Forget everything you thought you knew: A possible Avengers 4 leak says time travel is out, multiverses are in

Will Doctor Strange be the key to Avengers 4 time travel (or lack thereof)?

Avengers: Endgame already has a couple of things that we know to be pretty much confirmed, right? It’s a given, for example, that Peter Parker is coming back with Spider-Man: Far From Home round the corner and the other big guarantee is that time travel is going to play a major role. Or is it? If an Avengers 4 rumour – which you should always be wary about – is true, get ready to have the rug pulled out from underneath us, Marvel-style.

According to a post on the Marvel Studios Spoilers Reddit from a source who claims (operative word: claims) to have been in contact with Disney and Fox over pre-viz work – essentially planning out big set-pieces that require SFX –  has the firm belief moving forward is that time travel isn’t going to be a thing in Avengers 4.

I know, right? WTF, indeed. Instead, we’re looking at “parallel dimensions” which, while it isn’t a new concept to any comic readers out there, might need some explaining.

It’s essentially a parallel universe/multiverse deal, with there presumably being a universe where Thanos didn’t snap his fingers and dust away half of the MCU, along with several others. Think Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, but replace every version of Spidey with an RDJ that does slightly different eye-rolls and you’ll get the picture.

That also means, in these multiverses, certain Marvel characters are (apparently) given more prominence. Maybe Hawkeye is Ronin in one timeline, and mysteriously missing from Avengers: Infinity War in another? It just about fits and even Benedict Cumberbatch may have spoiled it months ago, but, again, take this all with a pinch of salt.

Besides, time travel is the easier and far more digestible concept. Having said that, a multiverse would certainly pave the way for X-Men and other Fox properties to slide right into the MCU without too much fuss. Just sayin’.

So, will it happen? My money’s on… probably not. But it’s a cool concept and one that shouldn’t be off the table for good. Only time (ahem) will tell if it’s in Avengers 4, though. Fingers crossed.

Welp. This certainly turns a few Avengers: Endgame theories on their head. Care to guess what comes next?

Bradley Russell

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at 12DOVE, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

Latest in Marvel Movies
Gemma Chan in Eternals
Eternals star Gemma Chan is hopeful she'll return to the MCU someday: "There's unfinished business there"
Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things 4
Stranger Things star Sadie Sink joins Spider-Man 4 and fans are already theorizing she might be X-Men’s Jean Grey
Doctor Doom in Marvel Comics
The Russo brothers say Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars will draw inspiration from multiple comics – which explains how Doctor Doom might fit into the story
The cast of Thunderbolts
Marvel fans are revealing who they'd like to see added to the Thunderbolts lineup, from Moon Knight to a major Hulk villain
Black Widow
Scarlett Johansson doubles down on never coming back as Black Widow: “Natasha is dead. She is dead. She’s dead. Okay?"
Julian McMahon as Doctor Doom in 2005's Fantastic Four
The Doctor Doom actor from 2005's Fantastic Four thinks Robert Downey Jr.'s take on the role in the next Avengers movies will be "pretty extraordinary": "I love watching his work"
Latest in News
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
I've found my Assassin's Creed Shadows playstyle, thanks to this clip of Yasuke smashing dudes with a huge club instead of sneaking around
World of Warcraft housing
World of Warcraft's new housing system lets you decorate without the floating hacks I've been using in Final Fantasy 14 for 11 years, and I weep
Gemma Chan in Eternals
Eternals star Gemma Chan is hopeful she'll return to the MCU someday: "There's unfinished business there"
two aliens firing miniguns
4 years after shutting down, this dead sci-fi MMO is being brought back to life, but there's no word on its canceled TV show tie-in
Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Netflix wants Daniel Craig to join the cast of Greta Gerwig's Narnia movie – but it's not certain if he'll take it
The Last of Us
The Last of Us season 2 trailer breaks HBO viewing records, becoming the network's most-watched trailer