Though the superpowers of Wanda and Pietro Maximoff have their origins in the lab of Baron Wolfgang von Strucker as far as the MCU is concerned, the pair made their first appearance in any medium as a couple of mutants (eventual retcon aside) in the X-Men comics. So, it’s no surprise that many fans are looking to the backstory of these siblings as precedent for how Marvel Studios plan to integrate X-Men into their franchise in the wake of the Fox-Disney merger.
This latest theory is no exception, though Reddit user AnkitSaha_013 also points to a couple of Phase 1 Avengers as precursors to the impending mutant phenomenon. But before all that, the post opens by suggesting a connection between Ant-Man and the Wasp and a certain scientifically-minded villain of the X-Men saga.
“Well, my theory is pretty simple. Remember [spoilers] Sonny Burch from Ant-Man and the Wasp? I think his mysterious boss or employer is William Stryker!!”
Colonel Stryker has made multiple appearances in the X-Men movies as the head of the Weapon X program, which granted Wolverine his adamantium skeleton and Deadpool his healing powers. AnkitSaha_013, however, argues that the MCU’s had its own Weapon X equivalent unfolding right before our eyes, providing the origins for some of the franchise’s most famed heroes.
“It’s pretty much obvious the MCU version of the weapon X program is in works, leading to the creation of the likes of Captain America and Hulk. It’s just being spearheaded by a different person each time. For example, Dr.Erskine helped create Captain, then Bruce experimented on himself creating the Hulk. Slowly, the Weapon X program became illegal, shifting into the hands of Hydra. In Age of Ultron, we saw Strucker experiment on Scarlet witch and Quicksilver. As science advanced, the experimental resources changed — first, the super soldier serum, then the mind stone… “
Naturally, Stryker would be the next shady figure to take a crack at this project, and it’s here that the mutant activity really gets serious.
“So it won’t be a surprise if Stryker decides to use Quantum Technology for experimenting on humans. I think these experiments will create the mutants, or at least cause a dormant mutation in them. These mutations will be exposed in a massive event that might be seen in Avengers 4.”
In many ways, this theory doesn’t differ greatly from what we’ve seen before, drawing on the ‘dormant gene’ idea once more as a loophole to get around the fact that mutants have traditionally been born with their abilities. As with previous theories, this one also may well be jumping the gun with the suggestion that Marvel will be ready to start making some mutants by the time Avengers 4 comes out. On top of that, it seems pretty late in the fight against Thanos to bring in a new character like Styker to change the MCU forever.
Still, it’s interesting to think how Marvel might draw on older stories like the origins of Captain America and the Hulk, and incorporate them into the build-up to the first X-Men. With that in mind, you have to wonder how Avengers 4 will serve as the bridge between what could be two very different eras for the MCU when the film arrives on May 3rd, 2019.