5. Nick Fury
How Would It Change The Franchise?Next to Clark Gregg's Agent Coulson, Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury has been the go-between with all of these films. He even got an unprecedented contract when he signed with Marvel for something like nine films. But the ending of The Avengers showed that they may not be as intertwined with SHIELD as originally assumed. And we already know Fury has butted heads with the Security Council. Plus let's not forget Cobie Smulders' Maria Hill. In the comics, Hill becomes Director of SHIELD after Fury goes missing, and there were deleted scenes in The Avengers that showed some more of her desire to move up the ranks. What if, instead of Fury's disappearance leading to Hill becoming Director, it's his death? And once the Avengers discover what he's done with Coulson, that could lead to some sparks between them and give him the need to make a heroic sacrifice.
Will It Happen? It's unknown exactly what plans Marvel has for Fury, but even if they do kill him off, that doesn't mean they can't still make movies with him. A Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD film could be set prior to the events of the The Avengers movies and show Fury moving up in the ranks of the organization. We do know that he knew Howard Stark, so Fury's death could lead to a meatier role for Smulders while it gives Jackson the chance to shine in some prequels. Plus, Fury has faked his death a number of times in the comics with the help of LMDs, so who knows?