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Avengers Endgame Trailer Raises Some Big Questions

Seriously though, why did Cap ditch the beard?

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The first trailer for Avengers 4 has finally arrived, delivering both a title--Avengers: Endgame--and a look at where many of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's characters stand after the devastating ending of Infinity War. For a trailer that runs nearly two and a half minutes long, it manages to not reveal a whole lot about the movie's plot. Instead, it's just left us with some big questions about where things are going.

Things will undoubtedly be kept somewhat vague until the movie's release, and we've still got the release of another film, Captain Marvel, before Endgame arrives. That movie will likely address some things, like where Carol Danvers has been between the events of that movie and current events. It might also establish the possibility of some other theories (is Hawkeye a Skrull?) for what's going on. But in the meantime, let's have a look at our most pressing questions after this debut Endgame trailer, starting with the most important matter of all.

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Now Playing: Marvel's Avengers: Endgame Official Trailer

Why Did Captain America Shave His Beard???

It was one thing to end Infinity War with the gut punch that was Thanos's snap, but the Russo brothers wasted little time in providing another blow: the loss of Steve Rogers' beard. Following Tony Stark's touching message to Pepper Potts, we quickly learn that Cap has done away with his magnificent beard from Infinity War. This was not a mere trimming; the entire thing is just gone as if it never happened, and we can't help but wonder why. Did he think he fought more poorly with it? Does he blame Thanos's victory on the beard? Is he a fool? This will hopefully be addressed head-on in Endgame, perhaps with a pre-title, Star Wars crawl-esque recap.

How Much Time Has Passed Since Infinity War?

We get to see many of the surviving characters from Infinity War, but there's very little sense for how long it's been since the events of that movie. Tony is running out of resources on the ship he's on, but we don't know how long he's been floating there. Cap had time for a shave, but did that only come after another year with it on? Thanos has abandoned his armor, perhaps to serve as a scarecrow for his garden, but did he do so right away? Natasha recapping what Thanos did and Bruce reviewing survivors would presumably happen pretty soon after the last movie, but that's still not particularly helpful. Meanwhile, you'd expect Hawkeye's apparent transition into Ronin (more on that in a moment) to take some time, so just where does that leave us in the timeline?

Why Has Hawkeye (Seemingly) Turned Into Ronin?

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A brief moment in the trailer revealed a new look for Clint Barton, who has seemingly abandoned his bow and Hawkeye name in favor of something new. Based on what we know from the comics, it seems likely he's adopted the name Ronin and picked up a sword as his new weapon. Assuming the MCU sticks with that name, the big question becomes what prompted Clint's change. We know he cut a deal after Civil War that allowed him to go home to his family, but were they victims of Thanos?

How Did Scott Get Out of the Quantum Realm?

We knew to expect both Hawkeye and Ant-Man in the fourth Avengers film after their Infinity War absence, but the events of Ant-Man and the Wasp left the latter in a precarious situation. When we last left him, he was stuck in the Quantum Realm, working with Hank Pym, Hope Van Dyne, and Janet Van Dyne, harvesting energy to cure Ava's affliction. In the Endgame trailer, he walks up to Avengers HQ as if nothing happened. That scene looks to be a comedic beat in the movie, but hopefully there's some attempt to address just how he got there.

So, What's the Plan?

Natasha and Cap talk about having some plan, which we can safely assume is meant to undo what Thanos has accomplished. But there's zero sense given of what that plan is. Do the two of them somehow become aware of Nick Fury's attempt to contact Captain Marvel? Did she leave on bad terms and they're concerned that reaching out to her is a mistake? We know she's set to play a part in the movie, but whether she's key to the big plan or someone who happens to show up to save the day, we'll have to continue waiting for answers.

What's Going on With Thor? Is He in a Cell?

Thor is surely upset with himself after failing to kill or stop Thanos when he had the chance, but we get only a single, brief glimpse of him in the trailer. You could be forgiven for thinking he's ended up in some kind of prison cell, perhaps to contain his rage after his Infinity War failure. We've got no evidence of this one way or the other, but it might be reassuring to know your brain isn't just playing tricks on you; the background of the room he's in does bear some resemblance to the cells we see on The Raft in Civil War. We don't think he's there, but it explains the jump some have made. He may not be in prison, but the isolated shot does suggest he might have broken off contact with the Avengers.

Was Shuri Dusted?

The trailer shows Bruce reviewing the status of various characters, specifically Scott Lang, Shuri, and Peter Parker. Scott is clearly labeled as "missing," and that appears to also be the case for the other two. We know Lang is just fine, but Parker was among the many characters to be dusted. Given that Shuri was in Wakanda with so many of the surviving Avengers, they presumably would know if she was alive and well. Does that mean Shuri was another of Thanos's victims?

Where Is Korg?

There are numerous characters to wonder about the fate of, but one closest to our hearts is Korg (he's made of rocks, but don't let that intimidate you). Taika Waititi's delightful performance as him in Thor: Ragnarok made him a fan-favorite along with his buddy Meek, and while things certainly did not look good for Ragnarok's survivors in Infinity War, we've got our fingers crossed he will ultimately make it out alive. Here's hoping we don't have to wait all the way until Endgame's release to be reassured.

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