10 Marvel Cinematic Universe Characters That Disappeared

As a seasoned movie critic, I’ve noticed an intriguing pattern in the Marvel Cinematic Universe‘s recent productions – they often revive characters who’ve been absent for quite some time. Occasionally, this tactic hits the bullseye, like with Ghost in Thunderbolts. However, there are instances where it misses the mark, such as Samuel Sterns in Captain America: Brave New World. But what about those characters who seemed to have untapped potential? Characters whose stories seemed far from over. Those are the ones I’m interested in discussing here. It’s not about characters who fulfilled their role in a single narrative and saw their arc conclude, like Liz Allan in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Unless, of course, Adrian Toomes, aka Vulture, makes a comeback. Liz wouldn’t have any reason to return, despite the tag scene in Morbius. So far, there’s been no indication that Toomes will reappear.

Additionally, we’re focusing on characters who appeared in Marvel films (occasionally twice) but seem to have been overlooked or disregarded after that, excluding those from One-Shots and TV series like Agents of SHIELD.

1) Scorpion From Spider-Man: Homecoming

In the movies Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, Mac Gargan is one of two characters who appear to be significant figures but ended up not appearing or being mentioned at all. It appears that he was intended to be included in these films.

In the movie “Homecoming”, we encounter him just twice. The first instance is when Spider-Man disrupts Vulture’s arrangement on the Staten Island Ferry. The second time is during the film’s credit sequence, where he faces off against Vulture. It’s clear that Vulture is aware of Spider-Man’s identity, hinting at a potential future confrontation and escape from prison. He even adopts the Scorpion persona to exact his revenge. However, despite Spider-Man’s identity being exposed in “Far From Home”, neither Spider-Man nor the audience hears anything from Scorpion in “No Way Home”.

2) Justin Hammer From Iron Man 2

It’s now been 15 years since Sam Rockwell’s character Justin Hammer made his MCU appearance in Iron Man 2, and regrettably, he remains a standalone character. Despite the fact that many may not have enjoyed Iron Man 2, they must acknowledge that Rockwell stole every single scene. He is indeed one of the top-tier talents in the industry, and portraying a boastful weapons manufacturer with no decent merchandise to peddle was pure comedic genius.

Initially, there was anticipation for Hammer’s comeback in Armor Wars. However, when the project shifted from a miniseries to a film, it got delayed indefinitely, which was around 2022. Since then, there hasn’t been any update regarding its progress, suggesting that the production might have been shelved permanently. This is a rather grim indication, implying that Hammer’s (and Rockwell’s) role in the MCU may be concluded for good. Despite this being disappointing, it’s worth noting that Hammer’s competitive streak against Tony Stark was his most engaging trait. With Stark gone, it’s hard to imagine how Marvel could revive Mr. Hammer’s character if they decide to reintroduce him in the future.

3) Madame B. From Avengers: Age of Ultron

In the film “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Julie Delpy’s character, Madame B., who oversees the Red Room program, had a limited appearance. To be precise, her role was confined to a vivid memory or flashback triggered by Natasha Romanoff, which was instigated by Wanda Maximoff.

In another way of putting it, while there’s some sense to her not returning, considering the Black Widow movie and its elements set in the past as well as flashbacks, it certainly seems strange that Madame B. didn’t reappear in the Red Room.

4) Black Knight From Eternals

In the limited scenes where Kit Harington appears in the movie ‘Eternals’, his character, Dane Whitman, is hardly significant and seems insignificant. However, it’s not until the final scene that we discover he holds a crucial role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as he will be taking on the persona of the Black Knight.

The anticipation for Whitman to brandish the Ebony Blade and be formally recognized as the Black Knight relied heavily on a project that was highly probable at the time. It wasn’t another film about the Eternals, but rather, a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film centered around Blade. Regrettably, it seems that an MCU Blade film is as uncertain as a sequel to the Eternals.

5) Rhomann Dey From Guardians of the Galaxy

In the initial Guardians of the Galaxy movie, John C. Reilly’s Rhomann Dey from Xandar was more of a humorous supporting character. It isn’t guaranteed that he will appear again, but it would have been pleasant if he did.

In the movie “Avengers: Infinity War,” we learn that Thanos and his group, the Black Order, visited Xandar, annihilated half of the planet, and acquired the Power Stone. Did Rhomann Dey meet his end during this massacre? If he did, it was permanent; after the occurrences in “Avengers: Endgame,” there would be no return for him.

6) W’Kabi From Black Panther

It’s understandable why Daniel Kaluuya might not be in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” given that his character, W’Kabi, betrayed the people of Wakanda and T’Challa, leading him to be expelled from the Border Tribe. However, it’s a missed opportunity for his character to have a redemption arc, particularly with regards to his wife, Okoye.

In the movie “Wakanda Forever”, Queen Ramonda discusses W’Kabi, as she strips Okoye of her leadership role within the Dora Milaje. It’s established that W’Kabi has been banished due to his treachery, yet he remains within Wakanda’s territory. This unexpected circumstance raises questions about why there wasn’t a scene showing Okoye visiting him after her demotion. There’s speculation that he may reappear in the upcoming third “Black Panther” film.

7) Karl Mordo From Doctor Strange

Indeed, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s character Baron Karl Mordo in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” was a different portrayal compared to the one from the original “Doctor Strange”. In other words, while the Marvel Cinematic Universe has not erased Chiwetel Ejiofor’s performance as Mordo from 2016, it seems they have chosen to present a new version of the character in this film.

It’s surprising because at the end of the first “Doctor Strange” movie, Mordo is clearly positioned as a disgruntled villain. He encounters Benjamin Bratt’s character, Jonathan Pangborn, and removes his magic, explaining that he aims to purify the world by eliminating rogue sorcerers. However, in “Multiverse of Madness,” he is only mentioned briefly, leading one to wonder what has become of the Mordo we initially met, suggesting there might be more to his story.

8) Starfox From Eternals

So far, Eros – also known as Starfox and Thanos’ adoptive brother – has only made a brief appearance in the tag scene of the movie “Eternals”. Given the immense stardom of Harry Styles, it appears increasingly likely that this is where we will see him confined.

At this moment, there’s no Thanos dynamic to be found, and only his Eternal status will be delved into. However, the reception towards “Eternals” was not favorable, and to date, there’s little demand for a sequel, even with Starfox given more focus. None of the “Eternals” cast have been suggested or confirmed for “Avengers: Doomsday,” so it appears their potential return (including Starfox) could be in “Avengers: Secret Wars.

9) Aaron Davis From Spider-Man: Homecoming

In the film “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” Aaron Davis (played by Donald Glover) is a petty criminal who attempts to purchase Chitauri weapons from the gang led by Vulture. At a later point, he is questioned by Spider-Man in a parking garage, during which he reveals to Peter Parker details about an upcoming deal between Toomes and Mac Gargan that was previously mentioned.

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I can tell you why this character reveals such crucial information – he has a relative residing in that region who could potentially fall victim should these weapons hit the streets. In terms of official MCU movies, that’s where we part ways; we never learn that Davis is also known as the Prowler, nor do we discover his nephew’s identity as Miles Morales, and he doesn’t make another appearance. However, in movies slightly beyond the MCU, it seems we encounter this version of the Prowler again in “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” donning his suit and locked up. If a live-action “Spider-Man” movie ever emerges with Morales as the lead character, I believe it would be brilliant to reintroduce Glover’s portrayal of the Prowler.

10) Hercules From Thor: Love and Thunder

Due to his exceptional role in Ted Lasso, Brett Goldstein has garnered significant popularity among viewers. On the other hand, Thor: Love and Thunder hasn’t received much favor with fans.

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I must admit that it’s uncertain whether the hint dropped at the end of Love and Thunder will actually materialize. Ultimately, the fate of Thor’s storyline lies in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and, presumably, Avengers: Secret Wars. It’s challenging to envision Goldstein’s Hercules making an appearance in any MCU project other than a future Thor film.

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2025-06-15 22:43