Summary
- New heroes introduced in recent years have uncertain futures in the MCU, with some confirmed for future appearances and others shrouded in mystery.
- Characters like G'iah, Hercules, Eros, Dane Whitman, America Chavez, and Love have potential to make a return but no clear timeline for their appearances.
- Characters like the Eternals, Kate Bishop, Phyla, Layla El-Faouly, Skaar, Cassie Lang, and Clea have uncertain futures, but their storylines could be further developed in the MCU's Phase 6.
Several new heroes have been introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in recent years, but Marvel Studios hasn't confirmed a future for many of them. In the wake of 2019's Avengers: Endgame, several of the MCU's most beloved heroes had either died during the battle against Thanos or chosen to hang up their capes and retire from the Avengers. This meant that the MCU's Phase 4 had the perfect opportunity to introduce new heroes to the franchise, not only expanding the world of the MCU but also debuting legacy heroes for the franchise's most iconic characters. Introducing so many new characters comes with its own set of problems, however.
Marvel Studios introduced several new characters in Phases 4 and 5 who have already received confirmation of further appearances in future projects. Among these include Kathryn Hahn's Agatha Harkness, who is set to make her next appearance in Agatha: Coven of Chaos, David Harbour's Red Guardian, a future member of the MCU's Thunderbolts, and Iman Vellani's Kamala Khan, who will team up with Carol Danvers and Monica Rambeau in 2023's The Marvels. While some characters have promising futures, however, others are shrouded in mystery, though with several empty release slots still open for the MCU's Phase 6, it's possible any number of these heroes could return in the coming years.
13 G'iah
Emilia Clarke debuted as G'iah in Phase 5's Secret Invasion, introduced as the adult Skrull daughter of Ben Mendelsohn's Talos, who first appeared in 2019's Captain Marvel. During Secret Invasion's finale, "Home," G'iah enhanced herself with DNA samples from several high-profile MCU characters, transforming her into the MCU's version of Marvel Comics' Super Skrull. With the powers of the likes of Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Ghost, Mantis, and Thanos, G'iah is one of the MCU's most powerful new heroes, and although she was seen ing forces with Olivia Colman's Sonya Falsworth, it's unclear when she might make her next appearance in the MCU.
12 Hercules
Despite 2022's Thor: Love and Thunder being met with a mixed response, the film's post-credits scene introduced one of Marvel Comics' most formidable heroes to the live-action MCU. Brett Goldstein debuted as Hercules, the son of Russell Crowe's Zeus, teasing a potential battle between Hercules and the Asgardian God of Thunder in the MCU's future. However, no more Thor sequels have been announced or solidly teased, so it's unclear exactly when Hercules might make his way back to the MCU. As a popular character from Marvel Comics, however, Goldstein's potential return as Hercules is very exciting.
11 Eros, A.K.A. Starforce
Phase 4's Eternals expanded on the history of the MCU more than any previous project, and though this didn't always have the impact that it perhaps should have, Chloé Zhao's MCU debut still introduced a wide array of exciting characters. Among them was the divisive inclusion of Harry Styles' Eros in Eternals' post-credits scene, based on Marvel Comics' Starfox, the brother of the Mad Titan Thanos. Eros' inclusion in Eternals led to some confusion regarding Thanos' lineage in the franchise and is worth revisiting to explain more about the Mad Titan's backstory. Even so, Eternals 2 hasn't yet been confirmed, so there's no clear way for Eros to return.
10 Dane Whitman
As well as introducing Eros to the MCU, Eternals also marked the debut of Kit Harrington as Dane Whitman. Eternals teased Whitman's future as the MCU's Black Knight, even showing audiences the mystical Ebony Blade and hinting at his affiliation with Mahershala Ali's Blade, but it has recently been reported that Dane Whitman's role in Phase 5's Blade reboot may have been cut. The Ebony Blade is still expected to appear in Blade, but Kit Harrington's future as the Black Knight is less certain. Since Eternals merely teased Whitman's future as a superhero, it would be great to see his story developed in more detail in the MCU's future.
9 America Chavez
After Loki's season 1 finale unleashed the multiverse on the MCU, 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness saw Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange team up with Xochitl Gomez's America Chavez and journey to a variety of other realities. Chavez was the perfect character to introduce to the MCU's Multiverse Saga, as she has the ability to open portals into other dimensions, enabling quick multiversal travel. This could become hugely important in a number of MCU projects, but Gomez has not been confirmed to be appearing in any future story. With a rumored Young Avengers film on the cards, however, Chavez could have a bright future in the MCU.
8 Love
Portrayed by Chris Hemsworth's own daughter, India, Love began Thor: Love and Thunder as Gorr the God Butcher's daughter, whose death convinces Christian Bale's villain to renounce the gods. At the altar of Eternity, however, Gorr wishes for his daughter to be resurrected, and she is - though she returns with mysterious abilities gifted to her by the cosmic being. After Gorr's death, Thor adopts Love, and the pair sets out to protect the less fortunate across the universe. Thor has been confirmed to be returning to the MCU, so Love could be close behind, and with her power level unclear, she could be a fantastic addition to the MCU.
7 The Eternals
After the Phase 4 film's poor reception, not a single Eternals character has been confirmed to return in the MCU's future, and this includes the eponymous cosmic team. Portrayed by Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Gemma Chan, Lauren Ridloff, Angelina Jolie, Kumail Nanjiani, Brian Tyree Henry, Lia McHugh, Barry Keoghan, and Don Lee, the Eternals are supremely powerful beings created by Celestials to protect the Earth's population, though they decided to betray their mission and save humanity instead of letting it die. There has been no word on the Eternals' return to the MCU, but with much more yet to explore, it would be a shame not to bring them back.
6 Kate Bishop
One of the MCU's most exciting new legacy heroes is Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop, set to take over from Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye in the MCU's future. Phase 4's Hawkeye on Disney+ introduced the charismatic new archer, and despite teasing her future as a permanent hero, there has been no word of her return. There has been speculation that Steinfeld will return for a potential Young Avengers project in the MCU, as she is a crucial member of the team in Marvel Comics, but since Marvel Studios hasn't provided any confirmation of this, Hailee Steinfeld's future in the franchise is still uncertain.
5 Phyla
James Gunn's final Marvel Studios project debuted a new Guardians of the Galaxy team, with several new ing Rocket and Groot. As well as Will Poulter's Adam Warlock, Phyla also ed the team in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, adapted from Marvel Comics' Phyla-Vell, the daughter of the original Captain Marvel. Kai Zen's Phase 5 character is an experiment of the High Evolutionary, gifting her remarkable abilities that seem to be energy-based, though these have yet to be shown off in full. The Guardians' future in the MCU is unknown, but if they do return, it's likely that Phyla will get a chance to develop her story further.
4 Layla El-Faouly, A.K.A. Scarlet Scarab
Phase 4's Moon Knight on Disney+ made huge strides in the way of representational superheroes, not only exploring Oscar Isaac's Marc Spector's Jewish roots but also debuting May Calamawy as Layla El-Faouly, Spector's wife. After El-Faouly became the avatar of Taweret and donned the name Scarlet Scarab, she became the MCU's first Egyptian superhero and will even make her way into Marvel Comics in September 2023's Moon Knight Vol. 9 #25. Both Spector and El-Faouly have uncertain futures in the MCU, as there has been no confirmation of Moon Knight season 2, though it's possible either character could the MCU's new Avengers team in Phase 6.
