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There are few things fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe love as much as theorizing.
Superhero abs, maybe?
Even that is a close second.
(Were not even going to mentionthe recent leaks, guys.)
Its not just that its arguably themostesoteric of the alreadyextremelyesoteric lot of precious gems obsessed over by Thanos.
Its also got some interesting quirks over in the comics world that make it ping nerd radar.
For one, the comic-book version of the Soul Stone is actually sentient.
Tickets to the Soul World are not always one way, though.
Its absolutely possible for heroes to be consumed and then spit back out, good as new.
In effect, Marvel movies have been a pretty safe place for superheroes to exist untilInfinity War.
Actor contracts are expiring and not being renewed.
If someone is willing to pay a price say, his own life?
The other popular bid for death is Tony Stark, the hero who started it all.
(Remember that time Tony tried to fly a nuclear weapon into outer space to save New York?
He, too, has a penchant for self-sacrifice.)
Just how many more stories does Tony have in him, anyway?
Perhaps he lived to die another day?
And Hawkeye is now operating under the alias Ronin, so he probably means business.
What were saying is, primary character death is inescapable!
The question is, which pivotal moment would we land on?
Justhowfar back do we need to go?
Theres some precedent in the comics that suggests the Time Stone is a bit of a wild card.
Maybe he used some sort of magic to protect or transport a copy of the stone through time?
Either way, it feels important.
But the potential Quantum Realm part of this time-travel equation is where things get sticky.
According to arecent trailer, he makes it back to Avengers headquarters, Microverse van and all.
So is entering the Quantum Realm the key to undoing Thanoss decimationwithoutusing the Stones themselves?
So what are thesewrist devices?)
Or, you know, initiate some other sort of wacky metaphysical escape clause.
Captain Marvel, perhaps?
It could be a nice bookend to give Carol a powerhouse moment while also calling back to the start.
(This is a good time to mention that Tessa Thompsons Valkyrie isreportedly still alive.)
Bonus: The Thanos Protocol.And, failing all else, there are, uh … other possibilities.
A whole lot can happen in three hours and two minutes.
