Who Will Be The Next Face of The Marvel Cinematic Universe?

Quarantine has no doubt impacted everyone, and of course, the postponed releases of several upcoming movies leaves frequent movie-goers twiddling their thumbs. Marvel enthusiasts are no exception. With the delayed release of Black Widow, fans are left with nothing but time to reevaluate how the last movies ended in relation to what may be next.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

For the Uninitiated

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is the official title of the popular franchise, covering over twenty films and characters in a shared universe. Robert Downey Jr.’s debut as Tony Stark in 2008’s Iron Man served as the beginning of the series. With so many heroes, villains, attacks and events, the phases of the MCU were created to establish a somewhat linear timeline. Phase one consists of Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger and concludes with The Avengers. From there, the phases continued as the films were released.

Marvel all movies

Marvel Studios LLC is the original owner and creator of twenty-three films, beginning with Iron Man and ending with Spider-Man: Far From Home. Walt Disney Studios purchased Marvel Entertainment with the intention to land future films under the umbrella of Disney. Since Marvel already had several preexisting movie deals underway, Disney’s ownership had little influence until recently. With Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, the relevance of the studios has become increasingly important, as it is clear that Tom Holland was not the first Spider-Man. In fact, there are five other live-action movies about Peter Parker (AKA Spider-Man), made by Sony Pictures Studio. As Spider-Man has become more present in the MCU, the two studios have begun to battle over who holds the rights to the character.

Even though the MCU is an ongoing, expanding film series, the original characters from phase one remained key throughout the past ten years of film. As Marvel’s fanbase and studios said goodbye to both Iron Man and Captain America in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, the new face of the MCU has yet to emerge. Now Marvel will need other characters to play a larger role in the overall narrative. Which new or existing character will serve as the focus? Who will the next leader of the Avengers be?

Taking the Comics Into Consideration

It’s undoubtedly a difficult task to compare the movies to the comics, as intentions, visions, etc. change so very much in the change/translation of media. Though simultaneously, it is beneficial as comics are what the directors, screenwriters and producers take inspiration from. Comic books are the foundation of every Marvel hero, enemy and situation. The writers then pick a story arc, a villain or three, some superheroes with clashing personalities and make something that combines the two forms of media.

While bringing the classic comic books into the discussion may not be entirely fair, they are a great resource that the fanbase has access to. Looking back to the history of the Avengers– having started with Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and Ant-Man– we can see which characters have yet to be revealed, and which ones may very well be at their end.

Marvel on Netflix

With the exception of many TV adapted heroes and villains– Daredevil, Luke Cage, Kingpin, Ironfist, Jessica Jones, and Punisher, all of whom you can watch on Netflix– the pool of candidates grows smaller. Again, referring back to the comics grants the writers access to an entire ocean of marketable characters. While there may be a shortage of pre-existing characters, Stan Lee and the other Marvel comic book writers made sure the fanbase could never grow tired.

The Avengers are Earth’s Mightiest Heroes!

As the Avengers have been the center of the MCU, it’s probable that our next face will become the next leader of Earth’s mightiest heroes.

The Guardians of the Galaxy, while entertaining, are just that– guardians of the galaxy– not Earth. While Peter Quill is half-human, he is not bound to Earth in the same vital way as Stark or Rogers. Each of the Avengers, aside from Thor, is unalterably loyal to mankind; a key characteristic that the guardians lack. As we try to narrow down the choices of who the next face may be, Rocket, Drax and the team just aren’t optimal. Despite their heroic contribution and aid to Earth’s mightiest heroes, the guardians’ motive was strictly in relation to Gamora and Thanos. Additionally, their style is far too chaotic to be protectors of the Earth, and frankly, they wouldn’t be around a lot.

The Avengers

Avengers: Infinity War showed us that Doctor Strange’s motivations revolve around the concepts of time, and are further restricted by his lack of interest in collaboration. Not only is Doctor Strange a loner, with the exception of Wong, he is also multiversal. These are just a few reasons why Benedict Cumberbatch’s character probably will not be the representative of the MCU, so to speak.

Similarly, Ant-Man hardly makes sense as his character provides a more comedic tone, often resembling the archetypal “first to die” character. Ant-Man’s solo story is good, and he was key in the events of Endgame, but he cannot replace Tony Stark or Captain America.

Continuing the Process of Elimination

Avengers: Endgame left us with a handful of characters whose stories had really only just begun. Unfortunately, a few of them have been plucked from the big screen and placed on Disney’s streaming service. Now that Spider-Man: Far From Home has been released, Disney calls the shots. The upcoming shows include:

  • WandaVision
  • The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
  • Loki
  • Hawkeye

If we’re suggesting the new face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’d have to be in the theatres, right? If so, we can cross Hawkeye, Loki, Falcon, Bucky, Scarlet Witch and Vision off as their characters will likely finish their arcs on that platform.

Realistically, phase two of the MCU is still developing, so not every show or movie will take place after Thanos’ famous end. That nascent second phase narrows our candidates a bit further, as ideally, the face should be someone who has a future beyond phase three.

Black Widow

While Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow is finally getting her own solo film, the character’s demise prevents any appearances beyond phase three of the MCU. Her death– albeit an emotional one– wasn’t nearly as perfect as the others’ departures. In the 10 years that Marvel had Black Widow, her character arc was ignored, and the most attention she received was an updated hairstyle. Natasha Romanoff aided the development of other characters such as Bruce Banner and Hawkeye, furthering their narratives with what could be called “a woman’s touch.” Black Widow’s fans were given only a preview of her origin story in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Flashbacks of “the red room” were induced by Scarlet Witch, and the knowledge of Natasha’s infertility was the result of a conversation with Banner. In short, Black Widow may not be a candidate for the face of the MCU, but her solo has the potential to allow the character some much needed peace.

Ultimately, Avengers: Endgame was the finale for the original Avengers. Aside from his miniseries, Hawkeye is not likely to reappear in a larger role. Similarly, Thor: Love and Thunder is probably going be Thor’s last hurrah in phase three.

What’s Actually Next

By taking a peek at some of the films Disney has lined up for the future months and years, it’s fair to say that they know the challenge they face. With an assortment of one-off movies coming to theatres, it’s in the air. The upcoming films include:

  • Black Widow
  • The Eternals
  • Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
  • Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
  • Spider-Man 3
  • Thor: Love and Thunder
  • Black Panther 2
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Spider-Man?

From his quirky debut in Captain America: Civil War to his unforgettable performance in Avengers: Infinity War, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man has stolen the hearts of Marvel’s fanbase. In 2019’s Spider-Man: Far From Home, Peter Parker wrestles with the aftermath of Endgame, and more importantly, Tony Stark’s absence. Spider-Man’s internal struggle throughout the movie produced a necessary layer to the character’s depth.

Spiderman
Tom Holland’s famous scene and line from Avengers: Infinity War, which not only left an emotional impression on the audience, but a comedic one as well.

In the last eighteen years, seven solo (live-action) films have been made with three separate actors playing Spider-Man. First, there was Tobey Maguire who starred in the first three movies, followed by two more with Andrew Garfield and, hopefully, continuing with Tom Holland’s version. With that being said, is there enough story left to sustain another phase?

Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige announced that a third film with Holland will be in the works for 2021 and may appear alongside some other fan-favorite heroes in the future. According to an article in the New York Times written by Mariel Padilla, Feige said, “Spider-Man is the only hero with the superpower to cross between Sony and Marvel’s cinematic universes.”

Valkyrie, Captain Marvel or Black Panther?

In the unforgettable third installment of the Asgardian hero, Thor: Ragnorak, Marvel introduced Valkyrie, a Herculean woman who, at first, came off as drunkenly sarcastic. Beyond question, Valkyrie was quickly accepted and loved by fans in both Thor: Ragnorak and Avengers: Endgame. Her potential as the new face of the MCU is great. Comic books may stereotypically be an interest among more boys than girls, but in today’s growing society, young girls may look at Valkyrie and see someone whose values, morals and hardships resemble their own. It goes without saying that a female face for the MCU would be satiating to many.

The anticipation preceding the release of 2019’s Captain Marvel was intense, and did not disappoint. Captain Marvel’s debut grossed over four hundred million dollars and received a plethora of praise across the globe! Not only is she a worthy nominee for the MCU financially, but also in practicality. Carol Danvers, or Vers, has a lot more to offer. Her name is Captain Marvel after all, so why wouldn’t she take the wheels now that the Avengers (as we’ve known them) are done? Even so, Endgame established that Danvers does not spend a lot of time on Earth, so she may not be available. Like the Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel is classically bound to Earth.

Marvel Heroes

From the pool of existing and remaining characters, Black Panther already has the resources, recognition, charisma and strength to fulfill this role. Just as a woman would be an optimal, socially aware choice, so would an African American man. It is difficult to ignore these kinds of politics as these are things that studios look for. King T’Challa clearly has more to offer than his ethnicity. As Black Panther was another Marvel gem that quickly grabbed the world’s attention, Chadwick Boseman’s character very well could be the newest face of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe.

Forever Changed

In the last decade of the MCU, fans have gathered outside of movie theatres, excited to see what their favorite band of heroes might face next. No matter what, they bought a ticket. So much time, love and money was invested into the Avengers saga. While the Avengers faced more than the big screen showed, it couldn’t last forever without being dulled. It was a matter of time, and here we are.

It will take time for Disney to create the perfect comeback, especially after ending on such a high note. Disney faces a true challenge if they intend to keep the same momentum that came with the Avengers. The “leftover” roster of character arcs pales in comparison to the development that the original Avengers team received.

Each character had a reason to be loved with various scenes that quickly became fan favorites. When the Hulk faces Loki in the first Avengers movie, he interrupts Loki’s speech by grabbing his legs and smashing him over and over. To put the cherry on top, Hulk iconically regarded Loki as a “puny God” while he walked away.

Hulk vs Loki - "Puny God"- Hulk Smashing Loki - The Avengers | Movie CLIP HD
The Hulk Smashing Loki in the First Avengers Movie

Small, deliberate moments like these furthered our collective adoration for our heroes; and as the curtains closed, everyone came to a bittersweet realization: that the Avengers as we knew them were concluding. Avengers: Endgame was, well, the end; everyone knew it, but there was more to feel. Fans left the theatres with tears in their eyes. While the events of Endgame were frustrating and sad, there was also a satisfaction that followed.

Considering all of this, the question must be addressed: will the MCU ever be the same? Is a “cooling off” period a good idea? By introducing new characters, and producing sequels, a new development could very well be underway.

But, for argument’s sake, does there have to be a new face? Maybe the initial question was posed poorly. Whether or not there’s a new face, it is clear that with Sony’s Morbius and Venom 2, the plausibility of Spider-Man’s exit due to licensing remains unclear. As both are grand enemies of Peter Parker, Sony is positioning themselves to be able to continue with Spider-Man, regardless of their deals with Marvel Studios. An agreement beyond two more films– produced by Disney– has not been reached, and while both studios want to collaborate in favor of the fanbase, it’s ultimately up to the executive boards.

Realistically, whether Sony and Disney can make a lasting deal, fans want Tom Holland to continue as Spider-Man, just as Tom Holland hopes to keep the “Peter tingle.” After three years of going back and forth, ultimately the fans are carrying the torch until a deal is made. So, if you’re fighting for Holland, it’s time to make some noise. But, if the worse case is his departure, both Disney and Sony have enough momentum to continue to thrive.

Again, this is a boolean function. If Spider-Man remains, he’s the perfect face, as he is practically Tony Stark’s heir. But, if he does leave, Valkyrie, Captain Marvel or Black Panther may very well be our new face of the MCU.

What do you think? Whose character arc do you want to see step into the light as the new leader of the Avengers? Will Carol Danvers come back to Earth? Could Wakanda expand like the end of Black Panther suggested? And what’s your favorite scene starring an original character?

Works Cited

Burwick, K. (2019, May 29). [Captain Marvel and Valkyrie]. Retrieved from https://movieweb.com/captain-marvel-valkyrie-relationship-marvel-movies/

Butler, O. (2019, April 30). [Marvel Cinematic Universe]. Retrieved from https://thesimplecinephile.com/2019/04/30/mcu-ranked/

Henry, B. (2019, September 10). Tom Holland Opened Up About The “I Don’t Wanna Go” Scene In “Infinity War” And I’m Crying All Over Again. Retrieved July 06, 2020, from https://www.buzzfeed.com/benhenry/tom-holland-i-dont-wanna-go-infinity-war-scene

McNary, D. (2018, December 28). ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ ‘Captain Marvel’ Among Fandango and IMDb’s Most Anticipated Movies of 2019. Retrieved July 06, 2020, from https://variety.com/2018/film/news/most-anticipated-movies-2019-fandango-imdb-1203096324/

Marvel Cinematic Universe: What is the Best Viewing Order? (2019, April 23). Retrieved July 06, 2020, from https://www.thetimelinemachine.com/articles/marvel-cinematic-universe-what-is-the-best-viewing-order/

TopMovieClips. (2017, February 18). Hulk vs Loki – “Puny God”- Hulk Smashing Loki – The Avengers | Movie CLIP HD [Video]. YouTube. URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31ZjnrHR8EA

Padilla, M., & Chokshi, N. (2019, September 27). Spider-Man Will Remain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Retrieved July 06, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/27/business/media/spiderman-mcu-sony-marvel.html

What do you think? Leave a comment.

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60 Comments

  1. MonteCristo
    1

    I know writers love alternate realities/timelines because it allows them to do stuff with characters that would be out of character or otherwise logically impossible for the main timeline/canon. However, in my opinion, the best way for Marvel to be successful beyond this first 10 year program is to stay the heck away from too many alternate reality/timeline stories and time travel in general. Because time travel is stupid and always results in logical inconsistencies and plots holes. Plus they get overly complicated and confusing (which is why in the comics periodically both Marvel and DC have needed to destroy or reboot all of their various multiverses).

    In any event, the ‘main timeline’ has plenty of opportunities for fun stories and characters if they dip into the comics, and also if they utilise the returning characters (particularly the FF, in my opinion). Generally, the end of Phase 3 seemed to want to open up the MCU to be about more than just earth, having an increasingly ‘cosmic’ focus (even echoed in Tony’s last speech about them not being alone in the universe). This would certainly line up with the Eternals with an attempt to set up the next ‘big bad’ as either Galactus or the Celestials, or possibly the Kree-Skrull war.

    Anyway, plenty of options there to look at new characters and stories. I think this will be the real test of the theory as to whether the MCU can thrive in an ongoing sense by renewing its characters and stories and not being afraid to leave the first set of trail-blazers behind. Too much rehashing of old characters by relying on time travel and alternate reality shenanigans will get boring (and probably confusing) real quickly.

    • Abie Dee

      I absolutely agree with you– Marvel would not be playing it safe if they were to gravitate around the parallel universes/alternative timelines. As you said, a lot of bits would fall through the cracks, and I don’t think it would attract newer fans as much. I could be wrong about that, but even though the Marvel fanbase is huge, it is still growing, and that can turn a lot of people away from a good franchise.

      I’d be really interested to see that “cosmic focus” as you had put it. Especially with Guardians of the Galaxy now having Thor in addition to Captain Marvel’s protection throughout the universe. I hope they put a lot of thought and work into the Eternals. That would definitely help move the MCU forward in a steady direction.

      As for bringing in old characters, I suppose that is what I do like about the Disney+ shows. The left-over originals will have their last hits on that platform so that we can see new characters from the comics since there’s just an abundance of amazing heroes and villains to choose from!

      Thank you for commenting, I really enjoyed reading your thoughts! (:

  2. There are many great stories still unused from the comics. There’s so much to work with.

  3. I’d love to see an adaptation of the Matt Fraction & David Aja Hawkeye (‘Hawkguy’) comics but it, sadly, doesn’t vibe with the MCU Hawkeye really…

    Otherwise, regardless of time travel and alternate universe headscratchers, more everyone and everything is welcome. Endgame was such a satisfying event and I’m excited to see where we go from here (and how we’re getting there).

    Oh, final thought: the next Guardians (Asgardians?) of the Galaxy is going to be a trip. The Dude Thor along for the ride? Star-Lord having to re-romance Gamora? Groot a twenty-something burnout? Mantis and Drax finally making it as a couple? There is much to look forward to…

    • Abie Dee

      I am definitely looking forward to the next Guardians of the Galaxy for those reasons! Plus, Nebula will be with them, so I’m ready to see more of her character development.!

      Thanks for sharing! (:

      • I do rather hope they keep Dude Thor. I swear at one point they were near a cliff edge and I thought they might be about to scatter some cremated remains. They could at least have let him get a faceful of dissolving alien.

    • I can actually hear Chris Hemsworth delivering a whole skit about a rug really tying the whole room/spaceship together…

    • Ethelyn
      0

      And James Gunn re-instated as director…it’s going to loads of fun! Can’t wait!

  4. Burchfield
    0

    The main problem Marvel faces is the loss of Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans. Both have given performances that defined the characters and raised them above most schlocky comic fare. We still have Thor and the Guardians for the fun stuff, but is anyone really excited for Anthony Mackie as Captain America 2.0? I think not.

    • Abie Dee

      Honestly, I have to admit I’m right there with you. As long as Marvel doesn’t try to make Captain America 2.0 a big thing, they can successfully move forward with other, newer characters.

      I doubt they would attempt a second version of Captain America. I have hope that Marvel wasn’t trying to set that up by the passing of Captain’s shield.

    • Robert Downey Jr was inspired casting at the time (as well as the choice of director, I can’t remember how to spell his surname but the actor who plays Happy, who directed it was mostly known for ‘Swingers’, they were both left field choices which worked amazingly.) However, maybe time for him to go. He’s arc-ed out.

      However, there is a quality to Even’s Steve Rodgers. The combination of idealism and cynicism, a believer who has had his world ripped out from under him. His absolute decency and the sweetness (and self depreciation) that made this bearable – I will miss that.

      For example I loved his interaction with himself. Past Captain: ‘I can do this all day’ present Captain: ‘I know… I know’. But this showed a sense of weariness, as though he was realising why so many of the other Avengers had a habit of treating him like a puppy in the early days. I think it was his time as well.

    • I’ll wait and judge Anthony Mackie as Cap when I see him as Cap. His show with Bucky should be awesome, especially now that he’s got Caps sheild.

    • Wagoner
      0

      To be homest, I really am quite curious about that new Cap.

  5. Russell
    1

    Great article!

    I loved Endgame and Infinity War. They were faithful to the essence of the comics and it took me back to my childhood when I would be standing in a shop reading comics waiting for my parents to finish work. The artwork was beautiful and the words easy for a 7 year old to understand and day dream into the superhero world.

    I got teary in both these films because they brought to life the brilliant comics.

    So I don’t think we need to worry about the next batch of Marvel films. The seeds are there , the characters have been created and the Russos have left it in rude health .

    I am just happy to enjoy these last 22 films at my leisure and that’s enough for now.

    Avengers Assemble!

    • Abie Dee

      Russell,

      I’m so glad you enjoyed the article. It means a lot to me, especially since this is my first.

      My father grew up in Lebanon before moving to the United States and so he and his brothers collected Marvel comics, but they were all in French! Nonetheless, I spent long hours flipping through those colorful foreign pages.

      Having seen both Infinity War and Endgame over ten times each, I cannot keep myself from crying every single time.

      I agree, they ended things pretty beautifully and as you said, true to the comics in some ways. Having this collection now is a really great example for other franchises (*cough cough* DC *cough cough*). Personally, I’ve always preferred Marvel since those were the comics my dad collected, and overall, I like the superheroes a lot more.

      Thanks for taking the time to comment. (:

    • Clementine
      0

      As a fan of Marvel comics in the 90s, and given that X-Men and Fantastic Four are now joining Disney, I’d quite like the MCU to tackle the Onslaught storyline. It’s not the most popular crossover but I liked it.

      • Russell
        0

        I am talking about reading comics in the 1970s . For me it was a tiny piece of wonderful nostalgia- bringing to life those fantastic comics.

  6. There will be more Marvel films as long as more people are prepared to watch films with infinitely CGI pixels than any actual, you know, drama.

    Should they run out of ideas – “I know, let’s get out the time machine (again), and have yet another retcon!!” “Genius!!” – they will simply start remaking it (again).

    • Wright Night
      1

      No drama in Marvel Movies?

      Really? Reeeaaallly???

      If I could paraphrase Inigo Montoya from Princess Bride “You use the word “drama” but I do not think you know what it means.

  7. Samantha Leersen

    An interesting read! 🙂

  8. OkaNaimo0819

    I don’t think there needs to be a new face for the MCU. They should just bring new or underrated characters to life in their own films. And I agree that the concept of another timeline would be too confusing or daunting for the uninitiated or uninterested (like me – although Black Panther wasn’t that bad).

  9. Sean Gadus

    Interesting article! It will be interesting how marvel’s plan changes due to C19 and the delays! I personally feel like the MCU is missing something with Tony and Steve, so it will see if anyone emerges as a new poster child. I would love for it to be Ms. Marvel when she entered the MCU. Kamala Khan is a great character who is endearing and inspiring.

  10. Stephanie M.

    A lovely article, especially for someone who’s not overly familiar with the MCU. (I know, I know. I’m more a fantasy person than a superhero person).

    • Abie Dee

      Stephanie, thank you! I am so glad you were able to understand it well enough. That means I did somewhat of a good job on that end. What are some of your fantasy favorites? I’m genuinely curious now!

  11. We need a huge break from these movies. At least a 2 year gap. Then give us Black Panther 2 or Doctor Strange 2.

  12. Browning
    1

    The Avengers will continue with new line up and Captain Marvel front and centre.
    There are hundreds of stories to follow and dozen more characters to explore and introduce.

    For me this is now the modern pop culture film franchise ahead of Star Wars which is kind of restricted in what it can do seeing as the last 8 films have been Skywalker Saga…If they introduced say The Knights of The Old Republic story into things maybe there hope for Star Wars.

    So for me more of the same please.

    All the Marvel films have good actors also from Brie Larson to Mark Ruffalo.
    They are pure escapism much like the comics they born from.

    • Absolutely. I was sure that this would be the end of the original avengers in some fashion. Their appearance in the credits seemed to confirm this. New heroes, new actors. And they’ve always been very, very good at casting.

      As for Star Wars, I think they’ve said the next film finishes with the Skywalkers. I hope so. It’s a big universe, with lots of implied history, lots that could be done.

  13. Loved the comics all those decades ago and have found the films uniformly poor. I guess its a difference in age and the need to picture some things in one’s own head rather than having it all done for you.

    • Shenita
      0

      You’re thinking of novels, where you have to picture it in your own head. In comics they draw it for you, so you know what it looks like.

  14. I’d be very excited to see Squirrel Girl, She-Hulk, Spider-Woman, Jane Foster as Thor, Riri Williams as Iron Heart, etc battling baddies on the big screen in the near future! Not to mention the likes of Wiccan and Hulking and their fellow Young Avengers.

  15. It’s been one hell of a ride and I have enjoyed most of the movies, but maybe we could now give it a bit of a rest.

  16. Jiraiyan

    I think Marvel will focus on bringing X-Men back. I’m excited to see what the do because the last few X-Men films were bad.

    • Yeah maybe, but I don’t think they’ll do X-men in a while because it’ll instantly get compared to the already somewhat (some bad movies and moments here and there) great X-men franchise that was cast pretty well. I would say most likely Fantastic Four would be the next thing or some comic team that is very unknown. Or the Marvel Cinematic Universe will just stop eventually.

    • Abie Dee

      I thought that the long-delayed film “New Mutants” would mark future plans for X-Men, especially with the closing of Wolverine’s arc. But, I am really not so sure after watching it.

  17. There is still a wealth of storylines available to them and I look forward to seeing them!

  18. Am I the only person that yawned all the way through End Game?

    • Sanchez
      0

      I’m with you. I saw the movie with my wife and two sons, ages 14 and 10, respectively. Although I consider myself to be a fan of the Marvel line, I have struggled with the more recent offerings and my expectations were not high going in.

      I caught myself dozing off at a couple of points in the movie. The epic battle scene and the ‘feel good’ ending were fairly predictable in this era of heightened political sensitivity although I will admit to having become a little cynical.

      I was surprised when I asked my sons what they thought of the movie. My 14 year-old commented that the movie touched upon nearly every possible cliché and was as politically correct as a movie can get. My younger son thought that the whole thing was boring.

      Just our opinion, admittedly. That said, there were some interesting things such as Robert Downey, Jr.’s performance and the fallibility of the God of Thunder struggling with alcohol and weight issues.

    • JamesBKelley

      I’m with you! I watched it on Netflix and had a hard time making me finish it. I’d watch maybe 30 minutes, lose focus, come back a few days later… I didn’t have the experience at all with the other films. End Game just did not keep my attention. Maybe we should watch it again just to try to figure out why it’s soooo boring. 🙂

  19. Guardians of the galaxy 3, Guardians of the Galaxy 4, the hunt for Gamora, Guardians of the Galaxy 5 Kismet gets her revenge.

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  21. test2020b
    0

    Test post, will be removed.2

  22. Abhimanyu Shekhar

    I do believe that you’re not completely right when you say that the Guardians of the Galaxy are not as invested and loyal to Earth as Steve Rogers or Tony Stark. The whole point of those movies was to help them “discover” their ties to Earth and find out much they actually do care for the planet. But yes, I agree that if they’re going to be a face of anything, it’s going to be galactic, not limited to Earth, because that simply makes more sense.

    • Abie Dee

      Abhimanyu, I definitely agree with you! I honestly regret the specific way I wrote about the Guardians of the Galaxy, since yes, the first two movies were pretty connected to Earth. However, the last part of End Game had heavily hinted that the future of the Guardians was first and foremost going to be dedicated to relocating Gamora.

  23. I’m wondering if the moves will ever be made to introduce the X-Men fully into the MCU. At this point, for me at least, things are feeling kind of stale, and having these iconic and already established characters could be a big push for them.

  24. I was so upset with the End Game. So really looking for Black Widow movie. Thanks for this informative article.

    • Abie Dee

      I was really upset with it, too. I find myself understanding the way Marvel chose to end the Avengers, but my problem was mostly with Natasha’s character- I’m right there with you; waiting for Black Widow’s movie.

    • Abie Dee

      And thank you, for taking the time to read it.

  25. I don’t think there will be another face nor does their need to be. When the MCU began it was one of the biggest risks in movie history. Marvel had to make a cinematic universe with characters that were up to that point B-listers. But now that it’s the power house that it is, people will flock to the latest MCU projects regardless of who the marquee name is. It doesn’t need a new face because it’s now an ensemble.

    • Abie Dee

      Well said. Since, I wrote this article, my opinions and original perceptions have shifted, and I think what you’re saying is something I couldn’t quite grasp. I approached this article as though I needed to answer the question, but did not realize that an answer was not necessary. When I look at the MCU as it is, I no longer see one hero or three. I see the poster for End Game- a whole lineup of heroes whose stories have become connected. Thank you for this comment, and for sharing your thoughts and reading my article.

  26. Abie Dee

    Well said. Since, I wrote this article, my opinions and original perceptions have shifted, and I think what you’re saying is something I couldn’t quite grasp. I approached this article as though I needed to answer the question, but did not realize that an answer was not necessary. When I look at the MCU as it is, I no longer see one hero or three. I see the poster for End Game- a whole lineup of heroes whose stories have become connected. Thank you for this comment, and for sharing your thoughts and reading my article.

  27. This is a very informative feature on the phases of the Marvel cinematic universe. Even though I came into the Marvel universe first through the Iron Man movies, I have learned more about the comics and even watched some of the TV shows. I’m excited about how things will unfold in phase 2 and beyond.

  28. Love this piece! Looking forward to Black Widow and Wanda Vision is fantastic.

  29. The face of marvel seems to be heading towards a mix of people, not like what it used to be with RDJ and Chris Evans for example. We’re getting to see how good every actor involved in the Marvel films and projects that relate to the MCU are!

  30. I guess a lot of storylines are yet to be explored to the extent that they ideally should be (at least as a fan, that’s what I think). Great read though and felt even better seeing the citations at the end – thumbs up to the honesty of referring the original works and assimilating them tremendously with your opinions.

  31. For me it’s hard to really see the next face of marvel right now due to the lack of star power the current cast is consisted of. I initially thought that the late Chadwick Boseman would take the mantle of the leading face of the MCU however, his death rules him out. I would like to see Simu Liu take a bigger role however, it seems like Hollywood prefers more brand name celebrities to fill those types of positions. I look forward to seeing what happens next

  32. it’s going to be Black Panther.
    That film made 1.3 billion dollars worldwide.
    It was the highest earning film with a focus on a single hero

  33. I just pray they don’t f*ck up adam warlock.

  34. It’s interesting that even though we’re now deep into Phase 4, the superhero lineup in the next big team-up film still isn’t yet all that clear. I’d be curious about what an update to this article might think!

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