7 Marvel Street-Level Heroes Who Still Need to Debut in the MCU

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Disney+ is becoming the place for Marvel’s more grounded, street-level heroes. This started with Daredevil, as Charlie Cox reprised his role from the Netflix series – which wasn’t originally connected to the main Marvel Cinematic Universe. When Daredevil appeared in both Spider-Man: No Way Home and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, he officially became part of the MCU. The first season of the Disney+ Daredevil series also introduced heroes like White Tiger and the Punisher, and Season 2 features Jessica Jones, another character moving over from the Netflix Marvel shows. This seems to be only the beginning of this trend.

Here is a look at more street-level heroes who still need to arrive in the MCU.

7) Cloak & Dagger

Cloak & Dagger was a TV show on Freeform that lasted two seasons, with a total of 20 episodes. Although Freeform presented it as being within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it didn’t have any direct crossovers with other MCU properties. It only referenced events and characters from other Marvel shows and movies, keeping it separate from the main storyline. This makes its connection to the MCU even weaker than the connection the Netflix heroes like Daredevil had before moving to Disney+.

Cloak & Dagger could appear in many different Marvel Cinematic Universe projects. Since they first appeared in comics alongside Spider-Man, that’s one likely path. While they might not be a natural fit with a character like Daredevil, they have a lot of potential if they officially join the MCU.

6) Black Cat

Originally, Black Cat—a character named Felicia who worked at Oscorp—was planned to appear in the Amazing Spider-Man stories. However, that didn’t happen. Fans also hoped she might make a surprise appearance in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but that seems unlikely now. Regardless, Black Cat is a fantastic character and deserves to be part of the action.

Felicia Hardy, known as Black Cat, deserves a place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but not as a typical villain. She’d be perfect as a street-level antihero – someone who takes down criminals but also looks out for her own interests and isn’t afraid to steal when the situation calls for it. Marvel should create a series or special focused on Black Cat and her daring heists, and it’s something fans would love to see happen soon.

5) Ben Reilly

Ben Reilly started as a clone of Spider-Man, but he’s evolved into a complex character with his own unique journey. He’s been a hero known as the Scarlet Spider, a villain called Chasm, and most recently, he’s been secretly living as Peter Parker while the real Spider-Man is away. Many fans believe Ben Reilly would be a fantastic addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The main issue is how the Marvel Cinematic Universe would explain multiple Spider-Men. Unless they introduce the Jackal and his cloning technology, it’s impossible for them to be the same character. Because Spider-Noir is already established as Ben Reilly, it seems unlikely we’ll see that happen, which is a shame because Ben could have been a compelling antihero in the MCU.

4) Miles Morales

As a huge movie fan, I really think Miles Morales deserves a spot as a live-action Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the Spider-Verse trilogy wrapping up just before Avengers: Secret Wars, it feels like the perfect setup. It would be amazing to see him first appear in that massive team-up movie and then become a full-fledged member of the MCU!

Spider-Man typically focuses on local, grounded conflicts, as seen in the Spider-Man: Brand New Day storyline, and it would be a natural fit for Miles Morales to operate alongside him. Furthermore, if Marvel Studios decides to create a project featuring the Young Avengers (Champions), Miles Morales should be included with other young heroes like Kamala Khan, Kate Bishop, and Ironheart.

3) Misty Knight

Misty Knight and Colleen Wing appeared in the Netflix series featuring Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Daredevil, and Jessica Jones. However, those shows aren’t officially part of the main Marvel Cinematic Universe, and that may still be the case. Although Charlie Cox is now playing Daredevil in the MCU, the new show hasn’t referenced much of his previous Netflix storyline.

To truly connect all the old Netflix Marvel shows with the current Disney+ universe, bringing back Colleen Wing as the new Iron Fist would be a great start, since that’s how her story ended. But even more importantly, Misty Knight deserves a bigger role. She didn’t get the attention she deserved on Netflix, and she’d be a fantastic addition as a gritty, street-level hero on Disney+.

2) Iron Fist

Some argue that the Netflix Marvel characters joined the main Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) when Daredevil appeared in a later MCU project. However, until these characters officially appear in an MCU film or series, they aren’t truly part of it. Of all the Netflix heroes, Iron Fist arguably suffered the most and deserves a chance to be redeemed more than anyone.

Finn Jones wasn’t to blame for Iron Fist being the least popular of the Netflix Defenders. The show faced two main issues. First, some viewers unfamiliar with the comics felt the character should have been Asian, a concern largely addressed by the introduction of Shang-Chi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Second, the storyline wasn’t strong enough, but with Marvel Studios now in charge, a new Iron Fist series, or even just appearances by the character, could be much more appealing to comic book fans.

1) Luke Cage

Luke Cage is the ideal street-level hero the Marvel Cinematic Universe needs to introduce. Ideally, they’d bring back Mike Colter, who previously played Luke Cage in the Netflix series, and perhaps team him up with Jessica Jones on Disney+. A Heroes for Hire series featuring Luke Cage and Iron Fist would also be a fantastic addition.

Fans hoped Luke Cage would appear in Season 2 of the Daredevil series, but trailers didn’t hint at his arrival despite Jessica Jones being included. While Luke Cage technically existed within the Marvel Cinematic Universe due to his Netflix show – just like Daredevil now does – he hasn’t officially transitioned. Until Luke Cage makes an appearance in a current MCU series, his inclusion feels incomplete.

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2026-02-18 21:12