Marvel: Alex Perez spills the beans in surprise Q&A

What a wonderful day to be a Marvel fan!

In a surprise bonus Q&A session, Alex Perez, the maestro of Marvel insights, dropped by The Cosmic Circus Discord to share some tantalizing tidbits about the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. From the next Avengers lineup to the latest on X-Men ’97 season 2, Alex had a lot to say, and I'm here to break it all down for you.

Avengers Assemble... Again!

First up, the burning question on everyone's mind: Who are the official Avengers in Avengers 5? Alex revealed that the new team will be an eclectic mix of fresh faces and familiar heroes. Think of it like the second half of Avengers: Infinity War where everyone was scattered but came together in the end. Expect to see:

- Captain America (Sam Wilson)

- Falcon (Joaquin Torres)

- Wong

- Captain Marvel

- Monica Rambeau

- Shang-Chi and Katy

- Black Panther

- Ironheart

- She-Hulk

- Hulk

- Thor

- Valkyrie

- Spider-Man

- Daredevil

- Doctor Strange and Clea

- America Chavez

- Ms. Marvel

- Stature (Cassie Lang)

- Kate Bishop and Clint Barton

- Ant-Man & The Wasp

And if that wasn't enough, Alex hinted at the return of TVA characters post-Deadpool & Wolverine, and some exciting variants popping up. Who could these variants be? Your guess is as good as ours!

Yggdrasil: the new Infinity Gauntlet? - Next, let's talk about Yggdrasil. When asked about its role in the Multiverse Saga, Alex's response was pretty intriguing. Picture Yggdrasil as the new McGuffin, the golden ticket that everyone wants - whoever sits it, controls the entire MCU and can even bend it to their will. Loki, the current guardian, is doing his best to keep the multiverse from falling apart, but even gods have their limits. So, what happens when Loki's gone? The scramble for Yggdrasil will be epic!

Animated characters in live-action: When asked if animated characters from Marvel projects will appear in Secret Wars, Alex confirmed that Captain Carter and Kahhori, two incredible characters seen in What If...?, might join the live-action fray. I, for one, cannot wait to see Kahhori come to live in an Avengers title.

The future of the Avengers: When it comes to the future lineup of Avengers post-Secret Wars, according to Alex, it's a mixed bag of soft reboots and cross-universe character incorporations. It’s anyone’s game at this point.

Battleworld Spin-Offs: Fans of Battleworld, rejoice! Alex mentioned potential projects set in this chaotic realm, although nothing is concrete yet. But hey, a fan can dream, right?

Directors and Inspirations: When asked about directors for the next Avengers films, Alex’s personal pick would be Shawn Levy, thanks to his stellar work on Deadpool & Wolverine. As for comic inspirations, expect a heavy lean on the 2015 Secret Wars storyline.

New Faces and Old Friends: When fans asked about America Chavez's role in Avengers 5, Alex confirmed her return, aligning her with one of the Avengers teams. Meanwhile, Shuri is still the Black Panther but is gearing up to pass the mantle to Prince T’Challa, son of the late king, who we met at the post-credit scene in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Daredevil: Born Again: Alex assured us that Marvel isn't holding back, promising higher stakes and a grittier, riskier storyline than its Netflix predecessor.

Hulk and World War Hulk: Alex hinted at multiple Hulks created by various governments and the possibility of a World War Hulk adaptation. Bruce Banner's journey is apparently far from over.

Scarlet Witch and the Future of Wanda: While Alex couldn’t disclose much, he assured fans that Wanda's story is far from over, with potential for Elizabeth Olsen to take on another MCU role. Did you read what I just wrote?! Mother Liz could return as the wonderful Scarlet Witch, and I am so here for that!!

Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings: Alex teased interesting developments, possibly linking Xialing with the Power Broker. Shang-Chi's rings will be crucial in future Avengers films.

Spider-Man and Kingpin: Alex confirmed that Spidey will play a significant part in upcoming stories, sharing the spotlight with Daredevil as Kingpin’s major adversary.

SDCC and D23 Plans: Expect major updates on the slate at SDCC, with D23 focusing more on Disney+ content. Either way, it's going to be a feast for fans.

Moon Knight Season 2: Alex revealed that a second season is in the works before Midnight Sons, hinting at a change in scenery - hello, New York!

More Marvel Goodies

- Armor Wars is still happening, with updates coming soon.
- Black Panther: Shuri will eventually pass the mantle to young Prince T’Challa.
- Doctor Strange 3: Dormammu's return is on the horizon.
- Echo season 2: Unlikely, but fingers crossed.
- Jimmy Woo: Expect more adventures for our favorite agent.
- Kate Bishop: Look out for her in Avengers 5 and 6.
- Miles Morales: Plans for his MCU debut are in the distant future.
- Venom: The Last Dance: Knull will be mentioned.

Marvel's future is looking brighter and busier than ever! From exciting new heroes joining the Avengers to the potential return of beloved characters, there's a lot to look forward to.