Marvel Studios Just Replaced Its 8th Superhero With a New Actor

Hector Ayala’s time as the White Tiger was brief, as the character was killed off shortly after being exonerated in court, a scene depicted in Season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again. The late Kamar de los Reyes, who beautifully portrayed the proud Puerto Rican vigilante, passed away in December 2023, and the show paid a heartfelt tribute to him. However, Hector’s story didn’t truly end with his death; it was passed on to someone new.

In Season 2, Episode 3 of Daredevil: Born Again, Camila Rodriguez’s character, Angela del Toro, officially became the White Tiger. She arrived at the Red Hook facility wearing clothing inspired by the White Tiger costume, hinting that she’ll eventually get the full outfit. She was wearing the Amulet of Power and assisted Daredevil in freeing prisoners who had been illegally held by the Anti-Vigilante Task Force. As they left, she also slashed the tires of the AVTF’s vehicles.

This change is significant because both Hector and Angela first appeared in Daredevil: Born Again. This marks the first time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that a superhero identity tied to a streaming-only series has been passed from one original Disney+ character to another. Previously, every other major superhero passing-the-torch moment in the MCU involved at least one character who originated in a theatrical movie.

The story closely follows the comic books, where Angela del Toro was also Hector’s niece. Like in the comics, she’s an FBI agent who received the magical Amulets of Power when Hector died, and Matt Murdock later trained her.

This version of the character is much younger and has less experience, suggesting she could eventually join the Young Avengers team.

She isn’t the first character to take on a famous superhero name. Over more than fifteen years of Marvel Cinematic Universe stories, the franchise has often passed these identities on to new heroes.

I’ve noticed something really interesting in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – eight times now, a hero has genuinely stepped down and retired, passing their iconic name and costume on to someone new, often someone they’re close to. While other heroes have shared the same titles, these eight instances felt like a true passing of the torch. It’s not just about someone using the same name; it’s about a formal handover, which is pretty special to see.

Superhero Monikers With Different Actors in the MCU

Captain America (Steve Rogers to Sam Wilson)

As a huge Marvel fan, I’ll never forget Steve Rogers passing the shield to Sam Wilson in Endgame. But it wasn’t just about the shield, was it? The journey to Sam actually becoming Captain America played out in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and it was a really powerful series. It didn’t shy away from the tough questions – would America really accept a Black man as Captain America? The show made it clear that wasn’t a simple yes or no answer, and that’s what made it so compelling.

In the finale, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) officially became the new Captain America, and he continued in that role in the film Captain America: Brave New World. This transition feels particularly meaningful in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, because the series didn’t just show him becoming Captain America, it built a compelling case for why he should.

Captain America (Steve Rogers to US Agent)

Before Sam Wilson became Captain America, the US government decided to appoint someone else. In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, John Walker (played by Wyatt Russell) was officially given the title, making him the first Captain America besides Steve Rogers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

John Walker only served as Captain America for about four episodes before violently killing a Flag Smasher on camera, which immediately ended his time in the role. Although he lost the title, he later reappeared as the US Agent and has been featured in Thunderbolts. While his time as Captain America was never intended to be permanent, it was a memorable part of the story.

Black Panther (T’Challa to Shuri)

The transition of the Black Panther role is particularly poignant. Following the passing of Chadwick Boseman and his character, T’Challa, the movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever centers on the resulting grief. Ultimately, Shuri (Letitia Wright) embraces the mantle and the Black Panther suit, becoming the new protector of Wakanda.

Shuri understands the responsibility that comes with taking over as Black Panther, especially considering her brother’s history. She’ll be back in Avengers: Doomsday, and this will be her most difficult test yet.

Falcon (Sam Wilson to Joaquin Torres)

After Sam Wilson became Captain America, someone new needed to take on the mantle of the Falcon. Joaquin Torres, played by Danny Ramirez, did just that, using an enhanced version of the Falcon suit in the movie Captain America: Brave New World. Ramirez first played Torres in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, making this a relatively seamless transition for a character who originated on a streaming platform within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Ant-Man (Hank Pym to Scott Lang)

In the original Marvel comics, Hank Pym was the first Ant-Man – a scientist who created the Pym Particle and the Ant-Man suit. However, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Ant-Man movie begins with Hank Pym (played by Michael Douglas) already retired, and focuses on how he trains Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) to become the new Ant-Man.

The change in Ant-Man happened behind the scenes because Hank Pym was a hero long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe began. However, the movie shows this was a deliberate decision – Hank specifically chose and trained Scott Lang to take over, as he was no longer able to do the job himself. After three Ant-Man films, Scott Lang is now considered the main version of the character in the MCU.

Wasp (Janet van Dyne to Hope van Dyne)

Janet van Dyne, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, was the first Wasp. She disappeared into the Quantum Realm on a mission many years before the events of the current Marvel Cinematic Universe. Later, in Ant-Man and the Wasp, her daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly) became the new Wasp, using a suit her father, Hank, designed for her.

It might be difficult for Hope van Dyne to reach her full potential in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as Evangeline Lilly has hinted at wanting to retire from acting. If she does, Marvel Studios will likely have to decide whether to find a new actor to play the role or shift their focus to other characters.

Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff to Yelena Belova)

Although Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) died in Avengers: Endgame, her story continued through the Black Widow film. This movie introduced Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), who is like a sister to Natasha and also trained in the Red Room. The film strongly suggests Yelena will become the new Black Widow.

Yelena first appeared as a villain targeting Clint Barton in Hawkeye, and later became a key character in Thunderbolts. While she hasn’t been officially named Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Florence Pugh is essentially taking over the role.

BONUS: Hawkeye (Clint Barton to Kate Bishop)

In the Disney+ series Hawkeye, Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) spent six episodes proving to Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) that she was ready to become the next Hawkeye. The show strongly suggested she would take on the role, but Clint was still active as Hawkeye at the same time, meaning he hasn’t fully retired the identity yet.

Similar to how Angela del Toro took over the role before her, Kate Bishop becoming the new Hawkeye was something many Marvel Cinematic Universe fans predicted. The season finale showed she truly earned the title by defeating Kingpin and ensuring her mother faced justice.

BONUS: Thor (Thor Odinson to Jane Foster)

Natalie Portman reprised her role as Jane Foster in Thor: Love and Thunder, becoming the Mighty Thor. Like in the comics by Jason Aaron, Jane earns the right to wield Mjolnir and fight alongside Thor, all while secretly battling cancer. This makes the film one of the more emotionally complex stories in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

She’s strong enough to wield the hammer, but using it worsens her condition, ultimately leading to her death. However, a scene after the credits hints she might return. Interestingly, she and Thor Odinson both continued to act as Thor at the same time, meaning she didn’t fully replace him as the hero.

2026-04-13 11:37