The 3 Most Intriguing Avengers: Endgame Theories
Ever since the conclusion of last year’s Avengers: Infinity War, Marvel fans have been on a mission. This mission has been to figure out how the infamous Thanos snap might be undone, and if not, how the surviving Avengers might figure out another way beat the Mad Titan and resurrect their friends in Avengers: Endgame. They’ve analyzed comics, scoured every frame of Infinity War, and pored over any clues revealed, intentionally or not, by the Russo Brothers and the cast. We thought we’d take a look at some of the most intriguing fan theories out there and pick the three we find the most compelling.
An Unexpected Character will Save Everyone
Let’s start with the theory that seems the soundest. Many fans agree that Ant-Man will play an important role in the Avengers’ efforts to defeat Thanos. Scott Lang (Paul Rudd)’s lovable crook-turned-tiny superhero was confirmed as a survivor of Thanos’ snap and a player in Endgame in the teaser. Considering many theories involve either time travel or the Quantum Realm (which figures prominently in both Ant-Man films), Scott Lang figures as a possible major factor.
In Ant-Man and the Wasp, Janet Van Dyne confirms that time vortexes exist within the Quantum Realm. The main thrust of this theory is that Ant-Man guides the Avengers into the Quantum Realm. Once there, the Avengers will manipulate these time vortexes to journey back into the past and save their friends.
But would Scott Lang know how to do this? Yes, Janet is talking to him when she utters the words “time vortex,” but that alone isn’t enough. Reddit user JoshandMarie puts forward the notion that Scott will get the all the info needed from Ghost, the tortured villain in Ant-Man and the Wasp. Read more on Reddit.
Thanos’ Snap Won’t Be Undone
Maintaining the integrity of Thanos’s snap would be a fairly bold move considering just about everyone assumes the snap has to be undone. If the Avengers can’t undo it, how in the heck is Spidey back in Spider-Man: Far From Home? Have you ever stopped to think: what if the intention of Endgame isn’t to reverse the snap, but rather about how the Avengers will figure out a way to operate in a multiverse?
Yeah, that’s right—the Marvel Cinematic Universe is really the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse.
Championed by Reddit user Enervata, this fan theory sounds far out but is relatively easy to understand. The heroes that were “snapped” aren’t actually dead, they’re simply in another universe. What’s more, now that they’re in this alternate universe, their memories of their previous existence will be hugely compromised. Keep in mind this doesn’t hold true for the characters Thanos killed with his bare hands, like Loki and Vision.
The theory hypothesizes that those in this new cosmos, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, Black Panther, most of the Guardians of the Galaxy and Scarlet Witch, will only have vague memories of the past, and this is how the Marvel Cinematic Universe will advance forward into Phase 4 and beyond.
On one end, this theory could be a great avenue with which to introduce characters of Fox-owned Marvel possessions (X-Men, Fantastic Four) to the MCU. Unfortunately, it still leaves one huge open-ended question: what about the millions of civilians outside of the Avengers? It presents a potentially narratively rich but complex solution.
Thanos Snapped Himself?
This one’s a doozy. This theory suggests that Thanos could have been on the wrong side of the snap, but somehow he succeeds in finding his way out of the consequences he brought upon the universe. Credit for the Thanos self-snapping theory goes to Reddit user Mybustersword.
Although it is clear that Thanos is alive and well—short scenes of his armor and hand were seen in the first Avengers: Endgame trailer—directors Joe and Anthony Russo have remarked that The Mad Titan’s actions have affected everyone, including himself. We know from the two teasers that the assembled Avengers are living in a post-snap world. We know they’re going to try to do everything to bring back the people lost. Yet we don’t know where Thanos is, or how his snap affected him. We don’t even know which universe we’re in anymore, considering the amount of fundamental laws of physics Thanos was messing with in Infinity War.
Whatever happens, this sequel will be have time to tease it out – Avengers: Endgame is set to be at least three hours, making it the longest film in Marvel history. Judging from last year’s opening weekend for Infinity War, time will not be a problem.
When it premieres in April, Avengers: Endgame will be the 22nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If you haven’t started binging all films ahead of Endgame, why not view them in the order they occurred? Who knows, maybe you’ll see something that everyone has missed and come up with your own winning theory.
Avengers: Endgame opens in theaters on April 26.
Featured image: Thanos’s quest for the Infinity Stones drives the plot. Courtesy Marvel Studios
