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The Marvel Cinematic Universe may be on an unplanned hiatus right now. But at least fans still have Avengers: Endgame to occupy them in the meantime. The MCU’s game-changing 2019 smash truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

Not only did Avengers: Endgame bring in an astonishing $2.8 billion worldwide. But fans are still learning more about the movie. As it turns out, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes almost wore bulky time travel suits that tied directly back to the X-Men.

Chris Evans at the 'Avengers: Endgame' premiere
Chris Evans at the ‘Avengers: Endgame’ premiere | Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

‘Avengers: Endgame is the most ambitious entry in the MCU

Marvel Studios has made more than 20 movies since 2008. Yet, Avengers: Endgame easily boasts the most complex storytelling. The movie has to do so much narratively and visually. So, of course, the filmmakers found themselves constantly pivoting to make it all fit.

As a result, fans have been discovering a wide variety of production tidbits. In particular, the final battle changed a ton from conception to execution. Some showdowns never took place, and some alliances were never formed.

Among all the behind-the-scenes stories, the designs of the various superhero suits constantly changed. After all, Avengers: Endgame concludes with literal armies colliding. But even the quantum suits the Avengers wear throughout the movie changed considerably.

Captain America’s alternate quantum suit connects to the X-Men

Thanks to a recent Instagram post by concept artist Aleksi Briclot, fans caught a glimpse of an alternate design for the quantum suits. The Avengers wear these in order to travel back in time to collect the Infinity Stones. Although Captain America is the one pictured, presumably everyone would have worn this same design.

Interestingly, the design is — according to Briclot — inspired by the Lockheed SR-71 plane. Also known as the Blackbird, this type of jet is also a staple of the X-Men. The superhero team famously travels from mission to mission on a Blackbird, which they affectionately call the X-Jet.

Even if this design had been chosen, the connection would have likely gone unspoken. Still, it’s a fun nod to the Avengers’ fellow Marvel team. And considering the danger of the mission in Avengers: Endgame, it stands to reason such a sleek, strategic design would apply.

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Fans are anxiously awaiting the X-Men’s introduction into the MCU

Such a design detail probably isn’t as dramatic a connection as fans want. But at least it would have visually built up to the arrival of the X-Men. Since Disney’s acquisition of Fox, it’s only a matter of time until Marvel integrates the mutants into the MCU. It just doesn’t happen in Avengers: Endgame.

Right now, one of the prevailing theories on how that will happen centers on the multiverse. After all, fans expect Phase 4 will solidify the presence of a Marvel multiverse. And bringing over the established X-Men team — as well as the Fantastic Four — would streamline the transition.

Still, these are all nothing but theories and speculation right now. Considering how much Marvel has in the pipeline, fans will probably get nothing but hints until at least Phase 5. And when the X-Men do crop up, it’ll be far less subtle than the design of the Avengers’ suits.

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