Tom Holland’s Spider-Man plays a key role in the story of Robert Downey Jr.‘sDoctor Doom, according to a newMarvel Cinematic Universetheory.Holland and RDJ are forever linked in the MCU. As has become well-known, the MCU version of Spider-Man had Downey’s Iron Man as his mentor. That led to some hilarious and emotional moments in some of theMCU’s best movies. However, the chemistry between Downey and Holland would be cut short when Iron Man died in 2019’sAvengers: Endgame. Since then, there has not been a single Avengers movie.
Well, that is about to change in a couple of years, with theMCU’s slate of projectsincluding 2026’sAvengers: Doomsdayand 2027’sAvengers: Secret Wars. Downey is coming back to the MCU, but he is playing Doctor Doom, not Tony Stark, in both Avengers movies —reportedly debuting inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps’ credits scene. So far, Marvel has decided not to reveal details related toAvengers: Doomsday’s storyor what the future holds for Doctor Doom’s arrival in the MCU. However, a new theory based onDeadpool & Wolverinecould have figured out what is in store.
What Is An Anchor Being? Key MCU Multiverse Term Explained
Deadpool & Wolverine Introduced The Concept
Replacing Jonathan Majors' Kang the Conqueror as the main villain of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will have the job of presenting a massive threat to not only heroes like Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, but also multiverse characters. Marvel Studios has released a few key projects focused on the multiverse that have introducedimportant terms like incursions, absolute points, nexus events, the Sacred Timeline, and Anchor Beings. The latter came in the MCU’s biggest release of 2024,Deadpool & Wolverine. The only MCU movie to be released this year was a major multiverse event.
Avengers: Doomsday Theory Undoes The Ending Of Spider-Man: No Way Home With A Major Twist
A new Avengers: Doomsday theory based on MCU Spider-Man 4 updates explains how Spider-Man: No Way Home’s ending can be undone in the near future.
Deadpool & Wolverine’s Anchor Beings explanation came through the TVA’s Mr. Paradox, played by Matthew Macfadyen. According to him,an Anchor Being is a character that is so important to their universe that once they die, the fate of their reality is set in stone. The universe gradually decays until there is nothing left. Paradox explained that becauseHugh Jackman’s Wolverinefrom Fox’s X-Men movies was the Anchor Being of Deadpool’s universe, and with him gone afterLogan, the universe would be destroyed at some point. The concept sets up a new Doctor Doom theory in a key way.
MCU Theory: Doctor Doom Is Killing Anchor Beings
The Marvel Villain Is Likely After The Control Of The Multiverse
A new Doctor Doom theory shared by userhomodemikson Reddit explains why Robert Downey Jr.’s new MCU character could be after Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. According to the theory, in order to control the multiverse inAvengers: Doomsday, Victor von Doom could be hopping from one universe to the next in search of Anchor Beings. By killing those characters, Doom would guarantee that their universes would be destroyed. And so,the MCU villain would have control over every character who came from those universes, offering them salvation if they accepted to follow his orders.
In Marvel Comics' Secret Wars, Doctor Doom shapes the multiverse how he sees fit, with several characters and iconic Marvel locationsexisting in Battleworld, which he rules over as God Emperor Doom. The MCU could feature a similar storyline, which leads to Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom facing Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Marvel has yet to explain how RDJ could be playing Doctor Doom after Tony Stark, but given how the villain has the face of Peter Parker’s mentor, it is expected that the characters will interact a lot in the Avengers films, and Spider-Man could be the MCU’s Anchor Being.
Why Spider-Man Makes The Most Sense For The MCU’s Anchor Being
Tom Holland Is Coming Back For Another Solo Movie
There are a few factors that make Spider-Man the best candidate for the MCU’s Anchor Being. The first of them is that Peter Parker is the only MCU hero to have a solo movie confirmed to come out between the next two Avengers films so far. As such, it seems likethe events ofAvengers: Doomsdayshould carry over intoSpider-Man 4, with the movie then setting upAvengers: Secret Warsin some way. Holland’s past Spider-Man movies also serve as examples of why Peter should be the MCU’s Anchor Being.Spider-Man: No Way Homenearly grossed $2 billion worldwide.
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Spider-Man 4
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Prior to that, Holland’s other Spider-Man movies were also very successful, with one of them even crossing the $1 billion mark. Aside from the popularity of the MCU’s Spider-Man, the Marvel hero, in general, iseasily the most popular superhero in the world. According to data from Google Analytics (viascarecroe/Reddit) shared in 2021, Spider-Man was the most popular superhero in 48.7% of the world, with Wonder Woman, Batman, and Iron Man following him. Holland will soon have 9 MCU appearances, cementing Spider-Man’s popularity. If Spidey is truly the MCU’s Anchor Being, his path andDoctor Doom’s should cross.
Avengers: Doomsday
Cast
Avengers: Doomsday is the fifth Avengers film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will bring together heroes, new and old, to face off against Victor von Doom - played by the returning Robert Downey Jr.. Avengers 5 will also mark the beginning of phase 6 of the MCU.
Avengers: Secret Wars
Avengers: Secret Wars is an anticipated installment in Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, serving as the finale of The Multiverse Saga. Scheduled for release in December 2027, the film’s plot remains under wraps, fueling curiosity about its role in the expansive Marvel narrative.
