The upcoming release ofCaptain America: Brave New Worldis going to make 2025 a big year for theMCUand for theAvengersspecifically. Anthony Mackie’sSam Wilson has had a long journey in the franchise, and next year will be the start of a new era as he will officially take over the Captain America mantle from Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers on the big screen. While it’ll be exciting to see what he does with the character, I’m convinced that the film will have a much bigger effect onthe MCU timelineas a whole.
While a considerable number of heroes are confirmed fortheAvengers: Doomsdaycast, the Avengers roster itself took a bit of a hit after most of the original core Avengers stepped down. Of course, new characters will step up to take charge, but it definitely won’t feel the same without the original six members. Kevin Feige made a promise related to the original cast that ensures that they won’t be blatantly replaced, but the success of Marvel’s 2025 may be a factor into whether that stays true or not.
The MCU Has Already Explored The Potential For Legacy Heroes
Legacy Heroes Have Ties To Their Predecessor
The MCU has gradually been building up other characters to take over the positions of the original six Avengers. Instead of having someone just flat out take over their name, side characters with an existing relationship to the heroes were slowly introduced as their eventual successor.Wilson’s Captain America will be the perfect first example of the upcoming generation of legacy heroes, as he was handpicked by Steve to become the new Captain America. AfterCaptain America: Brave New World, more legacy heroes will likely start to take center stage.
Kate Bishop was meticulously trained by Clint Barton throughoutHawkeye, while Yelena Belova is ready to avenge her sister as the Black Widow. If someone like Jane Foster’s Mighty Thor were to return somehow, she’d surely fill the Asgardian gap in the Avengers, and Jennifer Walters’ She-Hulk could come to take the burden off of her cousin Bruce.Legacy heroesare a concept that Marvel has been preparing for over the past few years, and the reception of these heroes with MCU fans will decide if Feige’s casting promise can stay true.
Kevin Feige Promised No OG Avengers Actors Would Be Recast
Recasting The OG Avengers Disrespects Their Legacy
The MCU was built around the core six original Avengers, and they were the foundation of the franchise throughout the whole Infinity Saga. The studio wouldn’t be able to take the risks that they do now without their impact, which means that they should respect their legacy every chance they get.
Where Are The Original Avengers In The MCU Now?
Since Phase 4 of the MCU, more and more characters have been introduced to the franchise, but what happened to the original six Avengers in that time?
Part of respecting the legacy of the original Avengers actors includes not recasting their characters, which Feige has also promised not to do. Actors like Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo have become synonymous with their on-screen counterparts, and even if they do take a step back in the future MCU, the characters that they’ve built deserve more than just to be replaced. The studio has accepted thatthe specific iteration of the original Avengers that we know and love cannot be recreated by a recasting, and it’s best to let their legacy stand as it is.
Captain America’s Next Movie Has Huge Pressure
The Future Avengers Depends On The Film’s Reception
The concept oflegacy heroes will allow for Marvel to fill the gap left by the original Avengerswhile ensuring that they’re not a blatant carbon copy. The legacy heroes themselves acknowledge the person that came before them, andCaptain America: Brave New Worldwill be the MCU’s first real test of how successful this concept will be.Sam Wilson’s Captain Americais the first proper legacy hero to be getting a solo project. If the film is a success, it will open the door for other legacy heroes to become Avengers replacements.
However, if the film isn’t a success and Sam’s Cap isn’t as well-received, Feige’s casting promise may have to be further discussed. If fans aren’t as open to these legacy heroes taking over in their own way,it opens the conversation to whether recasting the original iteration of the character would be a better option.Brave New Worldalready has plenty of pressure on it to perform, but I’m also convinced that the fate of the future MCUAvengersalso lies in its success or failure.
