Photo Credits: Marvel Studios
A new rumor claims one of MCU‘s most famous heroes will drive the plot of Avengers: Secret Wars as the main character. The reported claim compares the character’s role to a major arc seen in the previous Avengers crossover.
According to insider James Mackwl, Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man will serve as the central protagonist in Avengers: Secret Wars. The rumor also suggests his character arc will mirror Robert Downey Jr.‘s Tony Stark narrative in Avengers: Infinity War.
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will be to Avengers Secret Wars what Stark was to Infinity War in terms of protagonism. pic.twitter.com/had5vtnktS— James Mack (@JamesMackwl) August 20, 2026
The report remains unconfirmed by Marvel, and little is known about the Secret Wars film. Marvel has not revealed which character will lead the upcoming MCU crossover. Still, the comparison is enough to keep fans excited given the history shared by both characters in previous films.
How Tony Stark became the heart of Avengers: Infinity War
Tony Stark’s Iron Man became one of the emotional anchors of Avengers: Infinity War. His journey in the MCU started as a selfish billionaire playboy and later grew into a selfless hero.
His experiences with the Battle of New York and the aftermath of Avengers: Age of Ultron shaped his fear of another catastrophic threat. That history became paramount when Thanos evolved into a major threat capable of wiping out half of all life by collecting all six Infinity Stones.
Stark’s guilt, fear for the people he loved, and desperate attempts to outperform Thanos offered an emotional core to the Infinity Saga. His final confrontation with Thanos ends with him snatching all six stones from Thanos and declaring, “And I… am.. Iron Man.” He snaps his fingers to erase Thanos and his destructive army, sacrificing his life to save the universe. The climax also includes a final emotional exchange with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man.
That sort of protagonism carries real emotional weight, making fans eager to see how Holland’s Spider-Man lands a Stark-level heroism in the upcoming crossover. However, Marvel has yet to announce whether Holland will return as Spider-Man after his recent web-slinging adventure in Brand New Day.
Avengers: Secret Wars is set to release in theaters on December 17, 2027.
