Which Avenger(s) Will Die In ‘Infinity War’?

MOST DEATH-FINITELY: "You want to get off the train before they push you off,” said Evans in New York Times of his time as Steve Rogers/Captain America. When his six-film Marvel contract expires next year with Avengers 4, Evans is ready to hang up his superhero spurs and move on to other creative avenues (how many saw his 2014 directorial debut Before We Go?). Wait, 2019? Does that mean Cap will survive Infinity War? But the shot of Rogers — who goes by the moniker ‘Nomad’ in Infinity War — resisting Thanos in the trailer strongly suggests that his number is up. Maybe he’ll be badly injured and croak in Avengers 4? And who’ll take over the Captain America mantle — Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) or Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie)?

MOST DEATH-FINITELY: Wait, is he even in Infinity War in the first place? Because either Renner or Hawkeye is mentioned in the publicity campaign. (Come to think about it, Nick Fury is MIA too.) “We did not forget the twice Oscar-nominated Jeremy Renner,” assured co-director Joe Russo at the recent press con here. “We are working on [two Avengers movies], so there’s a lot of story real estate. We have an interesting story cooked up for Hawkeye. I’d say patience is a virtue. We’re playing a long game, not a short game. We did not forget Hawkeye.” Then again, he may just pop up when you least expected… and die in a blaze of glory. C’mon, he has no superpowers. Do you think his archery skills are a match against the gauntlet-wearing big-ass alien tyrant like Thanos? Don’t think so.

MOST DEATH-FINITELY: Like Hawkeye, Black Widow aka Natasha Romanoff, has no superpowers, making her super-vulnerable to Thanos and his army of darkness. Is she living on borrowed time? Yes, and no. In January, Marvel Studios hired a writer to work on a Black Widow spin-off (it hasn’t been officially greenlighted, though), suggesting that Romanoff may live to fight another day. But there’s also talk of the standalone being a prequel set during her pre-SHIELD days when she was a Russian spy. So it doesn’t really matter if Romanoff kicks the bucket in Infinity War or Avengers 4. Or if ScarJo is available to reprise the role. (It won’t be the first time Marvel has replaced actors in the franchise — ask Terrence Howard and Edward Norton.)

DEATH-FINITELY, MAYBE: Like Evans, Hemsworth’s six-film Marvel contract ends next year, but the Aussie hunk has mixed feelings about leaving the MCU. In an USA Today interview in January, Hemsworth said he’s eager to move on (all his non-MCU movies were lacklustre at the box-office) but at the same he’s also game for another round of Thor-ific romps, following the hugely commercial and critical success of Thor: Ragnarok. Thor is a god, which makes him tougher to kill, right? Again, the trailer shows us a (spoilerific?) shot of him getting his head crushed by Thanos. The end is near? By the way, directors Joe and Anthony Russo have said that Thor has the most screen time in Infinity War than any hero.

DEATH-FINITELY, MAYBE: Ruffalo came into the MCU rather late: as Edward Norton’s replacement in 2012’s The Avengers. He, too, has inked a six-film pact and has appeared in three so far — two Avengers adventures, and Thor: Ragnarok. (There hasn’t been a second solo movie since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk because his rights are still with Universal.) So unless you count Ruffalo’s cameo in the post-credits stinger in Iron Man 3, his contract doesn’t end with Infinity War. Or the Avengers 4. So he’s safe for now, right? Not really. In February, Ruffalo had fans all worked up over a tweet that suggests that the green ogre in stretchy pants is a possible goner. Say it isn’t so.

ON LIFE SUPPORT: At press time, everything you heard about his impending departure is pure conjuncture. “There is nobody who can take over Iron Man from Robert,” said Infinity War co-director Joe Russo. “I don’t think the audience would accept that. He never mentioned to us about leaving Iron Man, but it will happen at some point of time.” Outside the MCU, Downey, 53, has been awfully quiet (did anyone see his 2014 drama The Judge?). Then again, he doesn’t need the work: Marvel Studios has made him a very rich man. Downey, who’s currently filming The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle, is fan favourite since day one, so it’s hard to imagine the MCU without him. The studio bigwigs would probably create an open-ended exit for RDJ in case his services are required again.