10 MCU characters who could die in Marvel projects for 2025

THE Marvel Cinematic Universe is getting ready to grow next year, but that could include some shocking deaths along the way. 2024 was one of the slowest years for the MCU, especially considering how the franchise has been constantly releasing projects since the start of the Multiverse Saga. Although it became one of the best MCU films, Deadpool and Wolverine was the only Marvel Studios film released this year.

That will change in 2025, as Marvel has three films scheduled for release. Marvel Studios also recently shared a teaser of all 6 series coming out next year, which include both live-action and animated projects. With many MCU TV shows and movies releasing in 2025, The year will see the return or debut of major Marvel characters. However, things could take a dark turn for some of them, with possible shocking deaths.

10

Red Hulk

Captain America: Brave New World (February 14, 2025)

The first is the Red Hulk. It would be a shame to lose the character when he finally debuts, but Red Hulk is one of the Captain America: Brave New Worldcast that is not safe. After William Hurt's death, Marvel recast the role with Harrison Ford as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross. He makes his MCU debut in Anthony Mackie's first film as Captain America.

Ross will be important to the film in many ways, such as he is now the president of the United States and will also become Red Hulk and fight Sam Wilson in the film. While it would be nearly impossible for the new Captain America to kill the Red Hulk, the film's dark villain, the Leader, could be the one to kill Ross after the new Hulk is done serving a purpose. Since Ford is 82 years old, the actor might not want to stick around for long, so a prominent role as Red Hulk in a movie might be enough for him.

9

The Leader

Captain America: Brave New World (February 14, 2025)

Tim Blake Nelson is finally returning to the MCU after 17 years. The actor debuted in the franchise as Samuel Sterns in 2008 The Incredible Hulk. At the end of the film, his character becomes one of Hulk's greatest villains in the comics, the Leader, after being exposed to Bruce Banner's blood. After a long time, Captain America: Brave New World finally reveals what the Leader has been up to.

The character didn't appear much in the trailers for the new Captain America film, but it looks like the Leader will be behind Harrison Ford's Thunderbolt Ross becoming the Red Hulk. However, with a being as powerful as the Hulk, the Leader could be in for a rude awakening if he is unable to control the character. Considering a new Hulk movie is unlikely, giving the Leader a major role and killing him off to end his story could be the plan.

8

Karen Page

Daredevil: Born Again (March 4, 2025)

Daredevil: Born Again originally it wouldn't be so close to Netflix Reckless series as it ended up being. After a major creative overhaul, Marvel hired The Punisher writer Dario Scardapane to serve as Daredevil: Born Again Showrunneralso bringing back many actors from the original Netflix series. That's how Deborah Ann Woll's Karen Page and Elden Henson's Foggy Nelson returned to the screen.

The first image of the Daredevil trio together in the MCU series has been released, but it may be one of the few times this happens. The reason for this is Daredevil: Born Again is set to feature many villains who could kill Matt Murdock's best friends to hurt him, such as Kingpin, Muse, and Bullseye. Adding to this, Karen is reportedly in three of the nine episodesthen she might bite the bullet.

7

Nelson Fog

Daredevil: Born Again (March 4, 2025)

Although Karen Page may be in danger in Daredevil: Born AgainFoggy Nelson is without a doubt the character who has the greater chance of dying between the two in the new MCU series. Unlike Karen, Foggy's episode count on the series has not yet been revealed, and this could have to do with the fact that the character will be leaving after a single episode.

When Daredevil: Born AgainThe new showrunner of the MCU series has come on board, the MCU series has shot a new pilot episode. Daredevil: Born Again Photos and videos from this episode made their way online and didn't make things look good for Foggy. Wilson Bethel's Bullseye can be seen shooting in the direction Karen and Foggy were in, with the latter being seen bloodied on the ground. As such, Bullseye can kill Foggy in Daredevil: Born Again.

6

Bucky Barnes

Rays* (May 5, 2025)

Sebastian Stan is one of the MCU's oldest stars, but 2025 Rays* could mark his last time with the franchise. No other possible MCU movie death would be bigger than that of Bucky Barnes, and for a project where characters are expendable, this may not bode well for the former Winter Soldier. In truth, Bucky was apparently about to die in an early draft of the script.

The Thunderbolts were reported to have died on their mission at the end of the MCU film. However, as the rewrites went down, it's likely that not all characters will die, even if the team faces off against the all-powerful Sentinel. As Bucky is the leader of the Thunderboltshis death could be a sacrifice to save the rest of his team, which would be honorable.

5

Red Guardian

Rays* (May 5, 2025)

Like Bucky, the other Thunderbolts character who could die sacrificing himself for the team is Red Guardian. David Harbor's MCU character is mostly used as comic relief, but Alexei Shostakov had his fair share of emotional moments in Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow film. With Red Guardian and Yelena Belova team up again in Marvel's Rays*Harbor's character could make one of the most emotional sacrifices in the MCU.

If it comes to a choice between saving Yelena – her daughter – or survivingRed Guardian is forced to sacrifice himself to ensure that the MCU's new Black Widow lives. In addition to her connection to Florence Pugh's character Rays*The trailers showed that Red Guardian is excited to be part of a team after finding himself disillusioned with his life. As such, the veteran character could put his team's well-being ahead of his own.

4

Valentina Allegra De Fontaine

Rays* (May 5, 2025)

Although Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes is the field leader of Marvel's Thunderbolts, he wasn't the character who assembled the team. That role was reserved for Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Valentina Allegra De Fontaine, who acted as a kind of darker version of Nick Furyslowly assembling the Thunderbolts in various Multiverse Saga projects, like Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury did in the Infinity Saga.

Interestingly, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever revealed that Valentina is the Director of the CIA, making her decision to assemble the Thunderbolts more curious. She also purchased Avengers Tower, showing how much power and wealth she possesses. However, this may not be enough for Valentina to escape Rays* alive. If she betrays the team, the Thunderbolts can band together to eliminate her. Likewise, it appears that Sentry - Bob in Rays*The trailers - was locked by her order and, after freeing himself, the powerful character could kill Valentina.

3

Ghost

Rays* (May 5, 2025)

Hannah John-Kamen has so far only appeared once in the MCU as Ghost. The actress played Ava Starr in Ant-Man and the Waspwhere her character served as the villain to Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly's title heroes for most of the MCU film. However, at the end of the film, Ghost stopped being an enemy after his “molecular imbalance” was stabilized.

Rays* finally shows what Ghost has been up to since his MCU debut. The character's skills as a thief and assassin are perfect for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's dark new team. However, in addition to a possible Rays* sequel, there doesn't appear to be a clear path for how Ghost could continue to appear in the MCU. Given as The Sentry will be taken over by his dark side, the VoidThunderbolts members are supposed to die, and a minor like Ghost is one of the most likely to die.

2

Foreman

Rays* (May 5, 2025)

Taskmaster had his tragic past revealed in Marvel film Black Widow film. With Yelena Belova and Red Guardian returning from the film, it will be interesting to see how Antonia Dreykov is doing after Natasha Romanoff frees her from the Red Room's mind control. Unfortunately, Taskmaster's new life may not last long, as the character may be most likely member of the Thunderbolts to die in the MCU film.

There are a few factors that make Taskmaster look like cannon fodder. The character did not receive a positive reception when she debuted in Black Widow. Furthermore, Taskmaster barely appears in Rays*trailers. Not only does she barely appear, but whenever Taskmaster is shown, it seems like scenes of Olga Kurylenko's character come from the same scenes. As such, Taskmaster could die early in the film to raise the stakes.

1

Silver Surfer

The Fantastic Four: Getting Started (July 25, 2025)

Finally, The Fantastic Four: Getting Started will feature the MCU versions of Galactus and the Silver Surfer. However, the latter will not be the classic version of the character, as Ozarks star Julia Garner plays the Shalla-Bal version of Silver Surfer in the MCU film. Shalla-Bal's Silver Surfer comes from a different Earth in the comics, which is why his appearance in the Fantastic Four reboot makes sense.

Marvel Studios' first Fantastic Four film is set in a different universewith Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards and the rest of the team living in a retro-futuristic New York set in the 1960s. There are two ways Garner's Silver Surfer could die. Either she turns to Galactus to help the Fantastic Four escape to the MCU's main Earth and is killed by him, or Silver Surfer dies when his universe is destroyed by an incursion, connecting the film to the rest of the universe. UCMof the Multiverse Saga in a major way.

Every Upcoming MCU Movie Announced

• Release date

  February 14, 2025
  

• Release date

  July 25, 2025
  

• Release date

  July 24, 2026