While Thor is one of the longest-running heroes of the MCU, the God of Thunder was arguably a late bloomer compared to his peers Captain America and Iron Man. Specifically, many will tell you that it wasn’t until 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok that Chris Hemsworth’s character started living up to his potential as an entertaining lead. But with Avengers: Endgame just a couple of weeks away from release, it’s become a popular prediction that Thor is on the verge of dropping out of the franchise.
Last week, Avengers: Endgame co-directors Anthony and Joe Russo finally confirmed the runtime of their upcoming flick to be a hefty 3 hours and 58 seconds. And while that length may prove punishing on the bladder, the filmmakers stand by their decision not to include an intermission.
With the upcoming Star Wars: Episode IX, J.J. Abrams is set to not only finish what he started with 2015’s The Force Awakens, but also tie up the loose ends left by The Last Jedi while resolving the arcs of multiple Original Trilogy characters.
Back in 2013, James Wan kicked off horror’s most successful cinematic universe with The Conjuring, but in recent years, the Insidious helmsman’s attention has been diverted by various other projects, most notably last year’s Aquaman. And while Wan still has one foot in the Conjuring Universe in a producing capacity, the filmmaker seems unlikely to direct another entry in the franchise.
The last time we saw the original Phase 1 line-up for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes all in one place was in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. And as the release of Avengers: Endgame draws closer, it seems that Joss Whedon is feeling a little nostalgic for the old gang.
A few weeks ago, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige said that the upcoming Avengers: Endgame will be primarily focused on the original six heroes from Marvel’s Phase 1. And while most of the marketing seems to have put Iron Man and especially Captain America at the forefront of the action, there’s reason to believe that Hawkeye may also play a crucial role in the plot.
Right now, the hype levels are higher than ever for Avengers: Endgame, but once the Russo Brothers’ upcoming film has brought the MCU’s current era to a close, fans will be left with the question of what comes next.
The Disney/Fox deal has led to a whole load of speculation on when and how Marvel might start introducing their newly acquired properties to the MCU. And while the production house is staying vague on the matter, those hoping that Avengers: Endgame might tease the inevitable X-Men or Fantastic Four reboot may want to pump their brakes.
As one of the original stars of the MCU, it’s generally assumed that Chris Evans is finishing his run in the franchise with the upcoming Avengers: Endgame. And while the actor himself is refusing to confirm either way, he certainly regards this month’s release as the end of an era in some ways.
