These ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Theories Can’t All Be Right, Can They?

It’s a big year for blockbusters but while Toy Story 4 and Star Wars: Episode 9 are undoubtedly the subject of much fanfare, neither hold a candle to the anticipation surrounding Avengers: Endgame. And if there is one thing the internet loves, it’s overthinking a beloved movie or show and coming up with theories that are every bit as insane as they are brilliant. Considering the popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe — not to mention Infinity War‘s bonkers ending — it’s not surprising that there are a whole lot of theories about what is going to happen in Endgame. So if you don’t mind getting some totally hypothetical possible spoilers, here are eight of the most compelling dark Endgame theories that almost certainly won’t happen (unless, of course, they do).

Potential Endgame Spoilers Ahead. These may not be accurate but in case they are, stop reading if you want to watch the movie without any idea of what might happen.

Ant-Man and Captain Marvel Will Team Up to Save the Day

For those that don’t remember, Infinity War ended with half of the earth’s population disappearing thanks to Thanos’ super snap. So how the hell are we going to get Spider-Man, Black Panther, and the rest of our beloved heroes back in time to defeat Thanos and his alien cronies? Well, the most common theories revolve around Ant-Man, who is shown to be stuck in the Quantum Realm at the end of Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Captain Marvel, who is believed to be the person Nick Fury contacts just before disintegrating and may have access to the Quantum Realm Ant-Man is trapped in.

So how will these two seemingly disconnected characters living in different decades find each other? There are a lot of different ideas but most seem to suggest that both characters will have the ability to time travel (Ant-Man can’t usually time travel but the fact that he’s in Quantum Realm makes it a distinct possibility), meaning that they will be able to unite and then figure out a way to undo Thanos’ aggressive population control. In fact, don’t be surprised if Ant-Man makes a surprise appearance in Captain Marvel in order to establish the connection between the two and lay some groundwork for Endgame.

We Got the Infinity War Ending Backwards

So a lot of fans have noticed that most of the characters that were snapped out of existence in Infinity War were the heroes that seem to represent the next phase of the MCU while the heroes that were left alive seem to be the heroes most likely reaching the end of their Avengers tenure. This could be a coincidence but one theory from Reddit suggests that perhaps this means that, in Sixth Sense-esque twist, everyone we think survived is actually dead and vice versa (sort of).

The logistics of this Reddit theory are a little wonky but basically, it comes down to the idea that Captain America, Iron Man, and the rest of the surviving heroes will spend a good chunk of the movie trying to get the others back only to realize the other half of the population was actually sent to an alternate universe and in order to ensure that universe’s survival, they are forced to sacrifice themselves. Dark twist that may be too confusing to make sense? You bet but if they pull it off, it could be one of the more brilliant plot-turns in movie history.

Gamora is Coming Back

One of the most heartbreaking scenes in Infinity War was when Thanos kills his daughter Gamora to earn the Soul Stone but in the MCU, death is rarely permanent so naturally many have theorized that the killer assassin turned Guardian of the Galaxy hasn’t actually kicked the bucket. So where is she? According to the most popular theory, Gamora’s soul is now trapped in the Soul Stone (along with half the universe?) and while it’s unlikely her genocidal dad will release her anytime soon, if one of the Avengers gets a hold of the Soul Stone, don’t be surprised if Gamora is back in action in time to help save the day.

Loki is Coming Back Too

Considering that Loki has “died” approximately 50 times since he first appeared on screen in the original Thor, it shouldn’t come as much of a shock that a large chunk of Marvel fans believe that the god of mischief will find a way to return in Endgame. How? Some have said he is secretly posing as Bruce Banner. Others say he has been manipulating Thanos this whole time and that when the time is right, he’ll take the stones for himself to rule the universe. Sounds farfetched but let’s not forget that this is the same universe where Captain America’s brainwashed best friend turned out to have murdered Iron Man’s parents so anything is possible.

The OG Avengers Are Gonna Die

As we stated previously, it is a little strange that most of the Avengers who were left alive are seemingly the heroes least likely to be in the gang for the next phase of the MCU (namely, Captain America and Iron Man). But what if this was on purpose as a way to give a proper goodbye to Tony and Steve? Could returning half the population back to existence also involve the two teaming up for one last rescue mission that results in both of their deaths? It certainly would add some emotional heft to Endgame and given that both Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans have been rumored to be leaving the MCU for the last few years, don’t be surprised if this is the final rodeo for these longtime frenemies.

The Rise of Adam Warlock

Who the hell is Adam Warlock? It’s a fair question, as even fans of the Marvel comics may not be familiar with the name. But before we get into who Warlock is, first we need to establish the dilemma our heroes may be facing even if they do end up defeating Thanos and reversing his super snap: the Infinity Stones have been united. How can the Avengers be expected to handle the raw power and unbridled chaos contained in these universe-bending stones? Some have guessed Vision, as his previous connection with the Mind Stone would hypothetically equip him to have a solution and that solution may come in the form of, you guessed it, Adam Warlock.

Now, you are probably once again asking, “Who the hell is Adam Warlock?” Well, we could use the next 5,000 words laying out his complex backstory but instead, we will give you Cliffnotes version: Warlock is a cosmic being who plays a large role in the comic version of the Infinity War story, taking on the Soul Stone and then spreading the remaining stones throughout the universe in order to ensure they will not be united again. At this point, many assume that his role has essentially been filled by Vision but others have suggested that perhaps Warlock will be born into existence by Vision, allowing Warlock to fulfill his destiny as the one who can restore order after the chaos inflicted by the Infinity Stones.

This is an extremely elaborate theory that has been outright rejected by the Russo Brothers but could that just be a cover-up for when Warlock finally makes his glorious debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Probably not but if someone named Adam Warlock makes an unexpected appearance toward the end of Endgame, don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Avengers: Endgame comes to theaters April 26, 2019.