Disney has kept things pretty close to the vest in the lead-up to Avengers: Endgame-- so much so that the studio has not made one official announcement about the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe beyond the April 26 release. Marvel has, however, showed some of its cards when it comes to Disney's forthcoming streaming service, announcing a series starring Tom Hiddleston's Loki. And in the absence of more official announcements, it's the unofficial ones that have set the table for the future of the multiplatform franchise. Hollywood trades have revealed plans for at least three more Marvel shows -- each involving major Avengers characters whose fates had either been seemingly settled or left hanging for Endgame. The latest, revealed Wednesday: Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye has joined the fold for a show that will find him reportedly training Kate Bishop, a member of the Young Avengers who took the Hawkeye name in the comics. As exciting as it is, though, don't these reveals kind of feel like they're starting to spoil the events ahead in Avengers: Endgame?
Let's start with the Hawkeye show. The arching Avenger didn't appear in Avengers: Infinity War but will take part in the film's finale, transforming into the Ronin persona after the events of Thanos' snap. That his potential spin-off series will feature Kate Bishop is not super surprising: If you look closely, there's a shot in the Endgame trailer where Hawkeye is teaching a young girl to shoot with a bow and arrow -- which launched speculation online that Bishop would perhaps appear in the Avengers film. But that a Hawkeye series exists means fans should expect him to make it through the final battle with Thanos.
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Loki and Hawkeye aren't the only Avengers favorites reportedly landing on Disney+: There are also series centered on Scarlet Witch and Vision (with Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany) and Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson, aka Falcon, (with Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie) in the works. The Loki show excepted, no one is talking about these series publicly and perhaps with good reason; every single one of those characters died during Infinity War -- though only Loki was killed by Thanos before the Mad Titan's universe-changing finger snap. "No resurrection this time," Thanos sneered before killing Loki. Maybe he didn't subscribe to Disney+.
How could all these characters land on their feet away from the MCU? A few key set photos from Endgame have indicated that Loki might return to the movie by way of some time-travel and/or flashbacks. It's also possible the Avengers will use Quantum Realm to jump back in time to change the events of Infinity War and restore the fallen who were so viciously snapped away. Maybe these Disney+ series will take place in an alternate universe, one where Thanos' snap never happened? Or will they, like Captain Marvel and perhaps the Black Widow movie that also hasn't been officially announced (but is happening), take place in the past?
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We'll get some answers when Endgame debuts later this month. But in the lead-up, it would be chill if these Disney+ show reports were held for us to find out.
Disney+ is expected to launch later this year.
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Clark Gregg, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. " data-image-credit="Kelsey McNeal, ABC" data-image-alt-text="Clark Gregg, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." data-image-credit-url="" data-image-target-url="https://www.tvguide.com/galleries/marvel-tv-shows-timeline-watch-in-order/" data-image-title="Clark Gregg, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." data-image-filename="190304-clark-gregg-agents-of-shield.jpg" data-image-date-created="2019/03/04" data-image-crop="" data-image-crop-gravity="" data-image-aspect-ratio="" data-image-height="1380" data-image-width="2070" data-image-do-not-crop="" data-image-do-not-resize="" data-image-watermark="" data-lightbox="">Other Links From TVGuide.com Avengers: Infinity WarAvengers: EndgameTom HiddlestonJeremy RennerSebastian StanAnthony MackieElizabeth OlsenPaul BettanyJaimie Alexander