Phase three of MCU set to end with ‘Avengers: Endgame’

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“Avengers: Endgame” is set to release on April 26.

Steven Guzman

As half of the universe was wiped with the snap, known as the Decimation, the conclusion of the third phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) finishes with “Avengers: Endgame,” releasing on April 26.

After the mad titan Thanos (Josh Brolin) succeeded in bringing his idea of balance to the universe in “Avengers: Infinity War,” the remaining Avengers must come together and defeat him once and for all. The story will pick up right where it left off as Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Nebula (Karen Gillan) are adrift in space with limited food and oxygen after leaving the planet Titan.

Other surviving heroes include Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Okoye (Danai Gurira), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), and Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson).

Heroes who did not appear in the previous Avengers film but arrive for this installment include Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and newly introduced Captain Marvel (Brie Larson). Captain Marvel, who recently starred in her own solo film, was referenced in the end credits scene of “Infinity War” after Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) contacted her through the pager before he disappeared. Ant-Man was last seen in “Ant-Man and the Wasp” when he got stuck in the Quantum Realm after Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), Hope Pym (Evangeline Lilly) and Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) were wiped out of existence.

It has been speculated by fans that the Avengers will travel back in time through the Quantum Realm to prevent the events that lead to Thanos’ success. This idea is furthered by leaked set photos of Evans in the Captain America suit that was worn in the first “Avengers” film. The use of the Quantum Realm was seen in “Ant-Man and the Wasp” when Hank Pym traveled into it to rescue Janet Van Dyne.

With a new mission comes new looks. Trailers have shown the heroes in new white suits with an almost identical appearance to the one Pym previously used. Captain America has a clean shaven face from his previous full-grown beard, Black Widow returns to her iconic red hair and Hawkeye takes a dark appearance, leading to believe he will be taking the mantle of “Ronin,” his comic-book counterpart. Iron Man and War Machine dawn new armor and Rocket appears in a more comic-accurate suit. Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) is believed to take up the “Rescue” armor after an image surfaced on the internet of Paltrow in a new purple suit.

President of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige stated that the film will focus mainly on the original six Avengers: Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye. Previous directors of “Avengers: Infinity War,” Joe and Anthony Russo, will also be directing “Endgame.”

With “Avengers: Endgame” closing the first three phases of the MCU, now known as “The Infinity Saga,” the burning questions of how Stark and Nebula are saved from space, how Ant-Man got out of the Quantum Realm, how the Avengers will put a stop to Thanos and who will fall in the final battle will finally be answered.