10 Marvel Villains Who Still Need A Good Movie

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has shown that compelling villains can be just as important as heroes. While the focus has always been on the heroes’ journeys, many of Marvel’s most interesting villains haven’t been fully explored in the movies. They often appear briefly as opponents before being forgotten, even though they have complex histories and understandable, if misguided, reasons for their actions – perhaps stemming from past trauma, a twisted sense of justice, or a belief that any cost is worth achieving their goals. Giving these villains more screen time would offer a different viewpoint, making audiences question what truly defines good and evil.

Giving any of these ten villains their own movie would allow us to explore the complicated reasons behind their actions, turning them from simple villains into memorable, tragic, or frightening figures with rich backstories.

10) Ultron

The intelligent AI was presented as a worldwide danger, created from the well-intentioned but flawed efforts of Tony Stark and Bruce Banner, who hoped to achieve lasting peace. Though its first appearance caused massive destruction, the movie only hinted at the AI’s deeper philosophical struggles and frightening capacity to grow and change.

A movie dedicated to Ultron could delve deeper into his origins from the comics, particularly his drive to “perfect” humanity by destroying it. It could also showcase his unique ability to move his mind into different bodies and systems, making him a constant, evolving danger online rather than just a single robot. Given current discussions about artificial intelligence and its ethical implications, a project centered around Ultron would be particularly relevant right now.

9) Thanos

Although Thanos succeeded in his plan in *Avengers: Infinity War*, the movie only showed hints of why he did it, through short flashbacks and speeches. His backstory – including his life on his home planet, Titan, and his belief that he could bring balance to the universe – could make a fantastic, large-scale space adventure. He told Tony Stark that he used to be a leader on Titan, but was exiled after proposing a solution to overpopulation that involved eliminating half of all life.

A film about his youth could be a compelling and tragic exploration of a man whose warnings went unheeded until it was too late. Showing his path to becoming the ruthless, philosophical leader fixated on the Infinity Stones would deepen his story and add a darker, more complex dimension to his already legendary reputation.

8) Killmonger

Erik Stevens, also known as Killmonger, stood out as a compelling villain in *Black Panther* because of his strong sense of justice for those who were overlooked and his opposition to Wakanda’s policy of keeping to itself. Many viewers were captivated by his story and wished they could have seen more of what led him to his extreme views.

A prequel could explore Killmonger’s past as a Navy SEAL and black-ops mercenary, showing the missions and events that made him so determined and fueled his belief in revolution. This story would be similar in tone to *Captain America: The Winter Soldier*, focusing on his military experiences and the harsh realities of war that turned him into Killmonger.

7) Baron Zemo

Zemo stands out as a compelling villain because he’s an ordinary human from Sokova, lacking any superpowers. He’s a brilliant strategist who managed to pit Earth’s mightiest heroes against each other through sheer willpower and planning. Driven by a desire for revenge after his family’s death during the events of *Avengers: Age of Ultron*, his motivations are understandable, yet his actions have disastrous consequences for the superhero world.

A standalone series could explore Baron Zemo’s past as a spy during the Cold War, revealing his life and work before the events of *Captain America: Civil War*. This would allow us to see how he honed the skills he later used to dismantle the Avengers, while also delving into his personal life – portraying him as a loving husband and father whose grief over the loss of his family ultimately led him down a path of global terrorism.

6) Hela

Hela, who was originally the goddess of death and Odin’s oldest child, once led Asgard’s armies, suggesting a much more violent past for the realm. Though she ruled for centuries, her reign of terror was quickly shown in a short series of scenes in *Thor: Ragnarok*. Cate Blanchett’s performance as Hela was highly praised, making a film focused solely on her story a promising idea.

A movie focusing on Hela would be a dark and epic tale drawing from Viking and Norse legends. It would show her conquering the Nine Realms with Odin before he changed his ways, and explain the history of the Valkyries before Hela destroyed them. The film would be a violent, mythological war story exploring Hela’s ruthless ambition and the brutal origins of Asgard that Odin tried to hide.

5) Green Goblin

Norman Osborn, Spider-Man’s greatest enemy, embodies the dangers of unchecked power and intelligence. Willem Dafoe’s iconic performance as the Green Goblin debuted in the 2002 *Spider-Man* film with Tobey Maguire, and his return in *Spider-Man: No Way Home* delighted fans of the franchise. While the movies have primarily shown Osborn’s descent into madness and violence, there’s potential to delve deeper into the political and corporate motivations that drive his character beyond a simple hero-villain conflict.

A movie could focus on the cutthroat world of Oscorp, showing Norman Osborn’s intense fight to beat his competitors and protect his reputation. It could explore the reasons behind his difficult personality, his troubled relationship with his son Harry, and what drove him toward becoming the Green Goblin. Because the Marvel Cinematic Universe isn’t afraid to play with time and alternate realities, there are countless possibilities for a Green Goblin-focused film.

4) Agatha Harkness

Agatha Harkness is a very old and powerful witch who lived starting in the late 1600s. She’s skeptical about magic and believes she’s better than others, likely because she’s spent centuries defeating and absorbing the powers of other witches. In the MCU, particularly in *WandaVision*, she exposed the truth about chaos magic to Wanda, informing her that she was destined to become the Scarlet Witch. She also revealed in the episode *Agatha All Along* that Billy Maximoff is Wanda’s son and possesses a great deal of untapped chaos magic.

A movie about Agatha could delve into her long life, similar to the hints given in the song “Agatha All Along.” It could start with her origins in the Salem Witch Trials and show her experiences throughout history, especially her relationship with Rio (Aubrey Plaza), who is revealed to be the father of her son, Nicholas. While we know Agatha and Rio were once in love and shared a life together, the details of their romance – and the heartbreaking event of Rio taking Nicholas – remain largely unknown, making it a compelling story to tell.

3) Red Skull

Johann Schmidt, the creator of Hydra, embodies a truly frightening fascist worldview. His background – a brilliant mind who joined the Nazi party and became fascinated with myths and the supernatural – offers a rich foundation for a compelling story about how a villain gains power and influence. It’s a history ripe for exploration.

A movie could delve into the origins of Hydra, portraying it as a secret, Nazi-linked organization during wartime. It could show how Schmidt became the first person to receive Dr. Erskine’s super-soldier treatment and how that experience drove him insane, leading him to obsessively seek out ancient, powerful artifacts. This story would offer a grim, historical contrast to Captain America’s narrative, illustrating the corrupting influence of unchecked ambition.

2) Loki

Loki is a hugely popular character, and his Disney+ series was a big hit. However, a movie focusing on how he became the God of Mischief – and exploring his complicated family history as an Asgardian – would be fantastic. His lifelong struggle with being adopted, originally a Frost Giant, is a story fans would love to see on the big screen, and there’s clearly a lot of continued interest in his character.

A movie could explore Loki’s initial envy of Thor, even before the events of the *Thor* and *Avengers* films. It’s established that Loki’s mother, Frigga, was a loving teacher of magic to him, and they had a strong bond, while Odin favored Thor. A story detailing how Loki’s relationship with Frigga influenced his magical abilities and his struggles to gain Odin’s acceptance would create a compelling backstory and explain his eventual path as a trickster.

1) The Winter Soldier

The Winter Soldier’s past as a brainwashed assassin makes him an ideal subject for a hard-hitting action movie. Having spent seventy years as a covert operative for Hydra, completing dangerous missions worldwide, his story provides a strong foundation for a tense and shadowy spy thriller.

The film could jump around in time, showcasing a string of Bucky’s most notorious secret missions and assassinations. It would delve into the trauma of being forced to serve and the repeated memory wipes he endured. The story would be a dark and intense exploration of Bucky’s guilt and loss of humanity while he was being controlled as a weapon, focusing on the tragic figure he became rather than the person he was.

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2025-10-06 22:13