The Infinity Saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has ended, spanning a total of 22 movies and more than a decade, the first of its kind in history. Beyond Spider-Man: Far From Home, Marvel Studios have yet to officially announce the full extent of their future plans, other than several smaller announcements.

We can already deduce part of what the future can be from the contracts (or lack thereof) of the actors and actresses making up the cast of the MCU. Most of these are based on insider sources from other sites like The Hollywood Reporter.

Keep in mind that spoilers for Avengers Endgame will be flowing freely as I discuss the future of these stars (and the characters they portray) below. It’s not too late to turn back if you haven’t watched the movie yet.

Robert Downey Jr (Tony Stark/Iron Man)

Most of the original founding members of the Avengers originating from the 2012 movie originally signed five-picture deals, which they then renegotiated as the years went by.

In the case of Robert Downey Jr AKA Tony Stark AKA Iron Man, his character met a rather definitive end in Avengers Endgame, sacrificing himself to defeat Thanos once and for all. The actor walked away from the movie a whopping $75 million richer.

Avengers Endgame was highly likely the last time we’ll ever see Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark. Why? His contract was never renewed, as it was only renegotiated with terms to extend his appearances in more movies.

Unless his contract is ever renewed, his heartbreaking sendoff in Avengers Endgame was Robert Downey Jr’s swansong. He’s been here from the very beginning in 2008, it’s high time that the next generation of heroes gets their due.

Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/Captain America)

Just like his co-star and fellow Avenger Robert Downey Jr, Evans renegotiated his contract after his initial five-picture deal. Steve Rogers’ fate in Avengers Endgame, while not as definitive as dying, means that this was likely it for Evans in the MCU as well.

Captain America choosing to stay behind in the past and living a full life with soulmate Peggy Carter fulfilled the end of the character’s arc in the MCU. There’s no reason why they would bring back Rogers, especially now that he’s literally given away his shield and mantle of Captain America to Sam Wilson AKA Falcon.

Scarlett Johannson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow)

Despite the fact that she died in Avengers Endgame, Marvel Studios have already confirmed that a standalone Black Widow movie is in the works. Not only will Johannson reprise her role as the former assassin, but she will reportedly also produce her upcoming solo movie, which will earn her a cool $20 million salary.

However, details are scarce on the Black Widow movie, which is currently slated for a 2020 release. Due to Black Widow’s fate in Avengers Endgame, it’s fair to assume that the upcoming movie will likely be a prequel of some sort, allowing us to not only learn more about Natasha’s past in the Red Room but also maybe finally reveal what exactly happened in Budapest with Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye.

Chris Hemsworth (Thor Odinson)

Just like the rest of his founding Avenger co-stars, Hemsworth renegotiated his original five-picture deal with Marvel Studios. However, unlike the definitive ends of Iron Man, Captain America, and Black Widow, Thor remains very much alive and well at the end of Avengers Endgame, even choosing to join the Guardians of The Galaxy team.

While a fourth Thor movie is yet to be confirmed, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is slated to begin production sometime in 2020. Director James Gunn has not revealed the official casting for the upcoming sequel yet, but all members of the team are set to return, likely with Hemsworth’s Thor as a new member.

Thor returning in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is interesting, as the movie could finally introduce his long-time friend in the comics and original wielder of Stormbreaker, the alien known as Beta Ray Bill. However, nothing has been confirmed as of yet, so this all remains speculation for now.

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