What Will Marvel Replace The Avengers With?
Paging Captain Marvel and the Ultimates?
For all intents and purposes, Avengers: Infinity War has heralded the end of the Avengers series as we know it. Avengers 4 will conclude the story Infinity War started of course, but in regards to the MCU's future, it's clear that the franchise will be heading in a distinctly different direction. According to Disney CEO Bob Iger, that could perhaps entail the dissolution of the Avengers brand as we know it.
Speaking in an earnings call shared by The Hollywood Reporter, Iger said that "we meet on a regular basis with our Marvel team, and we've plotted out Marvel movies that will take us well into the next decade... I'm guessing we will try our hand at what I'll call a new franchise beyond Avengers, but that doesn't necessarily mean you won't see more Avengers down the road. We just haven't made any announcements about that."
Whatever way you look at it, Iger's comments are certainly interesting. The Avengers have dipped in and out of popularity in the comics all the time, but with each successive outing in the series set to break records here, there and everywhere, the thought of somehow not having Earth's Mightiest Heroes around just simply never occurred.
While Iger later clarified that he doesn't "think people should conclude there will never be another Avengers movie," it does raise an interesting point, namely, what other franchises could lead the MCU going forward? Only the Avengers are set to break the franchise's ostensible three film barrier, and while James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy films have become something of a box-office staple, they're not exactly on par with any of the Avengers films.
But let us remember that the Avengers aren't the only Marvel team going. Dozens of groups, including the Ultimates who were - tellingly enough - led by Captain Marvel, have all graced the House of Ideas at some point. Factor in the introductions of the X-Men and Fantastic Four, as well as the likes of Moon Knight and Blade potentially, and it's easy to see how the MCU could sustain itself without the Avengers - for better or for worse.
But who do you think will replace The Avengers? Post your thoughts in the comments below!