Avengers: Infinity War - 10 Characters Least Likely To Survive

Ever since the MCU's inception all the way back in 2008, there has been one complaint more common than all others that relates to one thing: stakes.

Throughout the studio's ten year run, they have gotten progressively better at making each individual film feel as though they are crucial, with something truly at stake, and not just another entry into their ever-expanding canon of films. Sure, there have been some bumps in the road along the way (looking at you, Thor: The Dark World) but overall, this complaint is one the studio has handled with grace. What most people seem to really mean when they say the Marvel Universe lacks stakes is that no major characters ever die.

And that is correct. Sure, heroes' parents have died and villains and side-characters such as Quicksilver have bitten the dust, but no major characters have ever truly died in the MCU. Until now.

Kevin Feige recently warned fans that they may wind up regretting what they've been wishing for, and Infinity War looks well and truly set to massacre off a host of MCU mainstays. With all the talk about this film acting as a culmination of all that has come before it, Thanos is all but guaranteed to rack up a few skulls by the time the credits roll.

The question is, which characters will it be?

The all-seeing watcher of Asgard is now without a home and was last seen onboard the same escape shuttle as Thor, Loki, and all the rest of the Asgardians.

The bad news is, Thanos' ship was also lingering menacingly over that shuttle and we know from scenes shown in the marketing that Thanos will be boarding the ship. Considering the role that Heimdall took up in Thor's absence, as a leader of sorts to the band of Asgardian resistance fighters, chances are good that he will feel the need to step up and protect his people.

But as can clearly be seen in a shot from the first trailer, Loki has to step over the bodies of several dead Asgardians on his way to giving Thanos the Tesseract (more on that later). Heimdall will most likely stand up to Thanos and attempt to save what few Asgardians he can and ultimately fail, giving his life in the process. Farewell, Idris Elba, we knew thee well.