Avengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warswill serve as both the ending to theMCU’s Phase 6 and the Multiverse Saga as a whole, which means major shakeups are expected.Fans of superhero action can expect thrilling action scenes, shocking twists, and, of course,a few noble deaths in battle.
Arguably, the MCU hasn’t entirely recovered from losing some of its major stars in the previous phase of the franchise, but that won’t stop some Avengers from assembling for the very last time. To help fans emotionally brace for some exits,we’re going over the 10 characters least likely to survive the Multiverse Saga, ranked by how likely they are to die. Some will be missed; others, not so much. However, they are all valuable players whose absences will be felt in the future.
Avengers: Doomsday
Played by Tom Hiddleston
It was a surprise to see Hiddelston’s name appear on theday of the infinite chairs, signaling Loki’s return, but maybe it shouldn’t have been.Loki has cheated death more than a few times, and his deceptive ways make it hard to tell when something is real and when it’s another complicated illusion from the God of Mischief.
The last time Loki was for sure dead, he went on to star in two seasons of a spin-off series, so it’s hard to believe in storylines sticking to the most persistent character in the MCU. Killing the same character wouldn’t carry the same level of shock as the first time it happened, but maybe this time, theRusso brothersorTom Hiddlestonmake it more official. Maybe Loki dies, and then Kevin Feige comes on screen and rips up Hiddleston’s contract.
9Winter Soldier
Played by Sebastian Stan
As the permanent best friend to anyone who assumes the mantle of Captain America, the Winter Soldier, AKA Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan)has been a player in the MCU from the early days ofCaptain America: The First Avenger. His character has gone from ally to foe and back to where he started, giving the metal-armed hero a full arc that doesn’t leave him with much left to prove.
The Winter Soldier would bean easy pick for a character to sacrificein order to raise the stakes of the story, as he’s a big enough name to shock fans with an early exit like Loki was inAvengers: Infinity War. However, since Bucky is now associated with theThunderbolts*, he might be more valuable to the MCU as part of a new team of anti-heroes that looks to pick up whereThe Guardians of the Galaxyleft off.
Played by Jeremy Renner
Clint Barton, or Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), wasn’t announced as an official cast member inAvengers: Doomsday, but that doesn’t mean he won’t appear by the timeAvengers: Secret Warsis over. If something were going to pull Hawkeye out of retirement, it would be a world-ending threat, so it’s not off the table to see the man of many arrows return to Earth’s Mightiest Team.
There should be characters that get to walk off into the sunset without dying on-screen, but it would be in Hawkeye’s nature to fight again, if for no other reason than a sense of duty to his family after he lost them once previously.Killing one of the original Avengers makes a statement, and if Renner isn’t interested in doing the part any longer, it might kill two birds with one stone.
7Nick Fury
Played by Samuel L. Jackson
Of all the characters in the MCU, the one who existed before there was a solid concept of a shared Marvel cinematic universe was Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Brief cameos from Fury teasing a larger world soon turned into an integral place within the expanding story as the man who would unite the Avengers for the first time. Although he didn’t have as much screen time as other heroes, S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Fury is a vital piece of the Marvel brand.
Fury’s death was teased inCaptain America: The Winter Soldier, but it wasn’t aconvincing enough ruseto throw many viewers off track, even if it was short-lived. It’s not clear how much longer Jackson wants to strap on the eye-patch, but it would beunderstandable if he’s ready to call it a day as Fury. One thing is for certain: if Fury does die, it needs to be in a blaze of glory that honors the character.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
6Red Guardian
Played by David Harbour
Red Guardian (David Harbour) wasa favorite not to surviveThunderbolts*,but when Harbour’s name was included as part of the casting announcement forAvengers: Doomsday, it implied the character remains alive and well. Although maybe he did die inThunderbolts*,and he returns as some kind of Jedi ghost person to speak to Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) in the next Avengers movie.
It’s not that anyone is rooting for the character to die. There’s beena precedent set in action films that the comedic relief diesto shift the tone of a movie and let the audience know anyone can possibly die in the climactic battle. Either way, if Red Guardian survives to the end of the Multiverse Saga, then his actual power is immortality on the scale of an ancient celestial, and may he rule everyone with a firm but fair hand.
Thunderbolts*
Played by Mark Ruffalo
The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) was the second character to get a solo movie after Iron Man kicked off the MCU, but his appearances have gotten a little less frequent over the years. As one of the original Avengers who hasn’t died or officially retired, there would be an expectation to see Ruffalo cast in the next team-up, but his chair never arrived. If the days of the Hulk are numbered, he could be a hero who dies by Doctor Doom’s (Robert Downey Jr.) hand.
Captain America: Brave New Worldwas essentially a Hulk sequel without the Hulk, so maybe the MCU is moving on to other characters they have more of a say in. There are many stories to tell starring the green giant, but if Disney would rather wait until they don’t have toinvolve Universal Pictures to do so, maybe they would opt toput Bruce Banner’s alter ego on ice until they can reintroduce him at a later date.
Played by Chris Hemsworth
As one of the remaining original Avengers, Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth) death would get audiences on the same emotional level as Iron Man’s sacrifice.Thor has developed over the yearsfrom a straightforward heroic character to a layered and unlikely comedic foil, but in either capacity, Hemsworth’s presence could be relied upon when the Avengers assembled.
If the goal were to have the villain, whether it be Doctor Doom or another surprise, demonstrate their level of strength by killing one of the mightiest Avengers, then Thor would meet the requirements. Off camera, based on the length of time Hemsworth has played the part,he might be ready to leave his Asgardian legacy behindin a sacrificial death that would please the Gods. The problem with killing Thor, though, is thatit doesn’t feel like there’s anyone on the current roster who could replace what he bringsto the table.
Played by Benedict Wong
The reigning sorcerer supreme, Wong (Benedict Wong), has been a recurring character since the firstDoctor Strange, but his days may be numbered in the upcomingAvengers: Doomsday.Up to this point in the story, Wong has been given enough screen time to be a friendly, recognizable face, but much like Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg), his lack of involvement in primary storylines makes himeligible for an impactful death without losing a core Avenger.
If Doctor Doom is hunting other masters of magic, then Wong would be an early target for the MCU’s new big bad villain. The death of Wong meansDoctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) would reclaim the title of Sorcerer Supremeand have a deeply personal reason to take on Doom. It would be a shame to lose Wong without him having a solid story about his time as the Sorcerer Supreme, but that might very well be the case.
Doctor Strange
2Professor X
Played by Patrick Stewart
It’s unclear exactly how the X-Men will be incorporated into the Marvel universe, but fans of the Fox X-Men movies were glad to see the original cast returning to the roles, especialluPatrick Stewartas Professor X. It’s always great to see Stewart back in the role of Charles Xavier, but based on the trend of how the MCU develops its characters, the long-term plan will most likely involveStewart’s Professor X passing on the torchwith a sacrificial death.
He’s already died once at the hands of the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), but assumably, Stewart has a larger role, and thus could provide a more impactful exit in the upcoming Multiverse finale.Rumors suggestthat the core X-Men team is being recast, and if Disney wanted to put a fresh spin on their new money-making mutants, it would stand to reason that their leader would receive a new actor as well.
1Doctor Doom
Played by Robert Downey Jr.
The MCU has never met a villain they didn’t want to kill, and Doctor Doom is unfortunately the next villain on the chopping block for the franchise. In a perfect world, Victor von Doom is a character who doesn’t need to die, because he can exist in a form of Cold War aggression with the heroes of the MCU. After all, he is a complicated figure who is generally a villain but can occasionally find common ground when greater threats are posed.
There’s something thatfeels temporary about Downey’s time as Doctor Doom, so there’s a possibility that Downey’s version of Doom dies in the Multiverse finale, but a new Doom emerges as the long-term character the MCU runs with. This would be the ideal set of circumstances, becauseDoom is a multi-faceted villainwho can have a long back-and-forth with the newly arriving Fantastic Four.
