10 Major MCU Characters The Multiverse Saga Has Failed

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Marvel is nearing the end of its current storyline, the Multiverse Saga, which began with WandaVision in 2021. This saga will conclude with a major two-part event featuring Avengers: Doomsday in 2026 and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027. With the return of the Russo Brothers and Robert Downey Jr. for these final films, the saga appears poised for a strong finish, despite some challenges along the way.

The first eleven years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, known as the Infinity Saga, were almost universally praised. However, the current Multiverse Saga has sparked much more debate. While introducing many new characters alongside the existing large roster, the MCU hasn’t been able to develop them all effectively. As a result, several important Marvel characters have been either underused or portrayed poorly in this new saga.

The MCU Wasted Shang-Chi’s Perfect Debut

I was so excited when Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings came out! Simu Liu totally blew me away as Shang-Chi, and it’s honestly the best origin story we’ve gotten so far in the whole Multiverse Saga, in my opinion. Marvel really seemed to be building something big with this movie, and they even had the director, Destin Daniel Cretton, lined up for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty at one point – though plans changed and it’s now Avengers: Doomsday. But even with all the shifts in the MCU, Shang-Chi was a huge win, and I – along with a lot of other fans – can’t wait to see what happens with this character next!

Although Shang-Chi made a strong first impression in the MCU in 2021, he hasn’t appeared in any live-action Marvel films or shows since then, aside from a few animated appearances in series like What If…? and Marvel Zombies. Simu Liu will return as Shang-Chi in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday movie, but that will leave a full five years between his first and second MCU appearances. Unfortunately, the sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is still far off, as director Destin Daniel Cretton is currently focused on other projects like Wonder Man and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. This means the sequel won’t be released until after the current Multiverse Saga has finished.

Moon Knight Is Epic, But Disappeared Too Soon

The Disney+ series Moon Knight was a big hit during Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Released in 2022, the show features Oscar Isaac as Steven Grant, who discovers he shares a body with mercenary Marc Spector. Marc is the human form for the Egyptian moon god Khonshu. Although not everyone loved it, most viewers agree that Moon Knight successfully introduced a compelling new hero with potential for future stories in the MCU.

The magical side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn’t progressed much lately, and characters like Moon Knight are suffering as a result. Marvel hasn’t announced when or where we’ll see Moon Knight again – whether in another season of his Disney+ show, a movie of his own, or as part of a larger team-up. Many fans believe Moon Knight’s future is connected to a potential team called the Midnight Sons, featuring supernatural heroes like Blade and Black Knight. However, the Blade reboot is facing delays, which is also holding up any plans for the Midnight Sons. This means it could be a while before Marvel figures out a good path for Moon Knight, and he might not get a major role until the next big phase of movies, if ever.

Thor Got Too Silly With Love and Thunder

As a huge MCU fan, I gotta say, Thor is basically one of the characters who built the whole universe, being one of the last original Avengers still around. He’s only popped up once so far in this new Multiverse Saga – in Thor: Love and Thunder – and honestly, I think Marvel really dropped the ball with where they’ve taken his story after Endgame. It just hasn’t felt right.

Chris Hemsworth has said that Love and Thunder relied too much on humor, which weakened the serious emotional journey his character, Thor, had been on throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even though Thor faced immense loss and hardship between Infinity War and Endgame, Love and Thunder portrays him as much more lighthearted. While this attempts to match the style of Thor: Ragnarok, the new film didn’t capture what made the previous one so good. Now that Thor is coming back, fans are hoping the Multiverse Saga will learn from these missteps and get the character back on track.

Secret Invasion Completely Wasted Maria Hill

Maria Hill is a standout character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe who doesn’t always get the recognition she deserves. Played by Cobie Smulders, she first appeared in The Avengers in 2012 and has been a key player in the franchise for over ten years. Since her introduction, Hill has consistently been a dedicated supporter of Nick Fury and the Avengers, bravely risking her life to protect the world from dangers like alien attacks and secret organizations like Hydra.

The Multiverse Saga had trouble finding a place for characters like Maria Hill in its more fantastical stories. She wasn’t seen in the MCU until Secret Invasion, and her eventual appearance was a letdown. Sadly, the Disney+ series killed her off in the very first episode, and her death didn’t meaningfully impact the plot or the wider MCU. Killing off established characters simply for shock value rarely works for big franchises, and Maria Hill’s death is widely considered one of the MCU’s biggest creative missteps.

Captain Marvel Isn’t the Core Character Marvel Promised She Would Be

When Brie Larson debuted as Captain Marvel in 2019, many expected her to become a major player in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While she briefly helped defeat Thanos in Avengers: Endgame, it seemed Marvel Studios planned to feature her prominently in future films, perhaps even as a leader among the Avengers in the Multiverse Saga. However, Captain Marvel, or Carol Danvers, hasn’t had a significant role in recent movies as anticipated.

Captain Marvel hasn’t really resonated with audiences in her Marvel Cinematic Universe appearances so far. She’s often shown as reserved and unemotional, making it hard for viewers to connect with her. Although The Marvels attempted to change this, it didn’t quite work. Her future in the MCU is now uncertain – a character once meant to be a key leader for the Avengers isn’t even guaranteed a spot in the next Avengers film.

The Wasp Never Lived Up to Her Full Potential

Evangeline Lilly, as the Wasp (Hope van Dyne), hasn’t had a significant role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe despite being introduced back in Phase 2. While Ant-Man quickly joined the Avengers, the Wasp didn’t team up with Earth’s heroes until the battle in Endgame. Unfortunately, the Wasp’s character hasn’t been developed much further in the current Multiverse Saga either.

As a Marvel fan, I was really hoping the Multiverse Saga would finally give the Wasp the spotlight she deserves. Sadly, it feels like the MCU is repeating the same mistakes from the Infinity Saga with her character. It’s frustrating because Hope van Dyne is basically missing in action unless it’s an Ant-Man movie, and even then, she often feels sidelined. What’s even more annoying is that Quantumania hinted she’s been super busy since Endgame, building a company and using her dad’s tech to help people – but we never see any of it! It all happens off-screen. Honestly, I’m not sure if Evangeline Lilly even wants to come back, but I really hope Marvel gives the Wasp a chance to shine in future projects. She deserves better!

M.O.D.O.K. Is the Multiverse Saga’s Least Popular New Character

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe had been anticipating the arrival of the infamous villain M.O.D.O.K. for years. He finally appeared in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but his backstory differed from the comic books. The movie revealed M.O.D.O.K. to be Darren Cross, the villain from the original Ant-Man film, who was horribly changed by Kang the Conqueror after being sent to the Quantum Realm.

Fans didn’t react well to M.O.D.O.K.’s portrayal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His design was widely criticized as silly and unimpressive, becoming a source of constant jokes after the release of Quantumania. He also fell short of expectations compared to the comic book version, appearing as a minor helper to Kang the Conqueror instead of a major threat. The character was quickly killed off, preventing him from having any real impact on the MCU, and ultimately failing to deliver a compelling villain.

Taskmaster Was Taken Out Too Quickly in Thunderbolts*

Taskmaster is a well-known villain in Marvel Comics. Originally named Tony Masters, he’s a highly skilled mercenary who can perfectly mimic any fighting style or weapon skill he observes, making him a formidable opponent. However, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) reimagines the character. In the movie Black Widow, Taskmaster is revealed to be Antonia Dreykov, the daughter of General Dreykov. Though she shares the same power set as the comic book version, the film adaptation loses some of the original Taskmaster’s personality and humor.

Many viewers weren’t thrilled with how Taskmaster was presented in Black Widow, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe missed an opportunity to improve the character. In Thunderbolts, Taskmaster is quickly killed when Ghost shoots her. Now that this version of the character is gone, fans are hoping Taskmaster will be reimagined in the MCU’s future storylines.

Nick Fury Was Done Dirty By Secret Invasion

Colonel Nick Fury, largely thanks to Samuel L. Jackson’s performance, was a standout character throughout the Infinity Saga. As the person who assembled the Avengers, he always felt capable and in control, even when dealing with powerful beings. Though his role diminished towards the end of the Infinity Saga, it was the start of the Multiverse Saga that ultimately did damage to his character.

Nick Fury is back in Secret Invasion, marking the first time he’s led a project of his own within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, the series has been widely criticized as one of Marvel’s weakest efforts. Beyond a disappointing storyline, Secret Invasion drastically changes Nick Fury’s character, portraying him as an ineffective agent who unknowingly allowed an alien invasion to happen while the Avengers were unaware. Though Samuel L. Jackson continues to deliver a strong performance, the writing throughout the Multiverse Saga has been inconsistent.

Kang the Conqueror Was Almost the New Thanos

Jonathan Majors was originally cast as Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with plans for him to be the main villain in upcoming Avengers films – The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars – which were meant to conclude the Multiverse Saga. However, after accusations of domestic abuse against Majors, Marvel had to scrap those plans and is now focusing on Doctor Doom as the next major antagonist.

Although Kang the Conqueror might reappear in future Marvel projects, possibly with a new actor, the opportunity to establish him as a truly major villain – as originally intended for the Multiverse Saga – has passed. If he does return, it will likely be just to resolve any unfinished storylines. This is a significant shift from the initial plan to make Kang the next big, Thanos-level threat in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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2025-10-28 17:18