The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s next chapter is already shrouded in mystery, and it’s not only about Doctor Doom. However, if the rumored post-credits scene for ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ is indeed about Doom going after Bruce Banner first, there might be a surprisingly personal reason behind it.
What if Doom is seeking someone who could help him create the future he thinks the world needs?
Doctor Doom Could Be A Tony Stark Who Never Had Bruce Banner
The theory ties three key events of the MCU together: Tony Stark’s development of Ultron, his eventual death in ‘Avengers: Endgame’, and Downey’s return as Doom. Tony’s passion for the protection of Earth was not all bad. He saw the Battle of New York and was frightened of what was to come.
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That fear drove him to develop a worldwide defense network that would defend the human race without the Avengers. But Ultron turned into a disaster and was about to destroy the very people Tony had tried to save.
Tony had few people who could question or challenge his choices, and Bruce Banner was one of them. Bruce also helped to create Ultron for Tony, making their relationship an interesting combination of genius and bad luck.
By Avengers: Endgame, Tony’s fear had evolved into something more understandable but no less revealing. While confronting Steve Rogers, he argued that what they needed was “a suit of armor around the world,” even if it came at the expense of personal freedoms.
Now picture a world in which Tony never had Bruce to question his choices. Tony’s need to “save” everyone might have turned into a dictatorship without the intellectual cooperation or someone to question his darkest instincts. That is one possible origin for a Doctor Doom who genuinely believes he is saving existence.
Is Doom Trying to Build Armor Around the Multiverse?
If true, then Doom’s motivation for Bruce may be more than just a vendetta. He may require the scientist’s help to do something Tony Stark would never be able to do: save reality from the destruction of the multiverse. The concept of Doom trying to bring order to a world of falling realities would work well with ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’.
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In Marvel Comics, his ties to ‘Secret Wars’ are well known, as he constructed a world of his own, called Battleworld, from the shattered remains of realities. Bruce might find himself in a bizarre situation of being forced to team up with the person Tony Stark could have become under other circumstances, and become Doom’s reluctant scientific ally.
But the truth is, it would be a heart-wrenching duo. Bruce wouldn’t just be battling another bad guy. He would be confronting a dark reflection of the friend who helped change his life. If Marvel wants Doom to feel more personal than another world-ending threat, revisiting the Science Bros could be a brilliant place to start.
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