Ultimately, Avengers: Doosmday's plot in recent releases, but the Multiverse Saga's overarching story is more complex than the Infinity Saga, which makes theories and predictions more difficult to craft.

Two of the Phase 5 installments that have dropped clear hints to Avengers: Doomsday's story have been Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*. In the former, the main villain directly addresses the inevitable conflict Captain America will have to face, and in the latter, at least three superhero teams seem ready to take on Doctor Doom, apparently on their own . Looking closer, however, Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*' post-credits teases may have a slightly different meaning.

Captain America: Brave New World's Post-Credits Scene Clearly Sets Up Avengers: Doomsday

The Leader's Genius-Level Intellect Must Have Shown Him The MCU's Future

Samuel Sterns the Leader close-up sat on a chair in Captain america Brave New world

In Captain America: Brave New World's post-credits scene, Samuel Sterns a.k.a. the Leader tells Sam Wilson he read "the probabilities" and saw "plain as day" how other worlds are ready for conflict. Keeping his wording vague, the Leader warned Captain America about "the others." The Leader's threat seems to be a warning about the countless timelines in the MCU's multiverse, all of which may become aggressive towards Earth-616 when Doctor Doom arrives to endanger the Sacred Timeline.

Bob with bulletholes in his shirt in Thunderbolts*
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If the Leader's warning does refer to the multiverse, then Captain America: Brave New World's post-credits tease appears to come in too late in the game, as the Multiverse Saga has already completed two full phases, and the Leader's words don't provide any new information. Loki season 1's finale fulfilled a similar purpose more than three years before, when He Who Remains explained the previous Multiverse War and warned Loki that a similar conflict was coming. Sure, Captain America may only learn about the multiverse's existence in Phase 5, but he would have gotten acquainted with it quickly in Avengers: Doomsday, anyway.

Captain America: Brave New World's Post-Credits Scene Explains Sam's Reaction To The New Avengers

The Leader Might Have Been Referring To A Different Threat

Rather than an additional tease of Avengers: Doomsday's multiversal war, Captain America: Brave New World's post-credits tease could be a nod to another conflict. The Leader tells Captain America, "we'll see what happens when you have to protect this place... from the others." "The others" could be interpreted as "other worlds," but also as "other versions of the Avengers". In Thunderbolts*' post-credits scene, Bucky Barnes reveals Sam Wilson is suing the New Avengers over copyright infringement due to their new team name. Maybe, the Leader warned Sam Wilson about the official Avengers' imminent conflict with Bucky and Yelena's New Avengers, not about a Multiverse War.

While Captain America: Brave New World established the Leader's superhuman deduction skills, it never hinted at anything beyond Earth, let alone the multiverse

Samuel Sterns orchestrated a secret plan to manipulate world politics. The Leader's understanding of probabilities helped him pull the strings while imprisoned and allowed him to leave the United States on the brink of an international conflict. While Captain America: Brave New World established the Leader's superhuman deduction skills, it never hinted at anything beyond Earth, let alone the multiverse. The Leader's multiversal warning in Captain America: Brave New World's post-credits scene seems out of place, but it would make much more sense if it actually referred to the potential conflict between the Avengers and the New Avengers.

Sam Wilson Worrying About The New Avengers Would Make Avengers: Doomsday Even More Fun

Avengers: Doomsday & Secret Wars Might Introduce A New Version Of The MCU's Civil War

Team Captain America running into battle at the airport in Captain America: Civil War (2016)

The Thunderbolts' name change in Thunderbolts*' ending and Bucky's confirmation of Sam Wilson's lawsuit in Thunderbolts*' post-credits scene sets up an interesting subplot for Avengers: Doomsday, where the two factions of Earth's Mightiest Heroes could fail to agree on how to face Doctor Doom. The Avengers' divided state would allow Avengers: Doomsday to put more focus on smaller groups of heroes, similarly to the post-Civil War Avengers: Infinity War. Not to mention, it would also give Doctor Doom the upper hand, similar to Thanos.

Thunderbolts IMAX poster with the whole team
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But instead of repeating Avengers: Infinity War’s fragmented team dynamics and catching several Avenger squads with their guard down, Avengers: Doomsday could introduce a more deliberate division of the Avengers into two distinct teams. This split could spark a competitive race between both groups, each striving to prove they’re more effective at battling Doctor Doom and proving Captain America: Brave New World's Samuel Sterns right. This way, the smaller Avengers squads could be ever-changing, and by the time Avengers: Secret Wars begins, all heroes could learn that cooperation is their greatest strength.

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