Black Panther 2 Ending Phase 4 Supports Groundbreaking Doctor Doom Theory
Marvel’s announcement that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is ending Phase 4 supports a groundbreaking Doctor Doom theory regarding his MCU debut.
Marvel confirming that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever completes Phase 4 supports a major Doctor Doom theory. Marvel Studios shed new light on the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe at San Diego Comic-Con 2022. This included announcing a full Phase 5 slate, revealing Avengers: Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars for Phase 6 and the title giving the next overarching MCU story the Multiverse Saga label. All the news about the future also included the surprise that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever completes phase 4 in 2022.
Through all the news Marvel Studios has delivered on the multiverse saga, there were still some major characters and properties that weren’t mentioned. The SDCC panel surprisingly made no mention of mutants after Ms. Marvel‘s twist, while even Dead Pool 3 wasn’t announced as part of Phase 5 or Phase 6. There was even little information about how the Fantastic Four will make their presence felt in the MCU, let alone casting information or an update on its director. The lack of details about The Fantastic Four also meant that Kevin Feige never mentioned Doctor Doom, Marvel’s iconic villain audiences can’t wait to see him join the MCU. Additionally, the announcements that the multiverse saga is preparing for Avengers: Secret Wars and making Kang the Conqueror the MCU’s new Thanos leaves Doom’s future still unconfirmed.
That said, the MCU’s Doctor Doom plans may have been secretly teased by Marvel’s SDCC 2022 announcements. Rumors have been circulating for some time that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever could feature Doctor Doom to some extent. He was one of the most popular suggestions to be the sequel’s villain before Namor. Now that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is confirmed to end Phase 4, theories that Victor von Doom will appear may have gained traction through both connections to comic book source material and teases of the arrival of new characters.
Black Panther 2 Ending Phase 4 Makes Doom More Likely
The announcement that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever completing Phase 4 has massive implications for the planned sequel. Throughout the history of the MCU, films that begin phases or end them effectively are used to set up what’s to come in a major way. The Avengers completed phase 1 with the first appearance of Thanos and Avengers: Age of Ultron wrapped up the Phase 2 main story with another glimpse of the Mad Titan, though The ant Man is technically the last film of phase 2. Avengers: Endgame culminated the MCU’s Phase 3 and the Infinity Saga with no post-credits scene, but Spider-Man: Far From Home left audiences with Peter Parker’s identity cliffhanger.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Already does a lot of MCU Phase 5 setup through the debuts of Ironheart (Dominique Thorne) and Namor (Tenoch Huerta), which also features Atlantis, but a Doctor Doom appearance in the post-credits would copy Thanos’ Phase 1 debut. Doom is not only one of Marvel’s greatest villains in the comics, but he has major ties to where the multiverse saga is heading in Phase 6. His ties to the Fantastic Four and his role central in 2015 Secret Wars event explain why it is needed in the MCU. It is logical that the end of phase 4 with black panther 2 could then feature Doctor Doom.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s New Character Fits Doctor Doom Theories
Another Potential Doctor Doom Link Comes From Michaela Coel’s New black panther 2 character, Aneka. In the comics, she is a member of the Midnight Angels, a sub-group of the Dora Milaje who are the personal bodyguards of the ruler of Wakanda. His introduction was part of Marvel’s event miniseries plans fatal war. The comics saw T’Challa instruct Aneka to learn how to fight robots and train the other Dora Milaje to do the same, which was done in anticipation of Wakanda’s war with Doom. This storyline also happens to include Wakanda going to war with Atlantis and Namor over an assassination attempt on T’Challa, while Shuri has also become the new Black Panther during the build-up to this run. Aneka joins the MCU in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever may not see her training the Dora Milaje to fight the Doombots, but the connection is still notable.
When will Doctor Doom appear in the MCU?
Since Marvel Studios hasn’t announced anything about Doctor Doom’s MCU future, there are plenty of options for where he might appear first. black panther 2 the end of Phase 4 certainly makes it more likely that he could make a surprise appearance, even if it’s only his armor that’s shown in the movie’s post-credits. That would mean Doctor Doom’s true MCU debut could come in a Phase 5 project, like Stone heart (due to his black panther 2 connections) or Agatha: Chaos Coven (due to Doom’s magical interests in the comics). The safest bet for when Doctor Doom will appear in the MCU is in Phase 6. That’s when The Fantastic Four fate, while a later appearance could see Doom fight Kang in Avengers: Secret Wars. But if Black Panther: Wakanda Forever includes Doctor Doom at the end of Phase 4, it will be a clear signal to the public how important he will be for the rest of the multiverse saga.
Want more San Diego Comic-Con 2022 coverage? Check out our essential content below…
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever/Black Panther 2 (2022)Release date: November 11, 2022
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)Release date: February 17, 2023
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)Release date: May 05, 2023
- Marvels/Captain Marvel 2 (2023)Release date: July 28, 2023
About the Author
Leave a Comment