After the monumental success of Black Panther, the next Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) picture is the hotly anticipated Avengers: Infinity War. The new film is set to shake up the MCU, calling time on a number of different heroes and villains. Likely the biggest film of 2018 (or at least one of them), everyone seems to have his or her own opinions about who is going to make it and who's going to fall at the hands of Thanos (Josh Brolin) and company.

As has already been announced by Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, the MCU will continue to expand well up to 2022, moving on from past heroes who have had their time in the spotlight. Choosing the correct characters to build on from an already impressive pool will be difficult, but these are five heroes who Marvel and Disney could look to bring into Phase Four and beyond…

1. She-Hulk

Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner may be popular compared to his acting predecessors (particularly when paired with Thor to gloriously funny effect in Thor: Ragnarok), but maybe it's time to change things up?

Known as Jennifer Walters, She-Hulk is in fact Banner's cousin who, in the comics, absorbs his Hulk transformation abilities as a result of a blood transfusion. Following the success of DC's Wonder Woman and the buzz surrounding female-fronted action movies, including upcoming MCU title Captain Marvel (starring Brie Larson) and the long-gestating Black Widow movie with Scarlett Johansson, Marvel could be onto a winner with She-Hulk.

2. Spider-Woman

We already know that there is a sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming on its way next year (with Tom Holland returning), so what better time to introduce Spider-Woman?

She's an agent of both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra and just as kick-ass as Spider-Man. As we've mentioned with She-Hulk, it will be another strong case for equal representation within the MCU. The character has a complex history: having made her debut in 1977 (created by Stan Lee), Spider-Woman has become the umbrella name for several different superheroes, so it's up for question which particular aspect of the character's history is adapted for the screen.

3. The Sub-Mariner

DC has Aquaman, and Marvel has the Sub-Mariner. With the former getting his own movie at the end of this year, it would be understandable if Marvel kept Sub-Mariner under wraps for a little while yet.

As part of the Fantastic Four world, rights surrounding The Sub-Mariner are complicated, with Fox owning the rights, not Disney. However, with the latter having recently purchased the former, maybe a Sub-Mariner movie is increasingly more likely? 

Also known as Namor Mackenzie, the Sub-Mariner is one of Marvel's oldest characters, having been around since 1939. He's the mutant son of a human sea captain and a princess of the mythical undersea kingdom of Atlantis – how awesome would it be to see that in the MCU?

4. Silver Surfer

As with Namor, Silver Surfer is part of the Fox-owned Fantastic Four world (he played a big role in 2007's non-MCU movie Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer). Created by Jack Kirby, the character is a visually striking fan-favourite, a metal-skinned humanoid who cruises around the galaxy faster than the speed of light on his surfboard.

A fantastical, psychedelic romp through space and character flaws aplenty would make for a visually striking, richly detailed film, more akin to the space opera vistas of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. That said, rumours are now circulating that Silver Surfer may indeed be making an appearance in Infinity War…

5. Moon Knight

Moon Knight is one of Marvel's most intriguing characters, a blend of psychological angst, magic and a striking white ensemble. He's violent, dark and complicated – the perfect foil for the MCU's bright and cheery cast of characters. Well, given much death and destruction promises to be wrought in Infinity War and its 2019 sequel, he's sure to fit right in with the MCU's Phase Four landscape.

There's genuine hope for this one, too. In January last year, Guardians director James Gunn tweeted that he has pitched a Moon Knight movie, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the MCU expand to include this complex superhero. 

Find out just who lives and dies in what is set to be the biggest MCU movie yet when Avengers: Infinity War hits Cineworld on 26th April.

Toby Saunders is an Unlimited card holder who blogs for Cineworld as part of our news team.