The countdown to Avengers: Doomsday is on. The Marvel Cinematic Universe's larger-than-life conclusion to the Multiverse Saga kicks off this December when Doctor Doom makes his presence felt on the most famous shared universe of superheroes of all time. The villain is seemingly looking to prevent incursions from taking place throughout the multiverse itself, but his plans to stop them may lead to certain doom for everyone else. And, with that, Earth's Mightiest Heroes are called in to stop him.
Both trailers for Avengers: Doomsday have really highlighted how imposing a threat Victor von Doom is, with even Thor struggling against him. The God of Thunder was able to battle the likes of Hela, Thanos, and Loki, but he can't seem to hold his own against Doom, and that really highlights that he is not to be trifled with. However, both of those trailers also suggest that one character is the key to stopping him.
Avengers: Doomsday trailers suggest Franklin Richards is the key to stopping Doctor Doom
There is a scene in both Avengers: Doomsday trailers that suggests Franklin Richards, the son of Sue Storm and Reed Richards, is the key to stopping - and defeating - Doctor Doom. The moment, which features Frankin's uncle Johnny Storm (a.k.a. the Human Torch) cradling the child as a warm, white glow envelops them, intentionally suggests that the pair are about to perish in an incursion - which will likely take place at the end of the movie. However, everything might not be what it seems.
See, the theory is that Franklin is actually emitting a protective shield to prevent whatever is going on behind them to protect both Johnny and himself. The child is one of the most powerful entities in all of Marvel Comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe adaptation of the character has already shown a fraction of that power when he revived his mother Sue Storm in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. If he does achieve his full potential in Avengers: Doomsday, that would make him even more powerful than his parents, and among the most powerful characters in the MCU as a whole (with powers that outmatch even the likes of the Scarlet Witch, Captain Marvel, Thor, and more).
this scene isn't what you think it is pic.twitter.com/Rm0WYYfSfK
— James Mack (@JamesMackwl) July 20, 2026
If Franklin truly is emitting a protective shield, it will likely result in he and Johnny surviving the potential of the multiverse, which makes both of them incredibly imperative to 2027 sequel Avengers: Secret Wars. And we all know about those Battleworld theories, which suggest that Doom will reshape the multiverse in his image. If that is the case, Franklin and Johnny may well be immune to the spell, potentially setting the stage for them to be directly involved in saving the day.
We already know that Doom has an interest in Franklin, as the The Fantastic Four: First Steps post-credits scenes confirmed as much. Doom will rely on magic throughout Avengers: Doomsday as Marvel Studios has officially confirmed that Latverian Witches will be involved in the movie (and there are a multitude of rumors as to who they may really be behind those masks). Could he attempt to have Franklin do his bidding as well? Well, considering his apparent hunger for power, it's safe to say that it would be pretty fitting if Franklin's powers ended up being the one to stop him.
Victor von Doom and the Fantastic Four are closely linked in the Marvel Comics, so it makes sense that Avengers: Doomsday is placing such a heavy focus on that relationship. Doom often serves as the Big Bad of the Fantastic Four comics and he hasn't had a chance to do that in the MCU as of yet. The second trailer has made it clear that this relationship will be explored in order to build him up as an insurmountable threat to Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in movie theaters on December 18, 2026.
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