Summary

• Deadpool & Wolverine offers a solid first step for the MCU in course correction post recent misfires.
• Loki, while a beloved character, may have found an organic exit point post Loki Season 2.
• The future of major heroes like Scarlet Witch, Vision, Hulk, and Ant-Man in the MCU remains uncertain.

For over a decade, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was essentially the safest bet in Hollywood. Until Eternals, each one received a fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes (including, oddly enough, Thor: The Dark World) and raked in substantial profits. From a reliably consistent tone to likable characters played by equally charismatic performers, it was a cinematic machine that kept on winning. But, after a few misfires, the MCU is currently in flux. Deadpool & Wolverine looks to be a solid first step towards course correction, but outside the two title characters, which major heroes are going to be in it (save for the already announced return of Jennifer Garner's Elektra)? And, for that matter, which heroes are going to have a presence in the MCU afterward? Let's think it through.

Of course, if the character has already died in the MCU canon, e.g. Idris Elba's Heimdall in Avengers: Infinity War, they have been excluded from consideration. So, no Black Widow or Iron Man (though, never say never on the latter front). The same exclusion applies to Steve Rogers, whose narrative was successfully and fairly concretely wrapped up in Avengers: Endgame.

7 Loki

Loki Laufeyson (Tom Hiddleston) finally got his time in the spotlight thanks to Disney+'s Loki. Sure, he had been the showstopper in 2012's The Avengers, but the narrative focused on the forming of the titular team as much as it focused on his takeover plan. And, at the end of Season 2, Loki becomes the being in charge of the multiverse. While that could strongly hit at a further presence now that the MCU is embracing the multiverse concept to an increasing degree, there was also no post-credits scene for Loki Season 2. In other words, it felt and played like an organic exit point for the title character.

Hero, Antihero, What's the Difference?

But what about Sylvie, the standout newcomer in Loki? Sophia Di Martino's take on her character was nearly as beloved as Hiddleston's, and that's without years of film appearances. Di Martino has yet to feature in an MCU movie, but never say never on that front. As for Hiddleston, the best chance would be a cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine, but perhaps it would be for the best to leave him working hard at the center of the multiverse tree he's crafted.

6 The Original Guardians of the Galaxy (Save for Rocket and Groot)

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 wrapped up the story for not only Peter Quill, but Drax and Gamora as well. But, unlike Steve Rogers in Endgame, their resolutions didn't exactly negate further MCU appearances. The characters are on personal journeys, like Rogers, but they're also not suddenly in their twilight years. Yet, as far as the construction of narratives go, Quill, Drax, and Gamora have found a more-than-suitable ending point.

What About Mantis?

With Quill getting closer to his blood relatives, Nebula and Drax teaming up on Knowhere and raising the children they've rescued, and Gamora being in the Ravagers, where does that leave the remainder? Well, Rocket, Groot, and Kraglin are members of the new Guardians team. Mantis, however, is looking into discovering her identity, and should there be another Guardians film, that self-discovery could end up with her wanting to be part of a heroic team again, especially considering she could see some old friends.

5 The Scarlet Witch & Vision

Debuting in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron, Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch has developed a steady presence in the MCU. But, the narrative was never quite hers until WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Grief overcame her, and she turned to slightly (but only slightly) regretful villainy. The end of Multiverse of Madness has her collapse Mount Wundagore around her, ostensibly killing her in the process. But, when viewers don't see a body, especially in a lucrative superhero franchise, that essentially means the character is not dead. Yet, even still, it's questionable what could be done with her from this point on.

No Point in Bringing Back Vision, Either

In other words, while Multiverse is a mixed bag, that resolution is as fitting an ending for Wanda Maximoff as any. The same goes for Vision's demise in Avengers: Infinity War. Of course, WandaVision brought him back, in a way, but only as part of the fictional world imposed upon Maximoff by Agatha Harkness. He is reconstructed as White Vision by the end of that phenomenal miniseries, but there's little chance or reason of him coming back. WandaVision was (thankfully) a one-off, and the only other real potential is in a Young Avengers movie. But White Vision is a separate entity from Vision, even if he does possess the same memories, and he's an entity that's had too little impact and presence in the MCU to be a mentor to a new, younger team of heroes.

4 Hulk