The Aftermath of 'Avengers: Infinity War' -- What Happens Now? (Spoilers!)

With Marvel's latest massive feature in July's Ant-Man and the Wasp just one week away, the path towards the next Avengers film nears ever-so closer. With the dust still settling from April's Avengers: Infinity War, and its earth-shattering consequences still on the horizon, the prospects of what comes next are far too tantalizing not to speculate at. From who ultimately survives the Mad Titan Thanos' fatal "snap" to what eventually draws the star-studded team of heroes back together as one, the possibilities of what could occur once the fourth Avengers film rolls around May 2019 are limitless. Nevertheless, I'm here to speculate how the next team-up feature could play out, and what lasting consequences are set to alter the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its characters forever.

One of the most startling consequences of Avengers: Infinity War found itself in the untimely demise of many of the franchise's most iconic characters. Most, if not all, at the hands of central antagonist Thanos, the roster for whom might meet their fate in the film was multiplied dramatically in the final act of the story. As Thanos' unwavering quest to acquire all six Infinity Stones before the Avengers and their allies could stop him leading to many characters facing early deaths, like Loki, Heimdall, and his own daughter Gamora, the final moments of his mission lent themselves to be the most heart-breaking of the entire film. As the likes of Bucky Barnes, Drax, Groot, Scarlet Witch, Peter Parker, Star-Lord, Doctor Strange, T'Challa, and Vision faded to dust at the snap of Thanos' Infinity Gauntlet, the sudden demise of nearly nearly a dozen Marvel characters on-screen remained one of the film's biggest surprises. 

The supposed "deaths" of these handful of characters might not be entirely permanent, however. While there might be obvious predictions as to who will survive in the end, sequel films for Spider-Man, Black Panther, and most of the Guardians of the Galaxy already confirmed, the fates of many of Thanos' victims aren't that clear-cut. That being said, the saving grace for the characters trapped in purgatory could find itself in somewhere already introduced to us in Infinity War. With the Soul Stone acting as the one sentient gem off Thanos' powerful glove, the full power-set of the stone has yet to be revealed in the films. What has been revealed, however, is the so-called "Soul World" housed within the gem. As we saw Thanos enter the orange-tinted realm following the sacrifice of his daughter Gamora, the mysterious dimension within the stone could be where we find our fallen heroes. How the living heroes get there is another question entirely...

While theories of Thanos communicating further with Gamora through the Soul World have been tossed around (his slain child taking on a role similar to Lady Death in the comics, as the one being that could truly sway the Mad Titan's reason), another popular theory finds Ant-Man and newcomer Captain Marvel as the ones who bridge the gap between the living Avengers and the dead. While we'll have to wait and see what the cosmic origins of pilot Carol Danvers in her own film out next March, the potential for Scott Lang/Ant-Man -- and his inter-dimensional ventures -- to take on a much larger role in the next Avengers film seems very promising. What the Soul World has in store for both the alive and fallen heroes in the next film remains unclear, leaving plenty of room for other bold theories. 

The potential for speculation can find itself in not only the events that have played out on-screen so far, but also in the ever-cryptic, behind-the-scenes events playing out during production. While the Soul World could feature heavily in the return of our heroes from the grave, another possibility seems entirely too predictable to be of any truth. That is, the rumored time-travel element that could factor into the plot of the fourth Avengers. While time-travel has neither been confirmed nor denied to feature in the sequel, set photos from the film have begun to spell out intriguing theories as to how the events of Infinity War might be dealt with. In what could find the surviving heroes traversing the past (and potentially former battles) to either outwit Thanos or save their allies from being killed in the first place, the violent consequences of the last film could find new meaning across the expanses of time. 

While I could spend all year long predicting how the dusted heroes might return, the more pressing issue, and what I find far more compelling, is the remaining Avengers and their compatriots dealing with the aftermath of their foe's fatal blow. With our living heroes scattered once more, Tony Stark and Nebula trapped on the planet Titan, and Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner, and Thor rounding out the remaining team on Wakanda, the world we see following "the snap" will surely be a central focus in the coming films. With governments toppling, nations in distress, and the Avengers seeking answers, the number of lasting consequences the Marvel Cinematic Universe is set to face are immeasurable. While the paths of the franchise's future releases and their premises are still unknown, the events of Avengers 4 could bring light to the dark days ahead. 

The toppling of governments and nations, and the inevitable shifts in power and dynamics caused by Thanos' actions, will surely result in a number of intriguing character developments for the majority of the heroes still kicking. While some theories pitch the likes of Princess of Wakanda Shuri to claim the mantle of both king and Black Panther in her brother's absence, and even U.S. Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross to step in as Commander and Chief for a troubled nation, the most fascinating characters I hope to see earn some much needed development are those who've been there since the beginning. With the fourth film set to reunite the main six heroes from the first team-up feature back in 2012, the dynamic between that of Tony Stark and Steve Rogers is one sure to hold precedence.

While other heroes are promised to deal with the revelations of their past, from Thor seeking out a new home for his people to Hawkeye making his return from the shadows of Infinity War, what lies between Stark and Rogers could be the glue that holds together the aftershock of Thanos' first strike. While the fates of both the leading heroes remain a mystery, be it Stark finally tossing in the towel for a quiet life or Steve making the ultimate sacrifice to save the team he helped build, the leadership of the Avengers -- and their role in a fractured world -- will radically change when the dust finally settles. 

While there remain a dozen more burning questions to be answered, and a hefty handful of fan theories just waiting to be unspooled, the aftermath of May's Avengers: Infinity War is full of unsettling revelations and deep-seated consequences that will shape the franchise moving forward. As upcoming chapters like Ant-Man and the Wasp and Captain Marvel aim to tease towards what's coming, nothing can prepare us for what lies in the not-yet-titled Avengers 4.