10 Powerful MCU Villains We Want to See Return After Ultron

After Ultron, there are some other powerful villains that would be great to see return to Marvel Cinematic Universe. Every good superhero story needs a formidable and terrifying supervillain, and Marvel Studios has delivered some of the most memorable and powerful antagonists in the MCU’s 16-year history. one of the wicked, Avengers: Age of Ultron Titular Ultron, will return in 2026’s upcoming Vision Series. This could open the door for even more classic enemies to return to the MCU.

Unfortunately, some of Marvel Comics’ most notable villains have been wasted in the MCU, with many relegated to one-and-done antagonists, where perhaps they should have been persistent threats. Bringing some of ​​these villains back into the MCU’s Multiverse Saga would create the perfect opportunity for them to get more development. This could benefit the likes of Mac Gargan, Baron Mordo and Malekith, while prominent villains such as the Red Skull, Hela and Thanos could also return to wreak havoc on the MCU.

10

Johann Schmidt’s Red Skull

Red Skull first appeared in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Despite being one of Captain America’s most prominent and long-lasting enemies in Marvel Comics, Johan Schmidt’s Red Skull only battled the Star-Spangled-Man in one MCU movie, Captain America: The First Avenger. Ross Marquand portrayed the ghostly Red Skull in Avengers: Infinity War And End gameBut he has turned into a simple guardian of the soul stone, rather than a real threat. Original Red Skull actor Hugo Weaving revealed to Yahoo! Entertainment in 2020 that he did not reprise the villain role due to contract disputes with Marvel Studios, although he “Loved playing the character,” And “Would do.”

I loved playing the character, Red Skull – it was a lot of fun. We all obliged to write down the pictures: I thought [Red Skull] Probably wouldn’t come back in Captain America, but he may well come back as a villain in The Avengers. Until then, they pushed back on the contracts we agreed on and so the money they offered me for The Avengers was much less than I got for the first one, and that was for two films. And the promise when we first signed the contracts was that the money would grow every time. They said: ‘It’s just a voice job, it’s not a big deal.’ I really found negotiating with them through my agent impossible. And I didn’t really want to do it that much. But I would do it.

Ross Marquand did a great job embodying the Red Skull Infinity War And End game. Even so, just as James Spader is returning as Ultron, a character Marquand also voices in What if…?Weaving could change his mind and bring the Red Skull back to the MCU. It would be fantastic to see the Red Skull return in full force, perhaps to take on Sam Wilson’s new Captain AmericaEspecially since there are over eight decades of Red Skull stories that haven’t been explored in live-action.

9

Brock Rumlow’s Crossbones

Brock Rumlow first appeared in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Frank Grillo’s debut as Brock Rumlow in Captain America: The Winter Soldier was changing for the MCU. Not only was he at the forefront of the big reveal that HYDRA had grown into SHIELD, but The Winter Soldier He was also teased as a significant threat in future MCU projects, as he survived the collapse of the Triskelion and became the armored villain Crossbones. unfortunately, Rumlow’s crossbones was killed in the opening moments of 2016’s Captain America: Civil WarImmediately rid the MCU of this promising villain.

spoke to Comicbook.com In 2023, Frank Grillo expressed his disappointment with Crossbones’ treatment in the MCU, citing it as the reason he made the move to James Gunn’s new DC Universe, in which he will portray Rick Flag Sr. Grillo’s grudge against Marvel Studios perhaps means he won’t be returning as Crossbones, though The fact that he loves the character and sees more potential in him may convince him to join the MCU to do Crossbones justice. As a prominent Captain America villain and eventual Thunderbolts member, Crossbones could have a bright future in the MCU, should he return.

[Marvel] Never told a story [about Crossbones]. The mythology of the MCU and just what Marvel has in its pool of characters, it’s so deep. Crossbones was there for a minute, but he was supposed to be there longer, then they went the direction they did. I think Crossbones serves a purpose, but I think the interesting thing is if you look at how many people around the world have responded to Crossbones, and again, he’s been on screen for a very short time, I think there’s more there. I think there was more meat on the bone. I was disappointed, which is why I went over to DC.

8

Mac Gargan’s Scorpion

Mac Gargan first appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Spider-Man: Homecoming Teasing Mac Gargan’s evolution into the Scorpion has become one of the MCU’s most annoying loose ends. Michael Mando’s debut in Come home was very exciting, and his connection to Michael Keaton’s Vulture may have teased the MCU’s Sinister Six team, but Marvel Studios has done nothing with Gargan in the years since. With a new one Spider-Man trilogy in development for the MCU, however, now may be the perfect time for Mac Gargan to return and complete his transformation into the Scorpion.

The Scorpion is considered one of Spider-Man’s greatest enemies in Marvel Comics, so it would be fantastic to see the relationship between Tom Holland’s Peter Parker and Michael Mando’s Mack Gargan develop in the MCU. There is speculation that the The MCU’s first Thunderbolts team could actually appear as the Dark Avengers, or could fight the more brutal team, and Gargan is an essential part of the Dark Avengers puzzle. After the events of Spider-Man: No Way HomeBringing back Gargan could pit Peter Parker against a familiar face, albeit one who wouldn’t remember him.

7

hello

Hela first appeared in Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Introduced as the older sister of Thor and Loki in 2017 Thor: RagnarokCate Blanchett’s Hela presented the God of Thunder with his most terrifying villain yet, but she was seemingly killed off in the same movie. However, Marvel Studios could use the “no body, no death” rule to bring Hela back to the MCU, as her death is not actually seen on screen, but is simply implied. Hela debuted in Marvel Comics in 1964, making her one of Thor’s longest-running villains, and that should translate into the MCU..

Although Hela could certainly return to the MCU as a villain, Marvel Animation What if…? Season 2 introduced a very different version of the Goddess of Death. After training with Xu Wenwu, Hela transformed into a bona fide hero in What if…? Season 2, fighting her father, Odin, to free herself from his control. She then decided to free others across the universe, potentially leading her across the multiverse. This creates the opportunity for Cate Blanchett to return as the heroic iteration of Hela in live-actionWhich would be an incredible development for the character.

6

Ulysses Cloe

Ulysses Klaus first appeared in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Andy Serkis is one of the biggest examples of a stellar actor who was wasted in the MCU. Serkis debuts as Ulysses Klaue in Avengers: Age of UltronBut has a bigger role as a minor antagonist in 2018 Black PantherAnd that’s it. In Marvel Comics, Ulysses Klaue’s Klaw is an antagonist of the Fantastic Four, the Black Panther, Ka-Zar and the Avengers, but he’s been seriously underutilized in the MCUBut this could still be rectified in the future of the franchise if Andy Serkis reprises the role.

While Black Panther Saw Killmonger kill Ulysses Klaue, Flashbacks in upcoming projects or historical MCU installments could detail the villain’s invasion of Wakanda in the 1990s to steal vibranium. This was a milestone moment in Wakanda’s history, so it may be explored in Marvel Animation’s upcoming Eyes of Wakanda series, which will be canon to the main continuity of the MCU. This would provide the best opportunity for Serkis to return as Ulysses Klaue, making him an even bigger threat in the history of the MCU.

5

Malikith

Malekith first appeared in Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Malekith, the king of the Dark Elves, is another notable Marvel Comics villain who has completely fumbled in the MCU. 2013s Thor: The Dark World was widely regarded as one of the franchise’s weakest projects, which meant that Christopher Eccleston’s talents could be put on full display as Malekith. Similar to Hela, the “no body, no death” rule could be used to bring Malekith back to the MCU, as While he was last seen seemingly crashed by his own ship on Svartalfheim, it is very possible that the powerful being may have survived..

The return of Malekith could be very exciting for the MCU, especially if Marvel Studios decides to adapt the expansive Marvel Comics War of the Realms Event from 2019. This could put Malekith up against a huge number of heroes in the MCU, as the story sees him attacking Midgard, aka Earth. Since Chris Hemsworth wants a darker tone for Thor 5As yet unconfirmed by Marvel Studios, reintroducing a more comic-accurate version of Malekith could be the perfect way to accomplish this, while redeeming the villain of his disappointing stint in Thor: The Dark World.

4

Baron Mordo

Baron Mordo first appeared in Doctor Strange (2016)

Baron Karl Mordo originally began his relationship with Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange as a staunch ally and protector of Kamar-Taj and the Mystic Arts. However, through Strange’s repetitive breaking of the natural laws, mainly by using the Time Stone, Mordo became embittered and eventually turned his back on Strange. Doctor Strange’s Post-credits scene saw Mordo vow to rid the world of sorcerers, however This loose end has not been addressed in the eight years since, which has spurred calls for Mordo to return to the MCU.

An alternate version of Baron Mordo from Earth-838 is played by Chiwetel Ejiofor in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessBut this iteration has no connection to its Earth-616 counterpart. Some theories have suggested that Ejiofor’s role in Sony’s upcoming Venom: The Last Dance Could somehow relate to Mordo in the MCU, but that has yet to be confirmed. It would be brilliant to see Mordu return to continue his conquest against the sorcerers of the worldBut it’s also possible that Marvel Studios could have simply moved on from this story.

3

Dormammu

Dormammu first appeared in Doctor Strange (2016)

Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Mordo isn’t the only villain featured in 2016’s Doctor StrangeAnd perhaps the fact that there were so many meant that none really got the development they deserved. Dormammu, the otherworldly ruler of the Dark Dimension, appeared only briefly at the end of Doctor StrangeAnd was easily bested thanks to Strange’s use of the Time Stone, trapping them both in a never-ending loop. Dormammu has been a recurring antagonist to Marvel Comics’ Doctor Strange since 1964, so his return to the MCU must be inevitable..

This is especially true yet Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Mid credits scene. After ending the Scarlet Witch’s rampage across the multiverse, Doctor Strange is met in the street by Charlize Theron’s Clea, who is Dormammu’s niece in Marvel Comics. together, They seemed to jump into the Dark Dimension to stop an incursion event, which could set Dormammu up to have a bigger role in the as yet unconfirmed. Doctor Strange 3. Dormammu has an incomprehensible level of power, so it will be great to see him return as a formidable MCU villain.

2

Justin Hammer

Justin Hammer first appeared in Iron Man 2 (2010)

Sam Rockwell’s charismatic Justin Hammer hasn’t been seen in live-action since the 2010s Iron Man 2 And the following All hail the king One-shot. This is one of the MCU’s biggest travesties, viz Rockwell is a remarkable actor who has time and again expressed interest in reprising the roleRecently on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Notice that he is “Waiting for the phone call,” and explained, “I’m in,” Rockwell seems open to coming back as Justin Hammer, and that may now be more likely than ever.

Sam Rockwell recently returned to voice a variant of Justin Hammer in What if…? season 2, and has been the subject of heavy speculation suggesting that he could reprise the role in live action in the MCU Armor Wars Movie. Justin Hammer plays a role in Marvel Comics’ Armor Wars event, and, as a notable villain to Tony Stark’s Iron Man, it would make sense for him to return in a Iron Man-esque movie, focused on Don Cheadle’s War Machine. Armor Wars There isn’t a release date yet, but this could bring Justin Hammer back to the MCU very soon.

1

Thanos

Thanos first appeared in The Avengers (2012)

The Mad Titan, Thanos, has been the most important villain in the MCU’s Infinity Saga, and since he appeared in five feature films before being defeated by Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, some might suggest that he doesn’t need to Return. However, back in February, Thanos actor Josh Brolin revealed to Comicbook.com What he heard “Through the Grapevine” That Thanos would be brought back. There are plenty of opportunities for Thanos to return in Marvel Studios’ upcoming projectsSpecifically in Phase 6’s much anticipated Avengers: Doomsday And Avengers: Secret Wars.

Thanos plays a huge role in Marvel Comics secret wars Event of 2015 as a member of the cabalA group hoping to stop the destruction of the multiverse by eliminating alternate worlds before they can collide with Earth-616. The brutality is certainly something the MCU’s Thanos would take part in, but it could lead to the iconic showdown between Thanos and Doctor Doom, who will be played by the returning Robert Downey Jr.. Bringing Thanos back to the MCU would be brilliant Way to bridge the gap between the Infinity Saga and Multiverse Saga.

We are still waiting for many multiverse saga villains to return as well

While it would be amazing to see a number of powerful Infinity Saga villains return to the MCU, there are also many newly introduced Multiverse Saga villains who are yet to make reappearances. between them, The likes of the High Evolutionary, Namor, Xu Xialing, Kingpin and Kang the Conqueror have yet to fully make their mark on the MCU. Vincent D’Onforio will return as Kingpin in Daredevil: Born AgainAnd Kong the Conqueror is still expected to be recast in the Marvel Cinematic UniverseAlthough the futures of many other villains are less certain.