As the Infinity Saga comes to a close with Avengers: Endgame, the storylines for some of our favorite characters come full circle. For some, the end of their narrative arcs will be bittersweet, while for others, there will be just enough closure to make their sacrifices worthwhile. In the fight against Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet, it was never certain which of ours favorite heroes would survive, but it was certain they would give their utmost to stop him.

In the wake of the changes brought about by Endgame, opportunities for a new direction for the Avengers films present themselves. With Tony Stark, Captain America, and Thor gone, the Avengers will need a new leader, and with the option of time travel, the Avengers may find themselves in a variety of different time periods, facing new enemies. If you look closely, there are several clues throughout Endgame that point the way to the future of the next set of Avengers films.

THEY’LL FEATURE EVEN MORE DIVERSITY

With the success of Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and with Marvel’s first Asian superhero Shang-Chi coming to the MCU soon, the next set of Avengers films may feature more diversity than ever before. Both Black Panther and Captain Marvel either made or surpassed a billion dollars in worldwide sales, indicating a desire for films in the MCU that feature diverse superheroes front and center.

Disney and Marvel Studios have been listening to the demands of the fans for years, carefully crafting their films to offer both what they want in terms of storyline and character development without completely caving to “fan service” that doesn’t fit a vision of inclusivity.

THEY MAY HAVE A NEW HAWKEYE

The very opening of Avengers: Endgame shows Clint Barton/Hawkeye doing some target practice with his daughter. It’s clear by his coaching of her skills with a bow that he’s passing on some of his marksmanship, and knowing how important family is to Hawkeye, it’s possible he’s training her to one day take on the Hawkeye mantle.

Hawkeye’s new series on the Disney+ streaming platform is set to feature Kate Bishop, a strong young woman who he’ll mentor into possibly taking over his role in the Avengers. However, it’s unclear how much of that might also affect the next set of Avenger films.

THEY MAY FOCUS ON PROFESSOR HULK

After the events of Avengers: Endgame, the Avengers have effectively “disassembled”. With Black Widow having sacrificed herself so that the Avengers could obtain the Soul Stone, Tony Stark having sacrificed himself to use the Infinity Stones and stop Thanos, and Captain America having aged considerably since going back in time to return them, there aren’t many of the original Avengers left.

Thor has decided to relinquish the kingdom of New Asgard to Valkyrie and join the Guardians of the Galaxy, and Hawkeye has gone into semi-retirement, leaving Bruce Banner in his “Professor Hulk” form to pick up the pieces and possibly take over for Tony Stark as the scientist and de facto leader.

THEY MAY BE LED BY CAPTAIN MARVEL

Not only is she arguably one of the most powerful of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (if not thee most powerful), Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel possesses the even temperament and altruism necessary to lead. In the wake of Tony Stark’s death, why not pass on the mantle of leadership to the woman that saved his life when he was adrift in outer space?

Tony’s sacrifice was only possible because Captain Marvel brought him back to Earth, her former home, and with a major position to fill in the Avengers with his departure, it seems logical that she remain on Earth to help the rest of the team.

Now that Thanos and his armies have been defeated by Tony Stark’s use of the Infinity Stones, word will spread throughout the galaxy and beyond of his sacrifice, and how the Avengers managed to undo the destruction Thanos caused.

Captain Marvel even brought up the fact that Earth wasn’t “the only planet” affected by Thanos, implying that the effects of “The Snap” were still being felt on an interstellar level beyond it. She had witnessed with her own eyes the horrors he had brought on neighboring worlds. This could mean that more of the Avengers heroic missions will take place in outer space while they attempt to help extraterrestrial beings. 

THEY MAY FOCUS ON SAM WILSON

At the conclusion of Avengers:Endgame Steve Rogers passed his shield and the mantle of Captain America to his longtime friend Sam Wilson, aka Falcon. Steve had decided to take a detour on his way returning the Infinity Stones to their rightful timelines, electing to live out his years with Peggy Carter, his one true love. When he returned to the present he was an old man, and it was time for a new First Avenger to lead the new Avengers.

Falcon famously took up the shield in the comics several times in the absence of Steve Rogers, and the choice for him to do so now is a natural fit given his veteran status, patriotism, and closeness to Steve.

THEY MAY HAVE TO FACE LOKI OR NAMOR

While trying to obtain the Space Stone in the form of the Tesseract in New York in 2012, Tony Stark and Ant-Man accidentally bungle the operation, causing Captain America to fight his past self, and accidentally drop the case carrying the stone. It falls into the hands of Loki who promptly disappears with it and isn’t seen again in the film, but the God of Chaos could reappear at any time!

During a briefing during the five years following “The Snap”, Black Widow receives a message from Okoye about seismic activity beneath the ocean floor of Africa’s coast, which may indicate the presence of Namor, Ruler of Atlantis, with whom Wakanda has quarreled with in the comics many times before.

THEY MAY USE A LOT OF WAKANDA TECH

Even with Tony Stark gone, Stark Industries will no doubt still be a pillar of technological innovation. But in his absence, will Pepper Potts choose to use its resources to fund the Avengers, as her late husband did? The new Avengers may choose to be assisted by Wakanda, the previously cloaked kingdom whose king has decided to open its borders to the rest of the world.

Wakanda boasts some of the most amazing technological breakthroughs of all time, and as a source of the world’s Vibranium, (the substance that makes up Captain America’s Shield), the Avengers being able to have unlimited access to it would make the most sense.

THEY MAY FOCUS ON YOUNG SUPERHEROES

Most of the old guard Avengers are gone by the finale of Avengers: Endgame; Tony Stark is dead, Black Widow is dead, Captain America is now too old to fight, and Thor has decided to join the Guardians of the Galaxy on a space adventure. This leaves only Bruce Banner and Hawkeye left of the original Avengers, but plenty of new young blood to fill new positions.

Captain Marvel has arrived, Black Panther has returned, as have Scarlet Witch and Spider-Man, suggesting that new Avenger stories will feature a a youthful group of superheroes new to the business of fighting on a team. But they will be assisted by Falcon as the new Captain America as well as Bucky Barnes.

THEY MAY BE SET BACK IN TIME

While this chapter of the Avengers is over, with Avengers:Endgame marking the conclusion of the Infinity Saga, there’s nothing stopping the new Avenger films from going back in time to tell other stories of heroes even though they’ve passed. Captain Marvel was set in 1995, and the Black Widow stand alone film may be a prequel considering her present form is dead.

Given that Tony Stark cracked the mystery of time travel, any time period is up for grabs. And if killing your past self doesn’t affect your future self as in the case with Nebula, there is less of a risk if something goes wrong.