Avengers 4 Theory: The REAL Reason Captain Marvel's Name Isn't Used... Yet

4. Marvel Can't Really Have TWO Captains

Sure, there have been plenty of different 'captains' in the Marvel Universe before (America, Britain and Marvel the three most famous), but with the Avengers... there should really only be one.

Why? Well it's complicated. Legacy is a massive element from the comics, and something we can expect to see going forward with the MCU, but it's worth mentioning that it may take an unexpected direction.

For a long time now, fans have anticipated that the exit of Steve Rogers would lead Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes to become the new Captain America, as he did in the comics. While that's a fascinating possibility to consider in itself, it looks doubtful that it's something Marvel will pursue. Yes, Stan has plenty of films left on his contract, but he seems destined to head for Disney+ instead, starring in a show opposite Anthony Mackie's Falcon.

This thus raises an interesting point: if legacy is to feature in the MCU, who's to say characters will take on now departed identities? Bucky Cap has long been speculated by fans, but so too has the potential arrival of Riri Williams, and even Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie becoming the new Thor, should Chris Hemsworth exit the series. What if, though, legacy became less literal, and was more a thematic passing of the torch? In Steve's case, Danvers becoming the team's new Captain could represent the continuation of his legacy.

But - importantly - she has to have her name first. At no point in Captain Marvel was she called 'Captain Marvel', and that'll need to change in Endgame.