Marvel Studio’s “Avengers: Endgame” is almost here! After roughly a year’s wait, the culmination of 10 years of Marvel Studios arrives in Philippine cinemas on April 24, two full days before it premieres around the world on April 26.
In the run-up to the premiere, Marvel Studios has dropped teasers and trailers. But yesterday—March 27—Marvel dropped something else. The “Avengers: Endgame” character posters were revealed and each of the 32 posters featured a hero from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
The posters had a hidden story of their own. Each of the posters featured the tagline “AVENGE THE FALLEN,” with the “A” in “FALLEN” the iconic Avengers “A.”
But the posters were also color-coded. The colored posters featured characters who survived the events of the “Avengers: Infinity War.”
The black-and-white posters featured characters who had either died during the events of “Avengers: Infinity War,” notably those who were decimated by Thanos’ snap.
There were expected appearances and surprise references.
THE LIVING
THE ONES WE KNOW
There were characters we knew survived “Avengers: Infinity War” as they were still standing after the decimation at the end of that film.
Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) was left defeated on Titan and later stranded in space.
Captain America (Chris Evans) led the futile Earth effort against Thanos. He now seeks a second chance.
Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) now rocks red hair again.
Thor (Chris Hemsworth) brought his new weapon, the axe Stormbreaker, to Earth but failed to go for Thanos’ head.
Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) apparently can no longer Hulk out.
Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) was not in “Avengers: Infinity War” but is in “Avengers: Endgame” after his family was decimated.
Nebula (Karen Gillan) was on Titan with Iron Man.
Okoye (Danai Gurira) the devoted leader of the Dora Milaje was shown still alive in Wakanda.
War Machine (Don Cheadle) was one of the lucky second-generation Avengers who survived.
Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) carries on for the lost Guardians of the Galaxy.
IN THE QUANTUM REALM
Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) was shown surviving the decimation while in the Quantum Realm in “Ant-Man & The Wasp.”
BACK ON EARTH
Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) was shown returning to Earth 14 years after the events of “Captain Marvel” when Nick Fury’s upgraded pager summoned her.
THE GOOD NEWS
Wong (Benedict Wong), Doctor Strange’s assistant, fought next to the Avengers in New York and is apparently alive.
Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) Iron Man’s right man hand returns.
THE CONFIRMATION
Iron Man was shown fighting to stay alive and get back to Earth to Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). It’s good to know she survived the snap and will be waiting when he gets back.
THE SURPRISE
The Asgardians were shown getting thumped by Thanos, and we assume half of them were wiped out by the snap. But the posters confirm that the breakout star of “Thor: Ragnarok,” Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) is alive and may be joining the fight.
THE FALLEN
THE ONES WE KNOW
These were the characters we saw killed by Thanos prior to the snap:
Loki (Tom Hiddleston) was killed when Thanos attacked the Asgardians, gaining the Space Stone—also known as the Tessaract—in the process.
Gamora (Zoe Saldana) may have been Thanos’ adopted daughter but Thanos sacrificed her to gain the Soul Stone.
Mantis (Pom Klementieff) was killed on Titan.
Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) was killed on Titan.
Vision (Paul Bettany) was destroyed when Thanos ripped the Mind Stone from the android’s forehead.
The following characters were shown decimated by Thanos’ snap in “Avengers: Infinity War.”
Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan)
Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen)
Spider-Man (Tom Holland)
Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson)
Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel)
Falcon (Anthony Mackie)
Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman)
Star-Lord (Chris Pratt)
Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch)
The Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) was shown turned to ash at the end of “Ant-Man & The Wasp.”
THE HEARTBREAKER
Despite rumors she had survived the snap and would lend her tech wizardry to the Avengers’ efforts in “Avengers: Endgame,” the breakout character of “Black Panther,” Shuri (Letitia Wright) was unfortunately ranked among those fallen.
OTHERS
The following were shown decimated but do not have posters: Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfieffer).
UNKNOWN
The fate of the following remain unknown after the events of “Avengers: Infinity War,” just a few of many: Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), Luis (Michael Pena) and Cassie Lang (Abby Ryuder Fortson).
Should we trust the posters? The directors—Anthony and Joe Russo—have displayed misdirection before so it’s always possible, but it seems that so close to the premiere, the posters should be considered canon rather than trickery.
Will the Avengers bring back the fallen? Find out on April 24.