Credit: Marvel StudiosIt’s starting to feel real now. Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) are no longer distant ideas on Marvel’s timeline—they’re right around the corner. And with that realization comes something fans know all too well: when the stakes get this big, not everyone makes it out.
Marvel has been building toward this moment for years. The Multiverse Saga has stretched reality, fractured timelines, and introduced threats that go far beyond anything seen in the Infinity Saga. Now, everything is converging into one final collision.
And if history tells us anything, it’s this: events on this scale come with consequences.
We’re not just talking about battles or temporary setbacks. We’re talking about real, permanent loss. The kind that reshapes the MCU moving forward.
So as these films approach, it’s becoming easier to identify the characters who feel… vulnerable. The ones whose stories are nearing a natural conclusion. The ones Marvel could use to deliver emotional impact when it matters most.
Here are six MCU characters fans should seriously prepare to say goodbye to.
A Multiverse War Led by Doctor Doom
Before diving into the characters themselves, it’s important to understand just how massive this conflict is shaping up to be.
Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) are expected to function as a two-part finale to the Multiverse Saga. And at the center of it all is Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) in a bold, reality-bending twist that already has fans talking.
This isn’t just another villain stepping in to challenge the Avengers. Doom represents control over the Multiverse itself. Entire worlds, timelines, and versions of characters could be at stake. That opens the door for something Marvel hasn’t fully leaned into before: sweeping, irreversible change.
We already know several heroes are confirmed for Doomsday, and it’s widely expected that Secret Wars will bring back familiar faces from across the MCU—and possibly beyond—for one massive final showdown.
But when you bring everyone together like that, there’s only one way to raise the stakes high enough.
You take something away.
1. Hawkeye May Get His Final Mission
Clint Barton has always been the Avengers’ grounded heart. He doesn’t have superpowers, cosmic abilities, or advanced tech beyond his gear. What he has is experience, loyalty, and a deep connection to his family.
That’s exactly why he feels so vulnerable heading into Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).
His story has quietly been wrapping up for a while now. He passed the mantle to Kate Bishop. He’s stepped back from the front lines. And unlike many other heroes, he already got his redemption arc after the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019).
If Marvel wants to deliver a deeply emotional moment, Clint is the kind of character who makes sense for it. His death wouldn’t just be about spectacle—it would hit on a personal level.
And that’s often what Marvel saves for its biggest films.
2. Scarlet Witch Could Complete Her Redemption
Wanda Maximoff remains one of the most complex characters in the entire MCU. Her journey has taken her from Avenger to antagonist and somewhere in between.
After the events of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), her fate was left intentionally unclear. That alone makes her one of the biggest wildcards heading into Secret Wars.
But narratively, there’s a clear path forward.
Wanda is incredibly powerful—arguably too powerful to simply exist without consequences. That kind of character often requires a definitive ending. And in Marvel’s world, that usually means sacrifice.
A redemption arc that ends with Wanda saving the Multiverse would not only bring her story full circle, but it would also give her the kind of send-off that matches her impact on the MCU.
3. Loki’s Story May Finally Come Full Circle
Loki has already “died” more times than most characters, but this time feels different.
After the events of Loki on Disney+, his role in maintaining the Multiverse has taken on greater significance. He’s no longer just the trickster or the anti-hero—he’s become something much bigger.
That evolution puts him directly in the path of the kind of threat we’re expecting in Avengers: Doomsday (2026).
If Doctor Doom begins to destabilize or reshape the Multiverse, Loki becomes a natural target. And from a storytelling perspective, a final, permanent sacrifice would bring his journey full circle—from villain to protector of everything.
It’s the kind of ending that feels earned.
4. Doctor Strange Is Playing a Dangerous Game
Stephen Strange has been walking a very thin line lately.
Since Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), we’ve seen him push further into dangerous territory. Dark magic, incursions, and alternate realities have all become part of his world. And with each step, the risk grows.
That makes him one of the most logical candidates for a major sacrifice in Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).
Strange is the kind of character who would absolutely give his life to fix a broken reality. In fact, that’s been hinted at multiple times already. His willingness to do whatever it takes has always been both his greatest strength and his biggest flaw.
And in a multiverse-level crisis, that mindset could ultimately cost him everything.
5. Professor X and the X-Men Could Fall Early
With the X-Men playing a major role in the Multiverse Saga’s climax, Avengers: Doomsday (2026) could introduce them in a very dramatic way.
And sometimes, the most impactful introductions come with immediate loss.
Professor X has long been the moral center of the X-Men. If Marvel wants to establish the seriousness of Doctor Doom’s threat right away, removing a figure like Charles Xavier would do exactly that.
It also sets the tone for the rest of the story.
The idea that even the most respected and powerful leaders aren’t safe immediately raises the stakes. And depending on how Marvel approaches the Multiverse, we could even see multiple versions of X-Men characters fall in quick succession.
That kind of shock factor would align perfectly with a film like Doomsday.
Thor Feels Like the Most Likely Goodbye
If there’s one character who stands out above the rest, it’s Thor.
He’s one of the last original Avengers still active in the MCU. He’s been through loss, growth, reinvention, and everything in between. And at this point, his story feels like it’s approaching its natural conclusion.
That’s what makes him the most likely candidate for a major death in Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).
A heroic sacrifice would give Thor the kind of ending Marvel loves to give its legacy characters. It would also carry significant weight, both within the story and for audiences who have followed him since Thor (2011).
More importantly, it would signal a true passing of the torch.
And in a film expected to reshape the entire MCU, that kind of moment feels almost inevitable.
The MCU Is Headed for a Major Reset
When you step back and look at the bigger picture, it becomes clear what Marvel is building toward.
Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) aren’t just about defeating a villain. They’re about redefining the universe. That kind of shift almost always comes with loss.
Some of these characters may survive. Others may not. But one thing feels certain—the MCU will not look the same on the other side of this story.
And that’s exactly what makes this moment so exciting.
Because as much as fans love these characters, it’s the risk of losing them that makes these films truly matter.