Despite Phase 4 ending with a focus on vibranium, Marvel’s other super metal, adamantium, might be making its MCU debut before the X-Men get to show it off. Traditionally, the most famous of Marvel’s nigh-indestructible metal has always been Wolverine. However, with the X-Men held by Fox for so long, the MCU instead took its time to develop vibranium throughout the Captain America and Black Panther franchises. Seemingly created as a result of a metallurgic accident in an attempt to replicate vibranium, adamantium is incredibly strong, making it something that could have some major storytelling implications alongside vibranium in the MCU.
There are plenty of places adamantium could show up long before the X-Men get their own MCU film. The X-Man in question will presumably be ing the MCU in Deadpool 3, but there’s also room for the new super metal to appear in Ironheart, or even the Armor Wars. It could surface as a perfect counterpart to vibranium in Captain America: New World Order or even Marvel’s Thunderbolts. The presumptive final outing of Marvel’s God of Thunder might bring it in for Thor 5. Failing all of that, however, Avengers: Secret Wars is practically a guarantee.
Wolverine Is Bringing His Adamantium Claws With Him In Deadpool 3
The first and most obvious place for adamantium to appear in the MCU is Deadpool 3. When the comedically understated trailer for the third film dropped, Ryan Reynold casually announced Hugh Jackman's return as Wolverine. With Deadpool slated to hit theaters in 2024, that could be the first time X-Men fans get their fix until after Avengers: Secret Wars. It also isn’t clear who the villain of the movie will be. With the movie featuring Logan, it’s entirely likely that it’ll feature an old Weapon X adversary, many of whom also use adamantium like Wolverine’s arch rival, Sabertooth, or Omega Red.
The main point of contention is the relationship Deadpool 3 will have with the MCU. While it’s been confirmed that Deadpool 3 will be produced as an MCU project, that doesn’t mean it’ll be taking place in the MCU proper, at least not in any capacity that MCU fans would yet be familiar with. Deadpool 2 already employed time travel. If Avengers: Endgame and Loki have confirmed anything, it’s that time travel is an easy route to multiversal shenanigans. Still, it’s unclear exactly how integrated Deadpool 3 will be with the rest of the MCU. It’s entirely possible the movie could end with aconnection instead of having it throughout.
Armor Wars May Give Ironheart An Adamantium Upgrade If Her Own Show Doesn't
Ironheart might actually be the best character to introduce adamantium before even Wolverine gets his crack at it. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever already established Riri Williams as an engineering genius. She created a machine for detecting vibranium, which made her the main driving force for the entire film. Not only that, but she ended the movie by having to leave her Mk II Ironheart armor in Wakanda with Shuri. All that means is that Riri is in the market for a new suit when she resurfaces in the Ironheart series on Disney+ or again in Armor Wars, and she could do a lot worse than a suit made from adamantium.
Zemo Might Wield Adamantium In Captain America 4 Or Thunderbolts
Zemo is one of the few MCU villains to survive multiple ordeals with superheroes, and that means the next time he shows up, it may just be with adamantium in hand. In the comics, Baron Zemo has always been something of a foil to Captain America. To that end, he tends to wield an adamantium sword as a counterpoint to Cap’s vibranium shield. Since Zemo’s appearance in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it’s he’s evolving his way to proper supervillain status, so it’d make all the sense in the world for his next appearance to give him his favored adamantium weapon.
The question is what movie he’ll show up in next. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier left him in Wakanda to continue his penance for the death of King T’Chaka. The actual plot of Captain America: New World Order isn’t yet known, but given that Zemo is one of the Star Spangled Avenger’s most enduring enemies, it could be that he escapes to plague this new iteration of the character. It’s also possible, however, that Zemo will return in Marvel’s Thunderbolts. He’s been a major player on that team before, and if Bucky is headlining that team, then the dynamic between the two of them would have major storytelling potential.
Hercules May Have An Adamantium Weapon Comparable To Mjolnir In Thor 5 (or Secret Wars)
By the end of Thor: Love and Thunder, it was clear that the MCU was setting up for Marvel’s other God of Strength, Hercules, in a possible Thor 5. If Hercules does, in fact, make a proper debut in future Marvel projects, he may do so alongside his signature mace. That mace has, in the past, been characterized as being made of adamantine - the mythical Greek metal that Marvel’s adamantium gets its name from. However, for the sake of streamlining things in the MCU and playing to the MCU’s handling of magic and established myths inspiring the real world, it would make sense for Marvel to make the mace out of actual adamantium.
The problem arises from the generally poor reception of Thor: Love and Thunder. That may hurt the chances of Thor 5 gracing the MCU. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean Hercules wouldn’t ever get to see the light of day in the MCU again. In the comics, Hercules has a long history as an Avenger, as well as a decent history among the Champions. While the older iteration of the Champions is unlikely to ever see the MCU in favor of Marvel’s younger Champions team, Hercules could still make his proper debut in the Avengers: Secret Wars film that will cap off the MCU Multiverse Saga.
Avengers: Secret Wars Could Be An Adamantium Treasure Trove
Beyond Hercules, there might be plenty more sources of adamantium appearing in Avengers: Secret Wars. The obvious factor is that this movie has a high probability of bringing in the X-Men before their actual movie. If that’s the case, then Wolverine will get the chance to the MCU proper after Deadpool. However, nothing about Hugh Jackman’s return after Deadpool 3 is set in stone. It’s entirely possible that this new era of the X-Men won’t factor in Wolverine at all. Even if that is the case, however, there are other places for adamantium to show up in the movie.
Perhaps the best place to expect adamantium to appear would be none other than Doctor Doom in Avengers: Secret Wars. The classic Marvel villain has been known to use adamantium in his weapons and inventions in the past. While his armor isn’t made of it, there’s a possibility the MCU will give Doctor Doom’s suit an adamantium makeover. It would certainly help explain how it’s able to compare to all the vibranium equipment and potential adamantium suit of Ironheart. From Wolverine in Deadpool 3 to Doctor Doom in Avengers: Secret Wars, there are a number of places for adamantium to the MCU before the X-Men.
