Marvel Quietly Added a Child Actor to Avengers: Doomsday — Fans Think They Know Why

The hype for Avengers: Doomsday, which is set to release in December, just keeps growing, and a new casting reveal has got fan theories running on overdrive.

We’re set to see some of our favourite Avengers reunite, including Spider-Man, Thor, and even Captain America. Beyond that, the X-Men are finally getting into the thick of the action, along with the Thunderbolts, the Wakandans, and the Fantastic Four, among others.

Avengers: Doomsday also features the return of Robert Downey Jr, although he is taking on an entirely different role as iconic Marvel villain Doctor Doom. In the film, heroes from all corners of the multiverse will face a tense stand off against Doom — and I don’t know about you, but I have a feeling it isn’t going to go so well.

While filming on the project officially ended in September, reshoots are currently taking place in Pinewood Studios, London. Recently, an eagle-eyed fan noticed that a new actor had been added to the Avengers: Doomsday cast. That actor is child star Pacino Khan. And needless to say, rumours around who he is playing are firing around the internet.

Who Is Pacino Khan Playing In Avengers: Doomsday?

While some are suggesting that the child could be playing Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter’s son, the more likely interpretation is that this actor is playing Franklin Richards. Yes, that's Reed Richards and Sue Storm’s son, who was born during The Fantastic 4: First Steps.

In the mid-credits scene of First Steps, there is a four-year time jump. Sue reads to Franklin, who, by that point, is a young child, before getting up to get another book. When she returns, Franklin is face-to-face with Doctor Doom (sans mask). He is holding Franklin’s hand to his face. 

The fact that a different child actor is Franklin in this scene has led to some fans speculating that this is proof Khan isn’t playing him. However, recasts happen all the time if the role becomes bigger, and it’s also worth noting that, with this time jump, Khan is exactly the right age to play Franklin. The question is — why does this matter?

Why Is Franklin Richards Important To The MCU?

In The Fantastic 4: First Steps, it is established that Franklin is extremely powerful. Specifically, he was born with something known as the “power cosmic." In the movie Galactus says that, because of this power, Franklin is his heir apparent. He was supposedly destined to take his place and spend his existence feeding on planets around the universe.

The Fantastic Four manage to defeat Galactus, but in the process, Franklin’s mother, Sue Storm, ends up dying. However, when Reed places Franklin on her chest, he is able to resurrect her. This indicates that, once again, he is a lot more powerful than his parents and the average Avenger.

In the comics, Franklin has all your run-of-the-mill superhero powers, but the most interesting power he possesses is reality warping. This means he is able to make pocket universes. Given the MCU has been defined by the multiverse following the Infinity Saga, I have no doubt that this power to create universes and rewrite reality will play a big role in Doomsday.

Although it is unclear what Doctor Doom wants with Franklin, the villain has previously kidnapped him in the comics because of his powers. So, the real question we’re left with is whether Franklin will use these powers for good, or be forced to use them for evil.

Nevertheless, whether he’s played by Khan or not, Franklin and his immense power will really shake up the MCU.