Avengers 4: 5 way-too-early predictions after Infinity War
By Mike McNulty
Credit: Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Pictures; from Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
The fate of the original Avengers
It’s no coincidence that Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Thor, Bruce Banner, Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlet Johanson) and presumably Clint Barton/Hawkeye survived the snap. They’re the original Avengers for the MCU, and Avengers 4 will definitely be their mission together as a team. It would also act as the logical end for each of these characters’ story arcs.
However, if there’s a time-travel, with the original roster aged five years, it’s possible all of them will die to reverse what Thanos did. At the same time, the present-day Tony, Steve, Thor, Banner, Natasha, and Clint will survive. Thus, here’s how I think each of them could go during the film:
Future Clint, now calling himself Ronin after his family ceased to exist after the snap, has become a ruthless vigilante. He goes along with Tony’s plan as it’s the one chance he has from bringing his family back. Future Clint dies, while present-day Clint lives, living in retirement with his restored family.
Natasha’s story could depend upon whether plans Marvel Studios has for an upcoming Black Widow movie. The way I see it, she could, after all the craziness she’s endured, decides on giving a normal life a try. It won’t be long, of course, as her past literally catches up with her, thanks to her releasing all of those top-secret files during Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). The future versions of Natasha and Bruce Banner, I think, will be together.
Not so by the end of Avengers 4. That’s because, in part, I think Banner, as we know him, will be gone…and so will the Hulk. How? At some point, Banner will talk with Hulk about why the green behemoth refuses to come out after his defeat by Thanos. Both will realize they’re incomplete without each other. The result is both Banner and Hulk merge into a new persona, one with Hulk’s body and strength but with Banner’s intellect, just like in the comics. And after defeating Thanos, this new Hulk wanders off to help rebuild a beleaguered Earth.
Thor’s journey obviously ends with him becoming king of a new Asgard on Earth. If you listened closely during Avengers: Infinity War, half of the Asgardians escaped. Very likely what will happen is Thor finds them, brings them to Earth, and they settle in Norway, at the very spot where Odin (Anthony Hopkins) passed away during Thor: Ragnarok (2017).
Avengers 4 will also be where Tony finally settles down with Pepper Pots (Gwenyth Paltrow). It may even end with Tony and Pepper’s wedding. That’s because I think Pepper really is pregnant, thus Tony has to retire as Iron Man for the sake of his new family. This doesn’t mean he’s out of the same completely, however. How? I think Tony will replace Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt) as the new Secretary of State. This means he’ll oversee the Avengers himself, allowing more leeway for unauthorized heroes, too.
That leaves Steve Rogers, and if time travel is involved, things might get complicated. I think an obstacle to Future Tony’s plan is Future Cap dies. Thus Tony recruits Cap from the first Avengers. I’m also thinking that we may see a Steve who, because of time travel, stays in post World War II to grow old with Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). Whatever the result, Cap’s signature shield will pass to Bucky. What better way to carry on the legacy of Captain America than Steve’s best friend?
But where does that leave Earth’s Mightiest Heroes going forward? That leads us to…