Disney CEO hints at new era of ‘Avengers’ team for future MCU movies

Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, has revealed that the future of the MCU movies will mostly feature new characters.

The announcement indicates that the previous Avengers lineup will have a new group of legendary Marvel superheroes.

The MCU has been a massive success for Disney, with a series of interconnected films that have captured the hearts of fans worldwide.

But as the franchise enters its next phase, significant changes are in store for earth’s mightiest heroes.

In recent years, the MCU has undergone significant transformations, with its latest phase emphasizing fresh and diverse narratives, primarily conveyed through the exciting multiverse concept.

Iger’s comments came during the company’s annual shareholder meeting, where he discussed the future of the MCU. While he didn’t reveal any specific details, he did suggest that the Avengers team as we know it may be evolving.

Disney CEO Bob Iger has confirmed that "a whole new set of Avengers" will be debuting in the #MCU!

“There will be a lot of newness…” Full quote: https://t.co/dHUygXT92x pic.twitter.com/t9FvFGEA6q

— MCU – The Direct (@MCU_Direct) March 9, 2023

“The Avengers is an evergreen property, but you will see a new iteration of Avengers coming to the screen in the future,” he said. “Sequels usually worked well for us,” Iger said at the conference.

Iger added, “Do you want a third and a fourth? Maybe it is time to turn to other characters.”

Would MCU Fans Accept This?

This news will surely excite fans of MCU movies, who have eagerly anticipated the next phase of the franchise since the conclusion of the Infinity Saga.

The Avengers has been a cornerstone of the MCU since the first Iron Man movie, and their presence has only grown with each subsequent film.

But with many of the original team members either retired or deceased, it’s clear that MCU needs to apply some changes.

Iger provided a glimpse into the upcoming MCU direction, emphasizing that the spotlight will shift to different characters.

Bob Iger questions the need to keep returning to existing MCU characters rather than introducing new characters.

“Sequels typically work well for us. Do you need a third or a fourth, or is it time to turn to other characters?”

(via: https://t.co/ECpO4wqjGj) pic.twitter.com/R6aNXb8MSY

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 9, 2023

He also disclosed that although they intend to revisit the Avengers, the team composition differs significantly from viewers’ expectations.

“There’s nothing inherently off about the Marvel brand,” Iger added. “I think we just have to check what stories and characters we’re mining, and you look at the trajectory of Marvel over the next five years, you’ll see many changes.”

Iger continued, “We’re going to turn back to the Avengers franchise, but with a different set of Avengers,” he explained.

His comments arrived amid critical and box office disappointment for the most recent MCU release, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.”

Despite being a part of Phase 5 of the MCU and introducing the new villain Kang the Conqueror, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” has received one of the poorest reviews in the history of Marvel films.

The MCU movie has a score of 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, nearly matching the record-low score of “Eternals” at 47%.

Furthermore, the film experienced a massive 69% drop in just two weeks at the Box Office. It marked the second-biggest drop in MCU history.

Disney CEO Bob Iger says #Marvel Phase 6 will feature a whole new set of #Avengershttps://t.co/ykIMXpaR6I pic.twitter.com/l52qlSAoiV

— ComicBook.com (@ComicBook) March 10, 2023

Although “Quantumania” has grossed higher than the first two “Ant-Man” movies, its box office performance has been underwhelming. The film earned $420 million worldwide and $189 million domestically.

One clear thing is that the MCU has plenty of characters to draw from. With dozens of heroes and villains already established, the possibilities for the next iteration of the Avengers are virtually endless.

Insights on the Likely New Characters

Speculation about what this new Avengers team era might look like has begun. Some fans have suggested that the team could be composed of newer characters like Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Captain Marvel, already established in the MCU.

Others have suggested that the team could compose old and new characters. Some fan favorites like Thor and Doctor Strange join forces with newcomers like Shang-Chi and Ms. Marvel.

With Disney’s recent acquisition of Fox, they could add even more characters to the mix from the Marvel Comics universe.

Marvel’s upcoming schedule comprises a second season of the Disney+ show “Loki.” It will also include movies focusing on established Marvel characters, such as Captain Marvel and the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Marvel will also introduce fresh additions to the MCU, including Blade and Fantastic Four.

Fans eagerly anticipate the arrival of Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in the MCU. Additionally, Disney will release two “Avengers” films on Disney’s theatrical calendar.

These are “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” in 2025 and “Avengers: Secret Wars” in 2026.

Viewers will have to wait a little longer before they find out exactly what’s in store for the Avengers in the next phase of the MCU movies.

Iger’s comments suggest that the future of the Avengers is bright. Fans have much to anticipate in the coming years.

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