Rumor patrol: Time travel in The Avengers 4? Set image proves otherwise

New rumors are pointing to a time travel plot in Avengers 4. Set images have surfaced leading many to this conclusion, but one piece of evidence that disproves them have gone by the wayside.

Out of all the set images to leak off the set of Avengers 4, ones of Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth in their classic Avenger costumes has everyone up in arms about a time travel plot. TMZ got the exclusive, but it may not be telling us what we think.

The image in question depicts the Avengers back at the Battle of New York but with a surprising comrade, Ant-Man. It also shows Tony Stark in a SHIELD branded jacket. This drove fans to believe that the Avengers were sent back in time, but that’s not the case. A set image of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) at the Washington based Avengers facility proves so.

The reason that image is of importance is because the Avengers weren’t established before the events of The Avengers (2012). So Stark wouldn’t have the facility set up at that point in time. Therefore, we can conclude that the Avengers aren’t going back in time during the Infinity Wars. However, there is one theory that may explain why the Avengers are back at the Battle of New York.

An Infinity Stone Will Be Used To Alter Reality In Avengers 4

After examining the image from TMZ, you’ll notice that Tony Stark is wearing a SHIELD branded jacket. In The Avengers, he never wore one, not once. All the clothes he wore were his own. It may seem like an insignificant piece of clothing but seeing Stark in SHIELD attire gives me the impression that he’s part of the shadowy organization—that is before the organization goes under. But if that’s the case here, what could’ve driven Stark to join SHIELD? Nothing in Stark’s past could explain why he joins up with SHIELD, so this must be driven by something else. Perhaps, a different history.

Were Stark’s history to be rewritten in oh say, an alternate reality, that could explain why he’s a member of SHIELD. An alternate history would also give reason to why Ant-Man is alongside the Avengers in the image mentioned above. But the main reason why an alternate reality is plausible is because Stark becoming a part of SHIELD is because it’s happened in the comics. Stark actually became Director of SHIELD in the Civil War story-line so there’s a basis for that plot to intersect with Avengers 4. Keep in mind that it probably won’t play out exactly the same in the MCU.

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Nevertheless, Tony Stark becoming Director of SHIELD more than likely means reality has been altered in some manner. Either through the use of an Infinity Stone or a superhuman, maybe even Scarlet Witch. In the comics, she can alter reality so what’s to say Wanda can’t do the same in the MCU. My guess is that someone will get a hold of the Infinity Gauntlet and hit a reset on everything.

Regardless of the explanation, it appears as if the MCU is going to experience a massive revamp. One that sees the universe turned upside down. Let’s just hope Earth’s Mightiest survive in this new world, because there’s no telling what will happen next.

Avengers: Infinity War premieres on May 4, 2018. Avengers 4 releases on May 3, 2019.

Do you think the reality will be altered drastically in Avengers 4? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.