Endgame Theory: Black Knight Is Key To Doctor Strange's Plan

For the past few months, rumors have been swirling that Black Knight will make his live-action debut in Avengers: Endgame. Though there is of course no proof that the classic Avenger will even be mentioned, Marvel's marketing has been hinting as Black Knight's inclusion in Avengers: Endgame later this year.

The most popular version of the Black Knight is the third character to carry the mantle, an American by the name of Dane Whitman. Introduced in Avengers #47 in 1967, Dane Whitman is the nephew of the second Black Knight, an Iron Man villain. Dane sought to redeem his uncle's legacy and became a superhero. As the latest in a long line of Black Knights, Dane is the protector of the Ebony Blade, a powerful cursed sword that chips away at his soul every time he uses it. Dane has spent his superhero career protecting it from others, while also struggling to protect it from himself.

Over the years, Dane has developed a reputation as a valued member of the Avengers, and even served as the leader of the team during the early 1990s. Along with Hercules, Wonder Man, She-Hulk, and Photon (Monica Rambeau), Black Knight is one of the few remaining key Avengers who have yet to appear in the MCU - but that may change soon enough.

This Page: Black Knight's Avengers: Endgame Rumor & Doctor Strange Connections
Next Page: Black Knight Saved The Avengers Before - Will He Do It Again?

Black Knight May Be In Avengers: Endgame

Back in September, a rumor was going around that Marvel was working on a Captain Britain and the Black Knight film, with Guy Ritchie at the helm. While that rumor has remained unsubstantiated, it has cropped up again in recent weeks, thus suggesting that there could be at least some validity to it.

Marvel Comics added to the suspicions about Black Knight with its list of comic book reprints set to be released in April. Under the "True Believers" line, Marvel will reprint several classic comic books that line up perfectly with Avengers: Endgame. Most are connected to Thanos in one way or another; three of them, however, stand out from the rest: Avengers #71, Avengers #260, and Avengers #341. An interesting connection that they all share is that Black Knight is a member of the main Avengers team in each comic. It's also worth mentioning that Hasbro released a Marvel Legends Black Knight figure in its Avengers: Infinity War line. A Black Knight action figure isn't an indication of anything, but, combined with other marketing for Avengers: Endgame, it could add more evidence to the claim that the Avenger is about to be introduced into the MCU.

Due to a lack of actors with unconfirmed roles in Avengers: Endgame, it may seem unlikely to some that there's a place in the movie for Black Knight. It shouldn't be forgotten that Marvel carefully hid Red Skull's role in Avengers: Infinity War. Marvel could pull off something similar with Black Knight, or to avoid leaks, an actor doesn't even have to be cast. Like the Red Skull, Black Knight can be created using CGI, particularly since the character is usually decked out in full armor. As for his voice, a prominent actor could be hired to play the part at a later point, or perhaps even a member of the cast, like Benedict Cumberbatch, could lend his voice to the character until an actor is properly cast in the role.

Black Knight Has Connections to Doctor Strange In The Comics

Though Dane Whitman's deep ties to the Avengers on its own is enough to justify a role in Avengers: Endgame, he's also strongly connected to another important player in the fight against Thanos: Doctor Strange. Even though Doctor Strange is currently dead, his Endgame plan is integral to repairing the MCU.

Black Knight was a recurring character in the pages of Doctor Strange during the 1970s and 1980s. The mystical nature of the Ebony Blade caused the two to cross paths in several adventures. Some of these stories involved time travel. Doctor Strange assisted Black Knight when the latter was trapped in the body of his ancestor in Arthurian times. In another encounter, Doctor Strange battled Black Knight at time when the curse of Ebony Blade was starting to corrupt him. It was Doctor Strange who helped him overcome the curse.

The Ebony Blade was nearly included in the Doctor Strange movie, but it's possible Marvel cut the weapon from the film because they have another idea in mind for how they want to introduce Black Knight. It's unclear what Marvel will do with Dane Whitman if and when he comes to the big screen, but linking him with the Sorcerer Supreme is one way it could happen.

Page 2 of 2: Black Knight Saved The Avengers Before - Will He Do It Again?

Black Knight Saved The Avengers In Endgame Before

One of the three Avengers comics being reprinted in April, Avengers #71, is curiously titled "Endgame!". The comic has led to speculation that the Avengers 4 movie title has something to do with the comic, rather than the more obvious reason that it's simply a phrase used by Doctor Strange in Infinity War. While the shared titles may just be a coincidence, the comic and the movie will most likely share two significant plotlines: time travel and reviving dead superheroes.

"Endgame!" was the second part of a story where the Avengers were used as pawns in a game being played by Kang the Conqueror and the Grandmaster. The Avengers were to fight the Squadron Sinister in a series of one-on-one matches. Hawkeye was in the midst of a battle with the Whizzer when Black Knight arrived and turned the tide in Hawkeye's favor. In doing so, Black Knight unknowingly helped the Avengers cheat, thereby costing them the match. In the second round, the Avengers had to travel back in time to fight Captain America, Namor, and the original Human Torch in World War II. Meanwhile, Black Knight used the Ebony Blade to track them down and correct his mistake.

In the end, the Avengers prevailed, granting Kang a victory over the Grandmaster. Though he was playing for the opportunity to revive his dead lover, Kang changed his mind and wished for the power to "kill the Avengers." And so, he killed all the Avengers but failed to bring down the Black Knight. Kang's choice of words with his wish was his downfall, since Black Knight wasn't technically an Avenger yet. After Black Knight defeated Kang, Grandmaster restored the Avengers to life.

Will Black Knight Help Defeat Thanos?

Black Knight saved the day in Avengers: Endgame's comic book namesake, but will he be able to do the same in the film? When Doctor Strange looked at all the possible outcomes, he saw only one that involved Thanos' defeat. Whatever it was that Doctor Strange saw, it's the only chance the Avengers have at beating Thanos and undoing the Decimation that wiped out half of the universe. As Doctor Strange says, they're in the "endgame" now.

Black Knight may somehow fit into Doctor Strange's "endgame" plan. Since the Quantum Realm is "key" to Avengers: Endgame, this could be where Dane comes in. The mention of a "time vortex" in the post-credits scene of Ant-Man and the Wasp suggests a link between time travel and the Quantum Realm. Time travel is already expected to play a part in Endgame's story, and in the comic books, there are few characters more familiar with time travel than Black Knight. Dane may actually know how to use the Ebony Blade to properly navigate through the Quantum Realm, similar to the way that Doctor Strange could open doorways to other dimensions with his Sling Ring.

The Ebony Blade is one of the most powerful weapons in the Marvel Universe. It may even be capable of killing Thanos, but Black Knight doesn't necessarily need to be present in the final battle against Thanos to make a difference. His role in Avengers: Endgame could end up being akin to Red Skull's cameo in Infinity War. If Black Knight shepherds the Avengers through time or assists them in some other way, this one action would be enough to make him instrumental to Doctor Strange's plan, and it could help set up an appearance from Black Knight in a future Marvel movie.