How long was Rhodey a Skrull?
The most heartbreaking theory is that Rhodey was replaced after Civil War, meaning he wasn’t there for Tony Stark’s death. Armor Wars will focus on Rhodey’s “recovery arc,” as he realizes his best friend is gone and his legacy has been stolen by corporate scavengers like Justin Hammer, who is rumored to return as a primary villain.

Is the ‘Council of Kangs’ still active?
While the “Kang” name has been downplayed, the variants are still out there. Fans are looking for a scene in Doomsday where Victor von Doom enters the “Arena of Kangs” and systematically executes the leadership, proving his dominance and effectively “cleaning up” the previous narrative threads of Phase 4 and 5 in a single, brutal sequence.

What is the “Black Order” status?
In Secret Wars, we may see a reality where the Black Order survived and became the “Praetorian Guard” for God Emperor Doom. This would give the newer Avengers a chance to fight classic villains with a higher power level, showing how much the threats have evolved since the original Battle of Earth.

Who hired Crossbones?
The mystery of the Lagos biological weapon remains a foundational question for the “Thunderbolts.” If the buyer was the same organization that created the “Sentry” (Bob Reynolds), it connects the beginning of the Civil War directly to the most dangerous being in the 2026/2027 slate, suggesting a decade-long conspiracy to create an unstoppable super-human.

Where are the other “Falcon” soldiers?
Sam Wilson’s transition to Captain America has left the “Falcon” role open. In Brave New World, we may see the introduction of a new Falcon (Joaquin Torres) or a full squadron of aerial soldiers using the “EXO-7” technology, acting as a specialized strike team for the new Captain America as he navigates a global political crisis.

Why did Thanos give Loki the Mind Stone?
This remains the biggest “plot hole” in the MCU. A popular theory for the 2026 era is that Thanos knew the stone would lead to the creation of an A.I. (Ultron) that would weaken Earth’s defenses. By “gifting” the stone, Thanos was playing a long game, ensuring that the planet’s smartest minds would inadvertently tear their own world apart before he even arrived.

Are the Sokovia Accords still active?
While technically repealed, the “Anti-Vigilante Act” in Spider-Man: Brand New Day suggests a “Sokovia Accords 2.0.” This new legislation is likely backed by President Ross and Wilson Fisk, specifically designed to target non-government-sanctioned heroes like Spider-Man and Daredevil, creating a “legal” war that the heroes cannot win with their fists.

Who is the “Benefactor” from Ant-Man?
The “Benefactor” who hired Sonny Birch is the MCU’s version of the “Man Behind the Curtain.” With the Fantastic Four joining the 616-timeline, many suspect this benefactor is a variant of Doctor Doom who has been funding corporate espionage for years to prepare for his ultimate arrival and the annexation of Earth’s technology.

Will Thor and Loki ever meet again?
This is the “Endgame” of character arcs. Loki as the God of Stories and Thor as the King of Asgard are the two pillars of the Norse mythos. Their reunion is rumored to be the “emotional anchor” of Secret Wars, where they finally stand as equals to save the multiverse, completing a 15-year journey from warring brothers to the ultimate guardians of time.

What is Mephisto’s role in Ironheart?
Sacha Baron Cohen’s Mephisto is rumored to be a “venture capitalist” in the 2026 series, offering magical solutions to technological problems. By tempting Riri Williams and “The Hood,” Mephisto is attempting to “corrupt the future” of the MCU, introducing a supernatural element that the science-based Young Avengers are completely unprepared to handle.

Is Maria Hill actually dead?
The “Death” of Maria Hill was a massive point of contention in 2023. In the 2026 slate, she is rumored to return as a member of the “S.A.B.E.R.” security council or as a variant from a timeline where she became the Director of SHIELD. This would allow Marvel to “fix” the mistake of killing her off and give the character the prominent role fans have always wanted.

Will Star-Lord join the Avengers?
Peter Quill is currently on Earth, eating cereal and visiting his grandfather. Without his Guardians, he is a man out of time. His “Legendary Star-Lord” solo project is expected to show him struggling to adapt to Earth life before he is recruited by Sam Wilson to act as the “tactical lead” for the Avengers’ first cosmic mission against Doom’s forces.

What is the “Excelsior” ship’s mission?
If the ship is a “Life Raft,” its mission is to preserve the “best of humanity” in the event of an Incursion. This “Noah’s Ark” scenario would be a major plot point in Doomsday, as the heroes realize they might not be able to save everyone and must decide who gets to live on the “Battleworld” that Doom is currently constructing.

Will What If? characters go live-action?
Captain Carter’s success has paved the way for “Strange Supreme” or the “Guardian of the Multiverse” to appear in Secret Wars. These characters would act as the “Multiversal Avengers,” providing the raw power needed to fight a god-like Doctor Doom when the main Earth-616 heroes are at their lowest point.

Is Arnim Zola still around?
In a world where Ultron and Vision are primary characters, Arnim Zola’s “digital immortality” is more relevant than ever. He is rumored to be the “A.I. advisor” for President Ross, helping him perfect the Red Hulk transformation and acting as a dark mirror to JARVIS/Friday, proving that HYDRA’s influence never truly left the American government.

What is Namor’s long-term plan?
Namor’s patient waiting is the scariest part of his character. He knows that the surface world will eventually destroy itself through the multiversal incursions, and he plans to simply “outlast” them. When the dust settles, he expects Talokan to be the only civilization left standing, making him a potential “Survivor-King” in the post-Secret Wars landscape.

Who is Earth-616’s Anchor Being?
An “Anchor Being” is a person whose existence stabilizes their entire universe. While Wolverine was the anchor for the Fox-Universe, the 616-anchor is rumored to be Peter Parker. This explains why the multiverse seems to center around him in No Way Home and why Doctor Doom might need to capture or eliminate him to successfully rewrite reality into his own image.

Will the Young Avengers finally unite?
By 2026, the team should be ready. With Kamala Khan, Kate Bishop, Cassie Lang, and Billy Maximoff already in place, they only need a “inciting incident.” This incident is likely the disappearance of the main Avengers during the first act of Doomsday, forcing the teenagers to step up and defend Earth while the adults are fighting in the multiversal void.

What did Renslayer see in the Void?
When Renslayer was “pruned,” she landed in a place that looked like the end of time. Some suspect she found the remains of a “Previous Multiverse” or a weapon capable of killing a Kang. Her return as a “Vigilante of Time” would make her a wild card in Doomsday, as she might be the only person who knows how to navigate the “Loom” that Doom is trying to control.

Is Sadie Sink actually Jean Grey?
The casting is too high-profile for a minor character. If she is Jean Grey, her “awakening” would be the first major step in the “Mutant Saga.” Her relationship with Spider-Man would serve as the emotional bridge for the audience to accept mutants into the MCU, making her the “face” of the next decade of Marvel storytelling after the Avengers trilogy concludes.

Will the MCU Shows connect to the Films?
2026 is the year of “Integration.” Daredevil: Born Again and VisionQuest are designed to lead directly into Avengers: Doomsday. This is a shift from previous phases, where shows felt “optional.” Now, the events of the street-level and mystical series are the “groundwork” for the cinematic events, making the entire 2026 slate a single, massive narrative.

What is the “Future Slate” beyond 2027?
The “Mutant Saga” is the big question mark. After Secret Wars, the MCU is expected to undergo a “soft reboot” where the X-Men are the primary focus. The unanswered question is whether characters like Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four will remain the leads, or if the “Age of Avengers” will finally give way to the “Age of Mutants” in a completely redesigned universe.