What to Expect from the MCU’s Introduction of Battleworld

Essential Insights

Battleworld is pivotal in the Multiverse Saga, paving the way for the Secret Wars narrative and allowing for significant crossovers.
Doctor Doom is anticipated to be the figure behind the creation of Battleworld, gathering fragments from shattered realities following the MCU’s incursions.
Battleworld in the MCU may evolve from the Void, acting as a battleground for various multiversal incarnations of heroes.

Enthusiasts of both Marvel films and comics are keenly interested in how Battleworld will integrate into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), particularly with Phase Six on the horizon. This unique planet is set to stage critical confrontations within the Multiverse Saga, and several theories imply that hints of its existence have already surfaced in the MCU.

The storyline is heading toward the iconic Secret Wars, first released in 1984, where the Beyonder orchestrates Battleworld by assembling heroes, villains, and fragments from diverse realities for combat. Jonathan Hickman expanded this concept in his 2015 comics, depicting Doctor Doom as he dismantles the multiverse and constructs Battleworld from the remnants of various universes. Both interpretations set the stage for grand crossover events featuring the Avengers, X-Men, and the Fantastic Four—an endeavor the MCU is now poised to replicate.

Who Is Behind the Creation of MCU’s Battleworld?

The emergence of Battleworld in the MCU appears inevitable, especially following Kevin Feige’s announcement regarding Avengers: Doomsday, featuring the much-loved Robert Downey Jr. in the role of Doctor Doom. This casting strongly suggests that Doom will be the architect of Battleworld, possibly by disassembling universes and weaving them together or by assuming control of existing chaos across the multiverse. Initially, it seemed that the narrative was gearing up for Kang the Conqueror to take the reins of Battleworld; however, this has been reconsidered due to the Jonathan Majors situation. Including the Beyonder from the 1984 comics also seems unnecessary with RDJ’s involvement, thereby reducing the need for another God-like entity to spearhead the creation of Battleworld.

In the context of the MCU, Battleworld is likely the byproduct of numerous multiversal incursions occurring in the post-Endgame timeline. An incursion transpires when two universes collide, resulting in fragments of shattered realities. Doctor Doom could potentially gather these remnants to form Battleworld, suggesting that it might have been in existence in some capacity all along. The groundwork for this idea is evident, with Loki’s He Who Remains maintaining the multiverse’s stability. The MCU could additionally draw inspiration from the Avengers Forever (2023) narrative, portraying Loki as the Prime Avenger who gathers a unique cadre of multiversal Avengers to engage in an epic conflict on Battleworld.

Does Battleworld Equate to The Void?

Deadpool observing a TVA agent being pulled by Alioth

There are increasing indications that Battleworld may have already been lurking within the MCU under the guise of the Void. This space, which serves as a repository for timelines pruned by the Time Variance Authority (TVA), closely aligns with the characteristics attributed to Battleworld. While they might not be one and the same, the remnants of erased realities observed in the Void could potentially provide the building blocks for the eventual emergence of Battleworld. The critical distinction lies in the fact that the Void annihilates realities, while Battleworld amalgamates elements from various realities into a new arena for warfare.

Given the Void’s existence beyond conventional time and space, it would be straightforward for the MCU to transform it into Battleworld, especially if Doctor Doom were to assume control—perhaps by vanquishing its current custodian, Alioth, or even the TVA itself. Characters like Deadpool and Wolverine have already utilized this concept, allowing them to engage in combat within the Void. They also collaborated with characters from other universes, such as Blade, Elektra, X-23, and Gambit, to defeat Cassandra Nova, with a surprise cameo from Johnny Storm. This suggests that the Void could potentially metamorphose into a chaotic war-riddled land, ultimately becoming Battleworld, where various multiversal iterations of heroes and villains must engage in conflict.

Future MCU Projects Featuring Battleworld

From a practical perspective, it is essential to articulate the role of Battleworld in the MCU clearly. In the 1984 Secret Wars comics, the Beyonder materialized this patchwork world as a delightful battleground to amuse himself, pitting heroes and villains from varying universes against each other. However, the forthcoming Doctor Doom arc must provide a meaningful rationale for the creation of Battleworld that resonates with audiences unfamiliar with the source material. The justification should extend beyond Doom’s desire to be a deity-like ruler of the multiverse, providing a coherent way for legacy heroes or their alternate versions to utilize Battleworld as a platform for their narratives.

With Avengers: Doomsday slated for May 2026 and Avengers: Secret Wars later in 2027, establishing Battleworld needs to occur by the conclusion of Phase Five, ideally illustrated in The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025). After all, Victor Von Doom traditionally serves as an antagonist to the Fantastic Four, making his presence in that film logical, potentially through a post-credits scene. Doom must rise to become the next Thanos-level adversary for the MCU or an even greater threat. This would allow Battleworld to materialize following his dominion over the multiverse, reminiscent of how the Marvel Cinematic Universe explored the Infinity Stones, Thanos’ snap, and the Blip.

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