Since the release of the first Avengers movie in 2012, the fanbase of the Marvel franchise has only grown. Although it is not set to be released until April of 2019, there is already a lot of speculation surrounding the fourth Avengers movie. After the release of Infinity War, fans of the franchise were left with many, many questions. Where did certain characters end up? Will there be any way to reverse such a shocking turn of events? These are only a couple of the questions that have haunted fans' minds, and plagued social media and discussion boards from Reddit to Youtube. From these questions have stemmed a multitude of fan theories regarding the currently unnamed next movie.
Some of these theories are positive and carry a lot of hope for fans. Other theories, however, have proposed ideas that are absolutely heartbreaking to some fans. There are theories and rumors galore, that range from the smallest and most simple of details to the most complex and intricate. This is not an uncommon phenomenon within the Marvel fandom, either. In fact, it seems there has hardly been a movie in the franchise that has not been followed by a similar string of theories. Be that as it may, there is no denying that the fans of the Avengers franchise are running wild with rumors and questions.
20 HOPELESS: TRADING LIVES
There were many times, throughout all of Avengers: Infinity War, where Captain America stated simply but forcefully, "We do not trade lives." In fact, this overarching theme is precisely the reason many fans are led to believe a trading of lives will be necessary to save those souls destroyed by Thanos.
While a trade of this nature seems like it would be a brilliant plot twist, it may actually be more of a cop-out than anything. By making the only solution a trading of lives, the MCU would remain in exactly the same dire situation -- with half of its inhabitants erased.
19 HOPEFUL: GUARDIANS' INVOLVEMENT
Several of the Guardians of the Galaxy did contribute quite a bit to the fight against Thanos. When Groot went with Thor to Nidavellir, the young tree willingly gave a part of himself to be the handle of Thor's new weapon, Stormbreaker. Gamora would literally rather give up the ghost than give up the location of the Soul Stone. Those are no small sacrifices.
Other members of the Guardians, however, were less than helpful. Perhaps the most noteworthy example of this was Peter Quill, aka Star Lord. While he did stay true to the personal Marvel built -- who wasn't one to shy away from a fight -- he seemed to only join the fight at all the wrong times. We would love to see him get a chance to redeem himself.
18 HOPELESS: NEBULA AS A VILLAIN
Nebula, admittedly, has never been much of a hero. With her backstory of tragedy and abuse, who can really blame her? Although she was a major antagonist in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, she has been undergoing a change of heart and redemption arc.
This arc was even seen in Avengers: Infinity War through her struggle not to reveal any potentially dangerous information concerning the Soul Stone and Gamorra, the sister she once hated. To have her break out of the redemption arc at this point would leave fans wondering what the point of even starting the arc was.
17 HOPEFUL: S.H.I.E.L.D. ASSISTANCE
Because of certain events both seen and spoken of in the show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. it is clear that the timeline of the show and rest of the MCU coincide. The Avengers know of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s existence and, of course, vice-versa. Defeating Thanos will not be an easy task. Why not bring in all the MCU help they can get?
Although the members of the Avengers know of and have worked with some members of S.H.I.E.L.D., there is still one major secret that they don't know. It has been confirmed that they still don't know Agent Coulson is alive. Imagine the reactions and the reunion they would have if he showed up to help!
16 HOPELESS: TIME TRAVEL INSTA-FIX (HATE)
Time travel has played a large role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe up to this point and will undoubtedly continue to do so in the future. Especially since the introduction of Dr. Strange and the Time Stone into the MCU, most fans do not have a problem with the general existence and use of time travel.
One thing that has been proposed that some fans aren’t too keen on, however, is the idea of a time travel “insta-fix.” This is the idea that there may be a way to simply go back in time and undo everything Thanos did. If this were the case, the incredible amounts of effort and sacrifice given by the heroes would have been in vain.
15 HOPEFUL: ANSWERS ABOUT RED SKULL
When Red Skull showed up in Avengers: Infinity War, it raised a lot of questions. Marvel fans had believed for years that he was no longer a threat to the universe. How had he survived that explosion? What was he doing on Vormir? Was he working under someone else’s command?
One speculation that many fans are hopeful to see make it to the screen is that many of these questions will be answered. Perhaps if the heroes find out why and how Red Skull is still around, it could lead to a solution for reversing the devastation caused by Thanos.
14 HOPELESS: SKRULL HULK
There is one major character change that fans have been left to ponder since Thor: Ragnarok. What has happened to Bruce Banner and his alter-ego The Hulk? In the most recent movies, he has been presented very differently than he was in the beginning. Hulk is speaking in full sentences. Banner is more playful than he ever was before. But now, after his personality became dominant, Hulk refuses to emerge.
One explanation for these changes is the fan theory, presented in detail by Reddit user TheLazerShell, that Bruce Banner has been replaced by a Skrull. While this theory is not impossible, many fans hope it is not true. One of the main reasons is simply this: what would that mean for the real Banner?
13 HOPEFUL: A LOOK AT THE SOUL WORLD
There is speculation that, instead of being completely erased into oblivion, half of the souls erased by Thanos are presently in the Soul World. This is a plane of existence, similar in ways to the Ancestral Plane mentioned in Black Panther; one that exists “inside” one of the Infinity Stones — the Soul Stone to be specific.
There are two main reasons fans would love this to be true. First, it seems a lot easier to bring someone back from a different plane than from pure oblivion. Second, if this were true, perhaps everyone would get a look at the Soul World and what goes on there.
12 HOPELESS: THANOS GONE
In contrast to the previous entry, there are some fans who believe that those erased are just… gone. There is also a bit of the fandom which believes the final scene, showing Thanos waking up somewhere strikingly beautiful -- "smiling on a grateful universe" -- is set in the afterlife.
While this could simply mean that he died from the wounds inflicted by Thor, others believe he was part of the half erased. Although this could be viewed as a sort of poetic justice, there are many who do not want this to be true. Why? Well, because they believe that he will also have to play an essential role in undoing what has been done.
11 HOPEFUL: CAPTAIN MARVEL
Captain Marvel is almost certainly going to be a part of the fourth Avengers movie. It was believed that she would make an appearance in Avengers: Infinity War, so if she still has not appeared by the time the new movie is released, there might be some backlash from the fans.
However, since Nick Fury’s final action was to page her, it’s most likely she’ll answer the call. There has been a lot of focus on powerful female characters in the MCU lately between Shuri, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, and more. Fans would love to see Captain Marvel show up and kick some serious bad guy butt to continue that trend.
10 HOPELESS: COMPLETE RESET
There is another time travel theory besides the “insta-fix” previously mentioned that many fans would rather not see happen. This theory is based around the idea tha,t in order to undo the deaths, the entire MCU will undergo a complete reset. It is believed that the chain of events that led to Thanos’ “victory” was begun by a domino effect that started in Avengers.
By completely resetting the Marvel universe, there would be so many stories that have just come to light that would need to be retold. Also, several of the original Avengers have stated that their contracts are ending, so sending the MCU back to their beginning would be… difficult.
9 HOPEFUL: LADY DEATH
In the original comics, there is a character who has not yet been introduced in the MCU who could make a lovely addition to this saga. That character is the mistress of Thanos, the Lady Death herself. The theory of her appearance in Avengers 4 is something that many fans have expressed excitement over.
Having Lady Death appear in the next installment of this franchise would potentially provide a deeper look into motivations of Thanos and other characters, as he is not the only one who has tried to win her favor. There is also a branch of this theory that she may even prove essential in saving everyone else.
8 HOPELESS: CROSSOVERS
While the crossover between Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Avengers is something that fans would love to see in Avengers 4, there are certain other crossovers that fans are less than enthusiastic about. There have been rumors running around that the MCU will take the opportunity to introduce the X-Men or The Fantastic Four in its next Avengers flick.
Why are fans more enthusiastic about the S.H.I.E.L.D. crossover than X-Men or Fantastic Four? The answer is actually quite simple. The introduction of S.H.I.E.L.D. characters keeps everything contained to the current MCU. Introducing either of the other two, especially X-Men, which has its own version of Quick Silver and Scarlet Witch, may be too complex for a plot that is already convoluted.
7 HOPEFUL: NEW VERSIONS
As mentioned in a previous entry, there are several of the original Avengers actors who have stated that their contracts with Marvel Studios will not be renewed. There are many fans who have seen this as an opportunity for the producers to follow the comics and bring in new versions of some favorite heroes.
Unfortunately, no one lives forever, even in the superhero realm. This theory holds to the idea that some major characters, such as Captain America, will perish. Like in the comics, however, fans won’t have to mourn for long, as one of his companions — perhaps Bucky, or Sam Wilson like in the comics — will take up his shield.
6 HOPELESS: EVIL WANDA
There is a theory that Wanda Maximoff, aka The Scarlet Witch, has been waiting for the opportune moment to exact her revenge. Some fans believe that after the loss of her parents, and then her brother, she decided it was just too much. These fans feel she may have stayed close to the Avengers to put her in the best possible position for vengeance.
There is only further support for this theory in the tragic death of Vision after she was promised he would be protected. This theory honestly makes a lot of sense and would not be unbelievable. However, what the heroes are currently facing is so big that they need all the help they can get, so hopefully she doesn’t flip sides.
5 HOPEFUL: ANT MAN AND THE WASP
The emphasis on the Quantum Realm in Ant-Man and The Wasp has led many fans to believe that this realm may have an important role to play in Avengers 4 as well. This could mean many things for the heroes who are trying to reverse what Thanos did in Avengers: Infinity War.
Regardless of which of the many directions they could take with this, one thing is certain. If these “hints” are to be believed, there is a great chance that Ant-Man and his new partner will play a big role in the new movie. It will be interesting to see what they do with this specific aspect.
4 HOPELESS: EVERYONE STAYS GONE
In contrast to the “trading lives” theory previously explored, there is also the belief that everyone who was erased by Thanos simply does not return. Instead of learning how to reverse it, according to this theory, the remaining heroes will simply have to learn how to move on without them.
This theory, however, is rejected by many fans. Why would Marvel have spent so much time and effort on things like Black Panther and Spider-Man: Homecoming only to get rid of those characters in the next group film? Besides that logical dissonance, many also hope this is not true simply for the fact that the erased characters have become so loved by the fandom.
3 HOPEFUL: HAWKEYE INVOLVEMENT
If there was one original Avenger whose absence was conspicuous in Avengers: Infinity War, it was Hawkeye. Many fans were hoping to see him reemerge after his semi-retirement to help in the fight against Thanos. It was essentially when he didn’t show up that this theory was born.
Many fans believe that since he did not play a part at all in the last film, he will play a very significant role in the coming one. Another part of this theory is that Hawkeye will also perish, but be reborn as Ronin, the martial arts warrior. This is also in-line with the comics as one version of Ronin is indeed Clint Barton.
2 HOPELESS: BONUS STONE
The comics do indeed confirm the existence of a “bonus” or seventh Infinity Stone. This stone is known as the Ego Stone and is canonically the resting place of the consciousness of Nemesis. Theories surrounding this stone and its role in Avengers 4 are plentiful, but one of the main threads behind it is that possession of the Ego Stone will grant the possessor power to undo what Thanos put into motion.
The main argument against this theory is that it would contradict the canonical lore. In the comics, when the Ego Stone is reunited with the other Infinity Stones, Nemesis will be reborn. If that happened, it would present a whole new set of problems for the heroes.
1 HOPEFUL: LOKI ALIVE
Among all the characters that were lost in Avengers: Infinity War, it is Loki that seems to have raised the most theories of survival. Since he was not one of the souls erased by Thanos, many believe that he could have actually survived. It wouldn’t be that farfetched since he has pulled off similar feats before.
There are several reasons this theory is popular among fans. Perhaps one of the most common is because, like Nebula, Loki has been on a sort of redemption arc of his own. Granted, Loki will likely never be a full-on hero. His relationship with his brother, however, has been on the mend and we would love to see more of that.