Did Marvel Already Set Up Doctor Doom’s Replacement?

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Although still two years off, Marvel is already hinting at its future plans, and it looks like the next big storyline is taking shape. The Russo Brothers are back to direct the two-part finale, Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, which will conclude Phase 6 and the Multiverse Saga with a massive showdown between the Avengers and Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr. What happens after that, though, is still unknown.

Not only is this new project exciting on its own, but it also marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While Marvel Studios hasn’t revealed specific plans for Phases 7 and beyond, Kevin Feige and others have indicated they have a general idea of where things are headed. Though the main villain for this next era remains a mystery, a particular Marvel trilogy may offer clues about the challenges the Avengers will face in the coming years.

Knull Could Be the Big Bad of the MCU’s Next Saga

It sounds unbelievable, but the powerful villain Knull from Marvel comics might not appear on screen after all. Knull is an incredibly strong, ancient god who exists outside of the normal universe. He’s the creator and ruler of the symbiotes and is famous for his deadly weapon, the Necrosword. In a major 2020 comic event called King in Black, Knull attacked Earth, forcing all of Marvel’s heroes to unite against him. This story was a huge success with fans, and many hoped to see it adapted into a live-action movie. Sony’s Venom films seemed to be building towards introducing Knull, potentially leading to a crossover event with their other characters that would mirror the King in Black storyline. Unfortunately, because Sony’s recent superhero movies haven’t performed well and several projects have been canceled, this crossover now seems unlikely. However, there’s still a small possibility that Marvel’s main Cinematic Universe might pick up the story and finally bring King in Black to life.

Knull, a powerful being trapped outside of our dimension, could potentially enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) thanks to the symbiotes. The symbiote briefly shown after the credits of Spider-Man: No Way Home is the first step, and the upcoming events of Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars could easily bring Knull into the main MCU timeline. With the multiverse collapsing, different realities will merge, creating an opportunity for characters like Knull and his symbiotes from Sony’s Spider-Man Universe to join the MCU. This could lead to a much larger and more faithful adaptation of the King in Black storyline than Sony could have managed on its own. While the MCU still needs to introduce some key characters from the comics, it has the resources to create a truly epic King in Black story. Ultimately, this could set the stage for a new era in the MCU—dubbed “The Symbiote Saga”—where Earth’s heroes face off against Knull and his symbiote army.

King in Black Could Finally Give Fans the Perfect Spider-Man Crossover

Bringing Knull into the Marvel Cinematic Universe could unlock a lot of exciting storylines fans have been hoping for. It would not only set the stage for future events but also create the opportunity for Spider-Man and Venom to finally meet. While the MCU seems to be developing its own version of Venom for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy, many fans have wondered what a team-up with Tom Hardy’s Venom would look like. If Knull appears, it could pave the way for Eddie Brock to join the MCU as well, leading to a real crossover between Venom and Spider-Man. Both characters play a vital role in the King in Black storyline, where they must overcome their differences to fight Knull together. This dynamic – a Spider-Man/Venom team-up – hasn’t been seen on screen before. It would also give both characters a chance to become central figures in the next phase of the MCU, allowing their complex relationship – including rivalry and uneasy alliances – to be explored over several films, culminating in a final showdown with Knull at the end of Phase 9.

It’s worth remembering this isn’t the first time a Spider-Man and Venom team-up was considered. Sony originally intended for Venom to cross over into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) after the credits of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, potentially leading to a meeting with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Unfortunately, those plans didn’t work out, and Venom went back to his own universe without ever encountering Spider-Man. While many fans were disappointed, there’s still a chance! If the current Multiverse Saga successfully connects the MCU and Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, we might finally see Venom and Spider-Man together in a major storyline, potentially as epic as the Infinity Saga.

An MCU King in Black Storyline Just Became Possible

The main obstacle to bringing the ‘King in Black’ storyline to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Sony’s ownership of Spider-Man and related characters like Venom and Knull. Currently, Spider-Man films are made through a deal where Marvel Studios and Sony share profits. However, recent struggles for Sony at the box office are leading to speculation that they might sell the rights back to Marvel. Reports suggest this could happen after the release of ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’ in 2027. While unconfirmed, this makes sense given that superhero movies aren’t consistently successful anymore. Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU) films have largely underperformed, and the studio currently has no new Spider-Man-related movies in development. Selling the rights back to Marvel would likely be a more financially sound decision for Sony than continuing to invest in a struggling franchise.

Bringing Spider-Man back under Marvel’s full control would give the studio complete creative freedom with the character and everyone around him. Before, Marvel had to get permission from Sony to use certain characters, and Sony could block ideas. Now, Marvel could integrate the strongest elements of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe – specifically Venom and Knull – into the main Marvel Cinematic Universe, creating an epic crossover event. This would allow for exciting possibilities like teaming up Tom Hardy’s Venom with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, and finally adapting the King in Black storyline to create a satisfying conclusion to the Symbiote Saga.

With Sony considering distancing themselves from Spider-Man, a Marvel Cinematic Universe adaptation of the ‘King in Black’ storyline is looking increasingly likely. Introducing Knull into the MCU after ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ could lead to exciting new conflicts involving dangerous symbiotes and large-scale cosmic battles – something fans would be thrilled to see.

Avengers: Secret Wars will open in theaters on December 17, 2027.

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2025-11-05 21:11