Warning: Spoilers and speculation for Avengers: Infinity War, Thor: Ragnarok, and Avengers 4 ahead.
In a complex universe like Marvel's, one hero's story affects another, and that can play havoc with spoilers. Fans waited seemingly forever for the first Avengers: Infinity War trailer, and that may have been in part because Thor lost an eye in 2017's Thor: Ragnarok. Had he shown up in the Infinity War trailer with an eyepatch before fans had a chance to see that film, there would have been Hela to pay. (Sorry, Thor joke.)
Now fans are speculating that similar spoiler-saving devices for the MCU are at work with Avengers 4. On Friday, directors Joe and Anthony Russo tweeted a response to a fan who admitted to being afraid as to the reason the movie is still untitled. Let's just say their answer didn't exactly calm anyone's nerves.
It should.
— Russo Brothers (@Russo_Brothers) March 30, 2018
While Marvel titles aren't usually dead (sorry again) giveaways as to their film's plot, the Russos' tweet -- perhaps combined with this ominous Chris Evans interview -- sent fan imaginations off to Valhalla and beyond.
Avengers 4: Everyone But Hawkeye Is Dead
— Char 🏳️🌈🌈🎶💜✨🖖🏻🌌💫 (@CharCubed) March 30, 2018
Avengers 4: ALL YOUR FAVS ARE DEAD. pic.twitter.com/pDC7gBV5V8
— The Buddhist Hippie (@BreakTheTaboo) March 31, 2018
Avengers: The War Is Over And Everyone Died
— ana is an avenger now (@drsttrange) March 30, 2018
Avengers 4: the funeral
— Mika 🐙🐝 (@gadoodxoxomika) March 31, 2018
Maybe it's called The End Of The Avengers
— Gabriel Fung (@GabrielFung7) April 2, 2018
Avengers Disassembled??
— TheKiD._ (@kbsmith40) April 2, 2018
Avengers: The End of The Line? 😱
— Rosy Wow (@RosyWow) April 2, 2018
Avengers: I used to be able to do this all day but now I’m dead
— Mr.Chinskie (@Oneteej) March 30, 2018
Nobody freak out. Some fans had lighter hopes for the title.
I am hoping for Avengers: Tahiti Vacation... #InfinityWar #InfinityWarEvent
— Mama's Geeky - Tessa Smith (@MamasGeeky) April 1, 2018
'Avengers 4: Dude, Where's My Infinity Glove?' (2019)
— David Jablow (@davidjablow) March 31, 2018
The Avengers: DCEU Aquisition
— Alex Arevalo (@AlexdoxA) April 1, 2018
Avengers: Steve Rogers Retires And Peacefully Lives out the Rest of His Life Painting and Volunteering at the VA
— M.F.W. (@IceQueenIceni) March 30, 2018
The film, whatever it ends up being called, is scheduled to come out in May 2019.