2018 marks a decade since Robert Downey Jr. strapped himself into an experimental metal suit and blasted himself halfway across a desert. With every subsequent cinematic appearance that Iron Man armor got sleeker and more impressive, as did the MCU films they featured in. But all good things must come to an end, and it’s looking as if Avengers 4 might see the final appearances from some of the all-time greatest movie superheroes.
Vanity Fair’s fascinating in-depth interview with Kevin Feige, which also brought us that awesome photoshoot, is studded with juicy tidbits, but one of the juiciest is the following:
“After Avengers 4, an ambitious multi-franchise crossover movie slated for release in 2019, at least some of the original characters who sit at the center of the billion-dollar Avengers team will be hanging up their capes and shields.”
It’s well known that contracts on Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner are due to expire, and while Disney clearly knows the actors’ value in drawing audiences, they must be also be conscious of the need for fresh faces to avoid franchise fatigue.
In fact, one hint of things to come might be Scarlett Johansson’s comment below:
“I feel a lot of joy for the next generation, it’s a bittersweet feeling, but a positive one.”
If I had to make a prediction, I think we’ll also be seeing the last of Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Chris Evans’ Captain America. I’m not saying those characters are going to be killed outright, but at the very least the actors will be moving on to other projects.
What do you think, though? Who might be making their exit after Avengers 4? Take to the comments section down below and give us your thoughts!
