It seems like every time we turn around, there’s a new fan theory to help fill the void of knowledge when it pertains to the still untitled Avengers 4. Disney, Marvel Studios and the Russo Brothers are keeping as tight lipped on details as possible, and the cast of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 3 finale have been ‘threatened’ to keep what little they do know a secret from the world. So, this leaves fans no choice but to try and fill in the blanks themselves, like some sort of insane game of movie Mad Lib. While most of the theories, even the crazy ones, stem from details in previous films, building to the finale, some theories are purely speculation from fans.
Many of these are educated guesses, using proper story building techniques and context clues. However, others seem to come out of left field, making little to no sense at all. This new theory falls a little closer to that end of the spectrum, but has somewhat of a half way decent basis.
Over on Reddit, one fan has a new suggestion as to how the heroes who perish in the snap return. Instead of the time travel aspect (which, based on BTS leaks, is the most likely way the film is going), Thanos instead uses the Soul Stone to bring the dead heroes back to life and the Mind Stone to control them, making them his own personal army against the remaining heroes set to defeat him. This would take the film in a different direction than the time travel scenario which some fans find contrived. However, this goes directly against Thanos’ reasoning behind all of this in the first place.
He wanted to achieve balance so that the universe can survive and strive moving forward. Bringing back people he just wiped out to achieve this success is highly counter-intuitive. When someone brings up this very point to the user, the fan acknowledges the issue of contradiction for Thanos, but states that he would need assistance after taking damage from the snap. And, with the entire Black Order decimated, he might need to call up some dead heroes to fight the remaining Avengers.
However, while the Guardians, Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, and Iron Man almost defeated Thanos with him having 4 stones, the remaining Avengers are also depleted, and now fighting a Thanos with all the infinity stones.
While this theory really doesn’t work for what Marvel has built thus far, there is an interesting comic book arc that could be explored. What if, when Thanos ‘brings back the dead’, they’re not quite the same… What if they’re ‘undead’? If this theory was true, Marvel could pull off the biggest swerve in movie history, and bring the Marvel Zombies comic book universe to the silver screen! Without any hints given whatsoever, Marvel could bring the cult classic stories to life and we could see a fascinating take on our favorite heroes.
Can you even imagine witnessing a zombified Spider-Man attacking a bewildered Iron Man? And, it kind of answers the sustainability of the universe dilemma. Zombies don’t require any sustenance (other than human victims, of course), so their return wouldn’t affect Thanos’ ‘balance’. Also, leaving the zombies behind, they could act kind of like goats in a field, eating the weeds and keeping the glass trimmed. The zombies would keep the population in check, extending Thanos’ balance for years to come.
This is, of course, a grandiose idea really doesn’t work in the grand scheme of things. Zombie versions would obviously eliminate the upcoming sequels, as well as reshape the entire MCU, but, if Marvel could pull it off in one film (and reportedly the longest MCU movie to date), maybe time travel could help eliminate the zombie epidemic, allowing the popular comic book arc to shine in the first two acts of the film.
Also, its is already rumored that we may see a Marvel Zombies film, so could this be their introduction? Regardless of what way Marvel goes, it looks like we won’t really know anything definitive until Avengers 4 hits theaters in May of 2019.
What are your thoughts on this theory? Could the ‘Marvel Zombies’ make an appearance? Let us know in the comments below!