WARNING: This post contains spoilers for Avengers: Infinity War. Proceed with caution.
Avengers 4 will close out a huge part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe‘s story. Many fans assumed that the Avengers would die in Avengers: Infinity War. While they were correct, it came in a way that many fans weren’t expecting. At the end of Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos obtained all the Infinity Stones and used their power to balance the universe. His version of balance? Eliminating half of the universe’s population.
Of course, that meant a number of heroes perished. But, we know they aren’t going to stay dead. Even with that knowledge, many fans are still expecting that certain Avengers will bite the dust for good in Avengers 4. But, now that the Infinity Stones have opened up any number of possibilities, does that mean that death is the only way our heroes will exit this universe?
I don’t think so.
The Threads of Time and Reality
The ending of Avengers: Infinity War offers only one option for our heroes: somehow reverse the effects of Thanos’s victory. That will involve either some kind of time-travel or reshaping of reality. When this happens, it could threaten the entire narrative fabric of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that we’ve been following for a decade. There is no way the filmmakers will allow that to happen, so how do they safeguard against creating retroactive continuity that upsets fans?
Well, the easiest answer is that whatever solution they come up with only negates the deaths that occurred at the end of Avengers: Infinity War and affects nothing else. That seems too easy and will likely destroy the impact of that film’s gut-punch ending. So, if that’s not the conclusion, what is?
Of course, this is where many fans believe that certain characters will die in some sacrificial manner. That’s certainly possible. It could be that Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Thor, and maybe other characters will give their lives in service of reviving the characters we lost in Avengers: Infinity War. It’d be an emotional trade-off that might send the original Avengers out on a high note.
But, what if death isn’t the answer?
The Multiverse Begins
The Infinity Stones allow for endless possibilities. If the heroes get their hands on all six of them, they could rewrite existence into whatever they desire. But, could doing this actually lead to worse outcomes? Could they tear apart the fabric of existence itself?
What if, instead of dying, the Avengers are able to create a brand new universe? One where the events of Avengers: Infinity War are reversed but also where the original Avengers are able to leave their lives behind? Maybe they don’t just create one universe but dozens. One where Steve and Peggy get to go on that date. One where Tony never becomes Iron Man and gets to live his life in peace.
This could be the answer to pleasing fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe without having to pull a Game of Thrones murder party on all the characters we’ve grown to love over the years. The original Avengers create a universe that prevents Thanos from getting the Infinity Stones but also create timelines where they are able to live out the versions of their lives they desire.
Not only would this give everyone a happy ending but it would also mean that those characters could return whenever Marvel wanted. Got a problem that can’t be solved? Pull the original Tony Stark out of his universe for a cameo and get some help. It’s a way to keep these characters available without having to kill them off and deal with even more resurrections.
Don’t Forget About Fox
Maybe this won’t happen, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe is really starting to lean into its weirder qualities. Creating multiple universes seems like an eventuality. Plus, you know that’s how they are going to explain their addition of the X-Men and Fantastic Four into their universe once that Fox deal goes down. So, Avengers 4 might be planting the seeds of that crossover.
Regardless, we’re just ready for Avengers 4 to be in front of our eyeballs. The big conclusion to Avengers: Infinity War will hit theaters on April 26 in the UK, May 3 in the US.
