The Marvel Cinematic Universe has spent the last fourteen years adapting classic comic book characters into their rapidly expanding franchise. In that time, they've set up and delivered on a number of classic comic book heroes and made new fan favorites out of lesser-known characters through their films and series.
While many characters have reached their fullest potential within the MCU, other ing of the ever-widening cast continue to wait for their moment in the sun. Though some may eventually see their comic book alter-ego on the big screen one day, others seem destined to never achieve their superpowered selves.
Thaddeus Ross (Red Hulk)
Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross made his MCU debut early on, serving as the secondary antagonist in The Incredible Hulk. After eight years without another appearance, Ross turned up once more as the Secretary of State in Captain America: Civil War, continuing to pop up in MCU titles for years thereafter. Comics fans know Ross's importance to the Avengers, especially as the character eventually becomes the Red Hulk.
With the growing Thunderbolts storyline in the MCU's fourth phase, it seemed increasingly likely that Ross would eventually inhabit his red-hued alter-ego at some time in the near future of the franchise. However, after the recent ing of legendary actor William Hurt, it would seem that the character's time in the MCU has been cut tragically short.
Bill Foster (Goliath)
Laurence Fishburne ed the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2018's Ant-Man and the Wasp, portraying Dr. Bill Foster, a former colleague of Hank Pym. In the comics, Bill Foster is known as Goliath, a superhero with the ability to grow to incredible heights, making him a powerful ally to the Avengers.
While Foster alludes to the fact that he once indeed possessed the necessary materials to grow to extreme heights like his comic book counterpart, it doesn't seem likely that Fishburne's rendition of the character will ever become the superhero that fans are familiar with. It is more likely that the MCU will introduce a new, younger character to take on the mantle, perhaps Tom Foster, Bill's nephew who becomes Goliath after his uncle's death in the superhero civil war.
Ned Leeds (Hobgoblin)
Ned Leeds is an irreplaceable part of the he and Peter Parker have one of the best friendships in the MCU. However, the character has far more sinister comic book origins, as it was Ned who was originally revealed to be the villainous Hobgoblin, though later stories would retcon his involvement in the supervillain's nefarious deeds.
While Ned's supervillain turn is not entirely out of the question in the future, such an event seems unlikely given the character's mostly comedic role in the franchise so far. If the MCU does elect to adapt the Hobgoblin for future films, it is more likely that they will employ a different version of the character, with perhaps Jason Macendale or Roderick Kingsley behind the mask.
Anton Mogart (Midnight Man)
Anton Mogart, played by Gaspard Ulliel, makes a brief appearance in the third episode of the Disney+ series Moon Knight, seemingly setting up the character for a return in future seasons as the longtime Moon Knight adversary the Midnight Man, who has a knack for completing his high profile robberies at exactly midnight.
Midnight Man seemed like the perfect villain for Moon Knight Season 2, which was likely what the creative team had in mind when setting up the character. However, after Gaspard Ulliel's tragic death shortly before Moon Knight aired, it seems unlikely that the character will ever return unless Marvel decides to recast. More likely, however, the showrunners behind Moon Knight will choose to employ an alternate version of the villain, perhaps Jeff Wilde, who also wore the title of Midnight Man in the comics.
Laura Barton (Mockingbird)
Linda Cardellini's Laura Barton seemingly had little to add to the MCU's ever-growing list of superheroes. However, as the final few episodes of Hawkeye suggest, Laura actually had an extensive history as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, specifically under the codename of Mockingbird.
While Laura is revealed to have been the Mockingbird in the past, it seems unlikely that MCU fans will ever have the opportunity to truly see her in action, as she has been retired for at least a decade. However, with some Marvel shows being reincorporated into the MCU, it is possible that Adrienne Palicki's Bobbi Morse, who operated under the codename Mockingbird in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., will return as the new live-action version of the superhero.
Flash Thompson (Agent Venom)
Flash Thompson and Peter Parker have always had a friendly rivalry, with the former constantly picking on his longtime nemesis. However, comics fans know that the relationship between Peter and Flash becomes far more complicated after the former high school bully s with a symbiote to become the antihero known as Agent Venom.
While Flash's transformation into Agent Venom is still possible, the MCU would have to do plenty of legwork to get the character to such a monumental event in his life. Marvel Studios is likely more inclined to explore the Black Suit arc with Peter Parker before expanding on any other symbiote lore from the comics.
Mar-Vell (Captain Marvel)
While Carol Danvers is the most well-known incarnation of Captain Marvel, she is far from the first. In Marvel Comics, Danvers only inherited her superhero title after the death of the original Captain Marvel, a Kree named Mar-Vell, a gender-bent version of whom appears in 2019's Captain Marvel film, played by Annette Bening.
Since Mar-Vell is confirmed deceased in the MCU, it is highly improbable that audiences will ever have the opportunity to see her actions as Captain Marvel, especially since Carol Danvers has already operated under that title for over thirty years in the current timeline. Even if Bening's character does return, it would likely only be in a mentoring role to Danvers, rather than as a full-blown superhero.
Jack Duquesne (Swordsman)
Originally portrayed as a red herring to distract audiences from Hawkeye's true villain, Jack Duquesne is the stepfather-to-be of Kate Bishop, who has an intense affinity for swords. The character's ion for handheld weaponry is indicative of his comic book counterpart, the complicated hero known as the Swordsman.
Though Jack is still alive and well at the end of Hawkeye, the series makes no indication of having any plans to adapt his superhero alter-ego, merely presenting him as a man who really loves swords. However, with recent buzz indicting that the Disney+ series could receive a second season, fans are hopeful that Jack could return in a more hands-on capacity, as the Swordsman is an Avenger that certainly deserves to the MCU.
Kazi (The Clown)
Though Fra Fee's Kazi may have been shortchanged by the time all was said and done in Hawkeye, the character has a far deeper history than many casual fans may realize. In the comics, Kazi is an assassin known as the Clown, whose interference in the life of Clint Barton, as it is he who damages the Avenger's eardrum, causing him to lose his hearing.
Hawkeye seemed to be setting up Kazi's turn as the bone-chilling Clown for much of its first season until the character was unceremoniously killed off in the finale. His untimely death seems to negate any theories that he would play a larger role in the MCU moving forward.
Ulysses Klaue (Klaw)
Andy Serkis had a recurring role in the MCU as Ulysses Klaue, an arms dealer with a particular desire for Wakandan vibranium, until the character's death in Black Panther. However, Klaue has a long history in Marvel Comics as the supervillain, known simply as Klaw, who has the ability to harness solidified sound.
Though Klaue possessed some similar powers to his comic book counterpart by the time of his death, he never truly became the supervillain that many comics fans had hoped he would. With the character decidedly deceased at the hands of Killmonger, it seems unlikely that a full-blown version of Klaw will ever be adapted for the big screen.
