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Following Avengers: Endgame, it feels like anything is possible. Marvel characters have been known to evolve dramatically or even switch alliances. But Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has the chance to really shake up the franchise. In fact, according to a new MCU rumor, one female hero could be about to leave the franchise.

Marvel Studios' 'Avengers: Endgame' cast
Marvel Studios’ ‘Avengers: Endgame’ cast | Getty Images

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is growing a ton in Phase 4

For a while, Marvel Studios has been determined to build out the MCU as much as possible. Phase 1 focused on assembling the Avengers. Phase 2 officially introduced cosmic tales like Guardians of the Galaxy in anticipation of Thanos’ (Josh Brolin) arrival. And Phase 3 saw the Avengers and Thanos come head to head.

But the past several years in particular have also carried a sharp focus on diversity and representation. The MCU got its first Black lead in Black Panther. Captain Marvel brought the series its first female lead. And Phase 4 will keep ramping up these efforts. Between the movies and Disney+ show, women and people of color are finally getting their due.

And one long-rumored MCU future project is an all-female adventure

There’s one specific way in which many fans anticipate the MCU’s female heroes could have a stronger voice. A key scene in Avengers: Endgame saw a variety of women — led by Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel — unite in battle. Some viewers saw this as a tease for a film adaptation of Marvel Comics’ A-Force.

That title features an all-female team of Avengers. And judging by Avengers: Endgame, that potential roster could include Captain Marvel, Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Okoye (Danai Gurira), Shuri (Letitia Wright), Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), and Mantis (Pom Klementieff).

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts also suits up as Rescue in the movie’s final battle. But the actor said she’s likely out of the MCU following Robert Downey Jr.’s exit. Now it seems like Paltrow might not be the only female star in that all-female Avengers: Endgame moment to miss out on a potential A-Force movie.

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Marvel’s ‘A-Force’: Captain Marvel Has Reportedly Been Replaced as the Leader of the All-Female Avengers

If that happens, at least one female Avenger might not be participating

We Got This Covered reports that Marvel Studios is looking to phase Evangeline Lilly out of the MCU. The actor plays Hope van Dyne aka Wasp in the Ant-Man movies, and she reprised that role in Avengers: Endgame. Following Lilly’s controversial comments about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, reports rolled in she would have a reduced role in Ant-Man 3.

Now it sounds more than likely that Ant-Man 3 will be her last entry in the MCU. WGTC claims the MCU will introduce a new character to take her place at Paul Rudd’s side. The site indicates the MCU could bring in a woman of color as the new Wasp. But Avengers: Endgame already set up the perfect sidekick for Ant-Man.

Following his return from the Quantum Realm, Scott Lang (Rudd) discovers five years had passed. His young daughter Cassie is now a teenager (Emma Fuhrmann). And in the comics, Cassie Lang evolves into a superhero known as Stature. The Ant-Man movies have always focused on father-daughter relationships. So why not embrace that angle even further?

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