In 2025, Marvel Studios added a fantastic group of new characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For over 17 years, they’ve successfully brought heroes and villains from Marvel Comics to life on screen, and 2025 was no different. Across six projects – three movies and three TV shows – many compelling characters joined the MCU, but ten were particularly exciting.
Though Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and Marvel Zombies happened in different universes, Captain America: Brave New World, Daredevil: Born Again, Thunderbolts, Ironheart, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and Eyes of Wakanda all took place on the main MCU Earth (designated Earth-616) in 2025. These six projects introduced a lot of exciting new characters to the screen – some were reimaginings of previously disappointing adaptations, and others were appearing on screen for the very first time. This is a positive step for Marvel, suggesting even more fresh faces will be joining the MCU in future installments.
10) Red Hulk
Thaddeus Ross, played by both William Hurt and Harrison Ford, has been a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since his first appearance in The Incredible Hulk back in 2008. In Captain America: Brave New World, Ross finally became the Red Hulk, bringing this powerful new version of the character to life on screen for the first time. This transformation was orchestrated by the Leader, who used gamma pills to fuel Ross’s anger. The Red Hulk is even more ferocious and unrestrained than Bruce Banner’s Hulk, making him a significant and powerful addition to the MCU.
9) Muse
The return of Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk in Daredevil: Born Again was a highlight, but the series also introduced a truly disturbing villain: Muse (Hunter Doohan). This artist-turned-serial killer terrorized New York City, creating unsettling graffiti using the blood of his victims mixed with epoxy. Muse is a shocking addition to the Marvel universe, and Born Again’s mature tone was ideal for his debut—he’s a character that would only fit in a series with a TV-MA rating. It’s unfortunate that, due to his early demise, we won’t be seeing him again.
8) Shalla-Bal’s Silver Surfer
The comic book series The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set in an alternate universe (Earth 828), but the upcoming 2025 movie will significantly shape the future of the Fantastic Four as they become part of the main Marvel Cinematic Universe. Their battle with Shalla-Bal’s Silver Surfer, played by Julia Garner, will have a lasting effect on the team, especially Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), who figured out how to understand her language and used it to stop the Silver Surfer (Ralph Ineson). Garner delivered a fantastic performance, and director Matt Shakman showcased the Silver Surfer’s immense power with impressive visuals.
7) Seth Voelker’s Sidewinder
Besides Red Hulk, the movie Captain America: Brave New World introduced both established and new villains. While Tim Blake Nelson reprises his role as the Leader, Giancarlo Esposito plays Sidewinder, a more recent addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sidewinder leads the Serpent Society and has a complicated, sometimes friendly, sometimes adversarial relationship with Captain America (Anthony Mackie). Esposito has hinted at more appearances for Sidewinder and the Serpent Society in future Marvel projects, and fans are eager to see what happens after his impactful debut in 2025.
6) The Last Black Panther
The animated series Eyes of Wakanda was the first MCU story set in the main Earth universe (Earth-616) to delve into Wakanda’s history and the legacy of the Black Panther. The series also presented a possible future where Wakanda’s queen became the final Black Panther (voiced by Anika Noni Rose) on an Earth overrun by alien invaders called the Horde. This version of the Black Panther created technology that allowed her to travel back in time to prevent the invasion, making her the most powerful Black Panther we’ve encountered so far. With multiple Black Panthers already appearing in the MCU, and potentially more to come, the character’s story continues to expand.
5) Galactus
After a less-than-impressive portrayal as a gas cloud in the 2007 film Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, it was fantastic to see Galactus finally look like his comic book counterpart in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. As a being fueled by the Power Cosmic, Galactus is driven by a constant, overwhelming hunger for entire planets, leading him to travel the universe in search of worlds to consume. A truly iconic Marvel character, First Steps effectively showcased his immense power. Though defeated by the sacrifices of Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) and Shalla-Bal, fans are eager to see Galactus return in future stories.
4) Mephisto
After years of rumors and anticipation, the villain Mephisto (played by Sacha Baron Cohen) officially appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the July 2025 film, Ironheart. In Marvel comics, Mephisto is a powerful, demonic ruler of Hell, and his arrival in the MCU has been hinted at for some time. While his full story remains to be told, Ironheart introduced him as a manipulative figure who made agreements with both Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos) and Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne). Because Mephisto has ties to so many existing MCU characters, he’s likely to play a significant role in future stories.
3) Robert Reynolds’ Sentry
The new movie Thunderbolts introduces Robert Reynolds (played by Lewis Pullman), a character with a comic book-inspired past, into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’s transformed by the OXE Group into a super-soldier called the Sentry, gaining incredible power. However, this process also unleashes a dangerous side of his personality, the Void, which traps people in their worst memories. The Sentry could become one of the MCU’s most powerful heroes, potentially returning after the events of Avengers: Doomsday.
2) The Fantastic Four & Franklin Richards
With The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel introduced Galactus and the Silver Surfer while officially integrating the Fantastic Four into the main Marvel Cinematic Universe. This version of the team—played by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach—is considered the best yet, capturing the characters’ unique charm within a stylish 1960s setting. The story also features Reed and Sue Richards’ son, Franklin, who possesses immense cosmic power similar to Galactus and has already demonstrated the ability to bring people back to life. The Fantastic Four and Franklin Richards are poised to become major players in the MCU for years to come, and their importance will only grow.
1) Doctor Doom
Doctor Doom first appeared briefly after the credits of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, setting the stage for his major role in Avengers: Doomsday (coming December 2026). The scene, featuring Robert Downey Jr. unexpectedly returning to the MCU after six years, showed Doom meeting with Franklin Richards at the Baxter Building, hinting at future plans. First Steps establishes Doom as a key villain for the Multiverse Saga, and Avengers: Doomsday will delve deeper into his multiversal mission. Fans are eagerly anticipating what happens next.
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2025-12-27 16:13