Even by Marvel’s own lofty standards, Phase 4 of its ever-evolving cinematic universe remains cloaked in a thick veil of secrecy.
And though it’s still a full two years away, it’s understood the so-far untitled Avengers 4 will herald the answers fans so crave, including whether the MCU will tout a fresh line-up of Earth’s Mightest Heroes for 2020 and beyond. Because make no mistake, the Powers That Be over at Marvel have plenty of content lined up for the years ahead.
But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. With Avengers 4 currently shooting scenes on the streets of Atlanta – scenes involving a fake Japan and the Yakuza, it seems – the Internet is rife with potential clues regarding the sequel’s super-secret story. The latest tidbit finds its way to us via Omega Underground, after the outlet claimed Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, who will seemingly be sporting a mohawk in Avengers: Infinity War, will be adopting a whole new alias by the time the fourth Avengers movie rolls around in 2019.
Lifted from the pages of New Avengers and Secret Invasion, word is that Clint Barton will assume the mantle of Ronin, an alter-ego with ties to the Land of the Rising Sun. It would certainly explain Marvel’s decision to film scenes with the Yakuza, while fans have speculated that those Japanese extras wearing facial masks will turn out to be members of the Skrulls, neatly dovetailing with the events of the 1990s-set Captain Marvel.
Chalk this up as conjecture for now, as it’s impossible to determine the veracity of OU’s findings at this early stage in production. Still, assuming there is some truth to this report, it would ensure Jeremy Renner has a bright future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward.
Next up for the MCU is the release of Thor: Ragnarok on November 3rd, at which point Taika Waititi’s wacky threequel will bring the curtain down on Marvel’s 2017 offerings. For the second year on the trot, 2018 will then herald three big-name tentpoles in Black Panther, Infinity War, and Peyton Reed’s Ant-Man and the Wasp, before Avengers 4 slams into theaters on May 3rd, 2019. And no, it’s not called Infinity Gauntlet.
