Phase 6’sAvengers: Secret Warscould recover one amazing multiversal-themedMCUscene that has been scrapped twice already. The Multiverse Saga has allowed the MCU to create scenarios that would be unimaginable without the concept of alternate timelines. Recent releases likeLoki,Spider-Man: No Way Home,Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, andDeadpool & Wolverinehave brought together different portrayals of characters from previous franchises likeFox’sX-Menmovie universeand Sony’sSpider-ManandThe Amazing Spider-Manmovies. The Multiverse Saga has even introduced multiversal mutants in the MCU even beforethe MCU’s ownX-Menmoviearrives.

Everything in Phases 4 and 5 points toward the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga inthe Russo Bros.' upcomingAvengers: Secret Wars,which may see Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom face all the heroes from all across the Sacred Timeline with the fate of the multiverse at stake, similarly to the events of Marvel Comics' 1985 and 2015Secret Warsstorylines. Therefore,Avengers: Secret Warscould be the last time the MCU will be able to justify ambitious multiversal crossovers before Phase 7 launches a new saga set in a streamlined timeline.

Doctor Doom (foreground, right) with the MCU Avengers in the background (left.)

The MCU Scrapped Two Amazing Throwback Multiversal Montage Sequences

Spider-Man: No Way Home And Deadpool & Wolverine Deleted Very Similar Action Scenes

BothSpider-Man: No Way HomeandDeadpool & Wolverinecut a similar action scene that followed its main heroes visiting iconic scenes from previous Marvel movies.Spider-Man: No Way Homescrapped a multiversal montage sequence where Doctor Strange chases Tom Holland’s Spidey through Sam Raimi’sSpider-Manand Marc Webb’sThe Amazing Spider-Mantimelines.Concept art forSpider-Man: No Way Home’s deleted scenessuggests that Strange and Spider-Man were supposed to fight exactly when and where memorable scenes from previousSpider-Manmovies took place. Some of these moments includeSpider-Man 2’s train scene andThe Amazing Spider-Man 2’s Times Square scene.

Spider-Man holds Doctor Strange upside down with his webs

Avengers ready for the Time Heist in Endgame

Spider-Man kisses MJ in the rain

Spider-Man 2

Spider-Man holds Doctor Strange from his cape on top of the NYC subway

Spider-Man tries to stop the train

Split image of Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man, Pedro Pascal, and Vanessa Kirby

Spider-Man 3

Spider-Man and Doctor Strange fight with steel bars at a construction site

Spider-Man and Doctor Strange fight on the Oscorp building

Spider-Man No Way Home Poster

Spider-Man fights the Lizard

Doctor Strange performs a magic spell in Times Square

Deadpool and Wolverine Poster Showing Wade Wilson’s Swords Showing Hugh Jackman’s Reflection

Spider-Man fights Electro

A couple of years later,Deadpool & Wolverinedeleted a very similar montage sequence.Assembled: The Making of Deadpool & Wolverinereveals a montage sequence that was pitched to Marvel Studios early inDeadpool & Wolverine’s development. According to executive producer Wendy Jacobson,Deadpool & Wolverinealmost included a retcon montagerevealing that Deadpool was present in previous MCU movies without anybody else noticing. This montage sequence didn’t even make it toDeadpool & Wolverine’s concept art, but it did inspire the TVA’s brief glimpse at the timeline where Deadpool dies in Thor’s arms.

Avengers 6 Is The Right Movie To Feature A Throwback Universe-Hopping Montage Sequence

Avengers: Secret Wars Could Be The Last Time The MCU Can Attempt A Nostalgic Montage Sequence

Spider-Man: No Way HomeandDeadpool & Wolverine’s scrapped montage sequences are the kind of ambitious, nostalgia-indulging moments that the Multiverse Saga is now known for. After the Multiverse Saga concludes, it will likely be impossible for Marvel Studios to include a similar scene in any MCU project. Hence, the last oportunity for Marvel to attempt such a throwback might be inAvengers: Secret Wars. After all,Avengers: Secret Warscould serve as a celebration of all Marvel movies and shows ever made, just likeAvengers: Endgameserved as a celebration of the Infinity Saga.

Battleworld’s creation could force several heroes to escape Doctor Doom through collapsing timelines

Avengers: Secret Warsmight introduce Battleworld — a multiversal battleground created by merging several fragments of different timelines into one single reality. Battleworld could hold places and eras from previous Marvel movies, whichAvengers: Secret Wars' heroes could visit as they fight Doctor Doom. Otherwise, Battleworld’s creation could force several heroes to escape Doctor Doom through collapsing timelines, which could include those seen in previous MCU and non-MCU Marvel movies and shows. A similar event happened in the 2015Secret Warscomics, where some heroes and villains escaped incursions aboard a Life Raft.

Avengers 6’s Multiverse Montage Sequence Is A Natural Evolution Of Endgame’s Time Travel

Avengers: Secret Wars Could Feature A Bigger Version Of The Avengers: Endgame’s Time Heist

Avengers: Endgamepaid homage to the Infinity Saga’s three Phases by dividing Earth’s Mightiest Heroes into multiple teams and sending them on a quest to retrieve the Infinity Stones from different points in the past. These moments just so happened to take place during important events from previous MCU movies, meaning that Phase 3’s Avengers had the chance to reconnect with loved ones and see previous battles from a different perspective. Likewise,Avengers: Secret Warscould one-upAvengers: Endgame’s Time Heist by sending the heroes to various MCU, Fox, and Sony timelines.

Every Confirmed Cast Member In Avengers: Secret Wars (So Far)

Following some enormous revelations for the future of the Avengers at San Diego Comic-Con, the cast of Secret Wars is beginning to come together.

Avengers: Secret Wars' multiversal Time Heist would wrap the Multiverse Saga with a final dose of nostalgia. OnceAvengers: Secret Warslaunches a new saga, Phase 7 could focus on introducing new characters like the X-Men. At that point, a limited number of references to previous movies and franchises would prove that the MCU doesn’t need to rely on nostalgia to please fans. This change could entail a soft-reboot that streamlines the MCU’s timeline and leaves the concept of the multiverse behind.