The MCU is only going to get more exciting with the announcement of several Marvel Studios projects that will come in the next three to four years. In that regard, one of the projects that fans are excited about is Avengers: Secret Wars, which is probably going to be the finale of the entire Multiverse Saga. And yes, the Avengers will be involved in what is going to be a huge event that could affect the entire multiverse.
In that regard, the thing that we know is that the Avengers, as a group, is no longer the same as it used to be with the death of Tony Stark and the retirement of Steve Rogers. The group is in shambles, especially with the events surrounding the most recent films involving some of the prominent members of the Avengers. That is why we are here to explore who could be part of the Avengers in the upcoming Secret Wars movie.
Who Will Be The New Avengers In Secret Wars?
At this point, we don’t know which Avenger will appear in Secret Wars or if the old Avengers are ever going to return to action. But here are our speculations based on what we know about the current superheroes that we have and the upcoming movies that we know.
Doctor Strange
The most obvious choice for the leadership position of the Avengers is Doctor Strange, not only because he is the most qualified for the job but also because he has his own fair share of experiences regarding the multiverse. Strange knows a thing or two about the Incursion that could possibly cause the events of Secret Wars. And that’s why he will probably be an invaluable member of the Avengers in the upcoming movie.
Thor
Thor is the only one left from the original Big Three of the Avengers, and we do know that he is traveling the galaxy together with his adopted daughter after the events of Thor: Love and Thunder. We don’t know for sure if he still wants anything to do with the Avengers in the future, considering that he is already happy with his new life after going through a moment of soul searching. But it is possible that he will end up participating in Secret Wars.
Valkyrie
Valkyrie is now the one ruling New Asgard after Thor gave her the leadership position that he was never really fit to handle. Considering that she is one of the leaders of a powerful nation on Earth, it is more than possible that she will do whatever it takes to keep her people safe from any incoming threats that could jeopardize the safety of the Asgardians.
Black Panther
As of this writing, we don’t know who will step up to become the new Black Panther but the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer does indeed show that we will have a new character wearing the iconic suit. In that regard, it is possible that the new Black Panther would end up working with the Avengers in Secret Wars, just like how T’Challa would have had he still been alive.
Shuri
Shuri is most likely going to take a more active role as a hero in the upcoming Wakanda Forever movie, and that means that she is probably going to get as much screen time as the new Black Panther. It is even possible that she will become the new Black Panther, although the trailer suggests that the new one is a man. Still, trailers have deceived us in the past, and that means that there is still a chance that Shuri will take on the responsibility that her brother left behind.
Okoye
As the longtime bodyguard of T’Challa, Okoye became an Avenger during the events between Infinity War and Endgame when she acted as the Wakanda liaison of the Avengers. It is uncertain how her story will unfold in the upcoming Wakanda Forever movie. But, if she survives the events of the next Black Panther film, she might rejoin the Avengers, especially if either or both the new Black Panther and/or Shuri will be there.
Bruce Banner/Hulk
It does seem like Bruce Banner can now change between the smart Hulk and his human form at will, as seen from the fact that he was human in the post-credit scene of Shang-Chi. Nevertheless, we know that Banner is still actively participating as an Avenger because he actually was the one who contacted Shang-Chi to learn more about the Ten Rings. Barring any changes in the character’s future, he might participate in Secret Wars as an Avenger.
Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk
She-Hulk is going to get released anytime soon, and we are going to meet Bruce Banner’s cousin in the form of Jennifer Walters, who works as a lawyer. However, due to a life-changing event, she ends up getting the same powers as Hulk but is more in control over her abilities as a green giant. Nevertheless, the She-Hulk series will be an opportunity to introduce one of the most prominent members of the Avengers in the comics.
Captain America
During the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson stepped up to the plate as the new Captain America. There is a good possibility that he will take on a bigger leadership role as the face of the Avengers, considering that he is the one who inherited the shield from Steve Rogers. However, we still have to see how Sam Wilson’s life as Captain America unfolds in New World Order.
Winter Soldier
Due to obvious reasons, Bucky Barnes was never an official member of the Avengers. But we now know that he is willing to do whatever it takes to live up to Steve Rogers’ name in the sense that he is looking to honor his best friend’s legacy by fighting for people who can’t fight for themselves. That means that Winter Soldier might become a member of the Avengers by the time Secret Wars gets released.
Hawkeye
We are a bit torn on this one because the only thing that Clint Barton ever wanted to do in life is to make sure that he gets to retire with his family. In that regard, there is a good possibility that he might not appear in Avengers: Secret Wars, but there is still a chance that he will play a role because good guys will never do nothing when the fate of the entire world is at stake. Or he might leave the job to his protégé in Kate Bishop (more on that later).
Ant Family
The entire Ant Family, composed of the Pyms and Scott Lang, will take center stage during the events of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. While Scott is probably the only official Avenger in the Ant Family, the entire fam might end up getting involved in Secret Wars, considering that there are rumors about the possible plot of Quantumania. Secret Wars is certainly going to happen after Kang Dynasty, but the Ant Family might become Avengers during the events of Kang Dynasty because of how they are connected to Kang’s rise to power during the events of Quantumania.
War Machine
War Machine, one of Tony Stark’s best friends, is still on active duty as a member of the Avengers. We don’t know what he has been doing ever since the end of Endgame, but we do know that he is still actively participating in whatever way he can, considering that he made a quick and short appearance in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He might end up becoming one of the more prominent members of the Avengers due to his connection with Tony Stark and the military.
Captain Marvel
Arguably the most powerful member of the Avengers, Captain Marvel is always in and out of Earth due to the fact that she is also needed on other planets all over the universe. However, she might play a more active role as an Avenger during the events of The Marvels, wherein she will team up with Ms. Marvel to fight a common foe. And considering that the Avengers currently lacks a powerhouse aside from the Hulk and Thor (who might not even return), Captain Marvel’s help will be needed.
Wong
Wong was never an official member of the Avengers because he was always seen as “the other guy” hanging out with Doctor Strange. However, as the Sorcerer Supreme, he has a lot of duties to fulfill, especially when it comes to the safety of the planet. That means that anything that threatens the world would have to involve him, and that could mean that he might spring into action during Secret Wars.
Shang-Chi
Shang-Chi, a mystical martial artist in possession of the Ten Rings, is likely to join the Avengers in the future because of how the end of his solo movie suggests that he is going to work with some of the members of the Avengers after they analyzed the cosmic origins of the Ten Rings. We don’t know when Shang-Chi will officially join the Avengers, but the fact that he was added to the MCU means that Marvel Studios has something big in store for him in the future.
Namor
We don’t know how Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will portray Namor, but he has always been someone who is less than friendly as long as he believes that his actions are for the betterment of his people. In the comics, he once betrayed the Illuminati even though he was a founding member. As such, we don’t know if Namor will also be a polarizing character in the MCU, but there is still a possibility of him participating in Secret Wars.
Blade
There is a reason why Blade will have his own standalone movie in the future, as he might end up becoming a member of the Avengers. The half-vampire hybrid joined the Avengers in the comics when Black Panther invited him, and that could also happen in the MCU, depending on how his story gets told.
Nick Fury
Nick Fury is basically the DJ Khaled of the Avengers in the sense that he doesn’t do a lot but is the one responsible for putting the entire team together. But this might be questionable, considering that Samuel L. Jackson isn’t the youngest man out there. And because Secret Wars is still several years later in the calendar, Marvel Studios might want to consider Jackson’s age.
Will Spider-Man Be An Avenger In Secret Wars?
The most confusing thing that MCU fans saw during the SDCC announcement was the fact that there was no live-action Spider-Man movie on the MCU’s slate. Of course, this is due to the fact that Sony is still the deciding body that is going to force Marvel Studios to adjust their plans for Spider-Man. Still, it seems like Marvel Studios is going to proceed with its plans with or without Spider-Man, and that is probably the reason why the ending of No Way Home made everyone forget that Spider-Man was Peter Parker.
As such, Spider-Man is not an Avenger as we speak because no one knows who he is. His only connection to the Avengers, Happy Hogan, doesn’t even remember who he is anymore. And that means that he has to start from scratch and work his way up the ladder as a superhero if he wants to eventually become an Avenger once more.
Considering that there is no planned Spider-Man movie on the MCU’s slate, it might take a while before Peter Parker eventually rejoins the Avengers. But things could still change depending on what Sony wants to decide with the character and if the deal between Marvel Studios and Sony will still hold strong heading into the future.
Will There Be A Young Avengers Group?
As you may have noticed, we deliberately opted out some of the younger characters that have been introduced in the MCU. That’s because of the fact that we are not certain whether or not the older Avengers are going to allow the younger superheroes to participate in a multiversal war with the fate of multiple universes at stake. But what we know for certain is that the MCU is planning a Young Avengers group in the future.
The Young Avengers group is likely going to be composed of Kate Bishop, Kamala Khan, America Chavez, Riri Williams, and some of the other younger superheroes that will probably get introduced in the future. And whether or not the Young Avengers will participate in Avengers: Secret Wars is still unknown, considering that the comic books didn’t even include them.