The Next Generation of Heroes: Sam, Bucky, Yelena and Shuri
Last updated 2026-10-31
After Endgame, the MCU's focus moved to a new generation, and many of them are in the announced Doomsday cast. Here is how their stories flow, in three groups.
1. The new Captain America and Falcon
The line of Sam Wilson and Joaquin Torres.
- The Winter Soldier: Sam debuts and becomes Steve's partner.
- Endgame: An elderly Steve passes him the shield.
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: After a struggle, Sam chooses to become Captain America. Torres debuts.
- Brave New World: Sam works as Captain America and Torres becomes the new Falcon. The post-credits scene warns that "other worlds are coming."
2. Thunderbolts* (the New Avengers)
The line of Bucky, John Walker, Yelena, Alexei, Ghost and Bob. Characters introduced in different titles finally become one team.
- Bucky: Returns in The Winter Soldier, then Civil War, then faces his past in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
- John Walker: Becomes the government's Captain America and loses the title in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
- Yelena and Alexei: Debut in Black Widow. Yelena faces her sister Natasha's death in Hawkeye.
- Ghost: Debuts in Ant-Man and the Wasp.
- Bob: Debuts in Thunderbolts*. He is the powerful Sentry, and also carries a dark side, the Void.
They all come together in Thunderbolts*. Its post-credits scene shows a spaceship from another dimension (apparently the Fantastic Four's), which bridges into Doomsday.
3. Wakanda and Talokan
The line of Shuri, M'Baku and Namor.
- Black Panther: Shuri and M'Baku debut.
- Infinity War: The all-out battle in Wakanda.
- Wakanda Forever: After losing her brother, Shuri becomes the new Black Panther. After fighting Namor, king of the underwater kingdom of Talokan, they make a truce.
Confirmed cast members that are easy to miss
- Shang-Chi: His only appearance is his solo film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, so it is the only way to get to know him.
- Ant-Man: In his latest film, Quantumania, he fought Kang alongside his daughter Cassie.