Avengers 4

It’s the end of the MCU as we know it

What’s next for (half of) Earth’s mightiest heroes?

Directors Anthony and Joe Russo starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Josh Brolin, Chris Hemsworth

“This is the ultimate showdown between the forces of good and evil, and the stakes have never been higher,” Avengers 4 executive producer Trinh Tran tells TF. “That’s about as classic as the story gets, isn’t it?” Sounds like we’re in for a monumental final entry of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 3.

As the $2bn-worth of cinemagoers who saw it know – spoiler alert – Avengers: Infinity War ended with the boldest gambit in the franchise’s history, as the bad guy won. With a click of Thanos’ gauntleted fingers, half of the universe was wiped out, including several key heroes.

So who’s left? Most of the original 2012 Avengers Assemble line-up, actually. Surviving the snap were the likes of Iron Man, Captain America, Bruce Banner, Black Widow, Thor, War Machine, Rocket and Nebula, alongside Wakandans Okoye and M’Baku. The fact that certain key characters – most notably Spider-Man, who had the saddest farewell in Infinity War – have sequels on the release schedule, suggests Thanos’ grand plan might not be as permanent as he’d like, but how can an event of that scale be undone, and what will it cost the Avengers?

“Our films all aim to explore the cost of being a hero in a complicated world where easy answers are hard to find,” adds Tran. “The Avengers are a family of heroes who are willing to go above and beyond for each other, and these stories are about what sort of sacrifices that will always entail.”

Fan theories, of course, have been springing up in the wake of Infinity War’s shock denouement. Are the dead characters trapped inside the Soul Stone awaiting rescue? Did Loki fake his death (again)? Will time travel be involved in some way? And, having looked up all the 14m-odd outcomes of the battle with Thanos, why did Doctor Strange think it was prudent to save Tony Stark’s life in exchange for the Time Stone? It’s hard to know how much of the plot (if any) will be revealed in the pre-release marketing. At the time of press, an official title hadn’t even been announced.

Just don’t call it Infinity War Part 2. “As with any films in the MCU, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers 4 are completely separate films – but

‘It’s the ultimate showdown… the stakes are higher than ever’ Trinh Tran

we will find an overarching bigger story,” says Tran. “We’re trying to make them both complete stories,” co-director Joe Russo says. “Hopefully they’re going to be very different experiences for the audience.”

A very different experience is the least audiences will expect from the ‘conclusion’ to a franchise that has reshaped blockbuster cinema over the past decade. Yes, there will still be an MCU after Avengers 4 (starting with Spider-Man: Far From Home, page 68), but it could look very different, given Infinity War’s climactic shocks. “If some fans thought Infinity War was intense, Avengers 4 is going to be a wild ride!” beams Tran. “The stakes are real and, emotionally, this film is even more complicated than Infinity War, building on 10 years of incredible storytelling.” MM UntitleD avengers 4 opens on 26 april.