21 QUESTIONS! Max Branning Death in 2027 | EastEnders

As EastEnders barrels forward into a bold new era, fans are barely catching their breath after the emotional wreckage of 2025 and the explosive set-ups already unfolding in 2026. The cast shake-ups, jaw-dropping flashforwards, and lingering mysteries have turned Albert Square into a pressure cooker of secrets, suspicion, and looming tragedy. And towering over it all is one terrifying question that refuses to go away: is Max Branning heading toward his death in 2027?

Before we even get there, it’s worth acknowledging just how brutal the last year has been for loyal viewers. 2025 felt less like a storyline arc and more like a survival test. The Square was rocked by devastating departures, including the downfall of the menacing Nish Panesar and, far more painfully, the loss of Martin Fowler. Martin’s death left a hole in Walford that still hasn’t healed. His warmth, his moral compass, and even the simple comfort of his fruit and veg stall banter are sorely missed. Albert Square feels emptier without him, quieter in a way that feels wrong. For many fans, the grief is still raw.

Yet EastEnders being EastEnders, heartbreak never arrives alone. Alongside the sorrow came returns that reignited chaos and nostalgia in equal measure. Zoe Slater’s comeback sent shockwaves through the community, Anthony Trueman’s brief and tragic reappearance reopened old wounds, and then there was Max Branning himself—the human embodiment of trouble. Love him or loathe him, Max’s return instantly shifted the energy of the show. Wherever he goes, destruction follows, and the flashforwards have made it clear that his presence will once again change everything.

Now, as the calendar flips firmly into 2026, the Square is bracing itself for yet another wave of upheaval. New faces are arriving, old enemies are resurfacing, and buried secrets are threatening to claw their way back into the light.

One of the most intriguing newcomers is a woman known only as Bee, who arrives on January 7th and immediately rattles Linda Carter. Their reunion takes place at a school reunion, but what should be a nostalgic catch-up quickly turns sour. Bee and Linda remember their shared past very differently, and the tension is impossible to ignore. Was Linda really the school bully Bee hints she was, or is Bee rewriting history for her own twisted agenda?

Watching Linda squirm as old accusations surface is uncomfortable—but undeniably gripping. The show’s executive producer has teased Bee as “mysterious” and “nuanced,” which in EastEnders language usually translates to one thing: she’s hiding something big. Is Bee destined to become an unexpected ally as Linda battles her inner demons, or is she here with a calculated plan to tear Linda’s life apart piece by piece?

Then there’s the man who has arguably sparked more speculation than any other character in recent memory: the unnamed figure from the New Year’s Day flashforward. Credited only as “man,” he appeared during Max Branning’s shocking arrest, exchanging a subtle yet loaded nod with Max and standing far too comfortably among the Branning clan. This was no random extra. His ease, his confidence, and his familiarity scream hidden connections.

Fans have been buzzing with one explosive theory—that this mystery man could be a recast Mark Fowler Jr. If that turns out to be true, it would shake the foundations of Walford to their core. The Fowler legacy colliding with Max Branning’s chaos? That’s the kind of storyline that could fuel years of drama. Whoever he is, one thing is certain: his arrival is not accidental, and his role in Max’s fate could be pivotal.

While mysteries build, heartbreak continues. Walford is preparing to say goodbye—again—to Sam Mitchell. Her recent return was anything but lighthearted. Sam came back carrying the terrifying news of a lump in her breast, facing surgery and a possible cancer battle while navigating the ever-toxic Mitchell family dynamics. Watching Sam confront her mortality while surrounded by feuds and old grudges has been gut-wrenching.

There’s a sense that Sam is fighting on two fronts: for her health and for her dignity. Many fans feel Phil Mitchell should be stepping up far more than he has. Sam shouldn’t have to face something this serious alone. And yet, being a Mitchell, there’s always another layer. Even as she focuses on survival, whispers of unfinished business linger—particularly where Zoe Slater is concerned. Old betrayals die hard, and if Sam does leave Walford again, there’s a strong chance she’ll do so having settled at least one score.

Thankfully, not every exit is being mourned. The Square is finally seeing the back of Joel Marshall, whose disturbing misogyny storyline has been one of the darkest and most difficult arcs in recent years. Following his violent attack on Vicki Fowler and his explosive rejection of his father Ross, Joel now sits in police custody, facing the consequences of his actions.

This storyline has been deeply uncomfortable to watch, but that discomfort has served a purpose. Joel’s behavior demanded accountability, and viewers are united in one hope: that justice will be served and that Vicki can finally begin to heal. His departure marks the end of a grim chapter, and few will miss him.

But just when things feel unbearably heavy, EastEnders throws fans a lifeline in the form of a long-awaited return. Libby Fox is officially coming back to Walford. Denise’s intelligent, level-headed daughter was spotted in the 2027 flashforward, desperately searching for her mum at Jack’s house as chaos erupted around her.

Libby’s return feels significant. She has always been a voice of reason, a grounding presence in a Square that desperately needs one. But her frantic state in the flashforward raises serious questions. What has happened to Denise? And more intriguingly—could Libby be back to prevent a disaster, possibly involving Max Branning?

Which brings us back to the question haunting everyone: what exactly happens to Max in 2027?

The flashforwards have hinted at weddings, betrayals, arrests—and possibly death. Max Branning stands at the center of it all, as he so often does. Surrounded by ex-lovers, family members, and old enemies, Max has more people who might want him gone than almost anyone else in Walford. Is he the groom in a doomed wedding? A victim of revenge years in the making? Or a man whose own schemes finally catch up with him in the most permanent way possible?

Libby’s presence in the chaos, the mystery man’s knowing glance, and Max’s arrest all feel like pieces of a much larger puzzle. And then there’s Stacey Slater, the queen of chaos herself. Currently living in Brazil with Eve and the kids, Stacey’s absence is felt deeply. Walford is simply not the same without her explosive confrontations and emotional honesty.

Producers have promised that Stacey will return—it’s only a matter of when. And when she does, many believe it will be to confront Max once and for all. Their history is too intense, too complicated, to remain unresolved. If anyone could play a role in Max’s ultimate downfall—or even his death—it’s Stacey.

So as 2026 unfolds, viewers are left with more questions than answers. Who can be trusted? Who is hiding deadly secrets? And when the calendar finally flips to 2027, will Max Branning still be standing—or will Albert Square witness one of its most shocking deaths yet?

One thing is certain: EastEnders is far from done breaking our hearts.