Marvel’s Controversial Avengers Replacement Will Take Over The MCU In 2026

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The Avengers haven’t been fully present throughout much of the current storyline in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It looks like another team of heroes will take the lead in 2026. A major issue fans have had with this era of MCU films is that the heroes have been mostly working separately.

The Infinity Saga of Marvel movies always ended each phase with a big team-up film. But the current Multiverse Saga has been different – we’ve met a lot of new heroes without much connection between them. Luckily, a team-up is planned for Disney+ before the next big Avengers movie, Doomsday, brings all the main heroes together on the big screen.

Interestingly, the heroes poised to take center stage are some of the most debated figures in recent Marvel movies and TV shows.

2026 Will Be The Year Of The Defenders In The MCU

2026 promises to be a massive year for superhero fans! We’ll see new live-action projects like Supergirl and Clayface from the DCU, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday from Marvel, plus several other exciting shows and movies. There will be no shortage of superhero content to enjoy.

The second season of Daredevil: Born Again is coming to Disney+ on March 4th, and it’s expected to be released before most other Marvel projects. Given how the first season ended – with Matt Murdock preparing to gather a team of heroes – we have a good idea of who might be joining him in the fight to protect Hell’s Kitchen.

Kristen Ritter is confirmed to reprise her role as Jessica Jones, and there’s growing speculation that Luke Cage may also appear. Plus, Jon Bernthal’s introduction of the Punisher last season strongly suggests we’ll soon see the Defenders team up within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Although the Punisher wasn’t officially part of the Defenders team in the Netflix series, his significant role in an upcoming Punisher special and his planned return in Spider-Man: Brand New Day suggest the Netflix Marvel shows are finally getting the attention they’ve earned.

Marvel’s Netflix Shows Created Their Own Grounded Universe

Throughout the 2010s, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) thrived in theaters, but Netflix also built a dedicated following with its own interconnected Marvel series. It started with Daredevil and expanded to include four more shows focused on street-level heroes, culminating in a team-up event called The Defenders.

Shows like Daredevil, The Punisher, and Jessica Jones were big hits with audiences. While Luke Cage and Iron Fist received more varied or negative reactions, they still helped build a rich and unique world for different kinds of superhero stories.

These characters felt more realistic than the superheroes we usually see in big-budget Marvel movies. The shows delved into their everyday lives and flaws, offering a level of detail the films often didn’t have time for. This created a striking difference from the large-scale, epic superhero movies that were popular in theaters.

The MCU Would’ve Been Foolish Not To Bring The Netflix Characters Back

The mixed reception to Luke Cage and Iron Fist, along with the disappointing performance of The Defenders, likely made Marvel hesitant to include the Netflix Marvel series in the main MCU storyline. However, those Netflix shows had a special quality that deserved to be revisited.

The brilliant casting choices – Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk, Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, and Jon Bernthal, among others – combined with the compelling storylines developed over several seasons, created a show with a dedicated fanbase that deserved to continue. Bringing these characters and stories back was essential.

Fortunately, Marvel Studios responded to fan requests and, instead of ignoring the excellent groundwork of Daredevil and its related shows, they’ve chosen to incorporate key parts of the story into their broader multiverse. Daredevil: Born Again will act as a sequel of sorts, with a fresh take on the original series.

Will Luke Cage And Iron Fist Rejoin The MCU?

There’s still debate about whether all the former Netflix Marvel characters will appear in season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again. While it’s logical to see characters like Luke Cage return, given his strong ties to Jessica Jones, the inclusion of others, such as Iron Fist, seems less likely.

While Iron Fist was widely considered the weakest of the Netflix Marvel shows, it also marked the end of Danny Rand’s story. In season 2, Danny chose to pass the power of the Iron Fist onto his friend, Colleen Wing, effectively concluding his character arc.

Luke Cage and Colleen Wing might show up in the second season of Daredevil: Born Again. Alternatively, Marvel could introduce new characters to better tie the show into the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Season two of Daredevil: Born Again is expected to be a significant moment for the MCU’s Defenders. Several of these heroes will officially join the main MCU storyline, and their actions will have consequences for future events.

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2025-11-10 22:49