Avengers Infinity War: Can Captain Marvel time travel?

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has hit boiling point with the release of the latest blockbuster Avengers Infinity War, the culmination of 10 years of Marvel movies. 

The cliff-hanger ending has left fans scratching their head over the implications and fallout for next year’s film Avengers 4.

The Avengers finally team up to take down the Mad Titan but just when all seems lost, a post credits scene hints at someone who could save the universe. 

Who is this special Marvel hero, and can she travel through time to save the Avengers?

WARNING – Major plot spoilers ahead

Who is the secret Marvel hero?

In the final moments of Avengers Infinity War, Thanos (Josh Brolin) secures all six infinity stones to his gauntlet in a final showdown against Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. 

Thor (Chris Hemsworth), equipped with his brand-new, Titan-slaying hammer, Storm Breaker, pierces Thanos’ chest in a last gasp attempt to stop the destruction of his allies. 

Grinning, the Mad Titan simply snaps his fingers, wiping out half the universe from existence. 

Slowly, we travel throughout the universe and witness half of our favourite heroes fade away into dust, leaving a rag-tag band of survivors who must now overcome their grief and fight back.

The cliff-hanger ending leads into a telling post-credits scene with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), desperately trying to survive as they too slowly fade to dust. 

Just as Fury is wiped from existence, he grabs a device from his car and presses a button.

The old-fashioned pager drops to the floor, showing a “sending” message on the screen, before a strange looking insignia appears in front of a blue and red logo.

The logo represents one of the most powerful heroes in the entire Marvel Universe – Captain Marvel. 

Captain Marvel, also known as Carol Danvers, is one of the most powerful cosmic beings capable of immense power, and she just might be able to help to restore life to the universe. 

A Captain Marvel film is slated for March 2019, two months before Avengers 4, with Carol Danvers being played by Brie Larson, so expect some Avengers 4 build-up in that film.

Who is Captain Marvel? 

Carol Danvers, previously a pilot from Earth, has an unfortunate altercation with a Kree alien, giving her untold power. 

She has been known to have enhanced durability, strength, speed and the ability to fly. Danvers can also fire energy projectiles from her hands. 

Possessing a keen military mind, Captain Marvel is a born leader who will be looking to round-up the remaining Avengers to take on Thanos once more. 

The Captain Marvel film is rumoured to be set in the 1990’s telling the origin of her powers, as well as her connection to Nick Fury and the rise of S.H.I.E.L.D.

In the comics, Danvers is closely connected to two warring alien races, the Kree and the Skrull. The Skrull are a shapeshifting race able to take on the appearance and powers of anyone in the universe, making for an interesting potential plot for Avengers 4. 

Can Captain Marvel time travel?

In a word, No. 

Captain Marvel doesn’t possess that power, but her other skills may make it possible for her to travel in time with some extra help. 

Her enhanced durability and the fact that she can exist in space without any technological assistance means she could potentially travel to the Quantum Realm.

Mentioned only in passing in both Doctor Strange and The Ant-Man films, the Quantum Realm could allow characters to travel through time and stop Thanos from ever collecting the stones. 

Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) was absent throughout Avengers Infinity War but he also has a film slated for 2018, just before Avengers 4, meaning Scott Lang could be crucial to helping Captain Marvel in her quest through the Quantum Realm.

In a 2017 interview with Inverse, quantum physicist and Marvel consultant Dr. Spiros Michalakis confirmed that understanding the quantum realm would be essential for Captain Marvel viewers.

“This is exciting for the future. There are different ways that some of these ideas appear on-screen in a few years. Not just for Ant-Man, but also for Captain Marvel and all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”