The Marvel Cinematic Universe is expanding at an unprecedented rate, introducing scores of new heroes and villains with each ing year. Showing no signs of stopping, the future is very bright for the MCU and its legions of fans, eagerly anticipating the next installment of their favorite franchise.
As the ranks of superheroes in the MCU begin to grow, one team is beginning to appear too little to contain them all. Thereby, Marvel seems to be setting up various alternative teams in its Phase 4 titles. Though some of these groups have not been officially confirmed by Marvel Studios, fans can expect to see these comic book teams make their debut in the near future of the MCU.
The Illuminati
First on Marvel's list of new superhero teams is the secret Illuminati, set to debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness this May. Presented as a coalition of the greatest minds on Earth in the comics, it appears that the MCU's Illuminati will be more of a multiversal tribunal, bringing those who play with their timeline to justice.
The latest Multiverse of Madness trailer merely hinted at this governing body, leaving fans to eagerly speculate as to which super-beings may prove to be of this multiversal Illuminati. Despite the scarcity of details on this group, one member has been confirmed, much to the surprise and excitement of Marvel fans everywhere: Patrick Stewart's Professor Charles Xavier.
Fantastic Four
One of the most exciting outcomes of Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019 is the return of several Marvel properties back into the hands of Marvel Studios. As such, it wasn't long before Kevin Feige announced official plans for a Fantastic Four reboot for the MCU, which will act as the finale of Phase 4.
After two failed some of the best heroes introduced in Marvel's Phase 4.
The Marvels
The highly-anticipated sequel to 2019's Captain Marvel, titled The Marvels, is set to bring together yet another new team of cosmically powerful superbeings, this time under the command of Carol Danvers herself. ing the team will be Teyonah Parris's Monica Rambeau and Iman Vellani's Kamala Khan.
This new team, expected to make their debut early next year seems poised to take on otherworldly threats, perhaps involving the Skrulls, with whom Captain Marvel has a long history. Some have also theorized that the Marvels could serve as the basis for a future all-female Avengers team, likely the A-Force, a title that has long been rumored to be in development at Marvel Studios.
The Defenders
Fans were shocked and delighted in December of 2021 when, within one week of each other, both Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio reprised their roles as Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk respectively, confirming their characters' existence in the MCU proper. Since then, rumors have been swirling that the other Netflix Defenders are also on their way.
Despite years of uncertainty, prospects are seeming more and more optimistic for the Defenders Saga's canonicity in the MCU, especially given the series' recent addition to Disney+. Not only are Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio strongly expected to be appearing in several future Marvel titles, but rumors have arisen that Krysten Ritter has begun filming her own reintroduction, indicating that the other of the team may not be far behind.
Midnight Sons
Marvel has taken a turn into the horror genre over the last several years, seeming to be setting up something much larger in that arena. With the introduction of characters like the Black Knight, Moon Knight, and the forthcoming appearances of Mahershala Ali's Blade and Gael Garcia Bernal's Werewolf by Night, it appears likely that Marvel is setting up the dark Avengers alternative known as the Midnight Sons.
Though this project appears to be in its infancy, fans can expect to learn much more about its prospects as Moon Knight continues to air on Disney+ each Wednesday. The Oscar Isaac-led series seems more than likely to include some kind of hint at a future team-up between the supernatural crimefighters, if not a cameo from Blade the Daywalker himself.
West Coast Avengers
One team that has somewhat fallen by the wayside of Marvel Comics history is the West Coast Avengers, a splinter team formed by Hawkeye and his wife Mockingbird as a secondary team to the mainline Avengers, operating out of Los Angeles.
Should this team be incorporated into the MCU, it could fulfill many fans' longing Hawkeye seemed to suggest Laura Barton's identity as Mockingbird, indicating that she and Clint could very well be qualified to lead the Avengers' backup team.
X-Men
One superhero group that fans are chomping at the bit to see added to the MCU is the Uncanny X-Men, who, until Disney's acquisition of Fox, were strictly off the table for Marvel Studios. Now that the mutants are fair game for Kevin Feige and his creative team, it is only a matter of time before the mutants are introduced into the MCU.
Though Feige has confirmed his intentions to bring the X-Men into the MCU, fans have had to wait for any further information regarding such plans. As of now, no titles have been announced concerning anything relating to mutants, causing fans to set their sights on Multiverse of Madness, hoping that it will provide some answers as to how the X-Men will appear in the mega-franchise.
The Young Avengers
Throughout much of Marvel's Phase 4, certain young heroes have been introduced one after the other, causing many viewers to conclude that a future Young Avengers team-up may be in the works. With more teenage heroes in the franchise than ever before, there may be some credence to this theory.
In Phase 4 alone, Kate Bishop, Isaiah Bradley, Billy and Tommy Maximoff, and Kid Loki have all been introduced, all of whom have served as of the Young Avengers in the comics. With several of these heroes seeming poised to lead the MCU moving forward and other major characters like America Chavez and Ms. Marvel on the way, a Young Avengers team seems more likely than ever.
The Thunderbolts
Beginning with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Marvel has been overtly hinting at a team-up amongst certain characters that fall into the antihero category. Pulled together by Julia Louis-Dreyfus's Countessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these characters seem to be being set up to become the MCU's Thunderbolts.
A team of antiheroes and former villains that are (mostly) on the side of good in the comics, several Thunderbolts already exist in the MCU, the most notable of whom being Daniel Brühl's Baron Zemo. Zemo is rumored to be ed by the likes of US Agent, Yelena Belova, Abomination, Bucky Barnes, and more as this potential collaboration seems to be drawing nearer and nearer.
The New Avengers
One of Phase 4's greatest mysteries so far has been the status of the Avengers. After their battle with Thanos, which left original Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff dead, and the retirement of Steve Rogers, the team appears to be in shambles. Nevertheless, all this chaos could simply be Marvel's way of paving the road for a New Avengers team to form.
With many of the original deceased or retired, it may be time for new blood to take the lead on the world scene. Seasoned Avengers like Bruce Banner, Sam Wilson, Peter Parker, and Doctor Strange can serve as leaders of the team, while new recruits such as Xu Shang-Chi, Carol Danvers, Jennifer Walters, and more learn the ropes so that they too can one day fight as of Earth's mightiest hero team.
