In follow up to my previous article regarding the future of the Marvel Movieverse, I thought i would look at the different ways characters could change if Marvel allowed this new continuity to continue and thrive passed the nine-picture deals that they have been handing out.
Marvel Studios have changed actors for characters with no on screen explanation which is only to be expected for franchise films. But im more concerned with how they will handle the ageing of there actors and the changing times in which we live.
In Marvel Comic the universe exists on a Sliding Time-Scale, where the world around them continues to progress normally while the characters move forward at a much slower rate.
Some film series, much like the Bond films, follow the same principle but in the long run go even further, having it become part of there mythos that each actor's version of the character is his own and not tied in to the previous versions. Personally, im a continuity hound and if i were making the Bond films i properly reveal that British Intelligence trains up baby orphans and gives them the "James Bond" identity and brings them up to 00 service when the last one dies.. lol but i digress.
The main difference for Marvel is that this is not just a one character franchise, so dramatic changes to one character could effect other and there film drastically.
The conclusions i came up, if Marvel were to let this Universe progress naturally, seem to follow these options
Legacy: Where another character takes the title in place of the original.
Reborn: Where Marvel Studios change the actor but atleast give it a good cause.
Remove: Where the actor finishes but the character carries on regardless without one (think Arnie's T-800)
So here are a few ways i would prolong or progress the characters in the film universe:
Not that i see Chris Evans turning down the work anytime soon but say in twenty years Evan's Steve Rogers has become an older battle worn veteran and Evan's decides to leave
Legacy: I think we all know that Captain America is a symbol passed over to others that have taken the place of Steve Rogers, and i personally would love to see that element make it over to the big screen many years down the line.
Having his sidekick return in an earlier movie as the Winter Soldier then taking to role of Captain America when the Steve Rogers character dies/disappears would go down pretty well with most of us.
Bucky Barnes
If Sebastian Stan decided not to return as Winter Soldier and eventually Cap.
Reborn: Being brought out of cryogenic freezing only every so often gives enough character away time for a new actor to be brought in to play the older Barnes and no one would take much notice.
Thor
Reborn: Being magic based this is easy enough. If a future Marvel film was to incorporate Ragnarok then having the character come back rejuvenated would work fine in te context and keeps the character ticking on for a couple more decades.
Iron Man
Here is a toughy, dont kid yourself into thinking that RDJ wants to play Stark for the rest of his life. RDJ has noted several times he doesnt like being stuck in the suits and lets face it he isnt a young man anymore.
Reborn: If Marvel used the Extremist story they could have the process cause the character to emerge rejuvenated in a new young actors body. But lets face it, thats some big shiny boots to fill.
Legacy: Stark has not been known to let other take his role more than briefly. But say if an unknown child of Stark's (im guessing there are a few) was to come out of the wood work, maybe with the name Arno Stark.
Another, less popular option
Remove: Have RDJ just provide the voice many scenes are just the Iron Man armor in action and how many comics have we seen where Stark never opens his face plate.
Hulk
I think just changing the actor when needs be is the only real choice here but i guess they could..
Remove: Leave Hulk in CGI all the time.
Nick Fury
While there is still air in his lungs and a buck to be made i think you can count on Sam Jackson being there. But if he did leave..
Legacy: Replace him with Maria Hill, Carol Danvers, hell even Victoria Hand would do.
But the more interesting option
Reborn: Reveal that Sam Jackson's Nick Fury was infact and LMD all along! and that an older white guy had been controlling this Life Model Decoy for years from a secret bunker.
Though i would guess you would have to say the LMD was re-purposed alien tech so Stark suit doesnt get and inferior complex.
I guess you could have it the other way and say they put Jackson's Fury in a white guy LMD.
"Enough is enough, get this goddamn brain out of this goddamn white guy!" lol
On a more serious end note, the depth of character Marvel still has at hand could be used to take the focus off the top ones as the Movieverse continues. You never know, but in ten years time maybe the more established franchise characters, currently used by other companies, could be brought back into the fold with reboots leading to all sorts of possibilities.