As the franchise builds its way up to the multiversaldouble whammy ofAvengers: Secret WarsandDoomsday, 2025 is set to bea year of returns for theMarvel Cinematic Universe.Charlie Cox’s Man Without Fear returns to his old stomping grounds inDaredevil: Born Again.Thunderbolts*serves as a reunion for a host of forgotten MCU characters, such as Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Task Master (Olga Kurylenko) and US Agent (Wyatt Russell). The newest franchise tentpole,Captain America: Brave New World, saw the return of some of the MCU’s oldest outstanding plot threads in the form ofLiv Tyler’s Betty Ross andTim Blake Nelson’s green-tinged Leader.
Still, a universe as big and sprawling asthe MCU featurescountless characters of varying power levels, plot relevance, and cultural sway, making it difficult for every fan favorite to have their proper time to shine. This problem has been even more compounded by the franchises' increasing focus on the multiverse over the last half-decade, forcing even the most popular characters to compete with pre-MCU legends such asPatrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier,Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, andTobey Maguire’sSpider-Man.Avengers: DoomsdayandSecret Warspromise to bring the multiverse saga to a close, and as such, leave every character, across franchise and across medium,onthe table. As the MCU builds to the comeback of all comebacks withRobert Downey Jr.’s return to the franchisehe helped launch, fans can only hope that certain MCU characters don’t get passed up for shiny nostalgia or their very own variants.
10Shang Chi
Last Seen In: ‘Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings’ (2021)
Though a multiversal version ofSimu Liu’s Master of Kung-Fu was seen in Season 3 ofMarvel’s What If…?, the original MCU version of the character hasn’t been seen since kick-starting the MCU’s post-Avengers: Endgameera inShang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings. This 2021 film simultaneously established new plot threads for the franchise’s second major saga while managing to tie itself into the universe’s established history throughthe titular criminal organization, the Ten Rings. This unique perspective should have allowedShang-Chi to be a seamless bridge between the old and new guards of the Avengers, but the character has unfortunately been absent from even being referenced since his initial appearance.
Shang-Chi was originally meant to feature aprominent role inAvengers: Kang Dynastybefore that film was scrapped in favor of the upcomingAvengers Doomsday, andit is uncertain how much the pivot in the direction of the Avengers franchise will affect Shang-Chi’s prominence. The ending ofShang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Ringssees Shang-Chi meet with Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), and the current reigning Sorcerer Supreme Wong (Benedict Wong), seemingly positioning the martial artist as among the universe’s big leagues, but it is unclear whether this meeting and the signals from deep space it was set up to explore will be relevant to future projects going forward. Shang-Chi is certain to return inDoomsday,and things sound hopeful forthe character’s solo sequel, but how much the character has changed and how much of the first film’s plot will carry over remains to be seen.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Shang-Chi, the master of weaponry-based Kung Fu, is forced to confront his past after being drawn into the Ten Rings organization.
Last Seen In: ‘Eternals’ (2021)
Technically speaking, not only have MCU fans not seen Blade in a while, but these loyal moviegoers have yet to evenseeBlade. Audiences got their first tease ofMahershala Ali’s version of the legendary vampire hunter at the tail end ofEternalsin 2021. Appearing alongside fellow erstwhile character,Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman, Blade spoke offscreen andappeared aware of Whitman’s legacyas the superhero, The Black Knight.This ending tease is by far the most impactful of theEternals’numerous cliffhangersas it not only opens the door to new corners of the Marvel Universe’s mystical side but also positions Blade as a key figure in those stories.
Of course, Blade has remained unseen after his vocal cameo, only being hinted at in 2024’sDeadpool & Wolverinewhen the original live-action version of the monster hunter,Wesley Snipes, proudly proclaims:“There’s only ever gonna be one Blade”. Meant as a self-deprecating joke at his replacement by Ali, this line is instead hilarious for unintended reasons, asBladehas been postponed time and time againand has run into numerous issues dropping directors, scripts, and potentially even Mahershala Ali himself.Bladewas originally slotted for a 2022 release date, a mere year after his first MCU ‘appearance’. Unfortunately, despite reassurances that the film is still progressing andKevin Feige’s habit of wearing aBladehateverywhere he goes, the movie is still on an indefinite hiatus.
8The Inhumans
Last seen in: ‘The Inhumans’ (2017)
Not only have audiences not seen Marvel’s royal family of moon-dwelling Inhumans since the release of their titular show in 2017, it is all but certain that the bulk of the characters will never ever be seen again. Marvel’s first attempt to expand the universe of the MCU to television outside ofAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,The Inhumans, wasa disaster for the franchise by nearly any metric. The show bombed with audiences who cited a lack of action and production values, was derided by critics for its poor acting and storytelling, and achieved improbably low viewer numbers, making it one of the MCU’s largest flops.
Adding insult to injury was that the Inhumans were intended to bethe MCU’s solution to the mutant problemthat had been lingering over the head of the franchiseduring the 2010s. For a time, many of Marvel’s most popular and marketable characters were held byFox. This included major players likeThe Fantastic Fourand theX-Men, who were doubly crucial not only for their iconic characters like Storm, Nightcrawler, and Wolverine, but for the role the idea of mutants played in quickly and concisely populating a universe with super-powered individuals. Unfortunately, the show was such an embarrassing bomb that the most popular new inhumanMs. Marvelhad her ties to the franchise completely stripped in her debut show, and the only returning actor,Anson Mountas Black Bolt, was quickly and summarily killed off inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Inhumans is a Superhero television show based on the comic of the same name originally created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The show was crafted by Scott Buck and stars Anson Mount, Ken Leung, and Serinda Swan. The premise follows a group of Marvel Superheroes known as The Inhumans, including heroes like Black Bolt, Karnak, and Medusa as they vie to protect themselves and the world.
7Pepper Potts
Last Seen In: ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)
Being present for the birth of the MCU all the way back in 2008’sIron Man,Gwyneth Paltrow’sPepper Potts is one of the longest-tenured and most important MCU characters. As the primary love interest and supporting character for franchise lead Tony Stark, Pepper Potts has not only been present for the MCU’s biggest events like the firstAvengersfilm, and Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) debut inSpider-Man: Homecoming, but has been at the emotional center of these moments. The character was even allowed to join the action inAvengers: Endgame, donning her comic counterpart’s iconic Rescue armor and helping out in the battle against Thanos.
Unfortunately, since Pepper joined the fray inEndgame, she has been absent from the franchise. This is somewhat understandable due to the character’s strong ties to the now-deceased Tony Stark, but both the comic books andAvengers Endgameitself showcased that Pepper is more than capable of helping carry Iron Man’s legacy by herself. Indeed, in the comics, Rescue provides an interesting change of pace from the average Marvel hero asPepper’s armor features a mostly weaponless construction, allowing the character and her stories to focus on saving civilians rather than simply fighting bad guys. A major factor here isPaltrow’s seeming reluctance to return to the role. However, with Robert Downey Jr. set to appear inAvengers: DoomsdayandSecret Wars, possibly even as a Tony Stark variant, a similar return from Paltrow and the return of the actors' iconic back-and-forth chemistry would be a massive treat for longtime MCU fans.
Avengers: Endgame
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos' actions and restore balance to the universe.
Last Seen In: ‘Hawkeye’ (2021)
Following upWandaVisionandThe Falcon and The Winter Soldier,Hawkeyewas one of the first MCU offerings on the newly launchedDisney+when it premiered in 2021. The show promised not only to provide a compelling and more comic-accurate adventure forJeremy Renner’s Hawkeye but also tolay the groundwork forprojects likeThe Young AvengersandDaredevil: Born Againby featuring the likes ofHailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop and the return ofVincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin.Hawkeyewas a surprisingly compact, slick, and fun Christmas-themed adventure that managed to seemingly finallyget the spirit and character of Hawkeye rightafter years of being the most forgotten founding Avenger.
It is unfortunate, then, that since Hawkeye became fully fleshed out, he has been absent from the MCU in any capacity. Barring real-world factors, the lack of in-universe sightings or mentions of Hawkeye and his exploits is confusing in its own right.The character is a founding member of the Avengers andone of its last surviving members. The fact that he would be unmentioned by, at this point, decades-old allies and friends is a confusing oversight. Kate Bishop will no doubt have an important role in the MCU going forward,as hinted by her alliance with Ms. Marvelin the finale of 2023’sThe Marvels. But, as the 2021 show makes specific note that her mentor is not retiring, hopefully, there will be proper closure for the senior Hawkeye’s arc in the upcomingAvengersfilms.
Series based on the Marvel Comics superhero Hawkeye, centering on the adventures of Young Avenger, Kate Bishop, who took on the role after the original Avenger, Clint Barton.
5The Scorpion
Last Seen In: ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ (2017)
After onlyBatman,Spider-Man has themost iconic rogues galleryin the world of superhero fiction. Iconic foes like The Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus are franchise staples who have gotten lots of love throughout the years in films likeSam Raimi’s original Spider-Man trilogy, and even enemies like the Lizard and Rhino appeared inMarc Webb’sAmazing Spider-Manduology. When Peter Parker was introduced to the MCU throughCaptain America: Civil Warand the subsequentSpider-Man: Homecoming, the promise was that the character’s new adventures would continue to delve deeper and deeper into the character’s rich catalog of foes.Homecomingdelivered on this, featuring not onlyMichael Keaton’s spine-tingling turn as The Vulture, but ending by teasingMichael Mandoin the role of Mac Gargan, akaSpider-Man’s fellow arachnid: The Scorpion.
However, despite Spider-Man going on to appear in two more solo MCU projects and even an entire franchise being built around his supporting characters on the Sony side of things,the Scorpion has yet to appear or even be mentionedin the near decade following his reveal. A major factor in this absence is likely the confusion surrounding not only what the plan with Scorpion was, but what Sony’s goals with Spider-Man are as a whole. Shortly afterHomecomingwas released,Venomkick-startedtheSSUas we know it todayand brought with itplans for a Sinister Six filmthat would have included both Vulture and Scorpion. Unfortunately for Mac Gargan, Sony’s Spider-Man Universe seemingly made up its lore on the fly, unable to decide whether it shared a universe, multiverse or even characters with the MCU’s version of Spider-Man and his allies. Scorpion was lost in the utter confusion of the SSU and MCU, and with a Sinister Six film on an indefinite hold andthe MCU’sSpider-Man 4eyeing larger foes, fans may have to wait even longer to see Spider-Man fight his fellow arachnid.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Peter Parker balances his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens with his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man, and finds himself on the trail of a new menace prowling the skies of New York City.
4Baron Mordo
Last Seen In: ‘Doctor Strange’ (2016)
2016’sDoctor Strangewas a highlight of Marvel’s Phase 3. While building up toAvengers: Infinity WarandEndgame, the film simultaneously managed to open up an entirely new corner to the MCU by introducing audiences to the Sorcerer Supreme as well as fellow magic users like The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), Wong (Benedict Wong), and Strange’s comic book arch nemesis Baron Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor). Though initially presented as allies and friends in the mystic adventure, Mordo grows distant from both Doctor Strange and his mentor, The Ancient One, following the film’s climax, in which Strange places reality at risk by using the Time Stone to defeat the interdimensional threat of Dormammu. The film’s final teasershowsMordo’s full turn to the dark sideas he begins culling the world of magic usersand promises an electrifying and emotionally loaded battle with his one-time friend-turned-nemesis.
Nearly a decade later,this climactic battle is still awaited by fans. Despite Ejiofor reprising the role of Baron Mordo in the film’s direct sequel,Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,the acclaimed actor is merely playing a variant of the sorcerer rather than the original character featured in 2016’sDoctor Strange. The Mordo seen inMultiverse of Madness isan interesting character, serving as Stephen Strange’s guide to the multiverse and the powerful cabal that is the Illuminati. TheDoctor Strangesequel focused largely on characters like the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) while establishing the multiverse concept for broad audiences, leaving little room for the development of Stephen Strange’s personal relationships with allies or enemies like the mainstream version of Mordo. With no news onDoctor Strange 3on the horizon andthe Sorcerer Supreme confirmedto be absent from the upcomingAvengers: Doomsday, it is unlikely that Baron Mordo will resume his rivalry with Doctor Strange at any point in the near to medium future.
Doctor Strange
While on a journey of physical and spiritual healing, a brilliant neurosurgeon is drawn into the world of the mystic arts.
3Justin Hammer
Last Seen In: ‘Marvel One-Shot: All Hail The King’ (2015)
One of the only agreed-upon bright spots in the infamous MCU sore spot,Iron Man 2,Sam Rockwell’s version of capitalistic villain Justin Hammer, quickly became a fan favorite in the early era of the MCU.Rockwell is an electrifyingOscar award-winning actorwho brought a memorable amount of charisma to the role of Hammer and served as a perfect foil to Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man by highlighting the latter’s worst traits like obnoxiousness, egotism, and hubris. Justin Hammer would appear in a cameo in theIron Man 3follow-upAll Hail The King, meeting fellowIron Man villain and future Shang-Chi ally Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley) in the process,and would appear in a Season 2 episodeofMarvel’s What if…?but would do so in non canon form, making the Marvel One-Shot his last in universe appearance.
Fans hoped to see Rockwell return in the War Machine-centric movie,Armor Wars. However,since this project is on an indefinite hiatus withno current release or production schedule, it is unlikely that fans will see Justin Hammer face off againstDon Cheadle’s Rhodey any time soon.Hammer is a central figure in theArmor Warsstoryline in the comics, being responsible for the proliferation of Iron Man-esque armor to a host of tech-based villains. This would be an apt and fitting role for the current state of the MCU, as viewers can easily imagine how Hammer would be able to fill the Iron Man-shaped hole in the world with corporate soldiers.Black Panther: Wakanda Foreversaw the introduction of Iron Man successor Ironheart (Dominique Thorne),who is set for herown solo streaming debutlater this year. There are rumors of a Hammer cameo or role inIronheart, as manyArmor Warsplot points are speculated to have folded over into that show. However, with no news from Marvel or Rockwell on the character’s future, audiences will have to wait patiently and hope for this original MCU villain’s return.
Iron Man 2
With the world now aware of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark must contend with both his declining health and a vengeful mad man with ties to his father’s legacy.
2Wanda Maximoff
Last Seen In: ‘Doctor Strang in the Multiverse of Madness’ (2022)
First appearing inAvengers: Age of Ultronand launching the MCU’s post-Endgameera with the acclaimed television seriesWandaVision, Wanda Maximoff, akathe Scarlett Witch, was quickly positioned as one of the most important characters for the franchise’s future.Elizabeth Olsen delivered one ofthe most celebrated performancesin the decades-long franchise, as she showcased Wanda’s grief over the loss ofPaul Bettany’s Vision and how the character could spiral into being the more villainous and selfish Scarlet Witch. Olsen last starred inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessas that film’s primary villain and arguably its main character. TheDoctor Strangesequel sees Wanda begin to question her villainous identity, culminating with her disappearing,promising a climactic return.
Fans have continued to wait for this climax, however, as Phase 4’s seemingly purposeful setup of characters like Wanda has given way toPhase 5’s meandering and unfocused nature. Despite being one of the major multiversal players now, The Scarlet Witch has been conspicuously absent from the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, even missing out on theWandaVisionspin-off seriesAgatha All Along. While an appearance inthe upcomingVisionserieswould make sense, given the characters' obvious ties, neither Elizabeth Olsen nor the show’s producers have confirmed whether the character will reunite with her android partner once more. Wanda Maximoff’s absence from the MCU is far from the lengthiest, butgiven the character’s intense fan following and vital importance to the current storyline, her return is by far the most anticipated.
Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness
In Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the MCU takes a deeper dive into the Multiverse and the unknown, introducing variants of Strange and other familiar friends and foes - including The Illuminati - and offers a new perspective on how it works and connects. The story follows Stephen Strange, now post-blip and no longer the Sorcerer Supreme. When a terrifying monster rampages through New York seeking to capture a young girl from another multiverse named America Chavez, Strange finds himself as her newfound protector. Unfortunately, his new foe is a former ally, Wanda Maximoff. To protect Chavez and stop Wanda’s rampage, Strange travels the Multiverse looking for answers - and encounters engrossing and terrifying realities that expand the Marvel Universe in a whole new way.
1The Defenders
Last Seen In: ‘Jessica Jones Season 3’ (2019), ‘Luke Cage Season 2’ (2018), et al.
Following the return of Charlie Cox’s Daredevil inSpider-Man: No Way Homeand Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin inHawkeyeandEcho, the stage was set forDaredevil: Born Again, a series seemingly bent on reestablishing classic characters in the modern-day MCU. Though initially canon to the theatrical MCU, Netflix’s roster of mid-2010s street-level heroes was later dropped from continuity alongsideAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to make room for future film projects. Shows likeLuke CageandJessica Jonesachieved massive fan followings and critical success, and even the malignedIron Fisthad its moments, especially when paired alongside the fellow Defender characters and given room to grow in their respective second seasons. WithDaredevil: Born Againbringing backits fullDefendersuniverse cast,includingJon Bernthal’s Punisher, the stage is set for the full return of the Defenders.
The role of these characters is also sorely needed in the current state of the MCU, with a street-level void growing in the franchise asfilms and shows continually focus on multiverse and galactic threats and neglect the more down-to-earth crimes and rescues. Even Spider-Man, the go-to icon of street-level crime fighting, has been focused on international and interdimensional threats since his initial MCU film,Spider-Man: Homecoming. WithDaredevil: Born Againreinvigorating interest in these charactersand potentially restoring their canon, there is no better time for the MCU to return to the boroughs of New York and bring back the rest of the Defenders.
The Defenders
Set a few months after the events of the second season of Daredevil and a month after the events of Iron Fist, the vigilantes Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist team up in New York City to fight a common enemy: The Hand.
