Now that the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 3, referred to as the Infinity Saga, has officially been completed, the MCU fandom can expect fan-favorite characters from the comics to be introduced to the big screen. With Disney also having purchased the rights to major Marvel characters from Fox Studios such as the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, Marvel has to integrate these characters into its already vast cinematic universe.
Aside from the characters being shifted into spinoff TV shows like Scarlet Witch and Hawkeye, new characters are also being introduced like Moon Knight and She-Hulk. So, here are 5 new characters that should be introduced in the MCU, and 5 that shouldn’t.
Shouldn’t - Deadpool
Deadpool took the world by storm when it was released in 2016, and quickly became the highest-grossing R Rated movie at that time. The R Rating was justified - the Merc with a Mouth is known for his violence and excessive swearing, which just wouldn’t work in the PG-13 MCU.
However, Ryan Reynolds recently met with Marvel Studios and confirmed Deadpool 3 is in the works, so it looks like Marvel is forging ahead with the Deadpool franchise without rebooting it, and continuing with the R Rating. Fans can only wait and see if Deadpool 3 will exist in the MCU or be a standalone sequel.
Should - Fantastic Four
Okay, they’re more of a team than an individual character, but Marvel’s first superhero family is one franchise that should certainly be incorporated in the MCU. After two failed attempts in Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: The Rise of Silver Surfer, Fox again attempted to reboot the franchise in 2014 to no avail.
After the disaster that was 2014’s Fantastic Four, the massively unsuccessful franchise, now in the hands of Disney, can only be improved from here on out.
Shouldn’t - Nova
There have been a few iterations of Nova in the comics, but perhaps the most famous among them is Sam Alexander. The Nova Corps do exist in the MCU, but clearly Marvel Studios has taken a different approach with the intergalactic peacekeeping organization.
Instead of being a super-powered elite force, they have been introduced as a kind of intergalactic law enforcing agency. Plus, it would be a little difficult to introduce the character now that the Nova Corps has been destroyed by Thanos with the Power Stone (Avengers: Infinity War).
Should - Wolverine
Arguably one of Fox’s most important characters, Wolverine appeared in every single X Men movie till Hugh Jackman hung up the metal claws in 2017’s Logan. Wolverine, brought beautifully to life by Jackman’s brilliant portrayal of the character, can be rebooted in the MCU along with Professor X and the other X Men.
Tom Hardy, who played Bane in The Dark Knight Rises has already been fan-cast by many to play the next Wolverine, and fans can only wait to see what Marvel chooses to do with the character.
Shouldn’t - Adam Warlock
Adam Warlock has actually been teased in a post-credit scene in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, created by a race called the Sovereign. However, Adam Warlock was a major player during the Infinity War comics storyline.
Now that the MCU has officially wrapped up its Infinity Saga, it’s unlikely that Warlock will be able to have a major story arc with the Infinity Stones being destroyed. However, there are some who speculate the character will make an appearance in the next Guardians of the Galaxy film.
Should - Charles Xavier/Professor X
With the rights to X-Men finally in Disney’s hands, the once-a-distant-dream of the X-Men being introduced in the MCU may very well be realized. Charles Xavier served, in the comics as well as the Fox Universe, as a mentor for the mutants and a bridge between the mutants and humans, and hence has the highest chance of being introduced in the MCU.
He could even be shown to be operating in secret for the mutant cause all this time – thus explaining why he never surfaced before his introduction.
Shouldn’t - The Living Tribunal
The Living Tribunal is one of the most powerful beings in Marvel Comics, second only to the One Above All. He was referenced in 2016’s Doctor Strange when Mordo told Strange about the Staff of the Living Tribunal. He was even meant to make an appearance in an early script of Avengers: Infinity War, according to Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.
However, the character is simply too overpowered for the MCU, besides being too weird a concept for the general audience to grasp.
Should - Galactus
Known as the ‘Devourer of Worlds’, Galactus is primarily a Fantastic Four villain and has already appeared in live-action in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Marvel Studios now owns the rights to the character and can reboot and introduce the character in their cinematic universe.
It would be very easy to integrate a cosmic entity like Galactus in the MCU, as it already includes powerful beings like Dormamu and Celestials. In fact, Galactus could be a very effective baddie, and could even be the next major villain after Thanos.
Shouldn’t - Sentry
A powerful being with the power of flight and superhuman strength who wears an ‘S’ on his costume – sounds familiar? Sentry, a character from the Marvel Comics, is essentially considered to be the Superman of the Marvel Comics with mainly one difference: Sentry has two opposing split personalities – one good and one bad.
Although his split personality between ‘Sentry’ and ‘Void’ would be admittedly enjoying to watch, there’s no way Marvel Studios would ever be willing to adapt the character for the big screen seeing as he’s just too similar to the Man of Steel we all know and… love?
Should - Beta Ray Bill
Beta Ray Bill, a character from the Thor franchise, was actually planned to be introduced in the MCU in an early version of Thor: Ragnarok. The character ultimately did not make an appearance apart from a reference to him in the form of a statue outside the Grandmaster’s Arena.
The character is supposedly going to be introduced in Thor: Love and Thunderin 2021, with many fans already believing Christian Bale will play him after Bale was seemingly cast in the Thor sequel.
