What Could Change After Avengers: Endgame?

By: Noah Friscopp

“What did it cost?”

Avengers: Infinity War was rough for both the characters on screen and the fans who had to watch half of their favorite Marvel heroes fade away into dust. We will have to wait until April 26^th to get closure for the over 10 years of films (now known as “The Infinity Saga”), but there is still plenty to look forward to afterward. Disney recently purchased 21st Centruy Fox, the company that had previously owned many of Marvel Comics’ greatest characters including the X-Men, The Fantastic Four and maybe most exciting, their villains. There are several that could give Thanos a run for his money, and a couple in particular that I hope are explored. Let’s start off with what we know for sure, and then imagine what the future could hold.

“I don’t feel so good…”

Even though we saw Peter Parker fade away after the snap, it appears (unless there is a huge plot twist at the end of Avengers: Endgame) that Spider-Man survives the battle with Thanos, as we already know some details about his next venture Spider-Man: Far From Home. In the film releasing this July, Peter will go up against Mysterio played by Jake Gyllenhaal during a school trip across Europe, a setting that we have not seen in a Spider-Man film before. Spidey’s actor Tom Holland signed up to play the character six times, and Infinity War was only the third so, chances are we will see more of the wall-crawler after Endgame and Far From Home.

Passing of the Torch

Marvel President Kevin Feige claims that the newly introduced Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel will be the leading character in the MCU going into the next phase of movies. Actress Brie Larson who was interested in playing the character from day one could very well be taking the spot previously held by Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man who up until this point had been the series’ leading character and for good reason. Without Iron Man, the MCU simply would not exist, but Downey wants to "hang up my jersey before it's embarrassing." He has played the character for over 10 years now, and he has certainly earned some time off. Whether or not this means Tony Stark will fall in the final battle with Thanos, or if he survives it all and simply gets to retire we will have to wait and see. Steve Rogers’ aka Captain America’s fate is also uncertain, as actor Chris Evans who has also been in this from the beginning is expected to make his exit after Endgame. It is hard to imagine Marvel’s universe without these two great characters, but there is a way for their spirits to live on.

“He was my friend…”

Captain America’s lifelong friend Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier is the person most likely to take up Steve Roger’s vibranium shield in the years to come. No one is closer to Cap, they were childhood friends, fought through World War 2 together, and held the line in Wakanda fending off Thanos’ minions. The other possible choice is Falcon, who has stood by the Captain ever since Captain America: The Winter Soldier and has proved himself as a valuable member of the Avengers. Both were supposedly killed in the snap, but if Spider-Man has a clear future, there is certainly a way for them both to come back. Another fan-favorite theory is that of Tony Stark’s replacement, in the form of T’Challa’s (The Black Panther) sister Shuri who other than Stark, Bruce Banner, and Vision might be the single smartest character still alive and an obvious choice to carry Stark’s legacy. In the comics, Riri Williams is taking over the mantle of Iron Man from Tony Stark, a 15-year-old genius and the first young female character to wear the armor. Since Riri doesn’t (yet) exist in the MCU, Shuri could absolutely fill that role.

Enter, Doom…

When Thanos is eventually dealt with, another threat will surely rise. With many of the most iconic villains now able to appear in the MCU, there is one in particular that I think would make an incredible choice. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s own Doctor Doom. Doom has been an adversary for many of Marvel’s heroes and is a natural choice due to his intellectual and physical strength. He is often considered one of the smartest characters in the universe, and his armor allows for many supernatural abilities that would be more than a test for the new class of Avengers. Doom, Annihilus, Galactus, the Marvel universe is full of great large scale villains just waiting to be put to screen.

“You’ve become part of a bigger universe, you just don’t know it yet.”

A change that could make or break the future of the MCU is the possible inclusion of the X-Men. It is an option now, but the question lies in how they could be introduced in a way that makes sense. The films up until this point have had to go out of their way to avoid terms like “mutant” even though Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are both mutants in the comics. It would be incredible to see characters like Wolverine and Jean Grey alongside the Avengers in some form.

A Lasting Legacy

I feel like I can’t talk about the future of these characters and world without remembering the great contributions of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Stan prior to his passing was always present thanks to his cameos in all the Marvel films, but Steve’s contributions to art and writing should never be forgotten. These two men, along with Jack Kirby and many others helped inspire an entire generation to be the best versions of themselves they can and always strive to do the right thing. The stories they told weren’t just entertainment, but allowed people of all ages to find what makes themselves super. No matter what happens in the world of Marvel films, the impact that these stories have had on the world will be remembered for many years. Excelsior.

See Avengers: End Game in theaters April 26^th!

Share Your Thoughts

What hero or villain would you like to see in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Mine is definitely Magneto, share your thoughts below!