Mr. Sinister Unveiled as Marvel’s Phase 7 Bad Guy – Perfect Choice or Disaster?

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Marvel Studios is kicking off Phase 7 of the MCU with a huge, well-known villain. 

In July, Phase 6 of Marvel stories, starting with “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” will end in 2027’s “Avengers: Secret Wars.” This paves the way for the next phase, where it seems Marvel Studios is finally bringing back the X-Men, as filming on their reboot is rumored to start next year. Recently, a report has surfaced hinting that a notorious enemy of the X-Men will make an appearance.

Based on rumors from insider Daniel Richtman, it appears that Mr. Sinister is set to be the antagonist in the latest draft of Marvel Studios’ forthcoming X-Men film. This role is strongly suggested, as it is reportedly being directed by Jake Schreier, who has previously worked on Thunderbolts. Originally a respected geneticist named Nathaniel Essex, Mr. Sinister underwent a transformation at the hands of the mutant Apocalypse, gaining immortality, telepathic and telekinetic abilities, superhuman strength, and the power to change his physical form.

In the television series X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men ’97 on Disney+, Mr. Sinister played a crucial role as the main adversary. However, he has not made an appearance in any of the X-Men films to date.

Since the Mutant universe features an impressive lineup of villains, not to mention other anticipated movies for Phase 7 like a sequel for “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and “Black Panther 3”, Mr. Sinister won’t be working in isolation when it comes to causing chaos within the Marvel Cinematic Universe during Phase 7.

Other Marvel Villains Expected for Phase 7 of the MCU

Lilith – Blade 


 

Although Mahershala Ali’s Blade doesn’t necessarily require adversaries due to its challenging production, if the movie launches during Phase 7, one potential foe for it might be the wicked vampire character, Lilith.

2024 reports to The Hollywood Reporter indicated that one adaptation of “Blade” featured a 1920s setting, with Mia Goth cast as Lilith and seeking the blood of Blade’s daughter. At that time, Goth was still associated with the project.

Xialing – Shang-Chi 2

In a new twist, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings concluded with Xialing, Shang-Chi’s sister (played by Meng’er Zhang), seizing control of the Ten Rings terrorist group after their father’s demise, without her brother’s knowledge.

If Marvel Studios doesn’t plan to delve into this storyline again before Phase 7, it’s hard to conceive a Shang-Chi 2 that neglects Xialing’s recent role or fails to portray her Ten Rings organization as a challenge for her brother.

Find out what Shang-Chi‘s Meng’er Zhang said about Xialing’s future here!

The Hand – Shang-Chi 2

In the potential sequel of Shang-Chi, another possible villain could be The Hand – an infamous and wicked group of mystical ninjas originating from the Marvel Comics universe, known for their dark practices.

Apart from being another malevolent group akin to the Ten Rings, The Hand could introduce additional scenes showcasing Shang-Chi’s distinctive martial arts moves. Moreover, this organization would serve to link Simu Liu’s series with Daredevil and New York City. In Marvel comics, Wilson Fisk has had ties with The Hand, with the group frequently interacting with Daredevil, Elektra, and Iron Fist.

Achebe – Black Panther 3

One frequent antagonist of Black Panther in the comic books is Achebe, a man once a farmer whose life was devastated by soldiers, leading him to make a pact with the devil for vengeance. At some point, he sought asylum in Wakanda via a refugee camp and overthrew the government through a military coup.

At present, there’s been no confirmation, but whispers suggest Achebe might play the main antagonist in “Black Panther 3”. Many enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating and speculating this could happen, with Denzel Washington being a strong candidate following his hint about his part in the sequel.

Furthermore, Alez Perez from Cosmic Circus expressed his theory that Denzel Washington’s role in Black Panther 3 might be either a villain or a character similar to “King T’Chanda,” who is T’Challa’s grandfather and the Black Panher from World War II era. In other words, he could portray a variant of the Black Panther character.

Magneto – X-Men

A key adversary of the X-Men, Magneto is an Omega-level mutant who possesses the power to manipulate magnetic forces. His deeply ingrained ideology often creates tension with Professor X, leading to a persistent divide between them.

Magneto, an Omega-level mutant, can control magnets and is usually at odds with the X-Men’s leader, Professor X, due to their differing viewpoints.

The Fox version of the X-Men series showcased both Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender portraying Magneto, and it’s been verified that McKellen will reappear in Avengers: Doomsday (possibly sporting an entirely fresh appearance?).

Given Marvel Studios’ plans to reboot the X-Men during Phase 7, fans might encounter a fresh interpretation of Magneto following the Secret Wars. Regardless, due to Magneto’s significant role within the X-Men universe, any Phase 7 mutant narrative is likely to incorporate this Omega-level antihero in some capacity or another.

Doctor Doom

It’s anticipated that the character of Doctor Doom, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., could continue his villainous role beyond Phase 6, even extending to Phase 7, according to some reports, after the events of Avengers: Secret Wars.

Nevertheless, there are whispers that he might be replaced by another actor, hinting at a possible new beginning for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s seventh phase. The intrigue lies in which Phase 7 production he’ll feature in and who his on-screen collaborators will be.

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2025-05-11 08:24