Different characters taking over another hero's mantle has been commonplace in comic books for decades, but in recent years, Marvel Comics has leaned heavily into the concept of "Legacy" heroes.
A few years ago, that led to different, diverse men and women taking over as the likes of Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man, and while Marvel's approach to that on the page received mixed reviews from fans, it's something we're now seeing play out in the MCU. However, if The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is any indication, Marvel Studios has a much better approach to the concept.
As we head into Phase 4, it's clear that Legacy heroes are going to be a big part of the stories that play out. Looking beyond that, though, and there are more we're definitely expecting to join them.
With that in mind, we're now taking a deep dive into the characters taking over different mantles in the next few years, as well as the fresh takes on familiar faces we're anticipating seeing down the line...
10. Ironheart
Using materials she stole from MIT, 15-year-old Riri Williams managed to create her own suit of armour in the wake of Tony Stark's apparent demise and did her best to be a superhero. Ultimately, she earned the approval of an A.I. version of Iron Man and adopted a new mantle: Ironheart.
Dominique Thorne will play the character in her own Disney+ TV series, and we're expecting Riri to be a major player moving forward. Whether Tony will actually factor into her transformation into the MCU's next Armoured Avenger remains to be seen, but he was a big part of her comic book story arc, so it would be surprising if that were overlooked on the small screen.
A new "Iron Man" is a must for the MCU, and we're 100% on board with that being this young hero.
9. Hawkeye (Kate Bishop)
We're not sure what the future holds in store for Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton, but his new, comic accurate costume has left many fans hoping he will stick around for at least a little while longer.
However, the signs are definitely pointing to the "Hawkeye" mantle being passed to Kate Bishop on a permanent basis in the Disney+ series of the same name. Marvel Studios really couldn't have found a better actress than Hailee Steinfeld to take over from Renner, and whether it's as a Young Avenger or part of another team altogether, she's bound to have a recurring presence in the MCU.
Despite having no superpowers, Hawkeye has helped turn the tide against many threats, and once his predecessor is trained up, don't be surprised if she proves to be every bit as pivotal to proceedings.
8. The Mighty Thor
It's hard to say whether Thor: Love and Thunder is going to be where we say goodbye to Chris Hemsworth's God of Thunder, but many fans will no doubt argue that it would be a better option than having Natalie Portman play the Mighty Thor for a single movie before returning Mjolnir to its original owner.
We don't have to say goodbye to him, though; Thor becoming the Odinson - like his comic book counterpart - would give that character a fun new role to play in the MCU, while allowing Jane Foster to step up and be a hero in her own right. After all, Thor is likely to be left disillusioned after battling Gorr the God Butcher.
Just like Ms. Marvel (who is sort of a Legacy hero) can be part of the MCU alongside Captain Marvel, two "Thors" can definitely exist at the same time. It certainly worked in the source material, anyway.
Now, as for those we're expecting to see in Phase 4 and beyond...
7. Stature/Stinger
Marvel Studios used Avengers: Endgame to age up Cassie Lang, and then cast Detective Pikachu star Kathryn Newton to play the character in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania.
That alone points to there being serious plans in place for Cassie, and we have to imagine her transformation into Stature or Stinger is heading our way in the threequel. It's a logical next step for the character and one that adds yet another member of the Young Avengers to this shared world.
While Stinger is certainly one option, Stature seems like a better choice as the hero tends to increase her size more often than decreasing it. Giant-Man is an idea that has only really been played around with on a couple of occasions, so Cassie mastering that would be an absolute blast to watch.
6. Black Panther (Shuri)
Following the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman, Marvel Studios decided to move forward with Black Panther II as planned. Of course, some big changes had to be made, and we know Ryan Coogler has rewritten the screenplay to address the absence of King T'Challa (he won't be recast).
This obviously hasn't been confirmed, but Shuri inheriting the mantle from her brother seems like the logical next step for the franchise. There are other options - M'Baku, Erik Killmonger, and even Kasper Cole - but given what's happened in the comic book, Shuri should become Black Panther.
It will be something new for the franchise, but Shuri is a character who can inspire just as many people as T'Challa once did. Letitia Wright has big shoes to fill, but deserves a chance to try.
5. Nadia van Dyne (The Wasp)
Will Hope Van Dyne be The Wasp forever? Probably not, though we have only just started to scratch the surface of what her role is going to be in the MCU. Despite that, if we're going to make a bold prediction about the future, it would be that we'll eventually be introduced to Nadia van Dyne.
Despite being used as a Hope proxy in the comic books (that's what "Nadia" translates to), she's an interesting character in her own right. Hank Pym's secret daughter with his first wife, Maria Trovaya, she was raised in the Red Room and ultimately took on the "van Dyne" name to honour her stepmother.
Something tells us this would all undergo some changes for the MCU, but her ties to the Red Room are pretty interesting, and it would be fun to see a new "Ant-Man" (Stature) and Wasp (Nadia).
4. Nova (Sam Alexander)
Look, we know what you're thinking: Richard Rider hasn't even been introduced yet! There are plans for Nova in the MCU, and rumour has it that the plan is to introduce Richard and Sam Alexander at the same time. It would make sense to do so too, especially if the latter is being trained up.
Some fans would obviously rather follow Richard's story from the start, but there's definitely something to be said for having a battle-hardened Nova forced into training his young replacement.
Not everyone likes Sam, but with Marvel Studios clearly looking to put the spotlight on a younger generation of superheroes, he seems like a natural fit for this next wave of stories in the MCU. This introduction is probably a good few years away, though, so we have plenty of time to speculate.
3. Miles Morales
Given the massive surge in popularity of Miles Morales in recent years (thanks to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Miles Morales), it's hard to understand how this web-slinger hasn't made his live-action debut yet. There are, of course, rumblings that it will happen in Spider-Man: No Way Home, while Miles' existence was confirmed in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Time will tell on that front, but it would make zero sense not to use Miles in some capacity before too long. We fully expect to see Tom Holland stick around for the long haul, but whether it's as a partner or an eventual replacement after another few solo outings featuring Peter, Miles is bound to suit up as Spider-Man and swing his way into the MCU during the next couple of Phases.
Miles is an amazing character in his own right and one who deserves the chance to shine on screen.
2. Amadeus Cho
Is She-Hulk a legacy hero? An argument could certainly be made that's the case, but Jennifer Walters is very much a character in her own right, and not someone taking over Bruce Banner's mantle.
Amadeus Cho, on the other hand, is a different story. Named the 7th smartest man in the world when he was just a child, the Korean-American supergenius and Bruce became firm friends when they first crossed paths. Ultimately, he would help the Avenger finally get rid of the Green Goliath, but absorbed it himself and became the "Totally Awesome Hulk" in the process.
After Bruce's devastating injury in Avengers: Endgame, it would make sense for him to hand the Hulk mantle over to someone like Amadeus, especially if he can also master his "other." We're not sure when this story will play out, but don't be surprised if a young Cho shows up in She-Hulk.
1. Iron Lad
We know that Kang the Conqueror is coming to the MCU in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, and it would be a legit shocker if his convoluted history isn't simplified in some way.
As a result, Marvel Studios might choose to gloss over his time as Iron Lad. In the Young Avengers comic books, a much younger Kang hoped to escape his villainous future by travelling back in time to join the ranks of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Ultimately, his older self stepped in to ensure he would still become a "Conqueror," and it would be a shame to overlook that.
It's possible, of course, that Kang will be a descendant of Ironheart's, but equally as likely that Iron Lad is where Riri Williams gets the technology she needs to become Ironheart. We can't say for sure just yet, but Iron Man's legacy is one that promises to play out in the MCU for years to come.