, as Doctor Doom is at the forefront. Of course, many elements from the comics will have to change, but a few others may be translated to the big screen intact, to the delight of fans.

Marvel Comics’ 2015 Secret Wars Storyline Featured The Marvel Zombies Universe

The Marvel Zombies Universe Was Transformed Into The Deadlands In 2015’s Secret Wars

After the multiverse is transformed into the patchwork reality of Battleworld, the Marvel Zombies universe — which had succumbed to an alien virus — gets transformed into the Deadlands, a quarantined territory where all Marvel Zombies are left to rot. In 2015’s Secret Wars, the Deadlands are isolated behind a massive wall known as the Shield, which separates them from neighboring territories like Ultron’s Perfection realm and the Annihilation Wave. Every once in a while, living heroes and villains venture into the Deadlands and find themselves quickly overwhelmed by hordes of the undead.

Notably, the supernatural hunter Elsa Bloodstone performed defense duties around the Shield. Other characters like Winter Soldier, Red Skull, Magneto, Ant-Man, Wasp, and Thanos fought Marvel Zombies in the Deadlands at some point in Secret Wars. Thanos, for instance, survives the undead and crafts a plan to rebel against God Emperor Doom, though Doom simply crushes Thanos’ spine with his bare hands as soon as Thanos arrives. Meanwhile, Red Skull survives the Deadlands and an assassination attempt, only to be killed by Crossbones on his way out.

The MCU’s Marvel Zombies Will Delve Deeper Into What If’s Undead Timeline

After Eyes of Wakanda in August, Marvel Studios’ Marvel Zombies will hit streaming in October 2025. Marvel Zombies will continue exploring the undead virus introduced in What If…? season 1 episode 5, “What If…? Zombies?”, where a small group of survivors sliced through infected heroes as they searched for a cure. New heroes like Mahershala Ali’s Blade, Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi, Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel, and Dominique Thorne’s Ironheart will be introduced. Gruesome deaths are guaranteed, as many zombies and survivors will inevitably die along the way.

A Secret Wars Marvel Zombies Crossover Presents A Unique Opportunity For The MCU

Famous Marvel Actors Could Play Zombified Variants Of Their Iconic Heroes In Secret Wars

If Avengers: Secret Wars does tap into comic book lore and adapts Battleworld’s Deadlands, it could tie directly into the Marvel Zombies animated show, thus marking the first time a live-action MCU project connects directly to an animated series. Otherwise, Avengers: Secret Wars could introduce a different timeline where the same virus turned every character into a zombie, with few or no survivors. This way, Avengers: Secret Wars could add new, live-action variants of zombified characters who were already disposed of in What If…? and Marvel Zombies, like Captain America, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and Scarlet Witch.

Avengers: Secret Wars is probably the only opportunity Marvel Studios has to adapt Marvel Zombies in live-action. Once the Multiverse Saga ends, the MCU will likely shift focus away from alternate timelines and concentrate its efforts on the introduction of mutants and the expansion of Marvel’s cosmic stories. And given that Avengers: Secret Wars is the perfect movie to feature Marvel Zombies, it also appears to be the last chance for iconic Marvel actors to play infected variants of their characters in live-action. Watching stars like Robert Downey Jr., Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Cumberbatch, and even Chris Hemsworth assemble as zombie Avengers would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Upcoming MCU Movies

Upcoming MCU Movies

Upcoming MCU Movies

“}]] Secret Wars could tie into an MCU animated show.  Read More