7 MCU Characters Who Could Die In Marvel Phase 5

Phase 5 of the MCU starts with Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, and there could be some characters who will meet their end in the franchise's latest era. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has closed out many character stories with somewhat permanent send-offs. Various major heroes have met their end throughout Phases 3 and 4, such as Black Widow, Iron Man, Jane Foster's Mighty Thor, and Vision. The trend has also carried over to supporting characters like May Parker, Ramonda, and Odin, delivering heartbreaking moments and providing the MCU with a deeper emotional gravitas.

Phase 5 will take the franchise into uncharted territory with projects like Thunderbolts and Secret Invasion, leading up to Phase 6 and its closing installments, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars. The franchise's fifth phase will serve as a beginning for some characters (e.g., Sam Wilson, Kamala Khan), but it could also be an end for others. Going by Marvel's penchant for character deaths, there are various MCU players who could perish in the many projects encompassing Phase 5, both on television and in film.

Drax

James Gunn intends to end the current Guardians lineup with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. It's unclear which of the heroes could die if any, but Drax the Destroyer may be one of the likeliest candidates. In 2021, Dave Bautista said he would retire as the character after Vol. 3. Bautista then officially said goodbye to Drax when announcing his wrap on the film, stating: "Haven’t found the words yet. [...] End of a journey that changed my life." Aside from a recasting, Bautista stepping away from the role makes it likely for Drax to perish in the Guardians' third feature.

Rocket Raccoon

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will explore Rocket's MCU origin for the first time, which could be a sign of his demise, given that the film will act as a farewell to him. As Gunn explained (via Deadline): "The reason why I needed to finish this is because I love [Rocket] more than any character I've ever dealt with before, and I needed to finish his story, and that is what 'Vol. 3' is about." Though revealing his backstory doesn't necessarily point to a tragic end, the poignant nature of his scenes in the Vol. 3 trailer and Gunn's statement could be big clues for Rocket Raccoon's death.

Hank Pym

Michael Douglas' Hank Pym has been an integral part of the Ant-Man franchise. However, his story seems to be at a point where it could reach a natural conclusion in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. As mentioned, Marvel has killed off important supporting characters in past sequels to increase their emotional tension, such as Odin in Thor: Ragnarok and Aunt May in Spider-Man: No Way Home. As one of the franchise's most important characters, Hank's death would raise the stakes in Quantumania, which would be fitting for the film as the third chapter in the Ant-Man trilogy.

Janet Van Dyne

Janet van Dyne didn't physically appear in the Ant-Man universe until Ant-Man and the Wasp, but much like Hank Pym, she is pivotal to the series. The impact of her disappearance played a big role in the first two films, and her return was central to her family's arc. Given that, and the fact that her time in the Quantum realm will be explored in Quantumania, the movie could bring closure to her story by killing her off, which would allow her to still have an impact on the main characters. Her death could perhaps even be tied to Kang, whom Quantumania's first trailer revealed she had a past with.

Ghost

Thunderbolts will introduce a different type of super-powered team into the MCU. Going by its roster, Thunderbolts may be conceptually similar to Suicide Squad, with dark or morally ambiguous individuals banding together for a common purpose. Having protagonists of that ilk could inherently warrant character deaths, and one of the characters that could be set for such a fate is Hannah John-Kamen's Ghost. Despite her semi-redemption at the end of Ant-Man and the Wasp, there is still a lot of blood on her hands from her days as a covert S.H.I.E.L.D. operative, which could leave death as the only fitting end for Ghost.

Red Guardian

Another Thunderbolts character who could meet his end in the team-up feature is David Harbour's Red Guardian. Black Widow saw the disgraced super soldier (real name Alexei) attempting to restore his relationship with his Black Widow daughters, Natasha and Yelena. Despite his bravado and self-aggrandizing personality, Alexei realized how much he had wronged the super-spies. The fact that he will now be on the same team as Yelena likely means the movie will explore their complicated familial bond, which could, in turn, culminate in his death to provide Thunderbolts with a strong emotional moment.

Talos

Talos will lead the cast of Secret Invasion alongside Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury. Ben Mendelsohn's Skrull leader had a memorable role in Captain Marvel, after which he became a well-liked character in the MCU. Such a status could position him as a candidate to die in the Disney+ series. Secret Invasion doesn't have the grand scale of its source material. However, the show could theoretically compensate for its lack of major superheroes with significant character moments. As a well-regarded figure among the Skrulls and close ally of Nick Fury, Talos' death would have a big impact on the series and perhaps even Phase 5 of the MCU in general.

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