The Avengers team that will undoubtedly be introduced for the Marvel Cinematic Universe‘s Phase 6 needs to avoid one character mistake that plagued Avengers: Endgame. With Phases 4 and 5 opting not to include an Avengers film, Phase 6 will be the first time the team has been seen since Endgame. This will come in two separate movies: Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars.
With these films, Marvel Studios has to get a lot right to boost the Multiverse Saga to the same level as the Infinity Saga. From explaining the overall story of Phases 4-6 as satisfyingly as Thanos’ quest for the Infinity Stones to seamlessly weaving hundreds of characters together, Marvel has a tall order. However, in regard to the Avengers specifically, the MCU needs to avoid one specific confusing element of Avengers: Endgame concerning the team’s members.
Endgame’s Finale Had Too Many Characters As Honorary Avengers
The confusing element in question was that Avengers: Endgame featured too many characters as honorary Avengers. While much of the film’s first two acts centered on the original six Avengers and their allies that survived Thanos’ snap, the finale of the film increased the scale in a way that has never been seen in the MCU before. Almost every single hero from the MCU’s past appeared to fight Thanos, resulting in an enormous battle that saw Thanos defeated for good.
While this scene is one of the stand-out moments of the last decade of Hollywood blockbuster filmmaking and ranks among the most satisfying, exciting, hype-filled scenes in the MCU, the number of characters on screen was admittedly overwhelming at times. Not only did the film include what seemed like every hero from the MCU’s past projects, but their allies too. From the Ravagers to the other sorcerers of the mystic arts, Endgame‘s finale featured many characters. While the film did an excellent job of having this make sense and keeping the focus on the story and central characters, it remains the case that Endgame‘s final act was overstuffed.
Phase 6’s Avengers Need To Be Clearly Defined
As a result, the Avengers team that will be part of Phase 6’s dual-Avengers movies needs to be clearly defined. While it is likely that both films will feature a huge ensemble – especially Avengers: Secret Wars – clearly establishing who is part of the Avengers would absolve any potential issues with the films being overcrowded. This would allow for the films to focus intensely on a specific group, as was the case with Avengers: Endgame‘s first two acts while allowing the team to have allies in the form of supporting characters from the respective Avengers’ solo films.
Another way that Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars could be benefited by having a defined Avengers team is that it would make them different from Infinity War and Endgame. Rather than simply include every single hero from the MCU up to that point like Avengers 3 and 4 did, focusing on a smaller team would make them feel unique depending on the story told. Also, the lack of an Avengers team in Phases 4 and 5 means a scene in either The Kang Dynasty or Secret Wars defining the team members is crucial, as the team will likely form for the first time post-Endgame in either film.
Phase 6’s Other Potential Teams Could Help The Avengers Stand Out
All that being said, Phase 6 will actually have a way that the Avengers could stand out naturally: other MCU teams. It has already been confirmed that The Fantastic Four will be introduced in Phase 6 before Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, which likely hints at that team also playing a big part in the culmination of the Multiverse Saga. Another potential team in the Thunderbolts will also have been officially established by this point, which means the Avengers will be naturally differentiated from other big characters in Phase 6’s Avengers films.
Even if other MCU teams like the X-Men or the Midnight Sons were introduced into Avengers 5 and 6, the characters would be popular and unique enough to make it clear they were not part of the Avengers. Through these multiple teams, the Avengers could stand out more clearly. By positioning The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars as the Avengers forming and gaining the aid of other already-established teams, Phase 6 of the MCU could allow the Avengers to shine in a way Endgame‘s finale sometimes lacked.