MCU History Made With Shocking Supervillain Family Twist

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In an unprecedented move, Disney+ saw Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) create a groundbreaking moment by unveiling the first-ever supervillain family link within one of their streaming series. Family dynamics have consistently been a significant subplot in MCU productions, with many projects delving into this theme across various projects over time. Remarkably, this extends to the villains too, as their family connections often provide surprising and impactful plot twists throughout the franchise’s history.

In episode 3 of “Ironheart”, it was unveiled that Alden Ehrenreich’s character, “Joe McGillicuddy”, is actually Ezekiel Stane. During a visit to his residence for assistance with her upcoming mission alongside Anthony Ramos’ The Hood and his team, Riri Williams stumbled upon a bag which Joe claimed contained his late father’s remains. Upon shifting focus to the side of this bag, the name “Obadiah S.” became visible.

Supporters who have followed the MCU since its beginning will recognize this as a nod to Obadiah Stane, played by Jeff Bridges in the franchise’s inaugural film, “Iron Man” (2008). Initially seizing control of Stark Industries following Tony’s parents’ demise, he initially stepped back once Tony assumed his role as CEO. Later, Obadiah employed the Ten Rings to capture and attempt to kill Tony. He then transformed Tony’s first Iron Man suit into the Iron Monger armor, aiming to destroy Tony. However, this confrontation ended with Obadiah’s defeat.

In Marvel Comics lore, Ezekiel is typically depicted as a formidable villain, and it’s widely speculated that Ehernreich’s portrayal will make him an adversary to Riri Williams during the latter half of Ironheart. If this comes to pass, it would mark a unique parent-child supervillain relationship in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), as no Disney+ show has previously confirmed such a connection. Here are some other villainous parents from various chapters of MCU history.

Every Villain With Children in MCU History

N’Jobu – Father of Killmonger

In several significant scenes in the 2018 movie “Black Panther”, Emmy-winning actor Sterling K. Brown made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as N’Jobu. It was later uncovered that N’Jobu was on a mission to America, serving as part of the Wakandan War Dogs. Furthermore, it became clear that his son was none other than Michael B. Jordan’s character, Erik Stevens, who gained infamy as the ruthless antagonist Killmonger.

In the past, we saw how T’Chaka, T’Challa’s dad, fatally confronted N’Jobu after learning about N’Jobu’s plot against Zuri, which was sparked by their association with Ulysses Klaue. This eventual act instigated Killmonger’s quest for vengeance and his bid to seize the throne of Wakanda, aiming to avenge his father’s death while also attempting to eliminate T’Challa and transform Wakanda into a powerful global force through violent means.

Wenwu – Father of Shang-Chi and Xialing

Following numerous speculations regarding the Mandarin character introduced in “Iron Man 3” with Trevor Slattery, the 2021 film “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” finally presented the genuine Mandarin, portrayed by Tony Leung as Wenwu. It was later confirmed that Wenwu’s immortality was granted by the Ten Rings he possessed, making him over a thousand years old. The narrative also explored his life, including the time he spent creating a family with his wife, Ying Li.

As the narrative progressed, it became clear that the Mandarin’s offspring were none other than Simu Liu as Shang-Chi and Meng’er Zhang playing his sister, Xialing. Together, they banded together to thwart Wenwu and the Ten Rings from gaining more control over the world. Interestingly, Wenwu ended up giving his life to the Dweller in Darkness, but it was later disclosed that Xialing had seized leadership of the Ten Rings herself.

Thanos – Father of Gamora and Nebula

Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame,” earning him a reputation as one of the most renowned antagonists in the MCU. Additionally, due to his presence in these movies, Thanos also gained fame as one of the MCU’s notable father figures.

Via his journeys, he “took under his wing” Zoe Saldaña’s Gamora and Karen Gillan’s Nebula, forcibly separating them from their families following the destruction of their homelands. He then subjected them to torment and extensive alterations, transforming them into formidable weapons. However, they eventually united against him as part of the Avengers, ultimately defeating him.

Ego – Father of Star-Lord

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Kurt Russell assumed a significant role as Ego the Living Planet in the 2017 release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. As soon as he introduced the Guardians to his planet, he disclosed that he was Peter Quill’s long-absent father and had been tirelessly seeking him for years.

In the end, it turned out that the character was the antagonist in “Guardians 2”. His intention was to exploit Peter’s powers, using them to expand his own presence across all planets he had visited over millennia. Consequently, Peter and the Guardians found themselves compelled to defeat Ego, preventing him from transforming the entire universe into a reflection of himself.

Gorr – Father of Love

In my perspective as a film critic, after his captivating stint as Batman, Christian Bale transitioned to the Marvel Cinematic Universe by embodying the malevolent Gorr the God Butcher in “Thor: Love and Thunder” released in 2022. The opening scenes of the movie reveal an unexpected twist – Gorr is a father figure to a young girl named Love, portrayed by India Hemsworth, the daughter of Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth.

As a devoted cinephile, I’d rephrase it like this: In the heart-wrenching opening sequence, love fades away. From that moment, the character Gorr embarks on a cinematic journey in search of Eternity, hoping to resurrect her and restore his beloved family. Ultimately sacrificing himself in pursuit of this dream, he manages to revive Love, and even Thor pledges to reincarnate her as Gorr takes his final bow.

Eleanor Bishop – Mother of Kate Bishop

2021 saw Vera Farmiga joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time in ‘Hawkeye’. Her character, Eleanor Bishop, was the mother of Kate Bishop, who was also recently inducted into the MCU alongside Hailee Steinfeld. As for Kate, her journey led to a meeting with Clint Barton, who eventually took on the task of training her as a hero. In contrast, Eleanor’s storyline took a more sinister turn.

As a cinephile delving deeper into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I uncovered an intriguing twist: it was me, Eleanor, who secretly funded Yelena Belova to eliminate Clint Barton, all under the watch of Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin. After the fateful moment when Kate saved my life, I found myself handcuffed for the murder of Armand Duquesne III, leaving my future in this universe shrouded in mystery.

Verussa Bloodstone – Stepmother of Elsa Bloodstone

In the Disney+ Special Presentation titled “Werewolf by Night,” actress Harriet Sansom Harris debuted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Lady Verussa Bloodstone, commanding a band of monster slayers. Her stepdaughter, Elsa Bloodstone, portrayed by Laura Donnelly, was among them. Elsa, who disagreed with her mother’s tactics and aspired to claim the Bloodstone legacy, joined the gathering in order to compete for it.

Working alongside Man-Thing and Jack Russell, Elsa guided them towards her stepmother. With Man-Thing incinerating her, thus bringing an end to her tyranny, she subsequently assisted Russell in his getaway once he transformed into a werewolf. Seizing the Bloodstone for herself, she pondered about her next course of action.

Wanda – Mother of Tommy and Billy

Over a long period in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Elizabeth Olsen, known primarily as the Scarlet Witch, has gained recognition. In the series WandaVision, set during Phase 4, she had twins, Billy and Tommy, portrayed by Julian Hilliard and Jett Klyne respectively. However, tragically, she had to part with them when dismantling the hex she created around Westview, New Jersey.

In the movie “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” Wanda chose a malevolent path, employing the Darkhold to seek a way to be with some alternate form of her twins across dimensions. Using Dreamwalking and traversing various realms, she made this reunion attempt. Later, recognizing the wrongfulness of her actions, she abandoned that pursuit and hid herself beneath Mount Wundagore as a precaution against others exploiting the magic within the Darkhold again.

Thunderbolt Ross – Father of Betty Ross

In the hypothetical film “Captain America: Brave New World“, the character of General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, now President, has been a persistent adversary for both the Hulk and the Avengers throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He is also renowned for his complex and strained bond with his daughter, Betty Ross, played by Liv Tyler.

In the novel “Brave New World,” the dynamic between Ross and Betty was revisited, with Ross transforming into the Red Hulk and encountering Betty once more after his incarceration at the Raft. Although their future paths in the Marvel Cinematic Universe remain unclear, the bond between father and daughter has endured for over a decade and a half as the MCU continues to progress.

Marvel Studios’ latest offering, Ironheart, brings Dominique Thorne, Alden Ehrenreich, and Anthony Ramos to the screen as we conclude Phase 5 of the MCU. Following Riri Williams’ journey post-“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” she navigates MIT’s challenges while reconnecting with her Chicago roots and becoming embroiled in a grand tale exploring the dynamic tension between technology and magic. Catch the first three episodes streaming now on Disney+, with the remaining three set to premiere on July 1st. I, for one, can’t wait!

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2025-06-27 03:35