10 Marvel Characters That Could Make Avengers: Secret Wars Epic

Following movies like “Avengers: Endgame”, “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, and “Deadpool & Wolverine”, it’s evident that cameos have become a significant aspect in MCU films, particularly those delving into multiverse concepts. Fans now eagerly anticipate surprise appearances of characters from past Marvel adaptations (often ones not originally part of the MCU) that send theater audiences into raptures of delight. With “Avengers: Secret Wars” on the horizon, it’s safe to assume that cameos will be a prominent feature given its status as the epitome of a multiverse Marvel tale, and honestly, the potential is limitless.

In order to fully explore the multidimensional aspects of this universe within the upcoming feature, it would be beneficial to introduce a variety of Marvel characters. Specifically, these ten essential characters for a “Secret Wars” adaptation are not limited to the stars from 21st-century Marvel film adaptations. Instead, they are unusual figures hailing from various regions of the Marvel multiverse. Why stick with ordinary appearances when we can aim for something grand and bold? If “Secret Wars” is to truly leverage its multidimensional potential, it would be captivating to see these ten characters appear on screen.

Some Version of Storm

In the X-Men movies in real life, Ororo Munroe/Storm hasn’t had her moment to truly shine. Despite being portrayed by the incredibly gifted and Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry, Storm has often taken a backseat in these films. It would be fantastic if Avengers: Secret Wars provided an opportunity to rectify this situation by giving one version of Storm a chance to make a lasting impact. There are numerous interpretations of Storm scattered throughout the multiverse, ranging from Berry and Alexandra Shipp’s live-action portrayals to X-Men ’97’s Storm. Regardless of who is selected, it would be wonderful if they were given an impressive showdown in Secret Wars.

Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man

Since the film “Spider-Man: No Way Home” successfully introduced Tobey Maguire’s version of Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, why not reintroduce him for the epic multiversal battle in “Avengers: Secret Wars”? Even a brief return would be fitting considering Maguire’s multiple cameos in “No Way Home” and the upcoming “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” have connected his Spiderman to various universes. Moreover, fans would surely enjoy seeing Maguire act alongside other Marvel superheroes on screen.

Madame Web

In the 2024 film ‘Madame Web’, portrayed by Dakota Johnson, the character Cassandra Webb only gets to don the Madame Web suit for fleeting glimpses of future events. This is one of several unusual aspects of the S.J. Clarkson movie that has gained notoriety among moviegoers. Nevertheless, the way the multiple Spider-Man characters were utilized in ‘No Way Home’ demonstrated that even poorly received comic book movies can find favor in multiverse films. Perhaps a cameo from an on-comics Madame Web could help Dakota Johnson regain some standing in this cinematic universe.

David Haller/Legion

The critically acclaimed TV series “Legion,” which starred Dan Stevens as David Heller/Legion, chronicled his mind-bending adventures as a mutant over three seasons. Although this show concluded some time ago, there’s a possibility that Heller might make a brief comeback in the “Secret Wars.” Given the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s recent trend of incorporating existing mutant content, it seems plausible to explore a small-screen “X-Men” storyline. Moreover, the surreal nature of “Legion” makes it adaptable to intersect briefly with the MCU without disrupting its overall tone.

Darryl Jacobson

Following several short films directed by Taika Waititi, such as “Team Darryl”, Darryl Jacobson (played by Daley Pearson) made his debut in a full-fledged Marvel Cinematic Universe movie in 2022 with “Thor: Love and Thunder”. Now employed as a guide for New Asgard, his frequent encounters with the fantastical make it almost certain that Jacobson will be entwined in a superhero escapade. It’s possible that even “Secret Wars” might feature Darryl Jacobson, offering a brief cameo to reinforce for viewers that any character from the MCU, no matter how minor, could potentially appear in such stories.

Lockjaw

Lockjaw is an exceptional canine who was unfortunately underutilized in the 2017 “Inhumans” series. Instead of coming up with more creative uses for this character, they resorted to putting him unconscious after a motorbike incident. Although it seems unlikely that Marvel will introduce the Inhuman Royal Family into “Secret Wars”, it’s hoped that Kamala Khan will feature in this “Avengers” installment. Considering Lockjaw’s strong bond with Kamala in the comics, it would be fitting for him to make an appearance in some form during “Secret Wars”. Perhaps he could even exact revenge on that troublesome motorbike in his big-screen debut.

Japanese Spider-Man

Besides Tobey Maguire, there’s another past version of Spider-Man who deserves to be in Secret Wars. If the Russo brothers want to add some unexpected twists to their multiverse cameos, let’s include the Japanese Spider-Man. This unique take on Spiderman from Toei Company in the late ’70s offers an unpredictable energy. The idea of this Spidey Variant sharing screen time with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is limitless and thought-provoking.

Matt Salinger’s Captain America

For quite a while, the 1990 “Captain America” film starring Matt Salinger as the main character was often ridiculed. Yet, in late 2024, the original version directed by Albert Pyun was finally shown to audiences and received much more favorable reviews. With this renewed respect for the movie, why not consider bringing back Salinger’s Captain America for “Secret Wars”? It could be that Salinger reprises his role or a new actor dons the costume from the 1990 film; either way, Captain America’s path to redemption should certainly continue in “Secret Wars”.

Doreen Green/Squirrel Girl

As a devoted film fanatic, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Squirrel Girl in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) for quite some time now. The proposed and highly anticipated MCU New Warriors TV show, featuring Milana Vayntrub as Doreen Green/Squirrel Girl, never progressed past the pilot stage, leaving fans like me yearning for more. With the multiverse-spanning event, Avengers: Secret Wars, calling for all hands on deck, wouldn’t it be perfect to bring in Vayntraub’s Squirrel Girl to lend a helping hand? Not only would this align perfectly with her long-overdue MCU debut, but also make an impressive entrance for such a character during the grand scale of Secret Wars.

1986’s Howard the Duck

Seth Green’s character, Howard the Duck, has been a persistent figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing across three Guardians of the Galaxy films and various episodes of What If…?. With one Howard now established, why not introduce another version of him in Secret Wars? That’s correct, this multiverse-spanning spectacle should, for a moment at least, reintroduce the character from the 1986 film, ideally still portrayed by a creepy puppet and accompanied by his lively theme song.

Initially criticized as Marvel’s weakest adaptation, the film has significantly improved due to later productions such as “Dark Phoenix” and “Fantastic Four.” Given the recent revamp of Howard in the MCU and considering the nod to early live-action Marvel movies, why not include “Secret Wars” as a tribute? This would also give fans an opportunity to enjoy the iconic “Howard the Duck” tune in IMAX sound systems!

Howard the Duck is now available for rental or purchase from digital retailers.

2025-03-25 20:10