Tony Stark is dead, Steve Rogers has retired, and Thor is off-world, so who will make up the next core three for the Avengers?

Undoubtedly, the leaders of the Avengers in their battle against Thanos were Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, and Thor, popularly known as the Big Three. By the end of Avengers: Endgame, however, Thor is the only one still in the hero game.

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe approaches its next ultimate battle against Kang – set to take place in 2025 so far – viewers are eager to see who the team leaders this time around might end up being. With a multitude of characters and more that keep joining the ever-growing Universe to pick from, there are a few that are more likely to stand front and center as the next battle gets closer.

Black Panther

Black Panther would, without a doubt, have been in the next Big Three, but that was only if Chadwick Boseman was still here to play the role of T’Challa. Now that this is no longer a possibility, it takes this iconic character out of the running for this leadership position right now.

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While the Wakandan hero might not be becoming a part of the Big Three anytime soon, the character stands on its own in the MCU. With Shuri possibly taking on the mantle, the story being told may have changed, but the intrigue for the character has not.

Captain America

As Sam Wilson gets to lead his first Captain America movie, fans can’t help but be excited about the new elements that will get added to the soldier and the shield. Unfortunately, viewers can’t help but compare him to his predecessor – even though Steve Rogers had multiple movies to establish himself and his personality – which makes it unlikely that he’ll be joining the Big Three by the time the fight against Kang happens.

Captain America is a hero who, superpowers or not, keeps the team rooted to their values and serves as a constant reminder of good and evil. Due to this, Wilson will eventually rise to fit the bill required of taking on a mantle so iconic and essential to the MCU and will make his way up the leaderboard as he learns more about himself and what he stands for.

Shang-Chi

While an unlikely candidate, Shang-Chi’s chances of making it to a leading position are pretty high because of his powers. Given that he has only been in one movie so far and his future appearances aren’t confirmed, fans don’t know what could happen with his character.

Not only has Shang-Chi proven himself in his debut movie, but the mysticism around the rings means that they could possibly connect to Kang in some way or the other, putting him in a potentially direct position against the villain.

An Original Avenger – Hulk/Thor/Hawkeye

Of the six, there are still three Avengers left behind after the aftermath of Endgame – one of them being a previous member of the Big Three. However, having already faced one threat head-on, it seems unlikely that any of them will take on a leading role against Kang.

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That being said, it is probable that they will still serve as the advisors – due to their veteran status – that other characters keep going to for advice. Given that another Thor appearance has already been confirmed, the setup for World War Hulk seems imminent, and Clint has taken on the role of a mentor, it is a given that fans will continue seeing their beloved heroes for at least some more time.

Mr. Fantastic

The only thing we know about The Fantastic Four movie is its potential release date and the ever-changing writers and directors attached to it. The cast is not confirmed – except for the cameo that John Krasinski made in Multiverse of Madness – but even then, Reed Richards is already a force to be considered and reckoned with.

While it may be doubtful that Reed Richards will climb to the top and enters the Big Three so quickly, he is definitely a worthy candidate. If not till Phase 6, Mr. Fantastic will definitely cement himself as an authority figure that other Marvel characters go to for advice. The fact that Kang is related to Reed is also an added factor, as it means that the latter will probably be front and center in the coming Phases.

Captain Marvel

Carol Danvers is still a long way away from becoming a fan favorite due to her having had just one movie and a few appearances, but the fact remains that she is one of the most powerful members of the MCU. This means that she will be essential when the face-off against Kang becomes more imminent.

Additionally, with The Marvels coming out in 2023, it is entirely possible that the fans’ stance may change drastically on her character – especially keeping in mind the reaction to her appearance in Ms. Marvel.

The Scarlet Witch

Considering where Multiverse of Madness ended, Wanda has a major redemption arc in her future before she can be trusted by her colleagues. Even though there is no known information about her next appearance, it’s unlikely that it’ll take too long.

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The Scarlet Witch is one of the most powerful characters in Marvel history, and her powers will be needed against an adversary like Kang. Moreover, it’s important to keep in mind that she is yet to have her own movie, which will probably establish her character further in the MCU.

Loki

The first thing to remember when it comes to Loki is that he isn’t the same one fans got to know through Infinity War. This Loki’s story, personality, and character arc are extremely different, something that has been proven by how he reacts to Sylvie’s goals – goals that he would have been perfectly fine with had his timeline not gotten disrupted.

One of the biggest factors that puts Loki as a potential leader is the fact that he’s the first person in the MCU to come face-to-face with Kang and realize his plan. Depending on what happens in season two of Loki and the upcoming Marvel projects, this could very well make him the character that serves as a primary advisor to the team of heroes.

Ant-Man

It is quite possible that Scott Lang will become the first Avenger to face Kang’s wrath, unlike Loki, who met a more mellow variant of the supervillain. This means that Lang’s experience against Kang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania will be hugely important to understand how to deal with the latter in the future.

Another essential aspect of why Ant-Man could potentially increase in importance is because of his direct connection with the quantum realm and time travel. As the story moves forward, time travel and multiverse travel are going to be very common, if not integral, in the MCU’s future.

Doctor Strange

It goes without saying that Dr. Strange is already a leading member of the MCU entourage. If Spider-Man: No Way Home and Multiverse of Madness are any indication, the ex-Sorcerer Supreme is someone that a lot of people see as a leader. He is also the only avenger – other than Scarlet Witch – to have dealt with time travel and multiverse travel multiple times now.

Not only is he taking on the position that Tony Stark earlier held – they both are pretty similar – but he’s equipped with all the right powers to hold his ground during the inevitable face-off with Kang. It could also be that the fans get a third Dr. Strange movie in the years leading up to the next two avenger movies that seem to be the next big moment after Infinity War and Endgame.