It’s crazy to think that just over a decade ago, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was a dream that began with the introduction of Iron Man. Over 20 movies in, and we now have the likes of Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Doctor Strange joining the universe. However, it seems that the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy are going to get some major changes to their characters after Avengers 4. With heroes like Captain America and Iron Man set to leave the MCU, more characters have to take their place. With some teases in their movies and shows, as well as things they’ve talked about internally, Marvel has given us an idea of who we can expect going forward. It’s clear that they have a plan to bring in new characters as their older ones bow out. Considering the teases we’ve gotten so far, there’s a lot to be excited about in regards to the future of the MCU.
On top of characters we already know are coming to the universe, there are also a host of characters that are rumored to be joining the ranks as well. Some of these are fairly heavy speculation or conjecture based on easter eggs found in the movies, but the possibilities are endless when we’re talking about the MCU — and all of them have us excited. Get ready for the future of Marvel characters on the big screen as we discuss some upcoming MCU characters we’re most excited to see, and others that are still rumored. The universe is about to get a whole lot bigger.
19 CONFIRMED – THE ETERNALS
With Avengers: Infinity War, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Thor: Ragnarok embracing the wacky and cosmic side of the MCU, it makes sense that Marvel would be working on a movie starring the Eternals. The Eternals were god-like beings created by the Celestials, and one of them was even Thanos’s father.
Kevin Feige has stated that a movie following the Eternals could explain the origins of the MCU, providing much larger context for the universe we’ve come to know and love. The movie won’t take place until after Avengers 4, so any other thoughts are just speculation for now but it’ll be interesting to see how deep they explore the cosmic origins of the MCU.
18 CONFIRMED – CAPTAIN MARVEL
Captain Marvel is next on Marvel’s list for a solo film and to spearhead the MCU for the foreseeable future. After being announced years ago, we’re finally close to seeing Brie Larson take on the role of Carol Danvers as she gets involved in the Kree/Skrull War. Captain Marvel will also have a big role in Avengers 4, as the end credits scene for Avengers: Infinity War saw Nick Fury paging her for help.
On top of that, Marvel is preparing to make Captain Marvel the new “face” of the MCU following Robert Downey Jr’s inevitable departure. She will be Marvel’s first shot at a female-led superhero movie, and we’re ready to see her in action.
17 RUMORED – NOVA
Ever since Guardians of the Galaxy introduced the Nova Corps to the MCU, fans have been speculating that the galactic superhero, Nova, would be joining the universe at some point. While there hasn’t been any teases since then, some theories suggest that the hero could rise after the events of Avengers: Infinity War.
The film talked about how Thanos went to Xandar and destroyed it to gain the Power Stone for the Infinity Gauntlet. It’s possible that this could be the origin story for Nova: a potential last survivor of the planet, Xandar. It would be a neat way to show how Thanos’s actions shape the MCU going forward.
16 CONFIRMED – MYSTERIO
Mysterio is one of the most interesting Spider-Man villains. Using all sorts of theatrics and optical illusions, he always knows how to screw with the wall-crawler and at least get the drop on him. After years of being used for minor television and video game appearances, Mysterio will be making his official debut in Spider-Man: Far From Home.
This has us excited because seeing Mysterio on the big screen has been a moment long-awaited by many fans. It will lead to some unique visuals as well as set up the MCU’s version of the Sinister Six, considering Adrian Toomes and Mac Gargan already exist in the universe.
15 RUMORED – SILK
Spider-Man: Homecoming was unique for a Spider-Man movie by being willing to buck the traditions of the character that most had come to expect. There were no Osborns, no Uncle Ben, and no Gwen Stacy. However, what made the film more interesting is what they teased for the future.
When the cast listing came out for the film, it was revealed that one actress was playing a girl named Cindy, who went to Peter Parker’s school. While she is easily a background character, some fans speculated that she could be Cindy Moon, a character better known for her superhero name: Silk. Whether this interferes with Sony’s plans for a Silk movie, we’ll perhaps have to wait and see.
14 CONFIRMED – TYPHOID MARY
Typhoid Mary is a villain that often tackles with characters like Daredevil or Deadpool. In the MCU, she’s being brought to take on Danny Rand in season two of Iron Fist. The character was known for being extremely unstable in the comics. She would often switch between different identities, all hinging around the name “Mary.”
When she went to the “Typhoid Mary” persona, she would become a full-fledged villain not afraid to take the lives of innocent people and use her powers for evil. Having this kind of psychotic villain will be interesting when played opposite the calm and collected Danny Rand, and it could lead to some interesting character explorations as well.
13 RUMORED – MONICA RAMBEAU
Marvel cast Lashana Lynch in an unknown role for Captain Marvel. While it’s possible that it could just be a minor character, some have suggested that she could be playing Monica Rambeau. Rambeau, in the comics, was the character who took over the name of Captain Marvel at one time before going by Photon and Pulsar.
She would later change her name to Spectrum, paving the way for Carol Danvers to be Captain Marvel. Having Rambeau in the MCU would be a great way to honor the legacy of the character. Having multiple generations of Captain Marvel in the same film would be a sight to behold.
12 CONFIRMED – BULLSEYE
Ever since Daredevil debuted on Netflix, fans have been wondering if we’ll ever see Bullseye in the series. We have Kingpin, we have Elektra and the only big character that seems to be missing is Bullseye. Well, Marvel has finally answered our prayers, as Bullseye is set to appear in season three of the show.
While it’s unclear how big of an impact he’ll have on the series, knowing how gritty and realistic the Marvel Netflix shows have been, there’s a lot of potential with bringing in a character like Bullseye. Having him go head to head with Matt Murdock in his black ninja costume will also be exciting to watch.
11 RUMORED – HELLCAT
Ever since the debut of Jessica Jones, one of the main character’s best friends is Trish Walker, the host of a radio show. Fans will know her as the girl who became the superhero known as Hellcat. However, season one of the series didn’t tease her transformation into the superhero. Season two, on the other hand, is a different story.
Trish gets access to some power-enhancing supplements, as well as going through the same experiments that gave Jessica Jones her powers. Despite those efforts being interrupted, we see her using “cat-like” reflexes at the end of the season, possibly teasing that she’ll don her own superhero costume in the third season.
10 CONFIRMED – ADAM WARLOCK
At the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, we see the Sovereign defeated by the Guardians. This angers their priestess, Ayesha, so she goes to desperate measures in order to bring them down. One of the end credits scenes shows her standing in front of a cocoon, where she states that inside is a character known as Adam.
Adam Warlock has been a big Marvel Comics character since The Infinity Gauntlet, so it’s exciting to see him finally make his way to the MCU. While it will be interesting to see how he’ll be integrated without a tie to Thanos, there’s no doubt that Marvel has big plans for his time on the big screen.
9 RUMORED – THE MENNONITE
After the success of Marvel and Netflix’s The Punisher, it comes as no surprise that they’ve begun work on a second season. There will be new characters joining the roster as well, with one of them being named John Pilgrim.
While not a big character in his own right, his character description in The Punisher bears a striking resemblance to a comic character known as The Mennonite, who was once a criminal but decided to pursue religion to find fulfillment in life. Once he crosses paths with Frank Castle, he’ll be forced to take up his old skills once again and go head to head with the Punisher.
8 CONFIRMED – MAYHEM
Cloak and Dagger is one of the better TV series that the MCU has under their belts. With the first season finally ending, they were quick to announce that a second season was already on the way. As a matter of fact, a teaser video stated that it would be “mayhem,” confirming that the villain, Mayhem, would be appearing in the show.
Mayhem was already set up in the first season. Brigid O’Reilly was a cop that was working with Cloak and Dagger, but some events in the finale have begun her transformation to a villain. Having already been compared to Black Panther‘s Killmonger, we’re excited to see what the show does with her.
7 RUMORED – MOON KNIGHT
Ever since Daredevil debuted on Netflix, MCU fans have been wondering if Marvel will ever make use of Marc Spector, the Moon Knight. Moon Knight is a vigilante similar to Batman, except he is much more psychotic.
Being noticeably insane, Moon Knight always dances between completely lucid and downright mad. Having him appear in the MCU could produce a superhero film or TV show unlike any other. With Marvel looking toward the future, they have stated that Moon Knight is on the table. Considering there’s no time frame or further discussion, his involvement is anyone’s guess at this point.
6 CONFIRMED – MINN-ERVA
Captain Marvel will be fully embracing its alien cast of characters to make for a unique MCU outing. On top of confirmation that Mar-Vell will make an appearance, the film is also set to include Minn-Erva, a Kree spy who is better known as Doctor Minerva.
Seemingly obsessed with the mantle of Captain Marvel, she has done some crazy things to reach her goals. What makes us excited for her inclusion is how she could affect the dynamic of the war between the Kree and the Skrulls. Being a spy, she could easily cross paths with Carol Danvers either as a villain or an unlikely ally.
5 RUMORED – MILES MORALES
In Spider-Man: Homecoming, there was a scene where Peter Parker was interrogating a criminal known in the comics as the Prowler. He discusses his nephew who lives in the neighborhood, which people know from the comics is Miles Morales.
While Marvel was insistent on making sure that Peter Parker was the Spider-Man that appeared in the MCU, the possibility of Miles Morales is certainly still on the table. With the MCU teasing a setup of the Young Avengers, it’s likely that Miles Morales could be making his debut alongside characters like Cassie Lang. We’re waiting impatiently to see what develops.
4 CONFIRMED – JIGSAW
Billy Russo was one of the main antagonists in The Punisher season one. Being one of Frank Castle’s old war buddies, he was the one that helped orchestrate the end of Castle’s family and because of this, the two have a very personal rivalry. At the end of the season, though, Castle smashes Russo’s face through a mirror, leaving him horribly disfigured.
Russo survives, though, and is set to return in season two with his more comic-accurate name: Jigsaw. This has us excited because Russo will be completely embracing his identity in the comics, and likely presenting an even greater challenge for Castle going forward.
3 RUMORED – HYDRO-MAN
Hydro-Man is a much more obscure Spider-Man villain then what most mainstream fans are used to. Being made out of water, he is extremely difficult to fight, and often keeps the wall-crawler on his toes. It’s possible that he’s finally coming out of the pages and making his leap onto the big screen in Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Tom Holland released a video that showcased one of his stunt doubles being hit by a massive wave of water. This suggests that he could possibly be fighting Hydro-Man in the movie before he tackles Mysterio, the villain’s main big bad.
2 CONFIRMED – MAR-VELL
Captain Marvel won’t only be bringing Carol Danvers into the fold — Mar-Vell of the Kree Empire will also be appearing for the ride. In the comics, Mar-Vell was the first character to hold the mantle of Captain Marvel who passed away due to a bout with cancer that he was unable to reverse.
It’s likely that he will be mentoring Danvers to wield her new powers as well as fight a few battles of his own. Mar-Vell is one of the biggest Marvel characters. The fact that he’s finally getting his chance on the big screen, with Jude Law in the role, is exciting for us and we can’t wait to see how he’ll play off of Carol Danvers.
1 CONFIRMED – SKRULLS
Many fans were shocked when Marvel announced that the Skrulls would be making their cinematic debut in Captain Marvel. Considering the rights for the Super Skrull are still up in the air, it was a bold move by Marvel. The Skrulls will likely serve as the antagonists of the film, being one half of the Kree/Skrull war.
Seeing a new yet popular alien race like this is extremely exciting for us, as it could lead to some intense moments. Furthermore, there is potential that it could begin an MCU adaptation of “Secret Invasion,” where the Skrulls posed as numerous Marvel superheroes and tried to take over the Earth.
