Samuel L. Jackson Thinks There Could Be Another Avengers Movie After Endgame

Disband the Avengers? Not on Nick Fury's watch.

In a recent conversation with CinemaBlend, Samuel L. Jackson made an interesting case for why large-scale teamups like those featured in the Avengers movies will likely always be part of the fabric of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Following the massive "Infinity Saga" which spanned the first eleven years and 22 films of the MCU, early rumblings have indicated that Marvel will play it a bit different heading into Phase 4 and beyond. Rather than one, all-encompassing, decades-long arc which dominates the entire franchise, the rumor mill has indicated that the next batch of films will feature smaller "mini-arcs" which may only take 4 to 6 movies to complete. There also seems to be a leaning toward smaller cross-franchise team-ups; it appears likely that Thor will appear in action with some or all of the Guardians of the Galaxy at some point, and some of Marvel's stars have even floated ideas of their own (Tom Holland, for one, would like to see a Spider-Man/Doctor Strange buddy flick).

It's also worth noting that the "Earth-bound" and "Cosmic" sides of the MCU are said to be much more sharply divided moving forward, with heroes like the Guardians and Captain Marvel handling intergalactic threats while Earth's heroes tend to more terrestrial matters. But according to Jackson, the MCU's Earth will always face the kind of dire situations that will require the Avengers, in one form or another, to assemble.

Asked if "the concept of Avengers movies" should be put on the shelf indefinitely in favor of the smaller team-ups, Jackson didn't hesitate with his reply. "No, I don't think that," he said. "I always think there's room for every kind of story to be told. And, at some point, you know, they're gonna have to put together another 'Avengers' group of some sort to deal with what's coming next."

Jackson then made a remark which seemed to imply that he — or rather, Fury — is privy to information which informed his response. "Nick knows something is coming," he said. "The same way he found out in Captain Marvel, 'Okay, there are other things out there that need to be dealt with that I didn't know about'... [Phase 4] is moving us to another place."

Jackson then made an interesting point pertaining to the upcoming Spider-Man: Far From Home, in which Fury recruits Peter Parker to fight giant elemental monsters alongside Quentin Beck, AKA Mysterio, a visitor from an alternate universe which was (allegedly) completely destroyed by said monsters. Setting aside the fact that the comics version of Mysterio lives and dies by manipulation and misdirection, the flick's introduction of alternate universes doesn't appear to be a fakeout, if Jackson is to be believed — which opens the door to all kinds of interdimensional threats which might be too much for one hero, or even a couple heroes, to handle. 

"We do know that there is going to be something... else," the star said. "And [in Far From Home], we open up the concept of a multiverse. So... come on."

Focusing on smaller team-ups would certainly open up a wide range of narrative possibilities, and would also be true to the spirit of the comics. Fans love seeing their favorite characters thrown into the mix together; there's a reason why the comics' Marvel Team-Up title has been published reasonably steadily since 1972.

But it stands to reason that, while it may be committed to not simply repeating itself going forward, Marvel Studios would be reluctant to completely abandon the massive crossover films which have brought it so much success. Of the eight MCU titles that have grossed over a billion dollars at the worldwide box office, four have Avengers in the title — and a fifth, Captain America: Civil War, may as well have.

At any rate, as usual, Nick Fury appears to know something we don't. There are all kinds of intergalactic and/or interdimensional threats from Marvel lore which could require an all-hands-on-deck response, some of which (like Dormammu) have already been introduced. Others (such as the High Evolutionary) are rumored to be making appearances very soon, and still others (like Galactus) are at least on the table thanks to Disney's acquisition of Fox Studios.

Whether the Avengers franchise proper will continue or a new team will rise to the forefront is anybody's guess, although we're going to go out on a limb and say that no studio in the world would simply walk away from the kind of international brand recognition that the Avengers name affords. But regardless, we're with Jackson in sincerely doubting that the days of the Mega Mighty Marvel Crossover are truly done.