The ranks of the Avengers have been depleted since Avengers: Endgame — here are all of Earth's remaining active superheroes in the MCU.
WARNING: The following contains Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness SPOILERS.
Here are all the active superheroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after the events of Avengers: Endgame. When Thanos snapped his fingers and erased half the life in the universe, he also dramatically reduced the number of superheroes protecting Earth. Although the surviving heroes were able to put matters right in the end, they paid a terrible price, and their numbers now are far fewer. Notably, both Black Widow and Iron Man sacrificed themselves to defeat Thanos, while Steve Rogers decided to claim a "Happily Ever After" life by traveling back in time to be with his beloved Peggy Carter. What happened to every Avenger after Endgame? While many Avengers are out of the picture, some remained active after the Infinity Saga, and many more are bound to join the ranks of Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Prior to the rise of the Scarlet Witch in the ending of WandaVision, Wanda's projection of Vision transferred all his memories into White Vision. Meanwhile, Thor left Earth with the Guardians of the Galaxy, and Captain Marvel seems to have returned to the stars as well. Also, Phase 4 titles such as The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Hawkeye show that some heroes are still working to combat crime and villains in the world. Curiously, although MCU Phase 4's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ends with Scarlet Witch's death, Wanda's terrifying control over reality - as well as the overall fickleness of true death in the MCU - suggests that she could be alive.
Avengers: Endgame killed off the team's most reliable members. However, this doesn't mean that Earth is totally defenseless. So, here are all the confirmed MCU Phase 4 superheroes who are still operating on Earth after Avengers: Endgame.
Who Are The Remaining Avengers?
Earth is by no means unprotected should a threat like Thanos come without a warning. However, the superheroes who are still in business don't have the same reaction time as the Avengers at their prime, as the remaining heroes are now focused on solving their own conflicts and saving the world from their respective villains. For instance, Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes are now close friends after defeating the Flag-Smashers, while Okoye and the Wakandans are about to face some difficulties due to the absence of T'Challa. Ant-Man and the Wasp will soon face one of the MCU's greatest villains, Kang the Conqueror, and Doctor Strange will be more than busy protecting reality from Spider-Man and Scarlet Witch. At the same time, Wong is becoming Phase 4's equivalent to Nick Fury, assembling new heroes for future battles. And on the same vein, original Avengers such as Hulk, Hawkeye, and War Machine are now mentors to a new generation of Avengers. Finally, Nick Fury is technically off-world, but his influence on Earth may still be felt while he deals with the Skrulls.
Ant-Man
Scott Lang was the direct reason the Blip came to an end in the first place because upon escaping the Quantum Realm he came up with the Avengers' time travel plan — even if he was more than a little shaken by the idea that Back to the Future's model of time travel didn't work out. It's unclear whether the world actually knows time travel was involved at the end of the Blip, though — certainly the Avengers pretended Captain America died rather than let the public know he traveled back in time — so Ant-Man's contribution may not be well known. Still, it's reasonable to assume he has continued his superhero career back home in LA, where he will also be enjoying spending quality time with his (now older) daughter Cassie Lang.
After Sylvie killed He Who Remains in the Loki finale, Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne will be tasked with fighting Kang the Conqueror, who's expected to survive the events of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania to become a full-fledged Avengers-level threat. Another character who's expected to be more powerful once the credits roll is Cassie Lang, who may get her hands on Pym technology take up the moniker of the size-shifter and future member of the Young Avengers, Stature.
Black Panther
No doubt Wakanda suffered terribly in the absence of the Black Panther, not least because their stock of Heart-Shaped Herb had been destroyed by Killmonger, meaning they could not appoint a successor. The Falcon & The Winter Soldier episode 1 revealed national borders collapsed during the Blip, and it is likely even the formerly isolationist nation was profoundly affected by this. Though Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman sadly passed away and Marvel has already confirmed they won't recast the titular role of T'Challa, it's not yet known how they'll address his absence in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and it very well may be explained in a way that leaves him alive in the MCU, just not on the screen. For now, it could be said that T'Challa is active until Black Panther: Wakanda Forever explains where he went. In a future sequel, his sister, Shuri, is one of the candidates to become the protector of both Wakanda and the Earth.
Doctor Strange
He may not be the Sorcerer Supreme, but Stephen Strange has surely returned to his duties as a Master of the Mystic Arts and protector of reality in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Although Avengers: Endgame led to the Time Stone being destroyed, robbing Doctor Strange of his greatest weapon, the former Sorcerer Supreme learns new spells from the Darkhold, survives a magical duel with Scarlet Witch, and unlocks America Chavez's powers. Doctor Strange is perhaps the most active superhero in Phase 4, having to help Peter Parker in his multiversal conflict during Spider-Man: No Way Home and protecting the multiverse itself from getting ripped apart by Scarlet Witch.
Wong
If there were any doubts about Wong's role in the Avengers prior to Phase 4, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings cemented the Master of the Mystic Arts as one of the most important members of Earth's Mightiest Heroes after the Infinity Saga. Indeed, Wong plays a crucial role in stopping Scarlet Witch alongside Doctor Strange in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, in which he'd be the Sorcerer Supreme. Moreover, Wong has been in contact with Abomination, Captain Marvel, and Bruce Banner, and he welcomed Shang-Chi and Katy to the Avengers right after their first-ever superhero adventure. Wong has become the connecting tissue of the Avengers at a tie when they most need it, and he certainly will have a big role whenever the Avengers need to assemble officially for the first time after Avengers: Endgame.
Falcon / Captain America
Sam Wilson was branded an outlaw when he sided with Steve Rogers during the events of Captain America: Civil War, but he was pardoned due to his involvement in the final climactic battle against Thanos in Avengers: Endgame. Falcon immediately returned to active duty in the United States Air Force, traveling the globe on classified missions to neutralize terrorist groups and try to bring a little bit of stability into the post-Blip world. Although reluctantly, Falcon reunited with Bucky Barnes to face the Flag-Smashers and John Walker with the unlikely help of Baron Zemo and Sharon Carter aka the Power Broker. His efforts were well compensated, as he officially became the next Captain America, complete with Steve Rogers' shield and a state-of-the-art suit made by the Wakandans.
Hawkeye
Clint Barton retired from the superhero life once again in order to spend time with his restored family. But as he knows more than any other Avenger, peace should never be included in his plans. The Hawkeye Disney+ series in 2021 introduced Kate Bishop, who brought Clint back into the fold by suiting up as Ronin and inadvertently tangling Hawkeye right back up in his superhero web. Clint became Kate Bishop's mentor somewhat reluctantly, and their unexpected holiday mission in Hawkeye also brought new threats, namely Echo, Yelena Belova, the Swordsman, and none other than Kingpin himself, all of whom are expected to make future MCU appearances. Growing old and hard of hearing, a lifetime of fighting has taken a toll on Clint Barton, who will keep trying to achieve a definitive retirement with his loved ones, perhaps permanently now that Kate Bishop is eager to take up his mantle.
Nick Fury
Nick Fury hasn't really been active since the fall of SHIELD in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. However, he has kept track of the Avengers throughout the years, and he has joined SWORD sometime before the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Samuel L. Jackson will reprise his role as the founding father of the Avengers in the Secret Invasion Disney+ show, where he's expected to protect Earth in secret. Fury's right hand, Cobie Smulders' Maria Hill, is also returning.
The Hulk
Successfully merging his two identities in Smart Hulk after spending eighteen months in a Gamma lab during the Blip, Hulk's, a.k.a. Bruce Banner's, status quo has changed significantly. Hulk became Earth's most prominent superhero during that five-year period, as seen in a deleted scene from Avengers: Endgame, and quite enjoyed his newfound celebrity. Unfortunately, the Hulk suffered a grievous injury when he used the Infinity Gauntlet to restore half the life in the universe, with the surge in power destroying his right arm. The mid-credits scene of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings revealed that Bruce Banner has fully returned to his human self, but the mystery of how he achieved it will not be answered until the release of She-Hulk, where Banner will mentor Jennifer Walters as the MCU's next Gamma-powered superhero.
Spider-Man
Spider-Man's participation in the final battle of Avengers: Endgame appeared to do wonders for his reputation, but unfortunately, Spider-Man was manipulated by Mysterio's illusions in Spider-Man: Far From Home, and then blamed for terrorist attacks across Europe, with his public identity revealed courtesy of J. Jonah Jameson. Spidey's desire to undo this led to the cataclysmic events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, in which Peter Parker faced his greatest foes from alternate universes and ultimately had to sacrifice life as he knew it. Now living alone with nobody knowing his true identity, Spider-Man faces an unprecedented journey in the MCU. Happy Hogan confirmed he still knows Spider-Man, even without knowing Peter, so Doctor Strange's memory charm clearly didn't wipe out his status as an active superhero. Peter Parker could become more independent as a superhero and perhaps come in contact with Sony-owned villains such as Venom and Morbius.
War Machine
War Machine may be Earth's mightiest Avenger, having been given a substantial upgrade during the Blip. His Iron Patriot armor is potentially more advanced than any Iron Man armor Tony Stark ever designed, with Marvel hinting it's been given access to alien technology courtesy of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Concept art shows various different iterations, as additional rockets pop out, or some sort of energy weapons unsheathe on the shoulders. According to Marvel, the post-Blip War Machine is designed to take on literal armies. What's more, given Rhodey's patriotic colors, all this is likely still under the auspices of the US military. In Phase 4, Rhodey will be the star of Armor Wars, where he may fight many different Iron Man copycats and possibly mentor Riri Williams aka Ironheart.
Wasp
Hope Van Dyne was on the run for breach of the Sokovia Accords prior to being Blipped out of existence, and it's unclear whether she will have been offered the same pardons that were made available to others who joined the battle against Thanos when they were restored. The Pym family weren't wanted for a direct breach of the Sokovia Accords, but rather because they had made illegal technological enhancements available to Scott Lang; Hope's father Hank may well have been unwilling to strike a deal even with the offer of a pardon on the table. But whether Hope is legal again or still an outlaw, she's sure to still be suiting up as the Wasp for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Winter Soldier
Bucky Barnes has been offered a pardon for his participation in the final battle of Avengers: Endgame, but The Falcon & The Winter Soldier revealed that there are terms to that pardon — including regular psychological observation. The Winter Soldier is still striving to be redeemed after all his misdeeds. Fortunately for him, Sam Wilson is there to support him. Whether Bucky Barnes claims a new moniker to match Sam Wilson's Captain America title is uncertain, but he will surely join the battle if the Avengers need him.
Okoye
Okoye has seemingly taken the reins when it comes to Wakanda's international affairs. She led the mission to retrieve Baron Zemo after Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes broke him out of prison in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, taking him to the Raft. With T'Challa gone, Okoye is expected to have even bigger roles than leading the Dora Milaje. Her taking on the mantle of the Black Panther in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is not out of the question, and she's also expected to star in the upcoming Wakanda-centered Disney+ show. Considering she stood alongside Captain Marvel, War Machine, Rocket Raccoon, and Nebula between the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Okoye is bound to reprise her role as an Avengers strategist.
Scarlet Witch
Before Wanda seemingly destroys herself in the Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ending, she was an active Avenger, although the way she tears through reality for selfish reasons categorizes her more as an Avengers-level threat. After studying and getting corrupted by the Darkhold, Wanda nearly rips apart the universe to steal her children from an alternate universe. In the process, Scarlet Witch possesses and seems to also unlock the powers of Wanda from Earth-838. This means that even if Scarlet Witch is truly dead, a different Wanda could step in to fulfill the prophecy about Wanda either ruling or destroying the world. On the other hand, if the original Scarlet Witch is still alive, Wanda's guilt for her crimes against the multiverse could re-ignite her desire to help the Avengers.
Who Are The Next Avengers After Endgame
Besides the possible return of the remaining original Avengers, a future Avengers line-up for Phase 5 can include many new heroes. Independent characters like Shang-Chi, She-Hulk, Moon Knight, Monica Rambeau, Sersi, and Jane Foster are likely to assemble the next iteration of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, while others are more likely to create their own off-shoots of the Avengers. The MCU's younger generation, including Kate Bishop, America Chavez, Kamala Khan, Elijah Bradley, Cassie Lang, Kid Loki, and Tommy and Billy Maximoff, are all expected to form the Young Avengers. On the other hand, Yelena Belova, US Agent, Abomination, and Baron Zemo are all speculated to become either the Thunderbolts or the Dark Avengers. The West Coast Avengers could be started by Hawkeye and White Vision, while Doctor Strange, Blade, and Moon Knight could devote their spare time to their duties with the Midnight Sons. All of these groups could come together and call themselves the Avengers whenever a villain similar to Thanos threatens the Earth.
The MCU Could Have Multiple Avengers Teams After Phase 4
Because there are so many possible hero line-ups in the MCU, it's quite possible that Phase 4 and 5 will have several Avengers-like teams at once, although not all of them will necessarily be good. Val's Dark Avengers replacement team is far from complete, but the MCU does seem to be steadily building to it or the Thunderbolts. Likewise, the potential for a Young Avengers team with all of the aforementioned heroes seems too good to pass up, as does the opportunity to do a New Avengers-style team. While the New Avengers of the Marvel comics have an ever-rotating lineup, the trajectory of Phase 4 so far could actually lend itself well to this model. Added to the fact that Netflix's Defenders and even the X-Men could be joining the MCU soon, a New Avengers team-up seems almost inevitable. In addition to the MCU Young Avengers and Dark Avengers threads that Marvel is already building, MCU Phase 5 could boast a significant number of new teams to replace the original Avengers.
MCU Phase 5's Female A-Force Superhero Team Line-Up
Last but absolutely not least, there's also potential for an all-female Avengers team to form in MCU Phase 5, possibly the A-Force of the Marvel comics who were teased in Endgame. Given the rumored significance of Captain Marvel in shaping the future of the MCU, this seems all the more likely. There's already an extensive list of heroes who could make the cut for an all-female Avengers team even without the potential Young Avengers candidates: America Chavez, Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, Shuri, Okoye, Jane Foster's Mighty Thor, Lady Sif, Valkyrie, She-Hulk, Yelena Belova, Gamora, Nebula, Sersi, and Wasp to name only some. Given this impressive range of amazing heroes the MCU could include, a female Avengers team is almost a requirement for Phase 5.
