SPOILERS: AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR - What The Movie Means For The Future Of The MCU
Avengers: Infinity War had a huge impact on the MCU and we're taking a look at all the different ways the epic ensemble has changed this world moving forward and the impact it will have on future releases.
Avengers: Infinity War was a game-changer. There's never been a superhero movie like this one and with multiple characters killed off seconds before the credits rolled (and after them), it's fair to say that not only have we all been left reeling but none of us are quite sure about what comes next. Marvel hasn't revealed its Phase 4 slate but there are, at least, three very big releases now on the horizon.
Those are Ant-Man and The Wasp, Captain Marvel, and the currently untitled Avengers 4. All three of those will touch on the events of this movie to different extents but where does this epic ensemble leave them and whatever comes next? That's what we're taking a look at here as we dive deep into the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and why it will quite frankly never, ever be the same again.
So, to take a look at the full list, all you guys need to do is click either one of the buttons below.
Peter Parker Will Have To Face His Mortality
At the end of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Aunt May discovered that her nephew is secretly a superhero. Avengers: Infinity War doesn't get time to address that but it clearly hasn't stopped Peter Parker from doing his thing as the wall-crawler because he wastes no time in suiting up, helping Iron Man take on The Black Order, and then making a trip into outer space to help in the war against Thanos.
His actions are pretty inconsiderate, though, especially as you have to believe May is really worried about her nephew just vanishing. When he's inevitably resurrected in Avengers 4, Peter will have to face his own mortality and the fact he died in the line of duty, leaving his aunt alone to mourn yet again. That's bound to change his outlook moving forward and could explain why he journeys abroad.
The New Avengers
One of the most enjoyable aspects of Avengers: Infinity War was seeing so many unexpected team-ups but if Marvel Studios was experimenting with these different character combinations to see how fans would react, it's fair to say that no one is going to complain about a team of Earth's Mightiest Heroes made up of characters like Doctor Strange and Spider-Man moving forward rather than mainstays such as Captain America and Iron Man who have been part of the roster since day one.
It's inevitable that we'll see a new group of Avengers assemble at the end of the upcoming fourth instalment and the groundwork has now definitely been laid for the New Avengers to enter the MCU.
Thor Still Has Half A Kingdom To Rule Over
Avengers: Infinity War throws us head first into the action and it's only later on in the movie you may have realised that Thanos' habit of killing off half a population means that there are still some Asgardians out there. Given their absence in this movie, chances are that they're being protected by Valkyrie but once all is said and done, the God of Thunder will still have a kingdom to rule over.
Robert Downey Jr. may be ready to retire from Iron Man and Chris Evans is seemingly content with calling it quits as Captain America but it feels like Chris Hemsworth is only just getting started as this character after the success of Thor: Ragnarok so expect Asgard to still factor into his next adventure.
The Timeline Makes Sense Again
Spider-Man: Homecoming claiming to take place eight years after the events of The Avengers left us all wondering about what was going on with the Marvel Cinematic Universe's already somewhat confusing timeline but Avengers: Infinity War cleared things up and it's now much easier to figure out where all these different releases sit. That's thanks to a throwaway line from Iron Man in this movie.
He points out to Doctor Strange that the Chituari invaded New York City six years ago, something which confirms that the events of the MCU are still playing out in real-time and that Homecoming was actually set in 2016 directly after Captain America: Civil War or in 2017. Will Avengers 4 take place a year after the events of Infinity War? It's certainly feasible and would be interesting to see.
No News May Be Good News For Ant-Man And The Wasp
The new trailer for Ant-Man and The Wasp was a lot of fun but it failed to shed any light on whether the upcoming sequel takes place before, during, or after the events of Avengers: Infinity War.
Considering the fact so many characters from the first movie are still alive, chances are the bulk of the story won't play out after half of the universe turns to dust after a simple snap of Thanos' fingers. For now then, Scott and Hope are safe but don't be surprised if it wraps up with some fan-favourites vanishing, prompting the two titular heroes to then join The Avengers in a bid to help set things right.
No One Is Safe
While it's obvious that the vast majority of these characters will return before the credits roll in Avengers 4, Avengers: Infinity War still proved that no one is safe from Thanos' wrath and heading into the next movie, we need to prepare ourselves for additional losses. With contracts coming to an end and Marvel clearly no longer afraid to say goodbye to big names, we have good reason to be anxious.
After all, while the door is open for Gamora to come back via a Soul Stone related resurrection, Loki and Heimdall's deaths are extremely permanent looking on the surface. If Kevin Feige isn't afraid to say goodbye to someone as popular as Tom Hiddleston, literally anyone could be next come 2019.
And The Stakes Just Became Real
We're used to seeing The Avengers fight to stop the bad guy from winning (which is what they did for the entirety of Avengers: Infinity War) but we've never seen them lose. That's where we'll find Earth's Mightiest Heroes heading into Avengers 4 and that changes the dynamic in a big way, especially as all their efforts will be focused on finding Thanos and bringing back the countless dead.
As a result, the stakes are higher than ever before and all those shocking deaths mean that they're more real too; the likes of Spider-Man, Star-Lord, and Black Panther meeting their makers proves that anyone could end up going at any time, especially as we have no idea what's coming in Phase 4.
The Guardians Of The Galaxy Franchise is Dead
Well, the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise as we know it anyway! While James Gunn may have confirmed that he's hard at work on Vol. 3, the entire cast - bar Rocket Racoon - is now dead, so assuming they don't return (which is unlikely but entirely feasible depending on what happens in Avengers 4), what comes next? Well, we know the filmmaker wants to put the spotlight on the original team so that's one possibility and Gamora's demise potentially being permanent also changes things.
After all, if the rest of the team is brought back while she isn't, the dynamic will be altered in a significant way and Marvel is going to have to find a new female lead for this popular cosmic franchise.
Captain Marvel Will Be A Key Player
Marvel Studios could have dedicated Avengers: Infinity War's sole after-credits scene to anyone or anything but the fact it set the stage for Captain Marvel says a lot. The character will be making her presence felt in Avengers 4 for sure and her solo movie is going to have to address where she's been all these years, how Nick Fury got that device he used to contact her with, and any history she might have with the Mad Titan (it's feasible they could have crossed paths at some point over the years).
Either way, it's clear that Carol Danvers is going to have an important role not only in the next instalment of the franchise but the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole as she helps turn the tide in the battle against Thanos and establishes herself as the leader of the next iteration of The Avengers.
The Original Avengers Remain
Despite the huge number of heroes who have died, it's worth noting that those who formed The Avengers back in 2012 are still very much alive. While they all look extremely different, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, The Hulk, Hawkeye, and Black Widow are no doubt ready to take the fight to Thanos and it wouldn't be remotely surprising to see this group be the focal point of Avengers 4.
Talking of Hawkeye, Avengers: Infinity War made it clear that he made a deal with the government and seemingly signed the Sokovia Accords but Nick Fury and Maria Hill are on their way to meet him in the after-credits scene and assuming some of his family died along with half of the universe, that could tell us all we need to know about why he's gone down a darker path and taken on his Ronin persona.
Finding A Bigger Threat Than Those Won't Be Easy
Once you've dealt with a threat as big as Thanos, it's hard to imagine who's left for Earth's Mightiest Heroes to assemble against. There are some characters like Kang the Conqueror and The Beyonder who we're yet to see in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and they would certainly be pretty interesting choices. Marvel, however, could end up looking towards the X-Men and Fantastic Four for help.
After all, the likes of Annihilus and Galactus would make for incredible villains for The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy but due to how slow that Fox/Disney deal is playing out, chances are we won't see them factor into an Avengers movie until Phase 5 and Avengers 6 ultimately rolls around.
More Casualties Are Inevitable
I've mentioned this a few times here but it's almost a certainty that more beloved heroes will die in Avengers 4. Unless Marvel has wooed Chris Evans with a big money contract, Captain America is probably a goner while Robert Downey Jr. will almost certainly kill or retire Iron Man in 2019.
There are a few other characters who the Marvel Cinematic Universe could probably do without too and with the studio looking to freshen things up in Phase 4 by putting the focus on newer characters, it seems that the final battle between The Avengers and Thanos is going to deliver some big losses.
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