Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Avengers: Infinity War.
Those who saw Avengers: Infinity War know that the dramatic ending left a lot up in the air for the untitled fourth Avengers film. Some heroes died in the film during Thanos' (Josh Brolin) quest to get the Infinity Stones, while others disintegrated into the ether after the villain succeeded. Although they're ostensibly dead, it seems unlikely that they'll stay that way far beyond Avengers 4 — especially considering some of the supposedly dead heroes are already confirmed for appearances in the film.
It's possible that the fourth Avengers will incorporate flashbacks or time jumps, which makes it unclear whether the heroes appearing will be returning from the grave or popping up in some other capacity. Either way, the cast confirmed for the film opens up a lot of questions about what will be happening in the mysterious movie. With that in mind, here's a look at all the superheroes currently confirmed to appear in Avengers 4.
Ant-Man
Paul Rudd's Ant-Man may have missed out on the fun of Avengers: Infinity War, but he'll be back in action for the fourth film. Scott was said to have been caring for his family during the events of the third team-up, but some audiences didn't buy that reasoning. Screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely have said that "all will become clear" with regards to Scott's absence when Avengers 4 comes out.
It's also possible that there will be further updates on the character's status in Ant-Man and the Wasp, which may help to explain what he was up to during Infinity War — and could potentially even provide a segue to his role in Avengers 4. Since Rudd has been spotted on the set of the film, it's safe to say that Ant-Man will be included somehow, but it remains to be seen how the tiny hero will fit into such a big story.
Black Panther
Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa was one of the many characters who bit the dust (pun intended) at the end of Infinity War. However, considering the fact that Black Panther's standalone film made over $1 billion at the box office and a sequel is already in the works, it seems safe to say that T'Challa will somehow find his way back from the dead in Avengers 4.
Boseman's appearance in the film was confirmed when he was spotted on the movie's Atlanta set, although it's hard to figure out what exactly T'Challa will be up to. Still, the character is a fan favorite, so it's likely that he'll have a large role in the fourth Avengers. Considering how much of the action of Infinity War took place in Wakanda (and how destructive it was to the once-secluded nation), he'll have his work cut out for him — as both a superhero and a king — when he returns.
Black Widow
Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow changed her hair color for Infinity War, but she and her new blonde 'do didn't have as big a part as some fans had hoped. Although Black Widow got in on the action in Wakanda, her character didn't get much of a storyline beyond the fight. Markus explained that this is mostly due to her attitude — Black Widow is very "hard-bitten," ready to fight when she has to, meaning that there wasn't much ground to cover with her emotionally.
However, given the fact that Black Widow is one of the few characters who survived the events of Infinity War, it seems safe to say she'll have a big role to play in the fourth film. Markus basically confirmed as much, saying that some of the characters who were featured less in Infinity War had "far more potential" in Avengers 4 "just in terms of how their characters would be tested by the story."
Captain America
Chris Evans has been planning his Marvel exit for a while now, and there's a good chance that Avengers 4 will mark his swan song as Captain America. The actor has been prepping for other projects, and has on numerous occasions said that he's ready to hang up his shield for good. This doesn't bode well for Cap's fate in the next team-up, although he was one of the few who survived Thanos' wrath in Infinity War.
Like Black Widow, Cap underwent a pretty dramatic physical transformation in Infinity War, but his new beard wasn't shown all that much as he fought Thanos' minions in Wakanda. However, he is likely to get a bigger role in Avengers 4, especially since directors Joe and Anthony Russo have said that the film will conclude the story they began in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. While Steve might not make it out alive, it should be a good send-off.
Captain Marvel
We won't get the chance to officially meet Brie Larson's Captain Marvel until the character's standalone film comes out in March of 2019, but we did get our first tease of her entry into the MCU thanks to the Infinity War post-credits scene, which featured Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) sending out a call to the hero before disappearing into dust.
Captain Marvel seems likely to play a big role in Avengers 4, considering the fact that so many of the MCU's other heroes are currently out of commission, at least for the moment. Considering Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige has said that Captain Marvel will be the most powerful character in the MCU and Markus has said she's on "a power scale that right now doesn't exist in the MCU," it seems safe to say that Carol Danvers will end up having a big role to play in finally taking down Thanos.
Falcon
Anthony Mackie's Falcon may have disintegrated in Infinity War, but he has already assured fans that he will be back for the fourth film, sharing a picture of himself on the movie's set. Mackie even offered up a bit of a hint for fans eager to hear about the plot of the movie, telling MTV, "[It's] a whole lot of people fighting. A whole lot of people talking."
Although that plot description isn't exactly heavy on the details, it seems safe to say that Avengers 4 could bring big things for Falcon. He is one of the characters, along with Sebastian Stan's Winter Soldier, who fans think could take up the mantle of Captain America if Steve Rogers leaves it behind. With Evans likely out of his contract after Avengers 4 and Mackie's star still on the rise, it seems like his future in the MCU will probably be bright.
Gamora
Zoe Saldana's Gamora met a very tragic end in Infinity War, with Thanos sacrificing his adopted daughter so he could obtain the Soul Stone and get closer to fulfilling his quest to wield all of the Infinity Stones. Considering that her death wasn't one of the movie's ending disintegrations, it seemed like it might stick — that is, until Saldana confirmed that she'll show up in Avengers 4.
"I know that we will all have to come back at some point this fall and finish up the second, um, the fourth installment of Avengers," Saldana said when asked by E! News about her last day on set for Infinity War. This seems to confirm her involvement in the fourth film, which would suggest that her character will somehow come back from the dead. While it's also possible that she could be shown via flashback, it seems like there's still lots of story left for Gamora in the Guardians franchise, and it could be possible that she'll get a full resurrection in the film.
Hawkeye
The absence of Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye from Infinity War was one of the film's biggest surprises. Like Ant-Man, Hawkeye was said to have retired from the superhero biz to be with his family, who was introduced in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Renner has confirmed that he will be back for Avengers 4, though, which could spell bad things for his loved ones. Some theorize that Hawkeye's family will have been killed off thanks to Thanos' doings, which could bring the hero back into the fold with a vengeance.
Renner was spotted on set with a new haircut and a costume that looks suspiciously like the superhero Ronin, an identity he temporarily assumed in the comics. Regardless of which name he goes by, Markus hinted that Hawkeye will be a big part of the fourth film, telling BuzzFeed, "We like Hawkeye. We like Hawkeye so much we gave him a really good story." Hopefully that story is good enough to satiate the fans who were so sorely bummed out over the lack of the archer in Infinity War.
Hulk
Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner had some issues in Infinity War. The Hulk would definitely be a great asset in the fight against Thanos, but Bruce, who's been struggling with the Hulk since the two were involuntarily paired, was unable to call up the big green monster no matter how angry he got. This led to a lot of consternation for the other heroes, although Bruce was able to get in on the action at least a bit after climbing into Tony Stark's Hulkbuster suit.
Bruce lived through Thanos' dusting at the end of the film, and it seems fair to expect that his powers will be returned to him at some point in the fourth film. Ruffalo has been spotted on set in a motion capture suit, so he'll be leaning on his superhuman alter ego in at least some way. Ruffalo has said that Thor: Ragnarok and the two Avengers films are designed to form one Hulk storyline over three installments, so expect a lot to happen for the character in the conclusion.
Iron Man
Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man started the MCU, and if you believe the rumors, Avengers 4 could be the end of Tony Stark. The going theory is that Downey Jr.'s famously expensive contract will be up after the film, sending the MCU's godfather out in style as they move into their very secretive Phase 4.
Although Downey Jr. hasn't given us any information on whether or not his character will make it through Avengers 4, he has been one of the more vocal cast members when it comes to sharing pictures of the film on social media, and, thanks to that, we know for sure that he will appear. Tony was ready to sacrifice himself when the time came in Infinity War, and with so many other heroes out of the picture, it should be interesting to see the potentially deadly lengths he has to go to in order to save the world in the fourth film.
Mantis
Pom Klementieff's Mantis didn't make her MCU debut until Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but the odd little alien has already endeared herself to fans thanks to her fun one-liners and Klementieff's charming delivery. Unfortunately, Mantis was unable to take down Thanos despite her best efforts, and she disintegrated along with most of the rest of the Guardians at the end of Infinity War. Klementieff, though, has already seemingly confirmed that she'll be back on board for Avengers 4, sharing a photo of her make-up trailer on social media.
Although Klementieff's photo doesn't show anything about where her character might have disappeared to or how she might return from the dead, it does show that Mantis (and hopefully the other Guardians) will be returning. Considering James Gunn has already said he's planning Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 for 2020, it seems like Avengers 4 will have to get things back on track for the intergalactic team.
Nebula
Karen Gillan's Nebula didn't exactly get to have a fun time in Infinity War, mostly serving as a way for Thanos to convince Gamora to take him to the Soul Stone. Considering Thanos had to rip Nebula apart piece by piece to get Gamora to reveal the stone's location to him, Nebula is clearly not in a good place when the film ends.
She is, though, one of the few characters who makes it past Thanos' wrath, which puts her in a prime position for her appearance in Avengers 4. Gillan has teased that she hopes the character will be able to "somehow face her daddy issues head on" in the film, which would mean a big confrontation with Thanos. However, Gillan did note at the time of the interview that she wasn't sure exactly what would go down, so it's unclear what role Nebula will ultimately play in the proceedings.
Scarlet Witch
Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch had a pretty big role to play in Infinity War. As the only one with powers that could potentially destroy an Infinity Stone, Wanda had a moral decision to make about whether or not she would kill off her beau Vision (Paul Bettany) in order to potentially save the universe.
Wanda delayed as long as she could, and even though she ultimately decided to kill Vision and destroy the stone, it was too little too late, and Thanos ended up getting a hold of it. Destroying half the universe also meant the destruction of Scarlet Witch, which could put a bit of a damper on the remaining heroes' attempt to get rid of the stones. However, Wanda is still confirmed to appear in Avengers 4, with Olsen sharing a pic from the set revealing that her role will feature the character taking flight. Although that doesn't say much, it does seem to show that she'll be back and powered up in Avengers 4.
Spider-Man
Tom Holland's Spider-Man had one of the most emotional deaths in Infinity War, but it may not have hit as hard as it could have, especially considering the fact that we know Holland will be suiting up as Peter Parker again for the character's upcoming second standalone film, which is set to hit theaters just a few months after Avengers 4's release.
Unless Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 is giving the reins to Marisa Tomei's Aunt May or Jacob Batalon's Ned, it seems safe to expect Peter to make his way back from the dead in Avengers 4. We do know for sure that the character will appear in at least some capacity, with Feige revealing that Holland was signed on for the second film all the way back in April of 2017. We don't exactly know what role Peter will be playing, but things will hopefully be getting back on track for the young web-slinger.
Thor
Chris Hemsworth's Thor was one of the original Avengers, and one of the few who survived Thanos' wrath in Infinity War. However, it seems like the character's appearance in the fourth film could spell doom for the otherworldly god, with Hemsworth saying that his contract is up after Avengers 4. (Fingers crossed that the character's creative resurrection in Thor: Ragnarok could potentially make Hemsworth want to stay on longer.)
Whether or not he makes it out alive, it seems like a lot will happen for Thor in the untitled Avengers sequel. Despite the fact that the character got a much needed haircut in Thor: Ragnarok, Hemsworth was spotted on set with the character's old long-haired 'do back, which implies that the film might be offering viewers some kind of flashback. With the movie appearing to tie back to the original Avengers somehow, Thor should have quite the journey ahead of him.
Vision
Paul Bettany's Vision didn't make it through Infinity War, getting a dramatic death at the hands of Thanos despite the best efforts of Shuri (Letitia Wright) and Scarlet Witch. Considering Vision has the Mind Stone embedded in his forehead, fans knew he was in danger even before the movie's opening act. However, it seems like Vision will still have at least some sort of role to play in the fourth Avengers film, with Bettany confirming that he'll be back on board for the movie.
Bettany hasn't dropped any hints about how his character will be involved, but he did share a picture of himself in full Vision regalia filling out paperwork on the Avengers 4 set in late 2017. While it seems safe to assume that Vision will end up having more to do than just pushing paper around, it remains unclear whether he'll factor into the story mostly through flashbacks or if he'll be brought back through time travel or some other manipulation.
War Machine
Don Cheadle's War Machine was put in peril in Captain America: Civil War, but he was able to get back in his suit and help out his fellow Avengers in Infinity War. Rhodey actually wound up making it out of the film, and was one of the few heroes still left standing after the universe turned to dust.
It's fitting, then, that Cheadle will be back for Avengers 4. We don't know what he'll be up to, but Brolin has said that the two actors share at least one scene, which means that he'll (unsurprisingly) be headed for another confrontation with the movies' big bad. Gwyneth Paltrow has also said that she's been on set with Cheadle and Downey Jr., which could mean that the Iron Man team is getting back together once again. Considering some people think that Paltrow's Pepper Potts may be suiting up as Rescue, the mentorship of Iron Man and War Machine could be very important in the fourth film.
Wasp
Evangeline Lilly's Wasp is set to co-lead Ant-Man and the Wasp, one of two Marvel films slated to be released between the two Avengers films. The movies' screenwriters have said that both Ant-Man and the Wasp and Captain Marvel will be important to the future of the Avengers, so it makes sense that Lilly's Wasp will be making an appearance in Avengers 4.
Lilly has said that you shouldn't expect too much Wasp in the film, revealing during a Q&A on her Instagram page that she is "not going to be [in it] a ton." However, she did say that she's "proud" and "stoked" to be on board for the movie, adding that she had "so much fun" on the film's set, which had a party-like atmosphere. We don't know what role the Wasp will have in the action, but some have theorized that the Quantum Realm could be a way to bring back the disintegrated heroes, which would give Ant-Man and the Wasp big parts to play.
Winter Soldier
Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes has had quite the journey in the MCU, as his friendship with Steve Rogers has been tested by time, mind control, and more. This made his ultimate disintegration in Infinity War all the more heartbreaking, with the character reaching out to his friend before falling away into dust. Winter Soldier fans don't need to be too afraid, though: Stan has confirmed he'll be back for Avengers 4.
Stan remained tight-lipped about what exactly Bucky would be up to in the film, but he did confirm that he'd be going down to the movie's Atlanta set for more filming. It does seem like the Bucky and Steve journey will be important to the story, though, with the Russo brothers saying that the film will "complete the personal journey" that they started in Captain America. What exactly that means remains to be seen, but it does seem to imply that Bucky will have a big part to play.
Drax
Even though most of the Guardians of the Galaxy bit the dust at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, they should be making an intergalactic comeback in Avengers 4 ahead of James Gunn's planned third Guardians film, due out in 2020. Dave Buatista confirmed that his Drax the Destroyer will be back for both Avengers 4 and Guardians Vol. 3, although he did say that he didn't know "how they're bringing me back."
Bautista had expressed big hopes in the past for Drax's future in the franchise, saying he wanted to see him take on Thanos, the being responsible for the death of his character's family. "I'd love to see him go head to head with Thanos," Bautista said. "I've always been a proponent for that." However, he added that he trusts what Marvel plans to do with the character in the future, saying "they're just really brilliant" about their writing.
Rocket Raccoon
After two movies of Rocket finally learning to love his wacky Guardians family, it was tragic to see him reach out to Groot as the alien tree evaporated into dust in Avengers: Infinity War. It's the second time Rocket has had to watch Groot die in front of him, and this time there wasn't even so much as a twig left. Unfortunately for everyone's favorite surly raccoon, it's much worse than he knows. Not just Groot, but the other members of the Guardians of the Galaxy — Star Lord, Drax, and Mantis — were likewise snapped into non-existence, while Gamora was personally killed by Thanos. Nebula is still hanging around, but considering how many times she and Rocket have tried to kill each other in their last two movies, that's probably not going to make him feel any better.
Still, we know for a fact that Rocket survived the cataclysmic event, so we can be pretty sure that he's going to be out for Thanos' blood in Avengers 4. Luckily for him, he's got a burgeoning bromance developing with Thor, so at least he's not entirely bereft of friends. Plus, Dave Bautista has already confirmed that at least some of the Guardians will be appearing in Avengers 4, so maybe Rocket will get reunited with his family in the sequel.
Valkyrie
Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie was one of the most electrifying characters in Thor: Ragnarok, which is even more impressive when you consider that she was sharing screen time with the God of Thunder. Unfortunately, she wasn't seen or mentioned in Avengers: Infinity War. When Thanos invades Thor's ship at the beginning of the movie, it's mentioned that half of the ship's occupants managed to escape the slaughter. Since the movie's release, the Russo brothers have played coy about whether Valkyrie survived that opening scene battle, and were even more coy about whether she survived the Infinity Gauntlet snap.
They eventually did confirm that she survived, while Thompson clarified in a tweet that "she's THRIVING." All that points to a cameo for Avengers 4. These rumors that have only intensified since Thompson was seen boarding a plane with Chris Hemsworth. The destination? Atlanta — the location of the Avengers 4 reshoots. All of which is to say that you definitely shouldn't be surprised if Thompson's hard-drinking, hard-fighting goddess shows up for a throwdown with Thanos.
Janet Van Dyne and Hank Pym
Ant-Man and the Wasp was a great palate cleanser for Avengers: Infinity War, with a fun, breezy story and enough of Paul Rudd's Scott Lang to make up for his absence in the battle with Thanos. Unfortunately, that sense of fun only lasted until the post-credits scene when (spoilers ahead) Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), and Hope (Evangeline Lilly) all fade into dust from Thanos' snap, while Scott was trapped in the Quantum Realm with no way out.
Luckily, we've got confirmation that Janet and Hank appear in Avengers 4 in some capacity. In an interview with the Independent, Winter Soldier actor Sebastian Stan mentioned a massive, spoiler-heavy scene that featured "everyone… from Michael Douglas to Michelle Pfeiffer." Considering that we didn't see that scene in Avengers: Infinity War, it's a safe bet it'll be in Avengers 4, and likely will feature the resurrected heroes facing off against Thanos. It's a good thing too; considering how much work it was to actually save Janet from the Quantum Realm, it would be a real shame if she didn't get a chance to actually enjoy her return to Earth.
Nick Fury
2008's Iron Man might have started the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we know it, but it was Samuel Jackson's Nick Fury that laid the groundwork for the Avengers coming together. The man with the eyepatch is also the man with the plan, as he's the nexus point for most of the Earth-bound superheroes we've seen so far (and if the trailer for Captain Marvel is any indication, he's probably got even more intergalactic friends). Whatever the climax of Avengers 4 ends up being, it wouldn't be the same without the irreplaceable master spy.
Unfortunately, Fury vanished into dust at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, but that's no guarantee against him appearing in the sequel. Winter Soldier actor Sebastian Stan confirmed that Jackson will be appearing in a massive scene that features nearly everyone in the MCU, adding, "Everyone is there." If nothing else, we know we'll be seeing plenty of Nick Fury in 2019's Captain Marvel, so that should manage to keep fans sated until we find out how he returns from the dead in Avengers 4.
Wong
While Benedict Cumberbatch's Stephen Strange faded into dust by the end of Avengers: Infinity War, audiences were left scratching their heads about whether Wong survived the snap, and more importantly, whether he ever got that tuna melt he asked for at the beginning of the movie.
Well, it seems Wong actually did manage to survive, as actor Benedict Wong shared a photo on Instagram captioned: "Happy to be filming @Avengers 4." However, the photo he shared shows him wearing some sort of latex replica of his skin and hair, which seems to hint that the character might be revealed to be a Skrull in the sequel. The Skrulls, which are due to be introduced as the main antagonists of Captain Marvel, are a race of shape-shifting aliens that have tried to conquer Earth dozens of times in the Marvel comic books. Whether Wong appears as a magic superhero or an alien enemy in Avengers 4, we'll just have to wait and see.
Okoye
Danai Gurira's Okoye has been through a lot since she first appeared in Captain America: Civil War. She watched her king T'Chaka die in a bombing, led a righteous coup against Killmonger in Black Panther, and fought thousands of aliens right on the outskirts of Wakanda in an attempt to save the world in Avengers: Infinity War. That's enough to shake anyone to their core, but it only gets worse for her, since she also had to watch as T'Chaka's heir, T'Challa, faded into dust after Thanos' all-powerful snap. The Russo brothers mentioned in an interview with Entertainment Tonight that those events have put Okoye in a really interesting place as a character.
""Her goal in life, her mission in life is protect the king and watching him evaporate in front of her and there is nothing she can do about it is really taking that source of pride from her and that duty," the duo hinted. "It challenges her in the most painful way possible."
They're not just leaving that characterization for the Black Panther sequel, either. Pom Klementieff, the actress who plays Mantis, accidentally let it slip that she shared a scene with Brie Larson and Danai Gurira on the set of Avengers, which confirms that T'Challa's right-hand woman will be appearing in the sequel.
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