Marvel Studios is very clearly introducing the Young Avengers to the MCU for a potential new movie; new characters joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe already count Tommy & Billy Maximoff and Eli Bradley among their number. In Marvel Comics, these characters were Speed, Wiccan and Patriot – founding members of the Young Avengers, first introduced in the wake of the Avengers disbanding after the ‘Avengers: Disassembled’ event in 2003. Brought together by a younger version of Kang the Conqueror trying to avoid his villainous fate, the young Kang took the mantle of Iron Lad, escaping to the present only to find the Avengers disbanded. Using the Vision’s failsafe program to locate the next generation of Avengers – each one having some link to Avengers history – he forms the Young Avengers.
Thanks to Marvel’s new Disney+ programming push, we’ve already met the Scarlet Witch’s twin boys and Eli Bradley – grandson of Isaiah Bradley, the last surviving African American super-soldier test subject. Cassie Lang, the daughter of Scott Lang/Ant-Man, has recently been recast for his upcoming threequel, lending more credence to her future membership. They’re not the only Young Avengers planned for further appearances; we’ve also got Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop/Hawkeye in the Disney+ series of the same name. With it being fairly obvious that the Young Avengers are on the way, which other new characters joining the MCU can we expect to see fighting alongside them? Here’s the rundown.
Kate Bishop – Hawkeye
As mentioned, Kate Bishop will be showing up in the Hawkeye series on Disney+ at the end of the year. In the comics, Kate Bishop is an extremely talented individual who can master skills with ease. She is at odds with her silver spoon background, and excels in her role as Hawkeye, going on to become the leader of the team. Steinfeld is great casting for Kate Bishop, possessing exactly the kind of headstrong attitude that makes Kate worthy of the Hawkeye mantle and her many fans are already lighting up social media in joy with every leaked set video. Of all the Young Avengers’ new characters joining the MCU, Kate Bishop is easily one of the most anticipated and could have a very big role in a Marvel Studios Young Avengers movie.
Billy & Tommy Maximoff – Wiccan/Speed
Cassie Lang – Stature
Cassie Lang was last seen in Avengers: Endgame, but recently, it was announced she’ll be recast for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania; this time to be played by Kathryn Newton (Freaky). Unluckily enough for previous actress Emma Fuhrmann, Marvel were apparently looking for an actress with a bit more teen pedigree to step into Cassie Lang’s shoes. Likely because she’s about to have a huge role in the Young Avengers, where she’ll adopt her father’s size-changing powers for her own heroic deeds.
Eli Bradley – Patriot
Eli Bradley can currently be seen in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, where he’s played by Elijah Richardson; the teenager is seen idly playing basketball or protecting his grandfather from people sticking their nose in his business. The fact they’ve already introduced him is a good sign for the character – he’s another building block of the Young Avengers, after all, and could be a large presence in a potential movie. The same can’t be said of the actor, sadly; Marvel already recast Cassie Lang, would they do the same to Richardson? Hopefully not, as the actor clearly has the chops to play Patriot, judging by his resume (When They See Us).
Dorrek VIII aka Teddy Altman – Hulkling
Teddy Altman is one of the bigger players in the Young Avengers; new characters joining the MCU could well include this young shapeshifter. Teddy has a great backstory; being the son of the OG Captain Marvel, blossoming from his role as Hulkling in the Young Avengers to becoming Emperor Hulkling of the Kree and Skrull races, finally bringing peace to the warring races. If Hulkling comes to the MCU, will he be related to Annette Bening’s gender-flipped Mar-Vell, last seen perishing in Captain Marvel? It’d be an easy link to make, as half the work is already done. Time will tell whether we see Teddy Altman or not.
RiRi Williams – Ironheart
Theories regarding the Young Avengers and which new characters will comprise the team go a little off-piste here. It’s unlikely we’ll see Iron Lad/young Kang the Conqueror, as Kang himself is only being introduced in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Trying to introduce a younger version of the character grappling with his destiny might be a little too much, too soon in terms of plot. We still need an Iron Man analogue for the team, and with Tony Stark’s young self-taught protégé RiRi Williams being introduced in her own Disney+ show Ironheart (played by Dominique Thorne), it’d be easy enough to enlist her with the Young Avengers.
Kamala Khan – Ms. Marvel
To round out the Young Avengers movie’s new characters joining the MCU, Ms. Marvel is a likely candidate. Kamala Khan has been immensely popular since she debuted in 2013, and she’s coming to the MCU Disney+’s Ms. Marvel – played by newcomer Iman Vellani. With so many teen characters being introduced over the next couple of years, it stands to reason that Kevin Feige would want to throw a popular character like Ms. Marvel into the Young Avengers line-up. Of all the new characters joining the MCU, Ms. Marvel is drawing a lot of attention and anticipation; they might even make her leader of the team.