Only One Recent MCU Movie Doesn’t Set Up Avengers: Doomsday—Here’s Why That Matters for Marvel Fans

Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be one of the biggest cinematic events in superhero history. It’s the ultimate payoff for a saga that’s been building ever since Black Widow. But here’s a curious twist: out of the last 13 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies, only one doesn’t directly set up the new team-up event. Not only is this a fun Marvel trivia fact, it’s also a sign of how carefully Marvel weaves its huge universe—except when a story calls for a different path.

Let’s dig into the details, explore why Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is the outlier, and what this means for Marvel fans looking for clues, crossovers, and surprises.

1. The Marvel Multiverse “Web”—Every Movie Is a Thread

Ever since Avengers: Endgame, Marvel has been building a Multiverse Saga. One by one, new movies introduced fresh heroes (like Shang-Chi), explored alternate realities (like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), and teased threats that could only be stopped by a major team-up.

Each chapter quietly (or sometimes loudly) connected to the next, setting up storylines for the Avengers to face their biggest challenges yet.

2. 13 Movies—Only Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Stands Alone

Here’s the kicker: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is the only MCU movie since 2021 that doesn’t clearly tie into Avengers: Doomsday. Why? Director James Gunn wanted this finale to be a true goodbye to the Guardians, focused on character growth and closure rather than multiversal setups.

Self-Contained Adventure

• Guardians Vol. 3 acts more as an epilogue to the Infinity Saga than a setup for what’s next.
• The film explores Rocket’s backstory, Drax’s peace, and Peter Quill’s new journey—those threads don’t cross over with Kang or Doctor Doom, or even the next Avengers lineup.
• No multiverse drama, no variant cameos—just a heartfelt ending for the team fans have loved for a decade.

3. The Multiverse Saga: How the Other 12 Tease Avengers: Doomsday

Here’s how the rest of Marvel’s slate links to the big team-up, either through characters, post-credit scenes, or world-changing events:

• Black Widow: Introduced Yelena Belova and Alexei, both part of the next Avengers group.
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: Set Shang-Chi as a major player and future Avenger.
• Eternals: Connected cosmic origins and the introduction of Adamantium, which matters for Captain America’s rise as a new leader.
• Spider-Man: No Way Home: First direct address of multiversal variants—key to Doomsday.
• Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: Opened new realities and teased the X-Men.
• Thor: Love and Thunder: Self-contained like the Guardians, but Thor himself returns for Doomsday.
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: Set up both new characters and Wakanda’s future in a changing world.
• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania: Brought Kang the Conqueror, the big villain of the saga, into the spotlight.
• The Marvels: Set up cosmic threats that spill into multiverse problems.
• Thunderbolts*: Came with post-credits scenes revealing major shifts and new Avengers lineup.
• Captain America: Brave New World: Pushed Sam Wilson forward as a leading Avenger.
• Blade: Teased with hints at supernatural threats entering the main universe.

All roads—except one—lead to Avengers: Doomsday.

4. Why a Self-Contained Guardians Movie Still Matters

Marvel could have forced a Guardians Vol. 3 post-credit tie-in or a secret cameo, but chose not to. Why? Because sometimes, the best superhero stories are about people (or aliens, or raccoons, or talking trees) more than setup.

• We need breaks in the cosmic web—moments to say goodbye, laugh, and let characters breathe.
• The team gets their perfect sendoff—no setup for Doom, Kang, or the multiverse needed.
• This choice actually gives Doomsday more weight when the rest of the MCU collides.

5. What Does This Mean For Fans?

• Expect everything else to connect. Every movie (and even many Disney+ shows) features a clue, character, or plot point leading us to Avengers: Doomsday.
• Don’t write off the Guardians. While they’re not front and center for Doomsday, Marvel loves surprises—never say never to a Groot cameo or Rocket wrenching on cosmic tech.
• Watch for subtle links. The multiverse means small references in one movie could echo much later—even a random planet from Guardians lore could appear in the background of a battle.

6. Humanizing the Marvel Multiverse: The Power of Story Choice

While it’s thrilling to see every thread come together, there’s something refreshingly honest about a story that chooses not to weave into the next big thing.

• Guardians 3 is about heart, loss, and hope. It’s about finishing a story rather than always building to the next.
• Marvel’s strategy honors closure as much as new beginnings—something fans can appreciate after years of interlinked plots.

7. What’s Next for Marvel?

With Avengers: Doomsday coming, the MCU’s multiverse will get wilder:

• Expect Kang, Doctor Doom, variants, and cosmic chaos.
• Every hero, new and old, will have their story threads pulled tight.
• Even self-contained tales like Guardians Vol. 3 become more meaningful in contrast—they prove that within a universe of endless connections, there’s room for personal stories that matter.

Conclusion

Out of 13 recent MCU blockbusters, only Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 decided not to tee up the multiversal madness of Avengers: Doomsday. This rare break in Marvel’s connected universe makes the Guardians’ swan song even more powerful. It reminds fans that sometimes, a great ending is just as important as a new beginning.

Keep rewatching, keep speculating, and get ready—because Avengers: Doomsday is set to bring all the other heroes (and maybe a surprise or two) into Marvel’s next great adventure.

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