Marvel Cinematic Universe general stuff

Hemsworth might the next Phase 1 star out the door, given a big blowout exit so yeah maybe they'll let him end on a serious note. Jeremy Renner kinda passed the torch in Hawkeye, while Mark Ruffalo can coast on Voicework for Hulk for a while. Black Widow is dead, so I think that's it?

They've always been pretty open how each Avengers film was the end of a "phase". Endgame was difficult in being a definitive goodbye to that Phase 1 roster though.

It's funny to say the MCU is only "now" hitting the B and C tier when reality is, stripped of Spider-Man and the X-Men, the franchise has been almost entirely built on that tier of also-rans IMO. Iron Man and Captain America - maybe Thor being a pre-existing myth - were first produced because they were the closest things to household names back in 2008+ - but nowhere near as famous as Spidey or Prof X and pals. Spider-Man up there with Superman and Batman for immortal, iconic status.

Series like the Guardians of the Galaxy were utter unknowns before the film shot them into fame; arguably the franchise's largest gamble back in the day, as it was so left field and obscure. Still is, really! A talking tree and racoon are practically mascot's! While much of the rest of the MCU has been made up of similarly niche characters like Scarlet Witch, Ant-Man, Captain Marvel, Wasp or Vision. Ditto Black Panther: again not an especially known character outside of comics fans til the movie shot him into the zeitgeist.

The ultimate genius of the MCU has been a consistent hit rate in taking its B, C Tier comics and turning them into household blockbuster names. It is true what you say though IMO: none of the Phase 4 slot have inspired much; I think the world has become crowded and those early characters have left increasingly large shadows - going double for the added tragedy of a major lead dying young. With the best will in the world, Shang-Chi has been fine, but nothing special that I'm pumped about him teaming up with others.

It's the same conundrum with Prof X. Maybe more so. While Jackman has gone on to be a bonafide Hollywood Star, Patrick Stewart's career has kinda pivoted around being Picard and Professor X. There's probably a hair between both actors' iconic roles but IMO Stewart shades it. I could see a few candidates for a new Logan (heck Jackman wasn't even the first actor hired lol), but I always struggle to think of who'd make a good X. McAvoy was ok but played it much differently - nor did he even look great, bald. Tom Hardy technically played an alt Picard I suppose? 🤭

I suspect even with Esposito, he's too old; just looking at how the casting has swung with Phase 4+ there's a sense Marvel are picking up younger and more obscure - for the purposes of longevity ala Hemsworth and Evans of yore.

My money would be on relative unknowns for the new X-Men, and younger - even for Xavier himself. Maybe McAvoy might come around again, even if his head shape was all wrong lol