Avengers: Endgame Was Not the End. It Was Only the Beginning
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Annlyel James 
Annlyel investigates the promise of a new age of Avengers adventures in the aftermath of Endgame
The incredible buzz surrounding Avengers: Endgame is starting to slowly but surely fade away. Many people around the world have seen the film, weighed in on its many spectacular moments, and now we have a vague idea of what to expect for the future of the franchise.
Avengers: Endgame was not just the end of an era. It was the beginning of something potentially even greater.
If you STILL haven’t seen Avengers: Endgame yet then there are MAJOR spoilers ahead. You have been warned. 😊
Yes, Iron Man is officially dead (😭). Black Widow ended up perishing to save the universe. (😢) And Steve Rogers has gone on to be an old man, giving up his role as Captain America to Sam Wilson but there is a promise for the future. The promise of a new age of Avengers to bring smiles to our faces.
While we have lost some beloved heroes along the way many of the Avengers in the film survived to fight another day and many were presented new storylines that will bleed over into Phase 4. So, on that note, let’s analyze these plotlines moving forward and what they could mean for the MCU.
Sam Wilson is the New Captain America
For a while, it’s been very clear that Steve Rogers’s story would come to an end, leaving the mantle of Captain America up in the air. Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson have both assumed the role of Captain America in the comic books, giving fans plenty of theories to think about. The question lingered in the air; when Captain Rogers’s story would end who would take his place?
Turns out, Sam Wilson would end up getting the role of Captain America. That’s a very exciting development for his character moving forward. There’s a large chance we’ll get to see him don the red, white, and blue colors of his former Avenger teammate while wielding the iconic shield into battle in the upcoming Falcon and Winter Soldier series set to come out exclusively on Disney’s streaming service, Disney+. Not only is that series going to be fun to watch but, if it is set after the events of Avengers: Endgame, I can’t wait to see Falcon’s new look. 😁
The Guardians of the Galaxy Have a New Member
Thor’s storyline in Avengers: Endgame was very unexpected but absolutely perfect in my opinion. His comedic turn in Thor: Ragnarok was a narrative twist that he desperately needed and I was utterly thrilled to see that humorous aspect continue with him now residing in the MCU as Fat Thor.
Lol. Hilarious. From the first time I watched the film to the second time, Fat Thor has made my day in ways that I could’ve never dreamed of. Gone is the impressive physique that made his shirt off scenes worthy of a whistle or two replaced by his rather hilarious “melted ice-cream” bod. Not only has it changed Thor for the better but it makes his involvement with the Guardians of the Galaxy so much funnier. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is going to be a hysterical ride of non-stop action and hilarity and I personally can’t wait to get more laugh-out-loud interactions between Star-Lord and Thor.
Bucky Barnes Is Destined to be the White Wolf
I’ve been saying it for a while now and with Sam Wilson ultimately taking the role of Captain America it’s becoming even more clear; Bucky Barnes is destined to become the White Wolf. You don’t have any idea who the White Wolf is? Let me give you a quick rundown. In the Black Panther comics, King T’Chaka adopted a white boy and raised him as his own son. He grew up to be like a brother to both T’Challa and Shuri and would eventually don the mantle of White Wolf as he fought alongside his Wakandan brothers and sisters against evil.
RELATED: Should Bucky Barnes Return as the White Wolf in the ‘Black Panther’ Sequel?
Bucky’s story isn’t exactly the same but it is very similar. He has been taken in by the Wakandans, the Wakandan children have nicknamed him White Wolf, and now he is free of the mind control HYDRA placed on him, allowing him to play a greater role in the future. Whether or not this storyline comes into play is yet to be seen but I have a HUGE feeling that we might finally get to see Bucky become the White Wolf in the Black Panther sequel, and if that happens I’m going to be one of the happiest people on the planet.
Where Does Wanda Maximoff Go From Here?
Wanda’s story has been tragic. As a child, she and her brother, Petro, lost their parents when a missile hit their home. She grew up bitter with anger and signed up for HYDRA’s experiments. She endured torture and who knows what else as HYDRA eventually mutated her genetics to the point where she now retains incredible telekinetic powers. In the fight against Ultron, she lost her brother as he sacrificed himself to save Hawkeye’s life. Then, turning against the government, she was forced to live life as a fugitive; becoming once again, an outcast to the world. The only good news was that she and Vision were now officially dating. And then Thanos arrived. To try to stop Thanos from wiping out half of all life she was forced to kill the man she loved but would ultimately fail in her mission of saving the galaxy and be turned to dust in the process.
She would, of course, thanks to the remaining Avengers’ undying determination be revived but one hero that would not return from the dead was Vision, leaving her more alone than ever at the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame. So, where does her story lead?
She’s still, undoubtedly, an Avenger but what are her motives? And will she try to find a way to bring Vision back to life? If he was practically living off of the Mind Stone couldn’t another incredibly powerful power source revive him? I mean, think about it. The Avengers figured out how to go back in time. Creating basically the ultimate battery for Vision seems a lot less daunting. Or, will the tragedy she has continuously dealt with slowly turn her into a force that shouldn’t be reckoned with and maybe we’ll finally get to see her claim the title; Scarlet Witch. Hmm.
Ant-Man, Wasp, and Potentially Stature?
It’s been hinted very heavily through the Ant-Man movies that Scott Lang’s daughter, Cassie, wants to be a hero like her dad. Now, with Avengers: Endgame sprouting her into a teenager, it seems pretty likely that we’ll see this storyline come to life in a future Ant-Man and Wasp flick. Especially with our last sight of Scott Lang being him sitting with Hope and his daughter like they’re the ultimate superhero trio. I’m just saying, it writes itself.
It’s Time for Hawkeye To Officially Retire
Hawkeye is the defacto dad of The Avengers. He’s the one who always has his head on straight and looks at things with the most sensible approach. It wasn’t until Avengers: Endgame that we saw Clint Barton at the darkest point in his life and we finally got to see him in a vulnerable place.
Now, with his family revived, I’m sure he’s ready to give up the baton as Hawkeye to someone new. It even seemed like in Avengers: Endgame they were hinting toward his daughter potentially becoming the new Hawkeye. Clint even went as far as to call her Hawkeye while she practiced archery. With a Hawkeye series set to debut on Disney+, it’s probably going to be Clint’s last hurrah as he passes on the mantle of Hawkeye to either his daughter or another young girl willing to take his role as an Avenger, allowing him to finally rest.
These are the most important evolutions for the heroes in Avengers: Endgame. There are of course the honorable mentions such as Spider-Man, whose story we will see continue in Spider-Man: Far from Home, Doctor Strange, who will surely feel regretful of what happened to Iron Man, Black Panther has helped save the world and now can watch over Wakanda knowing the threat of Thanos is gone, and who knows what new adventures Captain Marvel will get into.
All in all, yes, this story culminated into 22 movies has come to an end but it’s very clear that the journey has a long ways to go.
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Annlyel James is a Senior Correspondent of The Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter where she channels the Force frequently!
Great post! Seems like you put a lot of thinking into this. Good theories.
Thank you. 🙂