5 MCU Characters Who Should Join the New Avengers (and 5 Who Should Not)

With Marvel Studios concluding the Infinity Saga with last year’s Avengers: Endgame, fans have anticipated what the universe’s future will hold. Specifically, there has been much speculation over the future of the Avengers team. Endgame definitively wrapped up almost every original member’s story, while recent movies have introduced many new heroes. However, Marvel has understandably been quiet about future Avengers movies.

Recently, a rumor said that Captain Marvel 2 would pave the way for a New Avengers movie. With Captain Marvel‘s big success last year and the character playing a key supporting role in Endgame, chances are she’d help spearhead this new Avengers team. But who would join her?

Below, we list five characters that we want on the New Avengers, and five that we do not.

Should:

Black Panther

Black Panther was one of Marvel’s most successful movies ever, grossing over $1.3 billion worldwide and even earning an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. This, along with T’Challa’s supporting roles in the ensemble films, cements the character’s future in the MCU. He’s arguably the most obvious choice to join the new Avengers team. He’s popular, he adds much-needed diversity, and he has more than enough money to bankroll the team.

Spider-Man

In the wake of Tony Stark’s sacrifice, Peter Parker has stepped up and embraced his destiny as a hero. Spider-Man’s MCU movies have been big successes, and the stage is set for him to become the franchise’s new face. The only thing in his way is the current Sony/Disney deal. Right now, he’s only expected to appear in two more movies. If the deal isn’t extended, that’s it for Spidey in the MCU. But if they extend it again, then the possibility for an even bigger role is there.

Doctor Strange

Another obvious choice, Stephen Strange has emerged as one of the most powerful heroes in the MCU so far. While his solo movie was a success, he stole the show in Avengers: Infinity War. With the character’s future bright, it’s only inevitable for him to join the new Avengers team. With his duties as Sorcerer Supreme having him fight mystical threats, it’s unclear if Strange would be willing to be a full-time Avenger. There’s also Benedict Cumberbatch’s hectic schedule. But Strange-r things have happened.

Captain America

At the end of Endgame, Steve Rogers passed his shield down to Sam Wilson. This will be further explored in Disney+’s The Falcon and The Winter Soldier series. After that, having the new Captain America join the team would be obvious. Wilson has history with other heroes, and really, it’s hard to imagine the Avengers without a Captain America.

The Mighty Thor

While Thor will return for 2022’s Love and Thunder, he won’t be the only God of Thunder involved. Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster will return, and she will take on the mantle of The Mighty Thor. It’s unknown if she will return beyond that, or if Portman would be open to expanding her multi-film contract. But if so, she would be a good fit for the New Avengers.

Should Not:

Thor

Moving from one Thor to the other. Odinson is one of the few original Avengers confirmed to continue their story post-Endgame. While Thor is always a welcome addition to movies, it’s best if he was no longer an Avenger. He has been an Avenger since the beginning, and in the context of his role in the team, his story is done. In my opinion, it would take away from Endgame‘s impact if any original members return to the team. The purpose of that film was to provide closure to the Infinity Saga, and that includes the story of the first Avengers team. So, it’s best to leave those members be and make room for new faces.

Winter Soldier

Bucky Barnes has been a key supporting character since Phase One, going from Steve Rogers’ best friend to brainwashed assassin to the White Wolf. He is finally free of HYDRA’s brainwashing, and he will return in Disney+’s The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. It’s unclear how his story will continue afterwards, but maybe it’s best if he didn’t formally join the Avengers. Bucky’s life is one that has been plagued by unneeded violence, and sooner or later, he’s going to want to settle down. He’s not even taking the mantle of Captain America (an honor going to Sam Wilson). I’m fine with him appearing in other movies (Black Panther 2 maybe?), but I don’t see him as a New Avenger.

Hulk

Bruce Banner is another original Avenger who survived the events of Endgame. Now merged with the Hulk, his story is still open-ended to continue in the future. It’s unclear what that would be, but I believe his avenging days are over. Again, Endgame served as closure to the original Avengers team’s storyline, and I think bringing any of them back to a new lineup would diminish its impact. There’s still room for Hulk to return elsewhere, like Disney+’s She-Hulk, but he doesn’t need to rejoin the Avengers.

Vision

After his creation in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Vision served as a member of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. His time came to an end with his death in Infinity War, as one of several casualties from Thanos’ quest for the Infinity Stones. He will costar in Disney+’s WandaVision, but it’s unknown if he’ll be properly resurrected or his return is done another way. Personally, I think Vision should stay dead. Infinity War needs some deaths that are permanent, and with alternate versions of Loki and Gamora out there, there’s the risk of cheapening that movie’s impact. This leaves Vision as a true casualty. They can do whatever they want in WandaVision, but after that, maybe it’s best to keep Vision deactivated.

Blade

The next couple Phases will introduce plenty of new heroes into the MCU. Many of them would be worthy additions to the New Avengers – Shang-Chi, Black Knight, She-Hulk, Ms. Marvel, and so on. But not all of them would be the best fits for the team, and one of them is Blade. The character will soon return for the MCU, this time played by Mahershala Ali. There has been speculation that he would join the Avengers, but personally, I don’t think that’s best. With Blade, Marvel has an opportunity to create something different. More standalone, darker, etc. That would be watered down if he was just another Avenger. That’s not to say he can’t cross over with other movies, but I don’t see him as a member of the team.