It’s an exciting time for Marvel fans as the new phase of the MCU is well underway. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has arrived and Ms. Marvel is on the way. The new entries in the franchise will introduce some new young characters that are starting to point to a specific team being introduced on the horizon.
The Young Avengers have been a fan favorite in the comics since their debut and there’s been some speculation that Marvel Studio could be interested in building that team in the MCU. As of now, Marvel hasn’t announced whether there will be a new Avengers film, so perhaps they’re saving the spot for a new team of young superheroes.
Cassie Lang/Stature
Cassie Lang was introduced way back in Ant-Man. Cassie loved her dad very much and was thrilled that she got to spend more time with him when he was under house arrest. When Scott returned from the Quantum Realm after five years, Cassie had grown older but still loved her father.
Known as Stature in the comics, Cassie was one of the original members of the Young Avengers. Her size-changing abilities were part of her DNA due to prolonged exposure to Pym particles. Marvel Studios has recast the young actress who played Cassie in Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp with Kathryn Newton, which could imply a desire to give her a larger role going forward.
Billy & Tommy Maximoff/Wiccan & Speed
WandaVision introduced two beloved Marvel characters to the MCU, Billy, and Tommy Maximoff. Wanda and Vision’s twin boys only existed within the curse that Wanda put up around the town of West View. When she brought the curse down, the two boys were erased along with the version of Vision she had created. But it appears they may exist somewhere in the Multiverse still.
Wiccan and Speed were the reincarnated versions of the twins that Wanda had lost many years ago and joined the Young Avengers. It’s with the group that Wiccan met his future husband Hulkling. It’s possible the two could make a return and join a future Young Avengers team. Perhaps bringing Hulkling with them.
Eli Bradley/Patriot
Falcon and the Winter Soldier introduced Isaiah Bradley to the MCU along with his grandson, Eli. While Eli doesn’t have a large role in the events of the series, it is confirmed that Isaiah was a super-soldier like Captain America. By the end of the series, Eli seemed to be inspired by Sam Wilson’s Captain America.
Eli goes by Patriot in the Young Avengers. After using mutant growth hormones for his powers, Isaiah gave him a blood transfusion which gave Eli the abilities of a super-soldier. A lot of the plot of Falcon and the Winter Soldier revolved around the super-soldier serum, so it’s possible that this could lead Eli to gain his comic book abilities and lead the Young Avengers.
Yelena Belova
Yelena was introduced in Black Widow as Natasha’s younger sister from an undercover family unit. Yelena had become brainwashed by the Black Widow program and when she was snapped out of it, she and Natasha go to take down the program once and for all. After Natasha’s death, Yelena goes after Hawkeye, who she believes is responsible.
Yelena is not a member of the Young Avengers in the comics, but Kate Bishop is. The second Hawkeye and Yelena had some standout chemistry in Hawkeye. Marvel could want to keep the pair together, so if Kate joins the Young Avengers, then Yelena could as well. The MCU has changed plenty from the comics as well.
Kang/Iron Lad
At the end of Loki, it is revealed to Loki and Sylvie that the TVA has been run by He Who Remains, a variant of Kang the Conquerer, who has been trying to protect the timeline from creating evil variants of him. Sylvie ends up killing He Who Remains, which makes the timeline free to create an infinite multiverse. Jonathan Majors is soon to return as Kang in the upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but that might not be the only Kang we see.
The Young Avengers were recruited by a younger version of Kang who decided he didn’t want to turn into the conqueror and instead turned into Iron Lad. With Kang, seemingly being set up as an ever-present threat to the MCU, it’s potentially possible that a younger version of Kang could be introduced to become Iron Lad. If the Young Avengers are on the horizon, it’s not outside of the realm of possibilities.
Kid Loki
When Loki was sent to the end of time, he met variants of himself who had been surviving there. One of them was a younger version of Loki who is commonly referred to as Kid Loki. Kid Loki and the other Loki’s helped the MCU Loki survive at the end of time and then parted ways when the road became too treacherous. But now that the multiverse has been unlocked, who knows where Kid Loki is.
The second generation of the Young Avengers had Kid Loki as one of their members. When Loki reincarnated, he came back as a young boy and strived to change his ways so he wouldn’t become the God of Evil again. Since Kid Loki potentially survived at the end of Loki, it’s possible the character could show up again to join the Young Avengers.
Kate Bishop/Hawkeye
After being saved by Hawkeye during the Battle of New York, Kate dedicated her life to mastering every weapon she could, including a bow and arrow. She idolized Clint Barton and jumped at the chance to team up with him. She helped Clint take down the Tracksuit Mafia and recover the Watch that Echo had taken.
Kate is a long-time member of the Young Avengers in the comics. Her wealth is what funded them in the beginning. Her standing in the Young Avengers is so iconic that it would be a shame to introduce the team without her. Hailee Steinfeld is one of the stand-outs from the Disney+ MCU shows so far, so it would be great to see her again.
America Chavez
America Chavez is one of the new characters being introduced in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Her abilities allow her to punch star-shaped holes in the universe so she can travel the multiverse. At this time, it’s unclear what kind of role she’ll play in the upcoming Doctor Strange film, but chances are, it’ll be important.
Chavez is a bit older in the comics and was the leader of the second generation of Young Avengers. She comes from a place called the Utopian Parallel and is one of Marvel’s most iconic LGBT+ characters. Due to her age in the MCU, it’s unlikely she would be the leader of whatever MCU incarnation would develop but she could join and be an immensely powerful ally.
Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel
Kamala Khan will soon be introduced in Ms. Marvel, with a drastic new power in the MCU. Her series is going to follow the story of how she gains her powers and overcomes her fears to be the superhero, Ms. Marvel. Outside of that, not much is known, except that she’ll return in The Marvels next year.
Ms. Marvel is not a member of the Young Avengers in the comics. Instead, she was part of the All-New All-Different Avengers, before becoming a founding member of the Champions. While the Champions aren’t the same type of team the Young Avengers are, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary to use her on the MCU’s Young Avengers instead.
Riri Williams/Iron Heart
Riri Williams will be introduced in the MCU starting with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever before heading her own series on Disney+ named Iron Heart. No doubt she’ll follow a similar path as her comic book counterpart, where she creates a suit of armor similar to Iron Man’s and becomes a superhero.
Again, Iron Heart is not a Young Avengers character, she was a member of the Champions. Much like Ms. Marvel, it’s likely Marvel Studios would just merge the rosters of the two teams which would include Iron Heart.
