Marvel, once again, might be following in on the footsteps of DC, but not in the manner that they usually have. Avengers: Secret Wars could be the key to solving the mutant problem that the MCU has. It is common knowledge that several characters that exist in the Marvel universe are direct expires of DC characters, while the latter has also taken some inspiration from the former on rare occasions.
However this time, instead of copying characters, Marvel might be resolving one of its biggest problems the same way that DC had, specifically in CW’s Arrowverse, which eventually absorbed CBS’s Supergirl into it as well. Given that Marvel might already have put the seeds in place for such an overhaul, the evidence is compelling at least, if not conclusive.
The X-Men won’t be introduced but assimilated in the MCU post-Avengers: Secret Wars
Marvel has had multiple films that have introduced the Mutants in the MCU. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and The Marvels have given us full-fledged characters that are outright referenced as Mutants in the MCU. However, Marvel has made sure that every X-Men character that we see in the films is played by the same actors who played them in Fox’s X-Men universe.
While the Arrowerse was at its peak, the Flash, Green Arrow and the Legends of Tomorrow found themselves sharing a screen with Mellisa Beonist’s Supergirl, who canonically existed on a different Earth, which had the Martian Manhunter, Superman and other assorted cosmic DC characters. However, after a Crisis on Infinite Earths-like event that resulted in a massive multi-show crossover, Supergirl’s Earth became a part of the mainline timeline, such that she always existed in the same universe as Barry Allen, Oliver Queen and the Legends.
Marvel, might be planning for something similar, given that it has taken great pains to not introduce any character that is part of the X-Men in the main MCU, only teasing them in post-credits or extended cameos, in alternate universes. Given that the X-Men was already a lucrative franchise, it makes sense that Marvel would rather join the two universes into one, using something like Avengers: Secret Wars, rather than having to deal with introducing these characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe anew.
This approach solves a lot of problems for Marvel
First, this approach solves the problem that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been facing for a while. Whenever a new set of heroes is introduced in the MCU, the first question that pops up is where was this set of heroes during the events of Avengers: Endgame. This problem cropped up with the Eternals, which could have affected the Mutants in this Universe too.
Second, this neatly brings into the fold of the MCU fan favourites without erasing their history. It also allows for some space for prequels before the assimilation, while neatly taking care of any comparisons with the previous cast. With Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, Sir Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier and Kelsey Grammer’s Beast already confirmed to exist in the MCU, it is only a matter of time before the rest of the X-Men find themselves on Battleworld, sharing the scene with the mainline MCU heroes in Avengers: Secret Wars.
While this approach might not be the best with the Fantastic Four (given that both iterations of the franchise were critically panned), it is completely possible that they too, are introduced as being part of a separate universe, only to fall in line with one timeline post the events of Avengers: Secret Wars. This way, the MCU could have the X-Men, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man, all under one roof, without having to deal with the fallout of Avengers: Endgame.
