Spider-Man: Homecoming revealed that Tony Stark had sold Avengers Tower, while Spider-Man: Far From Home showed the iconic building in a state of renovation. Frustratingly, the sequel didn't provide any sort of insight into who the new owners are, but Hawkeye has once again got fans talking.
In the second episode of the Disney+ series, Clint Barton told Kate Bishop that Tony had sold the building, and we can't help but think Marvel Studios has a reason for reminding us of that fact.
With that in mind, we're now taking a closer look at some of the biggest clues from the past few years to share our ideas for who could be taking up residence in the one-time Avengers Tower. Some are more far-out than others, but we think you'll find a lot of compelling (and likely) possibilities here.
To take a look through our top predictions, simply click on the "Next" button down below!
5. Oscorp
We're torn on this one as it both makes sense and feels like a stretch. Sony's five Spider-Man movies put a lot of the focus on the Osborn family, with The Amazing Spider-Man franchise, in particular, once again taking us down a familiar route by focusing on Harry's relationship with his father (albeit in a very weird way that would have ultimately involved Norman's decapitated head).
It would be great seeing what Marvel Studios could do with those two, and we know that Spider-Man's Green Goblin, Willem Dafoe, will battle the wall-crawler(s) in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Marvel Studios committing to making Oscorp such a big part of the MCU would require some sort of long-standing deal with Sony, hence why we're on the fence. If that has somehow happened and Norman is here to stay, then perhaps the Variant will replace his MCU doppelganger?
4. Fantastic Four
Kevin Feige may well have had an inkling that Marvel Studios would regain the rights to the Fantastic Four when Spider-Man: Homecoming was being developed, but regardless of what was initially planned for Avengers Tower, those ideas could have easily been ditched to make room for Marvel's First Family's upcoming arrival thanks to the Disney/Fox merger.
It's hard to imagine a building more perfect than this one for the iconic team of superheroes to call home, and the fact that it used to belong to Tony Stark could play into their origin story in some fun ways.
Jon Watts, who will direct Fantastic Four for Marvel Studios, even appeared to tease the arrival of Marvel's First Family in Spider-Man: Far From Home with that signage. With that in mind, incorporating this subplot about Avengers Tower from his first Spider-Man movie into the reboot makes sense for a lot of reasons. So, yeah, we're betting on the Baxter Building. Unless...
3. The Kingpin
If Hawkeye really is set to introduce a new take on Vincent D'Onofrio's Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, then it could make sense for this criminal to have rebranded Avengers Tower as Fisk Tower. That would be the ultimate "f*** you" to Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and a real power play from the Kingpin of Crime.
To the world at large, he'd no doubt be viewed as a philanthropist on the same level as Tony Stark, but Hawkeye could quite easily reveal that all is not as it seems in the villain's ivory tower. With that, the stage would be set for Echo and Daredevil to take aim at Fisk, potentially culminating in an event of some sort that sees The Kingpin kicked out of the Big Apple once and for all.
It can't be a coincidence that Hawkeye is the first MCU project since Spider-Man: Homecoming to mention the sale of Avengers Tower, right? We'll have to wait a few weeks to find out...
2. Damage Control
This isn't a particularly exciting suggestion but it is one that makes sense based on Damage Control's role in Spider-Man: Homecoming. It's honestly surprising we haven't seen more of the group since then, but a base of operations like this would be suitable for the organisation.
They'd have to become a focal point in future stories for this to make sense, and it's worth noting that there were once tentative plans for a sitcom to put the spotlight on Damage Control. That could quite easily be revisited for Disney+, with a big name superhero or two thrown into the mix.
Imagine if She-Hulk works for them? Or Daredevil? It could be a lot of fun, though perhaps not as game-changing as some of the other characters and companies listed throughout this feature!
1. A.I.M.
HYDRA has fallen and, as of right now, no one has really stepped up to take their place. A.I.M. was introduced in Iron Man 3, of course, but sadly not in a way that really mattered. We'd love to see Marvel Studios revisit this group of villainous scientists down the line, though, especially if it means a live-action M.O.D.O.K. is finally coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Arnim Zola could even be thrown into the mix, with A.I.M. used as a big bad similar to what we saw in the Marvel's Avengers video game. We're ready for the MCU to move on from Tony Stark, but his death should definitely leave a void that could be filled by an organisation such as this.
Heck, you could even throw Justin Hammer, Obidiah Stane's son, and the Ten Rings into the mix, tying A.I.M. into the likes of Armor Wars and Ironheart. We think this has potential, and if Fantastic Four is just an origin story for the team, then they could always move in once these baddies are defeated.