5 Iconic Marvel ‘Wars’ That the MCU Needs to Adapt After Phase 6

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is heading towards a huge finale with the movie Avengers: Secret Wars, scheduled to come out on December 17, 2027. Directed by the Russo brothers and starring Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom alongside a cast of characters from across the multiverse, the film is expected to dramatically change the direction of the MCU’s stories.

With the Multiverse Saga ending in Phase 6, Marvel Studios now needs to create exciting new large-scale stories to keep the Marvel Cinematic Universe fresh and engaging for years to come. Luckily, the Marvel comics are full of potential storylines that could be the foundation for what comes next in Phases 7 and beyond.

Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with the arrival of teams like the Fantastic Four and X-Men, and powerful new villains like Galactus, is setting the stage for huge, dramatic conflicts. Expect to see heroes clashing with each other, gods facing off against humans, and entire empires at war. These stories promise exciting action and will delve into complex ideas about competition, forgiveness, and maintaining balance in the universe – everything fans want to keep coming back for more.

Avengers vs. X-Men

The 2012 comic event Avengers vs. X-Men, created by writers like Brian Michael Bendis and Jason Aaron, feels like a perfect story for the Marvel Cinematic Universe now that the X-Men are joining the franchise in upcoming movies like Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. The story centers on a conflict between the Avengers and the X-Men over the Phoenix Force, a powerful cosmic being that could take control of Hope Summers, a young mutant with the potential to be a savior.

The disagreement grows into a worldwide war, pitting heroes like Captain America and Wolverine against each other. Their differing beliefs – one focused on defending principles, the other on simply surviving – lead to a fight that fundamentally changes the future of mutants.

Within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this story arc could come after Secret Wars, building on the recent introduction of the X-Men and the already established Fantastic Four. The powerful Phoenix Force could be presented as a danger that spans multiple universes, ultimately leading to a challenging conflict – both physically and ethically – between the Avengers and the X-Men.

A story adapting Avengers vs. X-Men could tackle the serious issue of prejudice against mutants within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, reflecting real-world conflicts. It could also feature large-scale action sequences set in famous places like New York City and Genosha. If done well, this adaptation has the potential to be as impactful and visually stunning as Civil War.

World War Hulk

Greg Pak’s World War Hulk (2007) is a powerful story about the Hulk’s return to Earth for revenge. After being banished to the planet Sakaar by the Illuminati – a group including Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and Reed Richards – the Hulk establishes a new life. However, tragedy strikes when an explosion destroys everything, and he believes his old allies are responsible. Fueled by rage, he arrives on Earth with an alien army, launching a devastating attack against the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men. The conflict not only razes cities but also forces the heroes to confront their own flaws.

After the events of Secret Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe might adapt the World War Hulk storyline. This could bring back the more unpredictable and destructive version of Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, who is also expected to appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

The movie could take the Hulk’s story in a new direction by connecting his banishment to the events of Secret Wars and the wider multiverse, possibly with Doctor Doom or a secret group called the Illuminati pulling the strings.

As a huge Hulk fan, I’m really hoping the next movie shows us just how incredibly powerful he is – we haven’t seen that level of unleashed power since Avengers: Age of Ultron! I’m especially excited about the potential for epic fights, like Hulk going head-to-head with the Thing or Wolverine. Those battles could be absolutely incredible and give us that same thrilling energy we all felt during Infinity War – something we’ve been waiting for!

War of Kings

Published in 2009, War of Kings by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning is a large-scale story focusing on the Inhuman, Shi’ar, and Kree civilizations. When Black Bolt and the Inhumans take over the Kree empire, a conflict erupts with the Shi’ar, led by the unpredictable Vulcan, putting the entire universe at risk.

The battle attracts powerful figures from across the galaxy, including the Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova. The resulting chaos dramatically changes the balance of power in the cosmos.

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe delves deeper into cosmic stories – with upcoming projects like The Fantastic Four: First Steps introducing Galactus and Eyes of Wakanda revealing Vibranium’s importance across the galaxy – War of Kings could become a central event for the MCU’s cosmic adventures after Phase 6.

After a disappointing attempt in a 2017 TV show, Marvel might revisit the Inhumans, potentially with Black Bolt at the head of a newly energized royal family. The Shi’ar alien empire, briefly seen in the 2023 film The Marvels, could introduce the powerful villain Vulcan. Plus, rumors of a Nova solo movie are gaining traction, and it might connect to these other storylines.

The story would move away from problems on Earth and instead explore the complex politics between stars, showcasing amazing scenes of spaceship battles and strange new planets.

Chaos War

Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente’s Chaos War (2010-2011) features a massive conflict where Hercules, Thor, and other gods unite to battle the Chaos King—an ancient being determined to destroy everything that exists. As the Chaos King wipes out entire groups of gods and attacks Earth, fallen heroes like Captain Mar-Vell and Vision are brought back to life to join the fight, resulting in an epic battle spanning multiple worlds. The story combines exciting mythology with questions about the meaning of life, highlighting the power of Marvel’s godly characters.

Following the expected conclusion of the multiverse saga in Avengers: Secret Wars, Marvel could explore the Chaos War storyline, bringing in threats from mythology. While it’s unknown if Chris Hemsworth will reprise his role as Thor after Secret Wars, this story could bring back Hercules (played by Brett Goldstein in Thor: Love and Thunder from 2022) and pave the way for a large-scale story focused on the gods.

The Chaos King could be a unique new villain for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, different from typical multiverse-level threats like Kang or Doctor Doom, and introduce a brand new kind of large-scale problem. His story could also allow for the return of beloved characters like Vision or even Iron Man, creating powerful and moving moments as they reconnect with others during the unfolding chaos.

Infinity Wars

Gerry Duggan’s Infinity Wars (2018) continues the story of the Infinity Stones, introducing a new character called Requiem who uses the Infinity Gauntlet to alter reality. The narrative follows heroes such as Star-Lord, Iron Man, and Doctor Strange as they deal with a complicated and unpredictable universe. With its emphasis on the lasting impact of the Infinity Stones, it’s a strong continuation of the events in Infinity War and Endgame.

After the events of Secret Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe might bring back the Infinity Stones, either as separate pieces or combined into a new form, following their destruction in Endgame. A potential Infinity Wars storyline could feature a new villain, requiring heroes like Shang-Chi, Spider-Man, and the Fantastic Four to team up and fight together.

The story could delve into what the stones mean for the wider multiverse, connecting to the events following Secret Wars, and showcase stunning, large-scale battles.

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2025-12-07 04:06