The six original Avengers have all taken different paths in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thor’s out in the cosmos with Love, fighting the good fight. Bruce Banner is back on Earth with his son, Skaar. Steve Rogers is living in the past with the love of his life, Peggy Carter. Clint Barton is in the twilight of his superhero career, mentoring the new Hawkeye, Kate Bishop. Tony Stark is dead, having sacrificed himself to save everyone from Thanos. Natasha Romanoff is also dead, having sacrificed herself so the Avengers could acquire the Soul Stone.
The likelihood of seeing each character again differs. The multiversal nature of the franchise means MCU audiences will likely meet variants of all six. Still, the possibility of seeing the originals ranges from very likely to not likely at all.
In this piece, the sextet’s likelihood of reappearing in upcoming MCU projects gets ranked from most likely to least likely.
6. Thor
Chris Hemsworth’s Thor is alive and well in the MCU, having gone through so much. He’s come out on the other side with renewed purpose, having defeated Gorr, the God Butcher, and adopted the villain’s daughter, Love. He’s currently out in the cosmos with Love, doing his best to make the universe safer. The climax of 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder promised “Thor will return,” and that’s undoubtedly the case, and he’ll assist the Avengers in their upcoming battles.
Seeing some Thor variants would also be cool, and it’s likely to happen. While Hemsworth will play some, seeing others played by different actors would be intriguing. One played by his brother Luke Hemsworth may appear. He has already played an Asgardian actor portraying Thor in two movies.
5. Bruce Banner, AKA The Hulk
Bruce Banner has experienced significant character development in the MCU and now sits halfway between his human self and the Hulk. 2019’s Avengers: Endgame revealed he’d merged his two personalities to become a mighty green giant with genius intelligence. His most recent appearance came in 2022’s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law series, when the reveal that he had a son happened.
While there’s no clarity on when Banner will return, he undoubtedly will. A second season of She-Hulk seems likely, so that’s one path, as is a World War Hulk movie, but he’ll also likely rejoin the Avengers for the battles they have ahead. The multiversal nature of the MCU means we may also see alternate versions of the Hulk, such as Eric Bana’s 2003 incarnation and the classic television portrayal by Lou Ferrigno.
4. Clint Barton, AKA Hawkeye
While Clint Barton is still alive and kicking in the MCU, the character showed signs of passing his mantle on to Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop. Not only did he agree to share the name “Hawkeye” with her in 2021’s Hawkeye series, but he also displayed signs of aging and wear and tear – he now needs hearing aids, for example. Moreover, Jeremy Renner almost died in real life in a snowplow accident, meaning his ability to play a superhero has suffered.
With that in mind, it’s more than likely Clint Barton reappear in the MCU to hand over his moniker to Bishop for good, but his time as a superhero is over. The only scenario we’ll see Hawkeye fighting the good fight again is if an alternate universe variant of the character appears in an upcoming multiversal movie or television show. Which actor might play such a variant is anyone’s guess.
3. Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America
Steve Rogers is the original Avenger who got the most satisfying ending to his story when he traveled back in time to be with Peggy Carter at the end of Avengers: Endgame, having helped save the universe from Thanos. Of course, he reappeared as an older man to give his shield to Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, but that doesn’t have to be the end for him.
The younger Captain America still lives in the past, and now that the Avengers have time travel figured out, they could venture back in time to recruit him for their forthcoming battles. There’s a rumor Rogers will appear in a flashback in 2025’s Captain America: Brave New World, another potential route for Chris Evans to play the character again. Rumors persist of an evil multiversal Rogers appearing, as well. Still, it’s more than likely variants of Captain America will make their presence felt, whether Evans or another actor is in the role.
2. Tony Stark, AKA Iron Man
Tony Stark’s Avengers: Endgame death was the MCU’s most impactful death in more ways than one. Not only did it prevent Thanos from shredding the universe down to its last atom, but it also made countless fans in the real world shed a tear. Bringing the character back would render his sacrifice a little hollow, meaning it’s unlikely to happen.
It would, however, be a massive moneymaker for Marvel Studios, so don’t rule it out. But it’s clear that Robert Downey Jr. wants Iron Man to be in his past, so he’d take some convincing to return. Alternate versions of the character are almost guaranteed to appear, however. Rumors of Tom Cruise playing Superior Iron Man in Secret Wars persist, and other variants of the character played by different actors will surely make their presence felt.
1. Natasha Romanoff, AKA Black Widow
Natasha Romanoff had the most definitive death imaginable in the MCU. On a quest to Vormir with Clint Barton to acquire the Soul Stone, she gave her life so her long-time friend could take it to Earth. Even using all six Infinity Stones, her love interest, Bruce Banner, could not resurrect her. She is gone forever.
Moreover, it’s less likely variants of Black Widow will appear in projects like Secret Wars because they are cosmic and multiversal, and she’s unlikely to be able to affect them, being a mere human. Endgame gave her the best send-off and enabled her to make a difference on a universal scale in the only way she could – by dying. Throwing her into a fight with the type of characters likely to appear in the multiversal saga would completely waste her. Scarlett Johansson’s time in the MCU is over, and no other actresses will likely step into her shoes.
