So what happens then?
You can't reboot the MCU franchise — the huge advantage it's gleaned in being lightly or heavily interlocking films makes it impossible to say, "Hey, we're going to restart the Thor movies" as if it were, oh, Spider-Man.
You could just replace the actors. But I'm trying to think of an ensemble film series (let alone set of film series) where that kind of substitution has been done (let alone done successfully). This isn't swapping out Rhodey or Fandral. Can you find another RDJ or Chris Hemsworth or Chris Pratt or Chris Evans (what is with the Chris's?) or Scarlett Johansson or Samuel Jackson who will match their predecessor tonally, but be able to bring his/her own strengths to the job, but also be able to blend in with an ensemble and not stand out as the "new Darren"? It's the most likely approach, but a problematic one.
The other approach, of course, is to treat the MCU as a living, breathing, aging organism. Captain America retires — maybe the Winter Soldier takes over (only for good), or some other part of the Marvel Universe gets called in (the Avengers loses Iron Man, but gains the Vision). That would be a truly radical solution … and one least likely to happen.
Of course, the whole MCU cinematic bubble could abruptly collapse for some reason and the problem not have to be faced because succeeding movies have been canceled — but let's not dwell on that possibility.
What do you think will happen?
Marvel can always make new movies with other characters. GotG proved that people will watch a movie about a bunch of unknowns if it's good. There's a lot of characters Marvel can still choose from: Namor, Inhumans, West Coast Avengers, Power Man & Iron Fist, Sentry, Ms Marvel/Captain Marvel. She-Hulk, Squirrel Girl (you all know you want that), Alpha Team, etc.
I actually think the rotating roster is probably the most likely. Avengers 2 will make it much clearer whether they're trying to position the Avengers as "heroes that team up in times of great crisis" or "these six dudes here."
Yeah, there's always "Cap's Kookie Quartet," and then the roster changes again…
It would be a bold move on their part to rotate in new character — especially since, while they certainly have plenty in the stable to use, the "big guns" remain the ones they are using.
Of course (and assuming the franchise survives for that long) you could go through another 3-5 years with Cap and Iron Man, then reintroduce the characters in some fashion, if so desired.
I almost said that it would hurt the comic book sales if the movies were too different, universe-wise, from them — but the comic book sales are a drop in the bucket vs. the movie profits.
"You can't reboot the MCU franchise"
Don't say that, +Dave Hill ….many in Hollywood would consider it a challenge.
I think they could get away with some sort of rotating roster, holding onto whoever sticks around as "torch passers", when the time is right.
And there's always the West Coast Avengers, and even the Great Lakes Avengers, to pick up when this franchise fades away.
+Mark Means I don't think they'll reboot it until it's not making money any more. This is a huge new thing, so I don't think we have any way of knowing how it's going to play out, but so far they've had more than enough success to keep it rolling forward.
+Scott Randel Which circles back to Squirrel Girl …
I think the comics basis for them gives them a very good opportunity to trade people out over time. There've been lots of Avengers over the years, and they can use that. Comics also give them a lot of opportunies to just change actors. ("Omigosh! Ironman fell into a vat of mutagenic acid again!" …But people found that sort of device pretty cheesy even when it was actual comics. I don't know if we'd stand for it in the movies. Though Natasha has very good reason to undergo extensive plastic surgery at the moment…)
The big question, I think, is what are they going to do when Stan Lee dies? Will he keep getting his cameos?
That's when Zombie Stan Lee steps in….
+Kingsley Lintz Well, I'd like some sort of excuse/reason for a "retread" character, rather than just slip-streaming them in. But, yeah.
As for Stan … hmmmm.
They’re going to have Sam Wilson (Falcon) become a new Cap in the comics. I liked Anthony Mackie pretty good in CA:tWS.
Sebastian Stan can certainly do the physicality of Cap but he didn’t get to talk much and I haven’t seen him in anything else. Also hard to see New Cap as the heart of the team.
Don Cheadle is good as Iron Patriot/War Machine if Downey gets tired of (or too pricey for) Tony Stark.
There are always plenty of excuses for Thor to be elsewhere. (It might be beyond Loki/Odin’s power to give Mjollnir to anyone else.)
Quicksilver, the Scarlet Witch and the Vision stepping up.
They haz got Kree now, how about Carol Danvers?
@Randy – Oh, no question there is potential. The question is whether they (and we) prefer:
1. Someone different is now in the role, and nobody says anything (or there’s a lame “Ah, I see you got that face lift, Tony” comment).
2. Some other character takes on the role — War Machine fills in for Iron Man, Winter Soldier becomes the new Cap.
3. We simply give up on having Captain America (at least for a while) and have Starfox join the Avengers. (GotG crossover!)