SPOILERS: AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR - Everything The Movie Tells Us About What To Expect In AVENGERS 4
Avengers: Infinity War may have been billed as a "standalone" tale but it also does a great job of setting up Avengers 4 and here you'll find an in-depth look at all the ways it sets up what comes next...
Avengers: Infinity War is now in theaters and already breaking box office records. However, given the way the movie wraps up it's fair to say that we're all already wondering about what comes next with Avengers 4. Unfortunately, it's probably going to be a while before Marvel Studios decides to reveal anything about the sequel so we're left to come up with our own theories in the meantime.
However, Avengers: Infinity War actually tells us a fair bit about what might be next for Earth's Mightiest Heroes and the Guardians of the Galaxy - what remains of them anyway - and that's what we're taking a look at here. From the status of key characters to those we didn't see in this epic ensemble, we have a lot of ideas about how Avengers 4 might be shaping up to conclude this tale.
So, to find out all the different ways this movie sets the stage for the still untitled release (it's got to be called Avengers: Endgame, right?), simply click on either of the buttons below for the full list.
Thanos Still Has The Infinity Stones
After snapping his fingers and wiping out half of the universe, Thanos retreats with an Infinity Gauntlet now destroyed by the sheer power it had to generate to accomplish such a feat. Despite that, the Infinity Stones can quite clear be seen still attached to it which means that the Mad Titan has them and can no doubt choose to unleash their power again should the mood take him...minus the Gauntlet.
...But He's Also Found Peace
The movie ends with Thanos - wounded by Thor but still very much alive - smiling and watching the sunset knowing that he's achieved his goal and "saved" the universe from future annihilation.
This echoes the end of the Infinity Gauntlet comic book when the Mad Titan was defeated and decided to become a simple farmer...the key difference here, of course, is that Thanos has won! How Earth's Mightiest Heroes will track him down and force him to come out of hiding isn't clear but the way they'll utilise the power of the Infinity Stones might be thanks to one brief moment earlier in the movie...
The Other Infinity Gauntlet
Eitri admits to being forced to create the Infinity Gauntlet for Thanos but look carefully in Nidavellir and you'll notice that there's either another one there which isn't completed or the mould he used to make that one for the villain. That means The Avengers will be able to create another one which they can use to bring all those people - and their teammates - back from the dead in the next movie.
Why Hawkeye Returns To Action
After all that talk of Hawkeye playing a pivotal role in Avengers: Infinity War, the archer doesn't even show up! Instead, we learn that both he and Scott Lang are now on house arrest after the Sokovia Accords took too much of a toll on their respective families. However, common sense says that if even a couple of Clint Barton's children vanished, he's going to be returning to action regardless.
Bear in mind that Avengers 4 set photos showed him suited up as Ronin, so there's a very good chance Clint will head down that darker path after losing his family thanks to Thanos' actions.
Thor Can Travel The Cosmos With Stormbreaker
Heimdall's death at the start of the movie means that he's no longer around to help Thor travel through the cosmos and it took every bit of power he had to send The Hulk to Earth anyway. The Stormbreaker, however, is capable of opening doors up in the universe for people to travel through which is how the God of Thunder brings Rocket and Groot to Earth to join the fight in Wakanda.
As a result, expect Thor's new hammer to be used to get The Avengers across the galaxy as they go on the hunt for Thanos and this will likely be how Iron Man and Nebula rejoin the fight too.
Wakanda's New King
Black Panther is dead (again) so Wakanda will need a new king (again). While it's hard to say how much the African nation will factor into Avengers 4, M'Baku is still alive so chances are he'll be taking charge of the country in T'Challa's absence. That's bound to have an impact moving into the character's sequel but it's also possible that Shuri will choose to step up...assuming she's still alive, of course.
Valkyrie Could Ride In To Save The Day
Valkyrie is completely absent from Avengers: Infinity War and we never find out whether she's been killed by Thanos or somehow managed to escape with some Asgardian refugees while the Mad Titan was attacking Thor's ship. Korg and Miek are also M.I.A. and we can only assume that they'll somehow return in the next film, possibly appearing at the last minute to help turn the tide against Thanos.
It's hard to say for sure but there have been a lot of hints about Tessa Thompson being involved with the fourth instalment, so I'd be shocked if we don't learn more about her fate when May 2019 arrives.
Nick Fury Won't Be Around To Help Out
In the movie's after-credits scene, Nick Fury and Maria Hill can be seen attempting to figure out what the hell is going on as people start vanishing right in front of their eyes shortly after an energy surge in Wakanda. Unfortunately, it doesn't take long until Maria joins them and just as it looks like Fury could return to help Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Avengers 4, he too starts to disintegrate.
However, before he joins the dead, Fury does something which will change the MCU forever...
Captain Marvel Is Coming
Using what looks like an alien pager of some sort, Fury manages to send out a distress signal and we quickly learn that the message has been received before a familiar logo pops up on screen. Yes, Captain Marvel has been contacted and that no doubt means she's heading back to Earth for Avengers 4. How that will tie into her solo movie remains to be seen but expect her absence to be explained there.
Something which was apparent in Avengers: Infinity War was that Earth's Mightiest Heroes weren't strong enough to stop Thanos, so throwing the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most powerful hero into the mix - which is how she's been described by Kevin Feige - is bound help turn the tide.
Captain America And Iron Man Make Things Right
This has got to happen. In Avengers: Infinity War, it's Bruce Banner who makes the phone call to Steve Rogers and with the world more in need of Captain America than ever before, we need to Cap wield the shield and step up to once again lead Earth's Mightiest Heroes against Thanos.
It would also be good to see Steve and Tony make things right because that's long overdue at this stage and something which it would be good to see before one or both of them bids farewell to the MCU.
The Hulk's Story Arc
Mark Ruffalo has previously said that Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers 4 serve as a three-part story arc for the Green Goliath and it's now clear what that's going to be. After being defeated so brutally by Thanos, The Hulk is clearly afraid to come out and play, so the next movie will no doubt further explore that and the way the relationship between him and Banner is evolving.
After all, they pretty much communicate here so that is changing with every movie and I fully believe that the next iteration of this character will be one which Banner is actually in full control of.
Captain America And The Red Skull May Reunite
Gamora's body remains on the planet where the Red Skull was protecting the Soul Stone and assuming Earth's Mightiest Heroes travel there, there's a very good chance Steve Rogers and his old foe will meet again. I'm not sure what could lead to them having to go there but if they spend a good chunk of the movie attempting to track the villain down, then it would make sense for the heroes to retrace his footsteps to learn more about the Infinity Stones and what led to him gaining this one.
We can't guarantee that but it would make for a downright incredible scene in Avengers 4 next year.
Iron Man And Nebula Are Trapped On Titan
As we mentioned, they remain stuck on Titan after witnessing the deaths of both the Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers. This will give Tony Stark the chance to learn all about Thanos courtesy of Nebula and should help better prepare him when he's reunited with the heroes back on Earth.
It is, of course, possible that we'll see these two head off on their own adventure as they could use the Milano to escape (that's what the Guardians would have used to reach Titan in the first place) and Nebula probably has a ship too. Still, with Iron Man's armour destroyed, he's vulnerable now and will need to return to Earth in order to finally reunite with Captain America and don a new suit.
The Vision Is Unlikely To Return
Man, Avengers: Infinity War really doesn't go well for The Vision. First of all, he's completely destroyed by the Scarlet Witch before being brought back to life by the Time Stone and then having the Mind Stone torn from his head, leaving him a greyed out shell. While The Avengers theorise that he could still live even after that's removed, Shuri never finished the surgery so it simply can't happen.
It's certainly possible that he could be powered up but given the way the Stone is torn from his head, I find it hard to imagine there's anything left of him and his death is one which won't be undone.
The Avengers Will Likely Be Resurrected
As shocking as it was to see everyone from Star-Lord to Spider-Man and Bucky die in Avengers: Infinity War, common sense says they'll return from the dead at some point in Avengers 4 along with the other half of the universe. Just because their deaths aren't permanent doesn't mean they're not still impactful, of course, but seeing as the wall-crawler also has a movie next year, it's pretty obvious they won't be gone for long. However, that doesn't mean everyone will be returning.
As we've already established, The Vision is almost certainly a goner, while explaining the returns of characters like Heimdall, Gamora, and Loki would be very tough and cheapens their demises.
Avengers Assemble
We still haven't heard the words "Avengers Assemble!" uttered in the Marvel Cinematic Universe so it has to be in Avengers 4 when that finally happens. Regardless, it's worth noting that the original team - Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and The Hulk - are still very much alive and will no doubt play a key role in leading what's left of Earth's Mightiest Heroes here.