Highlights

  • Magneto's potential to stop Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War sparks intriguing speculation on the Marvel universe's possibilities.
  • Examining Magneto's power over metals adds complexity to the theory, questioning its feasibility against Thanos's Infinity Gauntlet.
  • Proposed alternate timeline scenarios for Magneto's intervention in Infinity War would have dramatically changed the narrative impact.

While Thanos inflicted mass devastation in Avengers: Infinity War by erasing half of the world's population, one actor from X-Men '97 believes his character could have stopped such destruction.

While X-Men '97 resides within its distinct corner of the Marvel multiverse and occasionally showcases cameos from other animated Marvel characters, fans have begun to speculate about potential crossovers and their feasibility. Adding to this speculation, an actor from the series has proposed a theory that could have had a profound impact on the outcome of the Marvel universe.

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In a recent interview on ComicBook's Phase Zero podcast, Matthew Waterson, known for his portrayal of Magneto in X-Men '97, shared a thought-provoking scenario that could have altered the course of events in Avengers: Infinity War. According to Waterson, he speculates that Magneto, with his extraordinary abilities, might have been able to intervene and prevent Thanos from executing his catastrophic snap, thus preventing the devastation that followed. While Waterson's suggestion was likely meant as a joke, it raises intriguing questions about the potential impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Adding Magneto to this scenario could have been intriguing, but the situation is more complex than it appears. Waterson suggested that Thanos's gauntlet, although made of metal or a metal-like material, might have been vulnerable to Magneto's powers, as he remarked, "Magneto might have been able to solve that relatively quickly". However, grappling with the Infinity Gauntlet, crafted from Uru metal like Thor's Mjölnir and Stormbreaker, presents a formidable challenge. Could Magneto truly manipulate such a strong weapon? Magneto's lifelong refinement of his abilities, notably his control over various metals, lends credence to this theory. That is just one reason why he remains one of Marvel's most formidable villains. Although this scenario is purely speculative, Waterson's inquiry raises thought-provoking questions about the limitations of formidable powers: "To what extent does this person's powers actually give them an ability to manipulate whatever that is? What could you do with that, or what can you do with this?"

If this scenario were incorporated into the movie, it could have expedited Endgame's resolution significantly. However, doing so would have sacrificed the dramatic and thrilling narrative arcs that fans eagerly anticipate with each new installment. Waterson astutely observes that while the solution may seem straightforward, its implementation would undercut the broader narrative impact. As he notes, "'Oh, we're all fighting this thing. There's this one guy who just [uses his powers once] and it's done, negates it.'" But Waterson proposed that while this scenario might not fit within the main continuity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it could be fascinating to explore in an alternate timeline, such as in the MCU's What If...? series.

X-Men '97 is exclusively available for streaming on Disney Plus.

x-men '97 teaser poster disney plus
X-Men '97

The animated X-Men team returns in the Disney Plus reboot, X-Men '97. With Professor X gone, Cyclops, Wolverine, Jean Grey, and the rest of the mutants find themselves under the leadership of Magneto and facing a new threat. X-Men '97 is the first project under the newly created Marvel Animation banner.

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Source: Phase Zero podcast | YouTube