As the Marvel Cinematic Universe enters Phase 4, the Avengers need a new leader, and there are already a handful of capable heroes who could take on that role. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, the original lineup disbanded, but other established characters in the MCU are capable of leading a different configuration of Avengers. Here are the top candidates to take the mantle as leader of Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
From 2012 to 2019, the Avengers consisted of some of Marvel's most iconic characters. The lineup of Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) met resounding success during their solo films as well as the four ensemble films. However, Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff both met their demise, Steve Rogers aged out of his superhero days, Clint Barton retired, Thor is off with the Guardians of the Galaxy and Bruce Banner's future remains a mystery. Their arcs are over, paving the way for others to take their place.
The build towards a new Avengers group is just beginning. Multiple new characters will debut in Phase 4, including the first appearances of the Eternals and Shang-Chi, and though they're likely to play significant roles in the formation of the new Avengers, some returning characters top the list of potential leaders for the new team.
First introduced in Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) is one of the MCU's most popular characters, appearing in his first solo outing, Black Panther, and both installments of the conclusion to the Infinity Saga, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Being the king of Wakanda, T'Challa is a leader by birthright, making him a strong candidate to lead the new Avengers. He is a man of honor, class, and considerable skill in both diplomacy and hand-to-hand combat, and his intelligence and near-endless resources at his disposal, not unlike Tony Stark, would make him a perfect fit to spearhead a new Avengers team.
Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) was brought into the MCU fold via her 2019 origin story, Captain Marvel, which was a financial smash hit, grossing well over $1 billion worldwide. Despite her short appearance in Endgame, the MCU has established her incredible power. Thanks to the Tesseract, she can fly, survive in space, and manifest cosmic energy as a weapon among other remarkable talents. At this point in the Marvel chronology, few can match her abilities, which puts her up with the top contenders for a leadership role on the Avengers.
So far the MCU has relegated Falcon (Anthony Mackie) to a supporting cast member after his first appearance in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but in the final moments of Avengers: Endgame, Captain America gives Falcon his star-spangled shield. Sam Wilson is a capable hand, with or without his wings, and his military training does him well, combining his tech and combat proficiency seamlessly. Although his ability to lead has not been tested, given the push he got at the end of Endgame and with the blessings of Captain America, he's the most likely candidate to lead a new group of Avengers. In a post-snap world, he'll have to become the symbol that Steve once was, and the upcoming Falcon and The Winter Soldier Disney+ series will explore his time filling Cap's boots.
Doctor Strange's (Benedict Cumberbatch) time in the MCU has been eventful. He joined the franchise with 2016's Doctor Strange, which culminated in Strange saving the world from Dormammu, and years later, his role in both Infinity War and Endgame was pivotal in the battle against Thanos. Of all the candidates to lead the Avengers, aside from Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange is the most powerful, as the Master of the Mystic Arts has rescued the universe from destruction more than once. His impressive skill set makes him worth considering, but the man behind the magic is just as worthy.
Stephen Strange is arguably the most well-rounded individual in the MCU to date. He was a brilliant neurosurgeon before becoming Sorcerer Supreme, and he has studied magic for years at this point in the MCU timeline, while also mastering his demons. A thorough strategist, Strange has exemplified leadership, rivaling Tony's plans when the heroes prepared for the Battle of Titan against Thanos. Depending on where Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness leaves him, taking the reins of the new Avengers isn't a bad idea.
Swinging into the MCU in 2016 in Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man (Tom Holland) already has appeared in two solo films and three team-ups, showing marked character evolution during those films. The crux of his arc has been the delicate balancing act between his personal and vigilante lives, and his story is nowhere near over, as Spider-Man: Far From Home ended in a cliffhanger. Beyond that though, he will continue to mature into a fully realized superhero, and given enough motivation, he could even become the face of the new Avengers.
Peter Parker has a lot of potential as a leader. Since his MCU beginnings, he has been depicted as the rookie of the franchise with Tony Stark acting as Peter's mentor. Now alone, the Peter of Spider-Man: Far From Home was a great example of the hero he can be when the duty is placed on him alone. To honor his surrogate father's legacy, Peter could step up and become a figurehead for the Avengers to rally around.
It will be some time before a new Avengers lineup is solidified on the big screen, as MCU-architect, Kevin Feige, and his Marvel Cinematic Universe crew have a lot on their plate with the next batch of movies and TV shows. But there are plenty of vacancies to fill following Avengers: Endgame, and many heroes on the brink of smashing through to become the Avengers' new leader. No matter who ends up at the helm, the new Avengers will have a very bright future ahead of them.
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