How permanent are the changes that have been brought down upon us by Marvel Studios and Thanos? A quote from Sebastian Stan, and a possible Avengers 4 spoiler, is quite telling of their potential commitments. As per the Marvel formula in and out of the MCU, their plans for our beloved characters have been relatively easy to follow and predict. However, this far from a negative. Following phase by phase, movie to movie, anticipating surprises and still being left with some of the best moments in superhero cinema.
It has brought together this generation’s largest concurrent and interactive fan base. Marvel has continued to entertain and surprise everyone to some degree with the most fluid and simple changes over the years. Infinity War has proven to continue this trend. Perhaps, in the longest while yet, us fans have next to nothing when it comes to knowledge on the future of these franchises and characters. Thanos did it; Marvel did it. The universe is forever changed or at the very least, so it seems.
While discussing his involvement as the Winter Soldier in next year’s untitled Avengers 4 at a recent convention, Sebastian Stan casually spoke that:
“There was one scene, I think, we had where everybody was there. I can’t really talk about that scene, but I knew it took them three months in planning this scene to have everyone there…You look around and you just saw everyone from Samuel L. Jackson to Michael Douglas to Michelle Pfeiffer. Everybody was there.”
Before we discuss what this can possibly mean for our now lost Avengers from Infinity War’s devastating end, it is important to note the inclusion of main stay Ant-Man characters such as Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer in Stan’s statement. It’s been made clear by Marvel that this July’s Ant-Man and the Wasp will have a very significant impact on the future of the MCU going forward. Sebastian’s quote seems to support this as they are included in a evidently important scene “three months” in the making.
Now as for the fallen heroes. Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury was amongst them. As too was Stan’s Winter Soldier. What we can deduce from this are two possibilities. Given the recent Ant-Man and the Wasp trailer, the quantum realm has been opened and here to play. With this new piece of information with what we have yet to learn is that the Avengers seemingly sent to dust, were merely sent to the Soul World.
If that becomes a possibility in the MCU due in small part to Thanos’ vague trip to an otherworldly place with young Gamora post Infinity War snap, it’s a safe assumption. If true, Ant-Man can become a crucial character for bringing our heroes back from said possible Soul World with the help of Pym’s advancements within the quantum realm. My guess is that this scene Stan speaks of takes place within the Soul World.
Another possibility, which may rub fans the wrong way, is that the lost Avengers are somehow brought back in some unforeseen way. Possibly at the hands of Tony Stark? Doctor Strange acquired some knowledge on his trip through time to keep Tony alive with a trade for the time stone. Currently if this becomes the case, it’s all speculation until further noticed. We won’t know for certain yet but it seems that the dismantled Avengers may assemble fully one way or another before passing the torch to the next generation.