Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was all about new beginnings, individual stories, and expanding the horizons of the MCU further than ever before. In a cinematic universe where everything seems so interwoven and interconnected, it’s hard for solo projects to exist in the MCU without at least some reference to their larger-scale universe. As the MCU further explores the Multiverse Saga into Phases 5 and 6, fans can expect some alliances to form as brand-new teams emerge to take on threats from all four corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So without further ado, let’s dive into some of the MCU teams we can expect.
The Avengers
With Tony Stark dead and Steve Rogers missing in action, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes have gone on their separate adventures, marking the absence of the once-iconic team. But with the coming of The Kang Dynasty, the heroes of the world will soon have to come together to counter the looming threat.
Sam Wilson, previously known as the Falcon, took up the mantle of Captain America following the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Moving forward, Wilson will step into the forefront as the new face of the MCU, in a similar position to his predecessor. He’ll have a heavy task at hand to lead a fresh, diverse, and dynamic lineup of heroes while continuing the legacy of the Avengers in an ever-changing world.
As for the roster of this new Avengers team, expect some familiar faces, such as Wong, Bruce Banner, and Captain Marvel. Expect relatively new faces as well, including newcomers such as Shang-Chi, She-Hulk, & Joaquin Torres’ Falcon, among other potential candidates.
The Young Avengers
Speaking on the legacy of the Avengers, Marvel has been slowly laying down the groundwork for a new generation of heroes across multiple films and series in Phases 3, 4, and now 5 of the MCU. The Young Avengers is one of the most highly anticipated teams and projects for fans of the MCU, with many wondering whether or not Marvel would capitalize on the opportunity to bring this team to the big screen.
Now, the Young Avengers project has become a matter of when rather than whether it will happen. And while there are still a few years away from ever hitting the big screen, we already have several promising candidates for this upcoming team of superheroes.
This team can be expected to feature young heroes such as Kate Bishop, Cassie Lang, Kamala Khan, and Eli Bradley and the upcoming return of the 2nd Generation Maximoff Twins, Billy and Tommy. Some members from the comics have yet to make their MCU debut, though their upcoming debuts have also become a matter of when rather than if.
The Young Avengers Comics Reading Guide
The Thunderbolts
In the absence of the Avengers and a constantly growing number of superhuman threats, some people have decided to stop sitting idly by, hoping for a miracle, and will take matters into their own hands. One such individual is CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.
Valentina will be a character to watch in the upcoming phases of the MCU as her story begins to unravel and her plans are ultimately revealed. While we have yet to determine exactly all the cards Val has to play, one ace up her sleeve is the Thunderbolts Project.
Meant to be Marvel’s version of The Suicide Squad, The Thunderbolts are a team mainly made up of reformed villains or anti-heroes. The roster includes Yelena Belova, The Red Guardian, The Winter Soldier, U.S. Agent, Ghost, and Taskmaster. This group will embark on a covert operation mission under the command of Director de Fontaine. We advise keeping tabs on Director de Fontaine, as she seems interested in seeking out enhanced individuals. Who knows? She could find one or two who might just join the team.
The New Guardians of the Galaxy
Following James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the team we’ve known and loved for many years underwent some changes, leading to the formation of the New Guardians of the Galaxy. Besides familiar faces like Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and Kraglin, new cosmic heroes, including Adam Warlock and Phyla-Vell, have joined the team.
We’re sure that whatever the future holds for this new team of heroes, cosmic adventures with fresh energy and new narratives await!
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The Eternals
The Eternals debuted in November 2021 as part of Phase 4. The film introduced a new race of enhanced individuals, each with their own unique ability, who settled on Earth to watch humanity grow into a marvelous civilization. It was chosen by the creators of the Eternals, the Celestials, as a planet worthy of birthing another Celestial into existence, Tiamut.
When the Eternals became aware that Tiamut’s birth would destroy the world, they devised a plan that would eventually come to save the Earth and stop Tiamut’s rise. However, this angered the Celestials, and Arishem has since then vowed to return to Earth for judgment.
When Arishem took Kingo, Phastos, and Cersei back to the World Forge for judgment, the remaining Eternals, Thena, Makkari, and Druig, became aware that their fellow Eternals were in danger. Pip the Troll and Starfox stop by to warn the remaining Eternals about their friends being captured by Arishem before the screen cut to black.
It’s safe to assume that Eternals’s story will continue in a sequel. However, it is still being determined whether or not that particular story would be something that could fit within the narrative of the Multiverse Saga. But make no mistake, Judgement Day is still coming for the Eternals and the Earth.
The Midnight Sons
Speaking of the Eternals, the film featured a post-credit scene featuring Dane Whitman, the Ebony Blade, and the voice of Mahershala Ali as Blade. One of the new corners of the MCU that has begun to unravel during Phase 4 and soon Phases 5 and 6 is the supernatural side of the MCU.
After many years spent in the shadows, Marvel’s supernatural side will come to the forefront during these phases, culminating with what will come to be known as the Midnight Sons. The Midnight Sons tend to battle more dark forces and supernatural threats than the rest of the teams listed in this article.
While we are still years away from this project, the groundwork for the team’s debut has already begun to be laid out in several projects such as Eternals, Werewolf by Night, and Moon Knight, and the setup will continue in projects where magic and the supernatural seem to be at the center of the stories such as Ironheart and Blade.
The Midnight Sons Comics Reading Guide
The Fantastic Four
Marvel’s First Family, the Fantastic Four, will finally debut in the MCU. While a variant of these characters already appeared on screen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the team set in the main 616/199999 universe has yet to make their presence known.
The team, composed of Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, and the Thing, has been a pop culture staple for many decades. Many fans have wondered how Marvel intends to introduce such an iconic team into a larger-scale universe. A clue for the Fantastic Four’s 616 appearance may have already been left for us in the Doctor Strange sequel. Nevertheless, expect a great cosmic adventure when the Fantastic Four finally make their MCU debut on the big screen in 2025.
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The X-Men
Much like the Fantastic Four, the X-Men are also a team many fans have anticipated their MCU debut for years. Fans look forward to seeing which projects their favorite group of mutants will appear next. For starters, fans can look no further than 2024 when X-Men ’97 makes its debut on Disney+. The series is a continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series,
Fans also look forward to the team’s live-action debut within the MCU. One member already slated to return is Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in the upcoming Deadpool and Wolverine project. Hinted at being a multiversal road-trip film, it wouldn’t be out of the question to assume that some members of the Fox X-Men franchises could show up. That could see characters such as the 2000s X-Men & the Rebooted X-Men and potentially characters from other Marvel-Fox franchises as well.
X-Men ’97: Character Designs Then and Now
The Multiverse is a concept of which we know frighteningly little
As the Marvel Cinematic Universe begins to embrace the concept of the Multiverse, we can expect Marvel to bring in unique team-ups and unexpected alliances from across many universes as we fast-track to Avengers: Secret Wars. Characters from different timelines and alternate realities will unite to defeat a common threat. Some of these teams will be classic comic book staples finally brought to life on screen. The Multiverse will also allow Marvel to introduce new groups unique to their cinematic universe, such as the Guardians of the Multiverse.
Audiences have much to look forward to with the future of the MCU. Which team are you most excited to see on the big screen? Let us know on social media or in our Discord!
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