CHAMPIONS: The Roster Of Marvel Studios' YOUNG AVENGERS Project Has Reportedly Been Revealed

CHAMPIONS: The Roster Of Marvel Studios' YOUNG AVENGERS Project Has Reportedly Been Revealed

According to a new rumour doing the rounds, Marvel Studios has zeroed in on six leads for its upcoming Champions TV series, and it's a roster with only a couple of glaring omissions. Find out more here...

News
By JoshWilding - Jan 06, 2025 07:01 AM EST
Filed Under: Avengers

Last November, we learned that Marvel Studios had reportedly given up on producing a Young Avengers movie. Instead, the focus has reportedly shifted to bringing the Champions to Disney+. 

It's hard to deny that the moment for the Young Avengers to assemble has passed. Fans have pointed out for years that the characters who fit under that umbrella are ageing up quickly, and the clear lack of focus in the Multiverse Saga's early stages did little to get them where they needed to be for a team-up. 

The search for a Champions showrunner has, however, begun and the main reason we're getting a movie instead of a TV show is supposedly down to The Marvels underperforming at the box office last year.

Disney CEO Bob Iger has also discussed the importance of protecting the Avengers brand and a Young Avengers spin-off that doesn't live up to expectations would risk tarnishing the main event movies...which are guaranteed money-makers, of course. 

Today, we have news on the Champions roster; it's said that the team will feature Wiccan (Joe Locke), Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani), Hawkeye (Hailee Steinfeld), America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), and Ironheart (Dominique Thorne) in lead roles.

There's really only one noteworthy omission here: Elijah Richardson's Eli Bradley, the Young Avenger better known to comic book fans as Patriot. He was introduced in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier but this latest report doesn't necessarily close the door on characters like him, Amadeus Cho, or Speed factoring into this series. 

Locke first played Wiccan in Agatha All Along and will likely return for a second season alongside Kathryn Hahn's Agatha Harkness. Iman Vellani put herself on the map with Ms. Marvel and was teased as the founder of this team in The Marvels' closing moments. As for Steinfeld, she received rave reviews for her take on Kate Bishop in Hawkeye. 

Gomez, meanwhile, made her MCU debut as America in 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and is expected to be a major player in the next Avengers movies given her ability to travel between realities. Thorne first played Riri in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever that same year and will headline her own Ironheart TV series this summer. Finally, Newton took over the role of Cassie in 2023's Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. 

Of course, the Young Avengers Champions have already assembled outside of the MCU...

CHAMPIONS: Marvel's YOUNG AVENGERS Series Will Reportedly Be A Post-SECRET WARS Project
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CHAMPIONS: Marvel's YOUNG AVENGERS Series Will Reportedly Be A Post-SECRET WARS Project
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EducatedDefense
EducatedDefense - 1/6/2025, 7:43 AM
A way too early rumor likely based on nothing. The team needs at least one other guy. And I’m skeptical we’ll see America Chavez much after the multiverse saga. I think everyone is ready to move on.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 1/6/2025, 7:48 AM
@EducatedDefense - Speed, Amadeus Cho, Patriot, or Hulkling come to mind.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/6/2025, 8:01 AM
@SonOfAGif - or even Skaar, Kid Loki and white Vision.
TheIronDuck
TheIronDuck - 1/6/2025, 8:20 AM
@ObserverIO - So many people forget a Vision with no connection to his momories was a member of the Young Avengers.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 1/6/2025, 10:24 AM
@EducatedDefense - There WILL be a Hulkling character, even if they merge/use Skaar and Speed will join them even if not from day one (as could be the first missions is to save/free him for instance). However, yeh, too soon for this rumor to hold as the team was said to be bigger than this anyway not that long ago so at best this is those they are most certain of how to add from the start that will be already setup to join having all had major film/series roles whilst not excluding those who have only had minor appearances/mentions/teases like Eli, Speed, Cho, Skaar, Kid Loki, Miles etc.

I know Chavez was a young Avenger but uncertain she is ready to use as seems she has her own story to complete with Wong and regarding her Mothers before I'd have expected her to be included unless they had a narrative where her powers were needed.
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 1/6/2025, 3:09 PM
@EducatedDefense - it also needs a character people like.
KwisatzHaderach
KwisatzHaderach - 1/6/2025, 7:44 AM
So it’s an all girls team with one gay guy. I don’t care, but Disney must know this isn’t going to go down well with their target market.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 1/6/2025, 7:50 AM
@KwisatzHaderach - It's funny how this is going to be the issue. Not saying you are the problem but the "target market" being offended or uncomfortable with girls and a gay hero is the problem. The fact that their gender and sexual orientation is the focal point for these people and not their power sets and the storyline.
DrDReturns
DrDReturns - 1/6/2025, 7:53 AM
@SonOfAGif - It's also just a bunch of sidekicks/spin-offs.

People want to watch Batman. Not Robin...
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 1/6/2025, 7:58 AM
@DrDReturns - Tell that to people who want to see Teen Titans and Young Justice movies.
Vigor
Vigor - 1/6/2025, 8:17 AM
@SonOfAGif - you know i agree with you. But as a counter point there also should be some masculine energy that these six can't provide. It's not about strength. Women and gay men can be strong. But in the internet rarest of inclusion, a straight male would be a nice way to round out the team. And perhaps episode 3 or whatever would introduce them. Too early for judgemental calls
GeneralZod
GeneralZod - 1/6/2025, 8:27 AM
@SonOfAGif - Teen Titans has several original characters (Garth, Raven, Cyborg, Starfire) that are not derivative of anyone. This Champions line-up are all spinoff characters, except America Chavez. Strike that, Chavez is also a spinoff of Miss America from the Timely era.
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 1/6/2025, 8:30 AM
@SonOfAGif - "but the "target market" being offended or uncomfortable with girls and a gay hero is the problem" what if the target audience isn't necessarily offended but just turned off by a group of heroines that don't appeal to them? Let's be honest the vast majority of the MCU audience and the ones most interested by it is guys. Do you really think most guys will be interested in this group? You can have a great storyline in your hands but if it involves a bunch of characters that your main audience doesn't care about then what's the point?
Vigor
Vigor - 1/6/2025, 8:34 AM
@Vigor - interest*
KwisatzHaderach
KwisatzHaderach - 1/6/2025, 8:52 AM
@SonOfAGif - You might not be wrong, but the unfortunate truth remains that this roster doesn’t appeal to their main audience, making the entire thing counterproductive.
NonPlayerC
NonPlayerC - 1/6/2025, 8:58 AM
@SonOfAGif - I’m pro gay rights and my sister is trans. Just because I support peoples right to live their lives how they see fit doesn’t mean that I’m going to identify, relate, or want to watch a show or movie. I support people’s right to watch and enjoy the Barbie movie, but I still haven’t watched it doesn’t seem entertaining to me.
elcapitan
elcapitan - 1/6/2025, 9:06 AM
@Vigor - so you’re saying a gay guy can’t be masculine?
Songoty
Songoty - 1/6/2025, 9:07 AM
@SonOfAGif - the problem right there is the people in charge think that's more important than the storyline, too.
Vigor
Vigor - 1/6/2025, 9:09 AM
@elcapitan - depends what you define as masculine
I don't mean to offend
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 1/6/2025, 9:24 AM
@Urubrodi - Maybe I see things from a different lens but when I go see a comic book movie about a comic book character, I don't focus on their race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. I go see it for the comic book character. For example look at the hate Brave New World is getting and you have a straight male character in it. But because he is black and not Steve Rogers, People don't want the movie released. These characters co-exist with the beloved heroes but the universe cannot expand if people continue to not want or allow the stories to be told. I'm interested in Wiccan finding Wanda. I'm interested in how integral America Chavez is for Secret Wars and so on. And their genders have nothing to do with their stories.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 1/6/2025, 9:26 AM
@KwisatzHaderach - And that's completely fine. There are characters that aren't for everyone. My issue is that there are people who do like these characters and people who dislike them don't want them to exist or have their own productions. I love all the characters. Do I want to see a Korg spinoff? Absolutely not. But if he got one who am I to spend my entire time and energy bashing people who did want a Korg Spinoff?
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 1/6/2025, 9:30 AM
@NonPlayerC - I'm gay and I'm pro-equal rights and I had no interest in Barbie, Wicked, or The Little Mermaid. But their existence didn't disrupt my life nor did it affect whatever franchise they were set in. They just exist for people other than myself and that's completely fine. But you have individuals on this site who make it their entire identity to be vocal about their disgust for a production and how they don't want it to be made.
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 1/6/2025, 9:40 AM
@SonOfAGif - Not saying that they are all bad characters and that there is nothing interesting about them (although Cassie Lang, Iron Heart and Chavez have very few positives imo) but they are not the type of characters that most Marvel fans gravitate towards the most. Throw a Miles Morales in there for example and you'll see people's tone will change. And look I'm just saying here a bunch of obvious stuff. If you like these chracters great but it should be easy to see how this is not gonna go well with most people. The "main" character in this roster is arguably Mrs Marvel. How well have projects involving her done? This will probably be the third project in a row with her that fails with the audience. You mentioned earlier how people like Teen Titans and Young Justice. Both groups are not only more well known, but also feature a greater number of good characters and have a more balanced roster in terms of gender.
KwisatzHaderach
KwisatzHaderach - 1/6/2025, 9:42 AM
@SonOfAGif - I agree, but those type of people revel in their own misery and are a lost cause.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 1/6/2025, 9:51 AM
@Urubrodi - While I understand your point about it not doing well with the "Target Market", Let us not forget that Marvel Studios has multiple upcoming projects that the Target Market is clamoring over such as: Fantastic 4, Daredevil Born Again, Spider-Man 4, X-Men 97 S2, Blade, Thunderbolts, Doomsday, Secret Wars, and Marvel Zombies all releasing within the next 3 years. Yet it's an issue when one project in between those major rent poles doesn't fit the "Target Market's" demands.
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 1/6/2025, 9:54 AM
@SonOfAGif - Well because that one project most often than not fails and is a waste of resources that could have been used in something else.
mpk1988
mpk1988 - 1/6/2025, 9:54 AM
@SonOfAGif - Not that's not the issue - the majority of people who have been the target audience of the original comic-books and grew up with it do not relate to teen girls and a gay guy...
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 1/6/2025, 9:55 AM
@SonOfAGif - Just because your other projects are successful it doesn't mean that you should throw money away into projects that are likely not gonna attract an audience.
Corruptor
Corruptor - 1/6/2025, 10:00 AM
@Urubrodi - We are interested in girls, but Christ, they are going to wear thin pretty fast when they are all yapping away at each other for an entire movie.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 1/6/2025, 10:11 AM
@mpk1988 - Right because you watched Batman because you related to a Billionaire who dresses like a bat who beats up criminals at night time in a city. Cut it out. Your issue is the fact that it's girls and a gay guy.
RedFury
RedFury - 1/6/2025, 10:11 AM
@mpk1988 - outside of their gender or sexual orientation sure. But I guarantee they can relate on a human level, and that's something a lot of us forget when we claim we can't relate to someone.

If the film/show is only about gay love, and being a girl; sure I could see a straight adult male having a hard time relating to it. But that's not what this will be about. It'll likely be about young adults dealing with huge responsibility, growing up, coming to terms with their role in the big picture, etc, etc. All things that most people can relate too. Hell even a straight man or woman can relate to a gay love story if it's about actual love; love is universal.

So on the surface I get how people might not see themselves in a project, but that doesn't mean that whatever substance the project produces won't relate to them. If it's made well it'll have a voice that speaks to its entire audience like all good media does.

Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 1/6/2025, 10:13 AM
@Corruptor - We are interested in girls of course, if it was up to me Kate Bishop would have already shown up again, but some of the others in that group are just annoying and not that interesting. " they are going to wear thin pretty fast when they are all yapping away at each other for an entire movie" yes exactly XD
Vigor
Vigor - 1/6/2025, 10:31 AM
@Urubrodi - I think there's enough money and lanes for everyone. No offense but you come off as gate keeping

I really want to see the champions. Cassie is kind of lame to me but I love Kate and Ms marvel and riri seems to have an edge about her as well. And thr actor that played as Wiccan knocked it out the park. It would be foolish for me to turn away from enjoyment just because *checks notes*, because of their gender or sexual orientation
Gabimaru
Gabimaru - 1/6/2025, 10:41 AM
@SonOfAGif - but we still don't have teen titans movie so yeah i think his point still stands.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 1/6/2025, 10:47 AM
@Gabimaru - But we had a Titans live action show. This is no different.
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 1/6/2025, 10:51 AM
@Vigor - "I really want to see the champions" You, SonOfAGif and how many more? It's unlikely that a project like this would be cheap, you gotta do more than "I want it" to justify the existence of this show. It's not like we're talking about Marvel taking a low budget risk on an unknown character/team. They already know what most people feel about these characters and how projects involving them perform. The "leader" of this team, Mrs Marvel, is coming from one of the least watched TV shows they've made and their worse performing movie out of 34. And she is one of the better ones in this group. If they can cut down the costs, improve these characters and come up with a good storyline, then by all means go for it, but it'd probably be a safer and more guaranteed choice to focus in something else.
DrDReturns
DrDReturns - 1/6/2025, 10:52 AM
@SonOfAGif - Sure. There can be popular characters, but the point still stands that they will always be competing with their predecessors.
Vigor
Vigor - 1/6/2025, 11:02 AM
@Urubrodi - as a disney business executive, who needs to make good on the purchase of marvel amd leverage all that IP. What choices would you make to greenlight streaming shows for disney+? I have a feeling you're going to exclusively choose projects with white straight males. The most populous comic book demographic because these comic books were made at a time when diversity wasn't a thought!

We live in 2025 now. 80 years after some of these comics were first made. It's a much different world. The audience is diverse. So why shouldn't what they watch be diverse?

So again I ask, name idk 6-7 shows you would greenlight from the marvel brand for streaming. I'm curious which ones you'll choose. It cant be something already greenlit/rumored. So Nova and midnight sons are out. And if it takes you too long to find diverse shows to list, then I think you just figured out the problem
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 1/6/2025, 11:33 AM
@Vigor - I would focus on what most fans want, it's that simple, like X-Men (full of diversity here if that's what you want), Fantastic Four, Avengers, Spider-Man, Dr Strange, more Deadpool and Wolverine related projects, fix Hulk, fix Thor... Speed up the Blade movie (I think he's black right?), bring on Ghost Rider (with a more concise budget as he has yet to prove himself in the movies), bring on Nova as a TV show as he is not well known with the general audience, bring back more Netflix shows like Punisher, Luke Cage and Jessica Jones, give another chance to Shang-Chi as he had a good first movie (maybe include Iron Fist in it). And if Marvel has money to spare, then take low budget risks with stuff like Miracle Man, Omega the Unknow, Howard the Duck, Squirrel Girl... If you already know that a character does not go well with people don't try to forcethem to like him/her. You don't want for me to say what's already being rumored or confirmed...why not? What they need to focus the most is the main IPs that they already have. A lot of the main characters still have a lot of stories to tell.

Look man, it doesn't matter if we live in 2358, if 95% of my audience wants to see something why the hell would I give them something else? Diversity in the detriment of entertainment is not a solution, it's a problem. Forcing content that no one wants to see because "we need more diversity in our lives" is not gonna make anything better, it's actually gonna do the opposite, people are gonna start getting repulsed by any indication of woke content, as it's happening. "And if it takes you too long to find diverse shows to list, then I think you just figured out the problem" why should Marvel be seeking out diverse content, they should be seeking quality content, if it happens that the content in question features a more diverse cast great but that should not be the goal. I'm all for new IPs that have more representation, but changing existing IPs for that reason it's a big no no in my book.
Timelessicons
Timelessicons - 1/6/2025, 11:46 AM
@SonOfAGif -No, the "target Market" isn't the problem. The problem is people stuffing their beliefs on what's right and what's wrong down eveyone's throat. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the target audience (myself included) not having an interest in characters due to their sexual orientation or gender. I like both Wiccan and Hulkling and I also like Blade and Lady Hellbender. I'm not gay, nor am I black and I'm not a woman but for other characters that differ from myself, I simply don't relate and clearly, nor do a large portion of the populace. Point is, this country has turned too soft. Everyone is offended by everything and people seem to be on these misguided crusades to try and make everyone conform to their beliefs. There is so much of this weak, poisonous thought processing out there today, it's insane. Tell a soldier who fights for your freedoms and keeps your family safe, about his toxic masculinity. This country needs life support. I know you didn't bring on the toxic topic, yet it serves as my point as to how this country is sorely misguided these days.
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