Avengers: Endgame marked the end of an era in the MCU with the notable culmination of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Chris Evans’ Captain America storylines. Before the film even hit theaters, Marvel began planning the next trinity of superheroes in the franchise. Unfortunately, their plans were disrupted and the studio began exploring various storylines, introducing a plethora of new superheroes. Rumors suggest that Marvel finally may have found their new big ‘Trinity’.
According to rumors, this Trinity will be crucial in leading the team in Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars. The trio in the leadership position are Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, Letitia Wright’s Shuri (Black Panther), and Anthony Mackie’s Captain America.
Marvel’s New Big Trinity After Robert Downey Jr. According To Rumors
Marvel has been struggling ever since Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans bid their farewell at the end of Phase 3. The studio’s initial plans for replacing the leadership role of the Avengers failed due to unfortunate circumstances. However, new rumors suggest that the studio is setting up three of its superheroes to lead the Avengers in the inevitable multiversal war.
The seeds for this new move will be planted by the end of the upcoming film Captain America: Brave New World, where Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson will be tested in his duties as the new Cap. Sam will be one of the Big Trinity, a deserving position for the character who was introduced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2014. He will act as the leader of the team, just like Steve Rogers did, and may even get the chance to command the forces with the phrase, “Avengers Assemble!”.
Shuri debuted as the new Black Panther following her brother’s death due to a mysterious illness (the real reason being the passing of Chadwick Boseman). Letitia Wright‘s character will probably make a brief cameo in either Brave New World or Thunderbolts to establish this Trinity connection. Shuri will be the brain of the team, which is much needed in the madness of the multiverse.
Finally, Brie Larson‘s Captain Marvel will be the cosmic presence among the trio. Larson’s future with Marvel is a bit shaky after the disastrous performance of The Marvels at the box office. However, certain sections of the fans love her and Thor likes her, so it is entirely possible that she will once again be part of a Trinity. Moreover, her cosmic abilities may come in handy when dealing with supervillains like Kang or Doom.
Marvel’s Initial Plans For A Trinity Failed
Marvel knew that Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans left a hole too big to fill in the MCU. The studio had initiated plans to build other characters and their arcs in the universe to replace the OG Avengers, but fate had some different plans. The passing of Chadwick Boseman came as a tragic loss and a shock to the studio, who had intended his Black Panther to become one of the new trio of leadership.
The studio also eyed Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man for one of the positions as he was a prodigy of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man. However, the negotiations between Marvel and Sony fell apart after Spider-Man: Far from Home, putting the character’s future in the MCU in jeopardy. While the issue was later sorted, Marvel is concerned about making big bets on a character whom they don’t have full control over.
The only common character in the planned Trinity and the rumored new Trinity is Larson’s Captain Marvel. The falling apart of the initially planned Trinity was detailed in the book, MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios:
“The future of those Marvel icons was unclear. The departure of franchise anchors like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Scarlett Johansson had already taken its toll, as had the shocking loss of Chadwick Boseman, but other MCU stalwarts were heading for the exits. The ‘Guardians of the Galaxy‘ cast went on a farewell tour, Brie Larson grew disillusioned, and Marvel tussled with Sony in a custody battle over Tom Holland.”
While rumors suggest that Captain America: Brave New World will be the beginning of the new Trinity, the film itself has faced several issues. Marvel executives were not happy with the initial output and sent back the film for extensive rewrites and reshoots. The film is scheduled to be released in theaters on February 14, 2025.
