'Avengers: Infinity War' release date, spoilers: Tony Stark replaced; Hulk dies?

The upcoming films in the "Avengers" series, "Avengers: Infinity War - Part 1" and Avengers: Infinity War - Part 2" won't be arriving until 2018 and 2019, respectively. However, progress on the comic book story of the superheroes involved has shaken fans to the core as they wonder whether the movies' plotlines will be following that of the comic book series.

The reason for the latest shock that fans received is the news that the destructive but dear superhero, The Incredible Hulk, has met his death at the hands of Hawkeye. Bruce Banner, who is The Hulk's alter-ego, is said to have asked for his end by requesting Hawkeye to pierce him with an arrow.

As to how the characters came to this point may not even be relevant in the face of such a tragic development, and understandably, followers of the Marvel movie franchise are troubled about the possibility that Mark Ruffalo's Banner will meet the same fate at the hands of Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye.

Meanwhile, another superhero has been the subject of speculations of being dethroned by a teenage girl. The theory is that Tony Stark will be killed off in an earlier film, "Spider-Man: Homecoming," to make way for a younger female hero to take over Stark's role in the "Avengers: Infinity War" movies.

While the report on the 15-year old genius Riri Williams bowing out Stark was confirmed by Marvel writer Brian Michael Bendis, this doesn't make it necessarily true for the eagerly anticipated two-part film.

Bendis explained to TIME that, in the comic book series, "Civil War II" will find Stark figuring out who he really is without the Iron Man suit. He also expounds on the storylines that will bring the billionaire superhero on the road to being bowed out by Williams. The loss of his friend, the falling apart of his company, and his discovery of his true parents will all contribute to him becoming a cesspool of stress. Eventually, Stark will be replaced by Williams.

Bendis made something clear, though, as he explained: "More people are going to be upset that they think they know the ending to Civil War II now than anything we just talked about. But I can tell you just because we're hearing what we're saying doesn't know you mean how Civil War II ends. We're not telling you the end, at all."

"Avengers: Infinity War - Part 1" is slated to hit theaters May 4, 2018, while "Avengers: Infinity War - Part 2" will come out May 3, 2019.