A new update concerning Marvel Television’s new Vision series suggests a surprising and exciting Avengers replacement team may be set up for Phase 6 of the MCU. Marvel Studios’ original Avengers team first came together in the eponymous 2012 film, The Avengers, to battle the Asgardian God of Mischief, Loki, and the team’s success quickly saw its members become global celebrities and a permanent fixture in the MCU. Since 2012, the Avengers roster has changed dramatically, with several new heroes joining their ranks, and some veteran Avengers retiring or even laying down their lives in the name of Earth’s protection.

The status of the Avengers has been uncertain since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame saw almost every member of the team band together to fight the Mad Titan, Thanos, during the Battle of Earth. While a new Avengers team is expected to form in the lead up to Phase 6’s Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars, several potential replacements have also been teased, including the likes of the Thunderbolts, the Midnight Sons, and the Young Avengers. Marvel Studios may have also been setting up yet another replacement Avengers team for the MCU’s Phase 6, which could have just received a huge update.

Vision & Wonder Man Seem Likely To Release In 2026

In May 2024, Marvel Studios provided the first major update concerning the MCU’s upcoming Vision series, set to star Paul Bettany as White Vision, returning from his appearance in Phase 4’s WandaVision. Variety has reported that Star Trek: Picard executive producer Terry Matalas will be the showrunner for Marvel Television’s Vision series, which has been given a 2026 release window. Paul Bettany first appeared as Vision in Avengers: Age of Ultron, but was rebuilt with a new, white design in WandaVision following his death in Infinity War, and this is the version expected to return in the new Vision series.

Following Disney CEO Bob Iger’s plans for two live-action MCU TV shows to release per year, Vision’s 2026 release window is important, as this will fill one of these spots. With Daredevil: Born Again and Ironheart set to release in 2025, another upcoming MCU series that has recently finished filming may take the other position in Marvel Studios’ 2026 slate. Wonder Man will see Yahya Abdul-Mateen II portray the titular Simon Williams, Wonder Man, a Hollywood superstar and superhero. Wonder Man concluded filming in April 2024, setting it up perfectly for a 2026 release alongside the MCU’s new Vision series.

MCU’s 2026 Slate Could Perfectly Set Up The West Coast Avengers

While Wonder Man’s release window hasn’t yet been confirmed, it seems very likely that the series will release in 2026 alongside the new Vision series, and this pairing could be actively setting up an exciting new Avengers team in the MCU. Vision and Wonder Man were both prominent members of the West Coast Avengers in Marvel Comics, with both being founding members of the new Avengers team in 1984’s West Coast Avengers #1. With Vision and Wonder Man expected to release in 2026, the West Coast Avengers could finally debut, setting them up for appearances in Phase 6’s Avengers projects.

In response to Vision’s desire to expand the influence of the Avengers, who had until then been based primarily in New York City, veteran Avenger Hawkeye decided to form a team of superheroes in California, establishing the West Coast Avengers. This team featured an exciting new line-up of heroes, who went on to battle Dominus, Mephisto, Ultron, and Madame Masque, among other iconic villains. The formation of this team also marked the debut of Vision’s white form in Marvel Comics, giving even more weight to the idea that the West Coast Avengers will be forming in the MCU’s upcoming slate.

Other Heroes Who Could Join Vision & Wonder Man On The West Coast Avengers

As well as Vision and Wonder Man, who could form the West Coast Avengers in 2026, several other MCU heroes could also join the newly-formed group. Clint Barton’s Hawkeye was a founding member of the West Coast Avengers in Marvel Comics, and since his MCU future is unclear after his self-titled 2021 series, it’s possible he could relocate to California. This could also be the perfect opportunity to debut Mockingbird in the MCU. Bobbi Morse’s Mockingbird previously appeared in Agents of SHIELD, but the title has been speculated to be held by Clint Barton’s wife, Laura Barton, in the MCU.

Several powerful heroes that have been established in the MCU joined the West Coast Avengers over the years, so they could join the team in the MCU, too. This could include the likes of Ant-Man and the Wasp, though this may be Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne instead of Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne. Marc Spector’s Moon Knight, Wanda Maximoff’s Scarlet Witch, James Rhodes’ War Machine, Kate Bishop’s Hawkeye, and America Chavez have also all been members of the West Coast Avengers in Marvel Comics, and this line-up would form an incredibly powerful superhero group in the MCU.

It’s unclear which heroes will join which teams in the MCU’s upcoming stories, as many new characters have been introduced in Phases 4 and 5 ahead of any number of new Avengers teams forming in Phase 6.

As well as bringing pre-established MCU heroes into the fold, Marvel Studios’ potential West Coast Avengers team could also debut brand-new MCU characters. Most notably, Greer Grant Nelson’s Tigra was a founding member of the Marvel Comics team, so it would be great to see her appear in live-action. Bonita Juárez’s Firebird, Aaron Stack’s Machine Man, Miguel Santos’ Living Lightning, Christopher Powell’s Darkhawk, and Julia Carpenter’s Spider-Woman could also debut, perhaps with Sydney Sweeney bringing a more comic-accurate depiction of the latter into live-action following her debut in 2024’s reviled Madame Web in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.

How Will The West Coast Avengers Be Important To Avengers 5 & Secret Wars?

Avengers 5 is currently scheduled for release on May 1, 2026, perhaps sandwiched between the Vision series and Wonder Man, so it’s possible that the West Coast Avengers may not have a role in Phase 6’s first Avengers crossover project. This may be a good thing, however, as Avengers 5 should perhaps only focus on the formation of the new core Avengers team, perhaps led by Sam Wilson’s Captain America. Nevertheless, the West Coast Avengers could have a huge role in 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars, which is expected to feature heroes from the MCU’s history and from other Marvel franchises.

Avengers: Secret Wars is speculated to be the biggest Marvel Studios project ever, even outmatching the magnitude of Endgame. This means that a number of powerful teams could be featured alongside each other, which could include the Avengers, the Thunderbolts, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Fantastic Four, and potentially even a returning or new X-Men team. This would be a great place for the West Coast Avengers to appear before getting developed further in the MCU’s Phase 7, and Marvel Studios’ Vision and Wonder Man shows could lay the foundations for them to finally make their way into live-action.