The Russo Brothers, the directing team that will be receiving a bill to treat my emotional distress post-Infinity War, aren’t done killing yet. Here’re a few more characters who bit the dust or made it through The Snapture.
In an interview with Huffpost, Joe and Anthony Russo discussed some characters that appear to be in response to the reporter’s prompts, because several of the folks mentioned are pretty random (Actor Loki, Howard the Duck), while others are potentially important to the future of the MCU (Aunt May, my favorite Disney Princess, Shuri). The bloodthirsty brothers Russo, ever eager for more slaughter, imparted a few more fates.
The bad news first. According to the Russos, here’s who didn’t make it:
Betty Ross. Betty Ross?! The Hulk’s lady friend has been missing from MCU movies since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, and it would seem that despite the occasional rumor that she’d make a return, Betty is done for. Since her father, U.S. Secretary of State Thunderbolt Ross, is still around (he was in Infinity War), if he’s in Avengers 4 he might be feeling a bit more amenable to cooperating with those dastardly superheroes if they can help restore his daughter.
Lady Sif. Confirming my fears, Thor’s badass companion won’t make a return. Per Huffpost, “The Russos confirmed she won’t be in ‘Avengers 4’ because of obligations to being a mound of ashes.” Ouch. Hey, Kevin Feige: it will never, ever be too late to bring Jaimie Alexander back into the MCU as Lady Loki or to see a Sif revival when you finally make that Valkyrie-led Lady Liberators movie that everyone wants.
Actor Loki. Matt Damon’s surprise cameo appearance playing Loki in the play Loki wrote himself about his “death” was a delight and helped kick Thor: Ragnarok off on just the right note. Unfortunately, Actor Loki is no more. It’s unclear if he died in the events of Ragnarok or got snapped away.
Whew. OK, we made it through that—so who’s safe (for now)?
Aunt May. Marisa Tomei’s feisty May lived through Infinity War, but I don’t really want to think about her not knowing what happened to Peter Parker and then being unable to find him post-snap. I just made myself sad. She’s “safe,” according to Anthony Russo, but the article suggests that she might not have much or any of a part to play in Avengers 4. Still, I’m glad May made it.
Nakia. The Russos didn’t straight-up say that Nakia survived, but they mention that she missed Infinity War because she was “out on missions.” Hopefully Nakia’s undercover adventures play a part in Avengers 4 and she will, too.
Howard the Duck. “He survived,” Joe Russo related. O … kay. I mean, I know my thoughts went immediately to Howard the Duck as soon as I realized half the galaxy got dusted. We’ll probably see another Howard cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3.
Characters that the Russos will neither confirm nor deny, claiming that the answer is “too spoilery.”
Ned Leeds. Peter Parker’s best friend is funny and sweet and Ned must be protected at all costs. It’s interesting that his fate would be considered a spoiler, but not May’s.
Jane Foster. This one’s a bit of a surprise; even the Huffpost reporter was surprised that the Russos didn’t have a definitive answer about Jane: “’When we say spoiler, [we mean] potential spoiler,’ Anthony clarified after I was a bit shocked they couldn’t comment on Jane.” This could mean nothing, or it could mean Natalie Portman felt like coming back for an Avengers 4 paycheck and that Dr. Foster’s science could be helpful in reversing the Snapture. It’d be nice if not everyone in Thor’s life was dead, too.
Korg and Miek. THEY BETTER BE OKAY, RUSSOS. THEY BETTER BE JUST FINE. The fact that their fate is at all a spoiler gives me hope.
Shuri. We didn’t see what happened to the most precious and brilliant of Princesses at the end of Infinity War. We know she’ll be back eventually for Black Panther sequels. But my hope is that Shuri will temporarily assume T’Challa’s mantle and become the Black Panther while her brother is gone. She’s more than up to it, and to see Shuri in action this way would be amazing. Honestly, if it were somehow possible for Black Panther 2 to star Shuri in the title role I would never ask for anything else for Christmas ever again.
That’s it from the Russo brothers, who continue to toy with my emotional well-being. Who’s left with any kind of significant part in the narrative that we don’t know about post-Snap? Crucially, the people in Tony’s life—Pepper and Happy. Zendaya’s MJ. Hawkeye, who will probably be in Avengers 4, but did his family make it? Ant-Man and the Wasp (likely both OK). Dr. Selvig and Darcy. The Collector and his brother, the Grandmaster. The Agents of SHIELD. Agent Ross. Agent 13, a.k.a. Sharon Carter. The evil love of my life, Helmut Zemo.
Are we missing anyone? Let us know in the comments.
(via The Huffington Post, image: Marvel Studios)
