Summary

• The MCU is setting up younger heroes for a potential Young Avengers project to replace aging or fallen heroes in Phase 5 and beyond.
• Known recruits include Ms. Marvel, Kate Bishop, Stature, Kid Loki, America Chavez, and Ironheart, forming the foundation for a new superhero team.
• Miles Morales, Skaar, Speed, Wiccan, and Toussaint could potentially join the Young Avengers in the future to expand the team's roster.

After The Marvels' tease, several cast members for Marvel Studios' potential Young Avengers project have already been set up in the MCU. In the wake of Avengers: Endgame, the MCU's Phase 4 put emphasis on introducing new heroes to the franchise to replace those who are getting older, retiring, or those who have died. Many of these new heroes have been younger in age, which has led many to speculate that the formation of the MCU's Young Avengers could be coming during Phase 5, 6, or beyond.

Marvel Comics debuted the Young Avengers in 2005 as a team of amateur vigilantes who were eager to live up to the legacies of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. At first, their lack of experience means they were underestimated by the older heroes, but they soon proved their worth as capable superheroes. Now, the MCU's Young Avengers team has made a huge stride forward, with Ms. Marvel and Kate Bishop uniting to create their own superhero team. While other important members like Hulkling, Noh-Varr, and Prodigy are yet to be seen in the MCU timeline, everything is almost ready for Marvel Studios' Young Avengers project.

Honorable Mention: Vision

Played By: Paul Bettany

While the MCU's Vision isn't exactly a young hero, the Vision brings the Young Avengers together for the first time in Marvel Comics to fill the void left after the Avengers disbanded in 2004-05's Avengers Disassembled storyline. Crucially, he's still around in the MCU, despite the original Vision dying in Avengers: Infinity War (twice).

How Likely Is He To Join The Young Avengers?

WandaVision saw the MCU's new White Vision leave to destinations unknown after regaining his memories, heading off to his own spinoff series, Vision Quest, that is still currently in development. With Kamala Khan taking the role of the Young Avengers' Nick Fury in the MCU, it's unlikely Vision will be involved, but it may still make sense to have an older hero acting as the team's liaison. The comics link would make him a logical candidate.

16 Kamala Khan, A.K.A. Ms. Marvel Was Set Up As The Young Avengers' Leader

Played By: Iman Vellani

Iman Vellani made her acting debut in Ms. Marvel on Disney+, portraying the titular Kamala Khan, a.k.a. Ms. Marvel, who unlocked her mutant ability thanks to her great-grandmother's mystical bangle. The young superhero returned in The Marvels when Dar-Benn's villainous plan draws her together with Captain Marvel and Monica Rambeau.

How Likely Is She To Join The Young Avengers?

Ms. Marvel is already confirmed as the founding member of the MCU's Young Avengers thanks to The Marvels. Although Kamala is most often associated with Marvel Comics' Champions, her Avengers fandom makes her the perfect fit for the MCU's Young Avengers team. Kamala's origins as a mutant in the MCU were also changed from her comic backstory as an Inhuman, which could further tie her to the MCU's X-Men, eventually.

15 Kate Bishop, A.K.A. Hawkeye Is Already Teased To Join The Young Avengers

Played By: Hailee Steinfeld

While the opening moments of Avengers: Endgame teased Lila Barton's future as a superhero, it was actually the unrelated vigilante Kate Bishop who stepped up to the plate and becomes the new Hawkeye in the Young Avengers team. Hailee Steinfeld starred as Bishop opposite Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton in Hawkeye on Disney+, which saw the original Avenger train the MCU's next heroic archer.

How Likely Is She To Join The Young Avengers?

Kate Bishop was Ms. Marvel's first port of call in terms of allies, and appears to have been recruited as the second MCU Young Avenger. She was a founding member of the Young Avengers in Marvel Comics in 2005, so her debut in Phase 4 always looked to be leading here, especially since the series finale implied that she would be permanently adopting the Hawkeye moniker for herself.

14 Cassie Lang, A.K.A. Stature/Stinger Has Had Her Hero Future Teased For Years

Played By: Kathryn Newton

Cassie Lang was originally portrayed by Abby Ryder Fortson in Ant-Man though was aged-up after Avengers: Endgame's five-year time-jump, then briefly played by Emma Fuhrmann. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania would see her recast again, now with Kathryn Newton in the role, but would also see Cassie sport her own superhero costume for the first time, joining her family on their Quantum Realm adventure. In Marvel Comics, Cassie Lang operates as Stature, and later Stinger, demonstrating similar size-changing abilities to her father, and becomes a founding member of the Young Avengers after her father's tragic death.

How Likely Is She To Join The Young Avengers?

While Cassie was originally rejected as an Avenger, she eventually joins up after revealing her powers. Her confirmation as an MCU Young Avenger looks assured after Ms. Marvel and Kate Bishop discuss recruiting her as the third member of their fledgling team.

13 Skaar Is A Natural Young Avengers Addition

Played By: Wil Deusner

Skaar is one of the MCU's newer additions, debuting in Phase 4's She-Hulk: Attorney at Law as the surprise Sakaaran son of Bruce Banner, a.k.a. the Hulk. As the son of the exiled Hulk and the alien Caiera in Marvel Comics, debuting canonically during 2008's World War Hulk event, Skaar is often seen as an antihero, eventually becoming a member of the Dark Avengers.

How Likely Is He To Join The Young Avengers?

Very little is known of Skaar, particularly about his future, but he could be set to be the MCU's replacement for Hulkling in the MCU. That would finally deliver on She-Hulk's tease, which seemed to be a bit of a dead-end otherwise. Skaar was once a Dark Avenger in the comics, but the Young Avengers makes more sense now, as long as his dad signs off on his membership.

12 Tommy Maximoff A.K.A. Speed Could Return To The MCU

Played By: Jett Klyne

Introduced in WandaVision as the fabricated children of Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch, and Vision, Tommy and Billy begin to express their abilities while still living in the Westview Hex. However, in Marvel Comics, it's their reincarnated selves, Thomas Shepherd and William Kaplan, who become Young Avengers after realizing their powers. Tommy, assuming the moniker of Speed, is a speedster like his uncle, Quicksilver.

How Likely Is He To Join The Young Avengers?

The big issue here is Tommy doesn't technically exist in the MCU any more, after Scarlet Witch ended her spell over Westview. However, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness confirmed Tommy exists in a different timeline, and the MCU's multiverse arc could bring him back to the main timeline.

11 Billy Maximoff A.K.A. Wiccan Could Return With His Brother

Played By: Julian Hilliard

Scarlet Witch's other son, Billy Maximoff AKA Wiccan, can use magic like his mother, though he is regarded as considerably less dangerous than his mother. Along with Tommy, Billy could make an appearance during Phase 5's Agatha: The Darkhold Diaries, which would help set up the MCU's Young Avengers project.

How Likely Is He To Join The Young Avengers?

Like his brother, Billy exists only on a branched timeline, but rumors have suggested that he will return in Agatha Harkness' upcoming Disney+ spin-off, somehow. If that is true, he could be a little more likely to join the Young Avengers than his brother, and could bring a magical element to the team.

10 America Chavez Could Be The Most Powerful MCU Young Avenger

Played By: Xochitl Gomez

Xochitl Gomez starred alongside Benedict Cumberbatch as America Chavez in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, bringing the multiverse-jumping hero to the MCU for the first time. In Marvel Comics, America is recruited for the Young Avengers when the reincarnated Loki tries to persuade her into killing Wiccan, though she eventually officially joins the team. America Chavez quickly became one of Marvel's most powerful characters.

How Likely Is She To Join The Young Avengers?

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness teased her training to be a sorcerer, so her power set in a potential Young Avengers project would be very impressive. Whether Wong would allow her to join such a team is unclear, given the huge threat her powers could represent in the wrong hands. But she'd have some of the best training of any potential member if she was recruited, and it would give the character something to do in the future.

9 Kid Loki Would Be An MCU Young Avengers Wildcard

Played By: Jack Veal

In Marvel Comics, Loki cheats death by resurrecting himself as a young boy and joining the Young Avengers in the hopes of a fresh start. This storyline has been adapted differently for the MCU, as Loki came across his child variant in the Void during Loki season 1 on Disney+, portrayed by Jack Veal. Little is known about the MCU's Kid Loki, other than the fact that he killed his brother, Thor, which led to him being pruned from his timeline.

How Likely Is He To Join The Young Avengers?

While Kid Loki decided to stay in the Void in Loki, future MCU projects could see Kid Loki return and take his proud place as a member of the Young Avengers. He's probably one of the most unlikely new recruits, but don't discount him as a wildcard.

8 Harley Keener Joining The Young Avengers Would Use His 11 Years Of MCU History

Played By: Ty Simpkins

In Marvel Comics, Nathaniel Richards, a.k.a. Iron Lad, is a founder of the Young Avengers, bringing the team together to avoid his destiny of becoming Kang the Conqueror. While Kang has made his presence known in the MCU, Iron Lad hasn't, so whether Richards or someone else takes up the Iron Lad name is yet to be seen. That someone could be Iron Man 3's Harley Keener, portrayed by Ty Simpkins, who was gifted Stark tech after helping the lone Avenger and made an appearance at Stark's funeral in Endgame.

How Likely Is He To Join The Young Avengers?

Keener taking the place of Iron Lad seems unlikely at this stage, barring an appearance in War Machine's spinoff Armor Wars movie. He could still grow up to become a superhero in the footsteps of father figure Tony Stark, but the role of the Young Avengers' version of Iron Man is probably already filled by someone else...

7 Riri Williams, A.K.A. Ironheart Is Set Up As Iron Man's MCU Successor

Played By: Dominique Thorne

Although Morgan Stark was introduced in Avengers: Endgame, it's the duty of Riri Williams to continue Iron Man's MCU legacy in the wake of his Infinity Saga sacrifice. Dominique Thorne debuted as Riri Williams, a.k.a. Ironheart, in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, suiting up in her makeshift armor for the first time on-screen, which she created herself from pieces of Stark technology.

How Likely Is She To Join The Young Avengers?

Thorne is set to reprise the role in her solo Disney+ series, Ironheart, and while she takes her place among the Champions in Marvel Comics, this series could lead to her becoming the armored member of the MCU's Young Avengers instead. She has also spoken about the potential to team-up with other Young Avengers, picking Cassie Lang as her favorite potential team-mate.

6 Toussaint, A.K.A. Prince T'Challa Could Take On A Hero Role In The MCU

Played By: Divine Love Konadu-Sun

In the wake of Chadwick Boseman's tragic 2020 passing, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever focused on a nation in grief, as Wakanda also lost its King to an undisclosed illness. While most of Ryan Coogler's sequel focused on Shuri's grief over losing her brother - and later mother - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's post-credits scene revealed that T'Challa and Nakia had a secret son prior to the events of Avengers: Infinity War. Raised in Haiti away from the pressures of the Wakandan throne, Divine Love Konadu-Sun debuted as Toussaint, otherwise known as Prince T'Challa, potentially setting up a heroic future for the character.

How Likely Is He To Join The Young Avengers?

Toussaint takes the place of T'Challa's Marvel Comics son Azari, who inherited the powers of his father and also those of his mother, the X-Men's Storm. If Toussaint has powers, it's unknown at the minute, but his genetics could carry T'Challa's superpowers as Azari's do. He's an unlikely candidate for the Young Avengers, given his mother has kept him living a sheltered life.

5 Eli Bradley, A.K.A. Patriot Has A Promising Marvel Story For The MCU To Adapt

Played By: Elijah Richardson

Elijah Bradley is one of the most interesting members of Marvel Comics' Young Avengers, originally joining the team with no superhuman abilities, despite him being the grandson of super-soldier Isaiah Bradley, both of whom were introduced in the MCU's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Eventually, Eli would gain his own powers, said to be from a blood transfusion from his grandfather, though this would eventually turn out to be because of his use of the drug Mutant Growth Hormone (MGH).

How Likely Is He To Join The Young Avengers?

It's possible that Elijah Richardson could reprise the role of Eli Bradley in Captain America: Brave New World and eventually make his way onto the MCU's Young Avengers. So far, he's a less likely contender, unless Brave New World dramatically changes his current story.

4 Love From Thor: Love & Thunder Could Be The Young Avengers' Thor

Played By: India Rose Hemsworth

Two new characters were introduced in Thor: Love & Thunder who could make their way into the MCU's Young Avengers line-up. Gorr's daughter, Love, who is adopted by Thor at the end of Love & Thunder, would also make a strong addition to the Young Avengers, as she seems to be imbued with Eternity's power.

How Likely Is She To Join The Young Avengers?

Love's inclusion in Young Avengers would be a great way to continue Thor's legacy, especially since she's played by Chris Hemsworth's daughter, India Rose Hemsworth. It's somewhat unlikely, given she appears to be Thor's new sidekick, but with Hemsworth's own MCU future unknown, a way to continue Love's story without him may appeal to Marvel Studios.

3 Astrid "Axl" Heimdallson Could Take The MCU's Young Avengers In New Directions

Played By: Keiron L. Dyer

The other legacy character introduced in Thor: Love & Thunder is Astrid "Axl" Heimdallson, the son of Idris Elba's Heimdall. He exhibits similar abilities to his father, being able to see across the cosmos and interact with beings light-years away. He'd be the ideal candidate for a superhero team's overwatch position, and Love & Thunder's ending sees him training under Lady Sif to become a warrior.

How Likely Is He To Join The Young Avengers?

It feels more likely that Axl will follow in the footsteps of his dead father Heimdall if the MCU has a future role for him. His cosmic powers and all-seeing eye are arguably too valuable to Asgard, particularly with Earth's governments declaring war on all aliens in Secret Invasion.

2 Phyla Could Be Part Of More Than One MCU Hero Team

Played By: Kai Zen

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 marked the final adventure for the MCU's original Guardians team, ending with the retirement of several characters and Rocket's promotion to Captain of the new team. While Rocket, Groot, Kraglin, and Cosmo have continued on as members of the Guardians of the Galaxy, they have been joined by Will Poulter's Adam Warlock and Kai Zen's Phyla, one of the High Evolutionary's child experiments inspired by Marvel Comics Phyla-Vell. The movie showed a glimpse of Phyla's fists glowing in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3's mid-credits scene.

How Likely Is She To Join The Young Avengers?

Very unlikely at the minute. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3's post-credits scene sets up a heroic future for the young hero, but as a member of Rocket's new Guardians of the Galaxy team.

1 Miles Morales, A.K.A. Spider-Man Has Been Teased For The MCU

Played By: Shameik Moore

Miles Morales, the successor to Peter Parker's Spider-Man, hasn't yet been introduced to the MCU, but the magic of the multiverse and Marvel Studios' growing bond with Sony means that it might not be too long before Miles Morales finds his way to live-action. His uncle, Donald Glover's Aaron Davis, was seen during Spider-Man: Homecoming, suggesting Miles Morales does already exist in the MCU. By far the most successful iteration of the character is in Sony's animated Spider-Verse franchise, where he's voiced by Shameik Moore.

How Likely Is He To Join The Young Avengers?

It would be fantastic to see a crossover that brings Miles Morales into the MCU and potentially lands him a position on the Young Avengers. There are already hints that a live-action Miles Morales movie is on the way, but it's more likely that Miles will be introduced either as a sidekick to Tom Holland's Spider-Man, or as a solo hero, rather than a Young Avenger. That said, a future potential crossover would be foolish to ignore Spider-Man's brand power.

Key Release Dates

• 

  Deadpool & Wolverine

  Release Date:

  2024-07-26

• 

  Captain America: Brave New World

  Release Date:

  2025-02-14

• 

  Marvel's Thunderbolts

  Release Date:

  2025-05-02

• 

  Blade (2025)

  Release Date:

  2025-11-07

• 

  Marvel's Fantastic Four

  Release Date:

  2025-07-25

• 

  Avengers: The Kang Dynasty

  Release Date:

  2026-05-01

• 

  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date:

  2027-05-07