3. Black Panther, Black Panther

Black Panther may not be set to headline his own film until the 2018 release of director Ryan Coogler’s standalone adventure, but this year he enters the MCU in the midst of the game-changing events of Captain America: Civil War. Up-and-comer Chadwick Boseman (42, Get on Up) will don the mask as T’Challa, the Wakandan prince who gets caught up in the conflict between Cap and Iron Man, in the May 6 release. The character’s addition to the MCU finally addresses not only a clear lack of diversity in headlining heroes from within the films but also the long-running cries of Marvel fans for the studio to find a place for Black Panther in its slate of films.