A new fan theory making the rounds ahead of Avengers: Doomsday suggests that Peter Quill — aka The Legendary Star-Lord — will be making his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in one very unexpected way. While it’s a no-brainer to bring back such a popular character for the next big Avengers team-up, very few could have guessed it would be as a mentor to the Young Avengers. While very little is actually known about the plot of Avengers: Doomsday so far, it’s speculated that the sequel to 2019’s Avengers: Endgame will feature the MCU’s largest cast of heroes to date — which would make sense, given the numerous debuts the franchise has seen since that film hit theaters.

Despite unbalanced reactions from MCU fans to its creative output in a post-Endgame world, the connected cinematic universe is bigger than ever with many new, capable characters introduced who could carry the Avengers into a new age. However, they likely won’t have Nick Fury to guide them in their day-to-day and will need a new mentor. While it was Vision who originally assumed this role in Marvel Comics, it may be the perfect opportunity to prove how much Star-Lord has grown over his time in the MCU to have him guide the future of Earth-616’s youngest and brightest.

Star-Lord May Be Mentoring the Young Avengers in Avengers: Doomsday

Which Would Illustrate the Character’s Growth As A Leader

It’s no secret that Peter Quill was very much a man-child when audiences were first introduced to him in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy. However, over the next decade, Quill was put through the emotional gamut and came out on the other side a more complete hero. He helped protect the Power Stone in the original Guardians film, struggled with his origins with a celestial father in its sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and even had to suffer the loss of his greatest love, Gamora, in Avengers: Infinity War. All the while, he remained the glue that kept his fellow Guardians — Drax the Destroyer, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Mantis, Yondu, Kraglin, Cosmo, and Nebula — together.

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Given his emotional growth over the past ten years, as well as his clear ability to effectively lead a team of heroes, Star-Lord would make a great mentor for the Young Avengers. Some experienced leadership will be a very necessary component for the team, and will likely prove beneficial if they’re to join the main Avengers as they take on Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. With Star-Lord’s days as the leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy apparently behind him with his relocation back to Earth, it’s more likely now than ever that his priorities are focused firmly on protecting his home world. Assuring the stability of the Young Avengers would be the perfect step in the right direction towards doing just that.

Who Is Expected To Be In the Young Avengers?

Ms. Marvel and Kate Bishop Are Front-Runners To Lead the New Team

With Marvel’s push to create content for the Disney+ streaming platform, came several new, younger characters to help keep the MCU carrying on when the original lineup leaves the franchise. One can argue that this wasn’t necessarily the smartest approach to take, considering full seasons of TV are a lot more content to consume than a two-hour movie — especially if someone isn’t particularly engaged with the characters or stories, to begin with. A dedication to every show to be introduced to — and stay up to date with — the characters meant to keep the MCU afloat ran the risk of alienating the viewers who had stood by the MCU up until that point. Still, that doesn’t negate the fact that, generally speaking, Marvel did a fine job of telling season-long stories and introducing interesting new characters that most MCU fans can at least still enjoy if not revisit as often as the films from Phases 1 through 3.

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With newcomers like Wiccan, Speed, and Ms. Marvel, the more mystical side of the MCU is covered when it comes to the younger class of heroes. With Stature and Ironheart, the technology-gifted side is right there to fill in for Iron Man. America Chavez has a tight grip on multiversal navigation, and heroes like Hawkeye and Patriot have the gritty ground game covered. Should all these heroes come together to form the Young Avengers, they will certainly be more than capable of aiding the MCU against any big bad threats that come their way. However, that aid will only be possible with the proper person leading them in their young careers… but is that all Star-Lord will be used for from now on?

Is This the Right Role for Star-Lord?

Some Fans Were Hoping For A Solo Adventure To Reintroduce Peter Quill

In what has now become a feel-good moment in its own right, the post-credits scene for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 teased the return of Peter Quill, referring to him as “The Legendary” Star-Lord. This moniker immediately fit the character like a glove, because he had finally broken away from a group and set out on his own, becoming a truly legendary hero in the process. As the name of the group would suggest, Quill literally saved the galaxy on more than one occasion. While he let his temper get the better of him in the Avengers’ initial battle with Thanos during the events of Avengers: Infinity War, he returned from having been snapped to make things right in Avengers: Endgame — ultimately aiding in defeating the biggest threat the entire universe had ever seen. Quill definitely earned some relaxation — which he apparently found on Earth, having returned home to his grandfather.

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However, one would be forgiven for thinking that the post-credits tease would suggest that Star-Lord was going to return to the MCU in a solo outing. After all, fans were so used to seeing him as a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, that referring to him with a solo moniker for the first time since his introduction sort of set Quill up for some of his own spotlight. This begs the question: is mentoring the Young Avengers the best role for Star-Lord heading into both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars?

Leading the charge of newcomers to the world of superheroes would certainly be a virtuous one for Star-Lord following all he’s been through. Hopefully, though, he’s able to branch out on his own at some point, either before or after. With that said, the heroes from earlier in the MCU will eventually leave the story for good — and recent reports on the two upcoming Avengers movies suggest that those audiences will be forced to say goodbye to by the end of Avengers: Secret Wars will hurt longtime fans. It’s difficult to imagine an MCU without Peter Quill, but it’s difficult to think of many heroes in the MCU that would hurt more than losing Star-Lord now that the likes of Iron Man and Captain America have taken their bows. Regardless of how it pans out, though, The Legendary Star-Lord will be gracing the big screen again in some form or fashion, and it’s likely to be memorable any way it goes down.