Avengers: Endgame capped off the series so far in a stunning way, delivering on all the build-up creators had been growing for over a decade. Many fans were satisfied to see characters arcs concluded, or even expanded upon in satisfying ways.
Now, as the films move on, there will be all-new stories to tell. However, there are still many questions left unanswered that will be crucial to the future of the post-snap Marvel Cinematic Universe.
What Will Happen With Peter Parker?
Spider-Man: Far From Home ended with Peter having his identity revealed to the world. To add insult to injury, he was also framed for attacking civilians and killing Mysterio. In the upcoming sequel, Peter will undoubtedly have to reckon with the fallout, and probably try to clear his name, in some way.
How Peter will go about this is still a mystery -- will he run, hide, go to court, or something else? Would any new villains target him, or the people he loves? Even if he does prove his innocence, can he really go back to being a "friendly, neighborhood" Spider-Man, or will he become a full-time professional superhero? All this remains to be seen and will determine the future of the MCU.
What Effect Did the Snap Have on the Rest of the Universe?
In a brainstorming session early on in Endgame, Carol Danvers reminds the Avengers that there are "a lot of other planets in the universe" and that "the things that are happening on Earth are happening everywhere." The films only showed the situation on Earth, and it wasn't pretty -- millions continued to mourn five years on, Thor fell into a deep depression, and Hawkeye turned into a ruthless vigilante.
If something similar happened on thousands of other planets, the devastation out there may be equal or even worse. The strife could create a breeding ground for villains aiming to further their agenda, return their home planet to glory, or simply seeking revenge. Even with everyone returned to life, the fallout of the changes brought about by the snap will be felt across the universe for years.
What's Going On With the Accords?
The focus of Captain America: Civil War was on the divisive conflict between heroes brought on by the Sokovia Accords, which required superheroes to register and have their actions regulated. Though the two conflicting sides have since mostly made peace with each other, the Accords are technically still in place. In Avengers: Infinity War, Rhodey was forced to turn his back on Thunderbolt Ross to join the outlaw Cap, Falcon, and Black Widow.
With all the heroes now back in action, the government could decide to re-enforce the Accords, especially now that their biggest opponent, Captain America, is gone. Will this cause another conflict? Could the newly introduced U.S. Agent, a government-sponsored successor to Cap, be a sign of the government choosing to sponsor their own superhero team, leaving the others to join or become outlaws? On Earth, the situation surrounding the Accords will probably be one of the major uniting storylines going forward.
What Happened in the Kree-Skrull War?
After finally defeating Yon-Rogg in Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers sent him back to Hala, the Kree homeworld, with a warning. Though she set out to help the Skrulls find a home, the warning she issued is unlikely to be taken well by the militaristic Kree. Kevin Feige recently teased that the conflict isn't done being explored, and that future films will focus on what Carol did for several decades before Endgame.
Understanding what happened in that time will go a long way towards shaping the Captain Marvel of the present day. There are still significant conflicts for her to resolve with the Supreme Intelligence, her former Kree crew, and even perhaps Ronan the Accuser, who likely underwent some major trauma before appearing in Guardians of the Galaxy. And if the war is still ongoing, it could be a huge storyline for a franchise that is increasingly turning towards its cosmic properties to keep things fresh.
What Role Will Wakanda Have in the New World?
At the end of Black Panther, Killmonger's outlook convinced T'Challa to open his nation up to the world. Unfortunately, the snap happened not long after, wiping out both the king and his younger sister Shuri. In the meantime, Okoye seems to have stepped up to lead, maintaining the spirit of openness by joining the hologram call with Black Widow in Endgame. Despite this, there's no guarantee Wakanda will stay on the same trajectory easily.
To begin, there may be issues with T'Challa catching up after being gone for years. This may open up room for challenge and criticism of his rule, which may force the country to turn inwards to try and solve its own problems. On the other hand, Wakanda could use the scenario to step up and truly become a world leader, building bridges and helping others heal after years of strife.
Who Will Lead the Avengers?
With Captain America, Hawkeye and Hulk retired, Thor away with the Guardians and Iron Man and Black Widow dead, none of the original six Avengers remain ready to fight. Eventually, someone will have to step into the power vacuum and lead, but who will it be?
Black Panther seems like the most likely candidate but he has his own country to run, and could be too busy with politics to truly lead. Spider-Man is the most popular character, but he's still too young and dealing with his own legal issues. Captain Marvel is mostly focused on the universe-at-large and can't stay on Earth for long. Dr. Strange already has a commitment to be the Sorcerer Supreme. Perhaps another character will grow into the role and step up to the plate, or maybe a new leader will be introduced. Either way, a new leading face will have to emerge, both for the good of the team and the MCU itself.