Gohan - not Goku or Vegeta - could be the hero who gets a new transformation in Dragon Ball Super’s second movie. It’s sort of an unofficial tradition for Dragon Ball sagas and recent movies to introduce new forms for the main characters.
The power of Goku and Vegeta was constantly growing in Dragon Ball Super. The Battle of Gods and Golden Frieza stories added the Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan Blue forms, respectively. In the battle with Hit in the Universe 6 tournament, Goku combined his Kaioken technique with Super Saiyan Blue to create an incredibly powerful state that’s dangerous not only to his enemies but also to himself. In the Future Trunks saga, Dragon Ball Super revisited the Vegito fusion, and made it stronger than ever with Super Saiyan Blue. Goku received yet another massive upgrade in the Tournament of Power when he acquired Ultra Instinct. And in the latest installment, Dragon Ball Super: Broly, the two characters’ alternative fusion form - Gogeta - was finally made canon.
Looking at what the preceding stories have done, it seems likely that 2022’s Dragon Ball Super movie will also introduce a new form; there’s just a question of what it will be and which character will receive it. The obvious answer would be Goku or Vegeta, but it could actually be Gohan instead. It’s important to note that Goku just learned the complete Ultra Instinct state. It’s too soon for the anime to move beyond it, especially since he hasn’t even had time to master it on-screen yet. As for Vegeta, he just obtained Super Saiyan Blue Evolved, so it could be a while before he moves on to the next level. An option that makes more sense than both of these characters is Gohan.
Dragon Ball Super actually teased Gohan getting a new form during his sparring match with Goku. When asked why he was avoiding the Super Saiyan level, Gohan explained that he was in the process of pursuing an “ultimate form that no Saiyan has achieved before”. He’s not there yet, but it’s possible that as he continues his training with Piccolo (which is confirmed to happen in the manga continuation), Gohan will achieve the power necessary to unlock this transformation. If so, that moment could come at last in the highly-anticipated Dragon Ball Super: Broly sequel.
Gohan reaching a new state is long overdue. Because of his decision to lax up on his training, “Ultimate Gohan” is the only upgrade he’s had since Super Saiyan 2 in the Cell Saga. However, Gohan’s interest in fighting has since returned, allowing him to get back to being a force to be reckoned with. In fact, he’s currently the third strongest Z-Warrior, above Android 17, Piccolo, Majin Buu, and possibly Future Trunks. His impressive gains in the Tournament of Power were a reminder of the hero he was in the Cell Saga, back when it looked like he was taking Goku’s place as the Earth’s best hope against evil threats. The new Dragon Ball Super movie can pick up where the anime left off with Gohan and push him further along his journey.