Summary

• Many deceased MCU heroes may have ended up in Valhalla, the afterlife for warriors who die in battle, alongside Heimdall and Jane Foster.
• Not all characters in Valhalla are of Asgardian heritage, as shown by Jane Foster's entrance in Thor: Love and Thunder, despite being a human, non-religious scientist.
• The afterlives in the MCU are diverse, ranging from Valhalla to the Ancestral Plane, and characters seem to go to the afterlife corresponding to their own beliefs and cultural backgrounds, though this isn't exclusive.

Over the last decade-and-a-half of the afterlives that have appeared in the MCU, along with Black Panther's Ancestral Plane, Moon Knight's Field of Reeds and Rocket's ghostly afterlife in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. When they die, MCU characters seem to go to the afterlife most closely associated with their own beliefs, but the rules of Valhalla could constitute any number of notable heroes being granted access.

2022's Thor: Love and Thunder provided audiences with a glimpse at the afterlife of Valhalla, and though only two deceased heroes (Heimdall and Jane Foster) were shown in the new realm, it's possible many previous characters have ended up there. Should a warrior die in battle, they will be granted entry into Valhalla, an astral dimension where they will be able to spend eternity in paradise. Since many MCU heroes have lost their lives in battle, it's possible that a huge number of them may now be living peacefully in Valhalla, though it's still unclear whether access to this afterlife is reserved solely for those of Asgardian heritage and culture.

18 Garthan Saal & The Nova Corps

Garthan Saal Died In Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)

Peter Serafinowicz's Garthan Saal and many other of Xandar's Nova Corps died during the battle against Ronan the Acc in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy, crushed and destroyed by Ronan's powerful ship, the Dark Aster. These lesser-known heroes died in an effort to protect Xandar from Ronan, who had equipped himself with the Power Stone, which would certainly earn them a place in the halls of Valhalla. Since these of the Nova Corps presumably weren't of Asgardian heritage, however, it's possible they ended up in a different version of the afterlife.

17 Vision

Vision Died In Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Since Paul Bettany's Vision is a synthetic being with a vibranium body powered by the Mind Stone, it's unclear whether Vision would actually go to any afterlife when he dies. However, his double-death during the battle against Thanos in 2018's Avengers: Infinity War could have sent him to Valhalla, as Vision was first killed by the Scarlet Witch, and then again by Thanos after the villain turned back time. Vision's command over an Infinity Stone could make his post-death experience different to other synthetic beings such as the Eternals. Even so, he has since been rebuilt, and will embark on a new adventure in Marvel Studios' Vision Quest.

It's unclear whether Vision would actually go to any afterlife when he dies.

16 Zuri

Zuri Died In Black Panther (2018)

Forest Whitaker's Zuri lost his life after intervening in the duel between T'Challa and Killmonger in 2018's Black Panther. This could constitute him dying in battle, as this was a form of ritual combat, with the pair challenging for the throne of Wakanda and the mantle of the Black Panther. Zuri sacrificing himself in an attempt to save T'Challa's life solidified him as a bona fide hero in the MCU, and could have allowed him to enter Valhalla following his death, though it's perhaps more likely that Zuri made his way to the Ancestral Plane.

15 The Warriors Three

The Warriors Three Died In Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

These three iconic Asgardian warriors most definitely made their way to Valhalla after they were slain by Cate Blanchett's Hela in 2017's Thor: Ragnarok. Ray Stevenson's Volstagg, Zachary Levi's Fandral and Tadanobu Asano's Hogun, known as the Warriors Three, were some of Asgard's most trusted and formidable soldiers, but were ultimately no match for the Goddess of Death. Their deaths in battle against Hela surely sent them to Valhalla, so they may get the chance to reunite with Jane Foster and Heimdall following Thor: Love and Thunder.

14 The Ancient One

The Ancient One Died In Doctor Strange (2016)

Tilda Swinton's Ancient One was described as having Celtic roots in 2016's Doctor Strange, so it's possible she had a very different idea of what the afterlife would be. However, since she died in battle with Kaecilius and his zealots while dueling in the Mirror Dimension, she may have been allowed into Valhalla. At first stabbed with one of Kaecilius' dark magic weapons, it was a terrifying drop through a sling-ring portal that ended the Ancient One's lengthy rule over Kamar-Taj.

13 Pietro Maximoff, A.K.A. Quicksilver

Pietro Maximoff Died In Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015)

Aaron Taylor-Johnson's Pietro Maximoff, a.k.a. Quicksilver, tragically lost his life while protecting Hawkeye and a Sokovian child during the battle against Ultron in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron. Pietro's death had a huge impact on his sister, Wanda, in her subsequent MCU storylines, but it's possible that the pair could reunite in the MCU's future if it's revealed that he ended up in Valhalla. With the MCU's X-Men soon to debut, many want to see Pietro Maximoff return, and confirmation of his afterlife in Valhalla could make this possible.

12 Heimdall

Heimdall Died In Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Heimdall, portrayed by Idris Elba since 2011's Thor, is one of two MCU characters who have already been confirmed to be residing in Valhalla. After protecting Asgardians from Hela's onslaught in Thor: Ragnarok, Heimdall was killed by Thanos in the opening moments of Avengers: Infinity War, shortly after using his last bit of strength to send the Hulk to Earth to warn the other Avengers of Thanos' impending arrival. Dying during the war against Thanos earned Heimdall a spot in Valhalla, where he reappeared in the post-credits scene of Thor: Love and Thunder, thanking Jane Foster for taking care of his son, Axl.

11 Jane Foster, A.K.A. The Mighty Thor

Jane Foster Died In Thor: Love & Thunder (2022)

Natalie Portman's Jane Foster acts as proof that characters don't need to be of Asgardian heritage or hold Asgardian beliefs to be able to enter Valhalla. Despite being a non-religious woman of science, Jane Foster was still granted entry to Valhalla after dying in both the battle against Gorr the God Butcher and her own personal battle with cancer. Foster proved her worth as the Mighty Thor prior to her death, and fought valiantly to protect Asgard and her returned love-interest Thor, but still succumbed to her illness, though was greeted by Heimdall at the gates of Valhalla.

10 Earth-838's Illuminati

Earth-838's Illuminati Died In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)

Although this group of heroes likely wouldn't be seen in the MCU's primary version of Valhalla, it's possible that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' Illuminati team went to Earth-838's version of the Asgardian afterlife. Anson Mount's Black Bolt, John Krasinski's Reed Richards, Hayley Atwell's Captain Carter, Lashana Lynch's Captain Marvel and Patrick Stewart's Professor X all lost their lives in battle against the Scarlet Witch. Popular theories suggest that future MCU projects may avenge the Illuminati deaths, but it's more peaceful to imagine these five powerful heroes spending eternity in the paradise of Valhalla.

9 Earth-616's Loki

Loki Died In Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

After finally completing his redemption arc by helping Thor protect Asgardian citizens from their sister, Hela, in Thor: Ragnarok, Tom Hiddleston's Loki met his demise at the hands of the Mad Titan Thanos in Infinity War. While a variant of Loki was released from captivity in Avengers: Endgame, the MCU's original God of Mischief is well-and-truly dead, and potentially residing in Valhalla after finally becoming a hero. Perhaps the much-anticipated reunion between Thor and Loki in the MCU will only happen after the former's demise, with the pair greeting each other in Valhalla.