Marvel fans have received plenty of new information about the direction of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the explosive finale of Phase 6, when Earth's Mightiest Heroes will finally team up with the Fantastic Four to face off against Jonathan Majors as the villainous Kang the Conqueror.
With three years until the release of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the state of the Avengers roster could look remarkably different than in the team's latest appearance. In the time until the film's premiere, fans are left to wonder which Avengers will still be around when they finally find themselves face-to-face with Kang and his variants.
Captain America
Sam Wilson is proving to be one of the foremost Avengers of the MCU's Multiverse Saga. Fresh off his debut as the new Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie is set to reprise his role once more in 2024's Captain America: New World Order, marking the first time that the longstanding MCU actor has headlined a film in the franchise.
No Avengers team would be complete without a Captain America to lead them into battle. The time has finally come for Sam Wilson to fulfill Steve Rogers's desires for his future as the new team leader. Fans can be sure of Wilson's involvement in The Kang Dynasty, though his trusty friend, the Winter Soldier, may find himself busy elsewhere if fan rumors prove true about Bucky's involvement in Thunderbolts.
Scarlet Witch
Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff, now also known as the Scarlet Witch, has been a standout character so far in Phase 4, leading the former Avenger to become a favorite among the fanbase. While she recently voided her Avengers membership in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, many fans believe that Wanda can still be redeemed after her villainous turn.
Wanda Maximoff is a stand-out character in the Multiverse Saga, whose great power would certainly come in handy against a major threat like Kang and his variants. Though the character appears to have died at the end of her latest appearance, fans aren't so sure they've seen the last of the Scarlet Witch, a truth that could even save the multiverse when Kang finally arrives.
The Street Level Heroes
Thanks to San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel fans have a much better idea of what the Multiverse Saga will look like, including an interesting quote from Kevin Feige teasing the street-level heroes of the current phases. It would seem that the heroes battling lower-level street crime, such as Spider-Man, Daredevil, Moon Knight, and more will prove integral to the franchise's future, even as it reaches grander, more cosmic scales.
The MCU is at no shortage of street-level heroes and, while these characters may not be the ones to take Kang and his variants on head-to-head, they can certainly quell the tide of whatever minions he may send their way. Spearheaded by characters like Hawkeye, Kate Bishop, and perhaps even a newly reintroduced Jessica Jones or Luke Cage, this subset of vigilante superheroes could prove vital in the oncoming conflict.
The Sorcerers
Though their ranks were greatly lessened by the Scarlet Witch's attack in Multiverse of Madness, the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj are still among Earth's best defenses against the many evils in the universe. Led by Sorcerer Supreme Wong and including powerful heroes Doctor Strange and America Chavez, the sorcerers continue to defend their realm to their dying breath.
The sorcerers were among several armies that joined the Avengers in the fateful Battle of Earth, wherein the Mad Titan Thanos was defeated. With such close ties to the Avengers, it would make sense for Earth's Mightiest Heroes to call on this magical army to aid them against this new looming threat, though the sorcerers' power is doubtlessly weakened after the Scarlet Witch's rampage.
The Hulks
MCU fans are currently gearing up for the exciting debut of Jennifer Walters in the upcoming Disney+ series, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. In the soon-coming show, the Hulk himself will train his cousin to become a superhero with her newly-acquired powers, portending her career as an Avenger.
No Avengers film has ever lacked a Hulk and it would appear that The Kang Dynasty will do one better by including a second member of the Hulk family among the Avengers' ranks. Both Jennifer Walters and Bruce Banner play an integral role in many Avengers storylines from the comics, making it highly likely that they will continue their contributions to the team when Kang threatens their reality.
Ant-Man And The Wasp
Ant-Man and the Wasp are one of the more active superhero duos in the MCU following the events of Avengers: Endgame, with both characters being mentioned on numerous occasions throughout Phase 4 despite not being depicted therein. Nevertheless, Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne are en route to their next tiny adventure in next year's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
As some of the more seasoned superheroes currently serving as members of the Avengers, Ant-Man and the Wasp will no doubt prove vital in the defense against Kang. Moreover, they will even be among the first Avengers to encounter the supervillain, who has been confirmed as the main villain in their upcoming solo adventure.
Nova
Many fans were elated to learn that Marvel studios had finally announced its intention to develop a project centered around the popular comic book superhero Nova. While details are scarce regarding this new addition to the franchise, fans are already wondering where Nova may show up first in the MCU, with many believing that his debut will come no later than Phase 6.
While some have speculated that Nova could be a member of the MCU's proposed Young Avengers lineup, it seems more likely that the iconic character will make his debut as a member of the main Avengers team instead. The character is rumored to have been considered for both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, leaving the fifth entry in the franchise to right the wrong of his absence thus far.
Shang-Chi
Xu Shang-Chi is one of the best new heroes from Phase 4 of the MCU, who was introduced in last year's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Now in possession of his father's mysterious ten rings, Shang-Chi is one of the most powerful members of the Avengers.
Shang-Chi is one of the few new superheroes from Phase 4 to be officially recruited into the Avengers, making his appearance in the upcoming Avengers 5 all the more likely. Additionally, it has been heavily rumored that Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton will be helming the upcoming crossover event, seemingly confirming Shang-Chi's involvement.
The Marvels
Phase 5 promises to bring to life one of the many superhero teams being set up in the MCU in The Marvels, which will unite Captain Marvel, Photon, and Ms. Marvel onscreen for the first time. While details are scarce on this trio, their soon-coming team-up is sure to act as a major jumping point for many of the franchise's next stories.
Captain Marvel has already proven to be one of the most integral Avengers in the MCU's future, making her appearance in the upcoming back-to-back crossover films almost inevitable. Her closest allies, therefore, will also have a clear path to joining Earth's Mightiest Heroes in what is sure to be their greatest battle yet.
The Space Gods
Space gods seem to be a common occurrence in the MCU. Beginning with Thor, the Norse god of thunder, the MCU soon built upon its catalog of deities originating from the great cosmos. With Eternals introducing heroes like Sersi and Eros and Thor: Love and Thunder including the crowded Omniscience City, the potential for new cosmic members of the Avengers to appear in The Kang Dynasty is high.
As the MCU grows more cosmic in scale, heroes like Thor, Eros, and Sersi will doubtlessly rise to prominence among the ranks of the Avengers. These are the heroes that will likely find themselves going head-to-head with Kang's more powerful variants. They may even be joined in their ranks by the likes of Hercules, whose introduction portends the coming of many more mythological gods in future Avengers films.