The Next Two Faces of the MCU Will Not Be Typical Leaders: How Dynamics Will Shift Following ‘Avengers: Endgame’

With Tony Stark and Steve Rogers no longer leading the Avengers into victory, two new faces will have to come forward and take the mantles from the tech giant and righteous shield-wielder, respectively. Following Avengers: Endgame, two characters are set to take the reins in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). 

A while back, industry insider Mikey Sutton shared with his private Facebook group, Geekosity: All Things Pop Culture, that Disney plans to buy Spider-Man from Sony for approximately $5 billion. 3 Buck Theatre went on to explain (citing Sutton) that, with Spider-Man entirely in Marvel’s grasp, Peter Parker would come to represent the Avengers, and Captain Marvel would become the figurehead for the A-Force. 

While Tony Stark and Steve Rogers were the faces of the franchise and, arguably, the two most in charge, the new faces may not be leaders in the typical sense of the word. Based on what we know about upcoming installments, Phase 4, and beyond, it’s likely that Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel will represent the Avengers and the A-Force, but seek leadership assistance from outside themselves. 

Spider-Man, Reed Richards, and the Future of the MCU after ‘Avengers: Endgame’

While Spider-Man has long been the face of the Marvel comics — and deserves to represent the MCU in-tandem — he’s a bit young and inexperienced to be making decisions for the benefit of all humanity. 

He may be a leader who brings the Avengers together and helps with morale — telling stories from yesteryear about Cap and Tony — but he will not be the one who pushes a big red button without seeking a little external wisdom first. 

Rumor has it that Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) will join the MCU as Peter Parker’s new mentor. Richards (in Tony Stark’s absence) will develop a professor-pupil dynamic with the webs-slinger. Unlike the father-son bond between Stark and Parker, Richards and Parker will boast a friendly professional relationship that, with time, will likely grow into a colleague-esque bond, as Parker comes to trust his own judgment with age. Parker will be the face of the Avengers, but Reed Richards will likely be behind him helping to make some pivotal decisions long after Avengers: Endgame. 

Marvel may redeem Hulk through Captain Marvel, She-Hulk, and the A-Force

Fans already know that a She-Hulk series is on the way, and those who have read the comics know that Bruce Banner is the one who turns his cousin (Jennifer Walters) into She-Hulk. Thus, Bruce Banner will likely serve to introduce She-Hulk to Captain Marvel and stick around for some later A-Force business. Mark Ruffalo’s contract is not up yet!

Avengers: Endgame turned Hulk into a bit of a laughing stock — with the dabbing and the mockery of his former stomp and smash approach — however, as Professor Hulk, he could be a wise mentor to She-Hulk and Captain Marvel moving forward. He knows how things work on Earth a bit better than Captain Marvel does, and she disappears frequently. It would make sense for Captain Marvel to turn to him for advice, as he is an OG Avenger and deserves a great degree of respect (especially concerning earthly matters).

Not to mention, She-Hulk leads the A-Force in the comics, and more of a dual (or triple) leadership shtick would pay homage to the source material, rather than utterly stripping Walters of the honor. Captain Marvel may be the face of the A-Force, but she will not be the singular driving force behind its actions.