It has been quite a while since we’ve discussed an Avengers: Endgame Theory. Having seen Avengers: Endgame, we can now start to discuss the future of the MCU, and we know that Marvel already has a definite plan in motion for the next 5-6 years. But as they made changes in their plans when Spider-Man came home from Sony, it is highly likely that they could make a few changes to fit in the X-Men &/or Fantastic Four.
Based on that, we have to discuss how exactly could the MCU introduce the Mutants in the MCU. Given that they have been absent for so long, we will need a strong reason for how could exist within the same Universe as the Avengers, the Maximoff twins, and other heroes. We’ve discussed theory in the past that the Infinity Stones could be the reason for their existence in the MCU.
Reddit user LemoLuke has extended upon the theory of the Infinity Stones by bringing them into the picture really well. Here’s what he says:
“In the post credit scene of Winter Soldier we see that Strucker has been doing experiments to try and create super powered humans of his own, using the radiation from Loki’s Scepter/Mind Stone to create what he dubs ‘miracles’. In the Age of Ultron prequel comic, we learn that there have been countless attempts, but the Maximoff twins are the only successful subjects. The fact that there have been so many failed attempts, yet not one, but both twins gain superpowers suggest that the key is in their genetics.
I believe both have the ‘X-gene’. The cause of mutations in the comics.
From then, the X-gene is passed down through generations, but remains dormant until being activated by exposure to radiation from the stones. This allows us to have a small number of mutants throughout history, with select carriers of the X-gene coming in contact the the Infinity stones, for example, maybe a young Magneto and his family were taken from a concentration camp and used as a test subject for Hydra’s Tesseract (Space Stone) powered weapons in WW2, with Erik being the only survivor thanks to the newly activated X-gene. Maybe him, and others such as Xavier and Wolverine have each come into contact with the stones throughout the years and developed their mutations in secret.”
Applying the Infinity Stones concept to MCU’s current confounds the Redditor has further given a reason for how the X-Gene could have been activated in the people who survived the snap, or perhaps were brought back by it. He even says that the 5 year Time Jump in Endgame was to hide the development of the Mutants. The Redditor continues:
“We know that the snap caused a massive wave of energy to spread across the globe, and indeed the entire universe. I Think either this, or Thanos destroying the stones (because all that power and energy has to go somewhere), will be the origin of the sudden explosion in the mutant population.
This is the real reason for the 5 year time jump in Endgame.
Such a large time jump feels unusual, narratively speaking, especially if it is only to give Tony a daughter. We don’t really see any of the ramifications of half a decade of despair other than Steve running a counselling group. Five years is a LONG time, and many fans are already wondering how Marvel will handle the fallout of 3.5 billion people just popping back up out of the blue after being declared dead for so long and the world moving on without them. I feel that every major plot point that happened in Endgame could have been achieved with a 6 month – 1 year time jump.”
Yes, the 5 year Time Jump did feel odd. It seems that it was largely to bring in Maguna, Morgan Stark, so Tony could get the ending that he did. But yea, the time jump could further be used to develop many other characters. Marvel could even tell prequel stories set in those 5 years. While Marvel has confirmed time and time again that they didn’t have any plans for the Mutants in this film since Disney had not bought Fox during the development of Infinity War and Endgame.
But yes, the time jump could be used to establish Mutants. So, let’s just go through the conclusion of the Redditor’s theory:
“The 5 years was for a reason, and I believe it was to allow the emergence of the first wave of new mutants post-snap, and give Xavier, who may have been tracking and studying the meager mutant population for years, enough time to discover this boom in the mutant population and set up the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, maybe even begin training the first group of proto X-Men.
The snap will also be the key as to why mutants are hated and feared in the MCU while other super powered individuals are not. It will be discovered that mutants give off the same kind of radiation/energy that was released in the snap, and people will fear that maybe mutants will be able to cause another decimation. I think Secretary Ross will have a similar role to Senator Kelly in leading the Anti-mutant fearmongering, especially as the powers are possibly derived from the same gamma radiation that created the Hulk. Much like his pushing of the Sokivia Accords in Civil War, I suspect he will be the one pushing the Mutant Registration Act.”
Well, let’s see what Marvel does. Don’t be surprised to see no X-Men movies in the next 5 years because Marvel does have a whole lot to bring in apart from X-Men and Fantastic Four. After Spider-Man: Far From Home, there’s Black Widow, The Eternals, Doctor Strange 2, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Black Panther 2, Shang Chi, Captain Marvel 2, Ant-Man and the Wasp 3, Thunderbolts and so on. The Mutants may fall in line much later.
