Disney+ Makes MCU History With Phase 5’s Final Villain Appearance

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In a groundbreaking move for Marvel Studios, the finale of their last Phase 5 project on Disney+ presented a twist ending unlike any other in the MCU’s previous phases. With the premiere of Ironheart, Disney+ marked the end of Phase 5, paving the way for Marvel Studios to kick off Phase 6 with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The closing moments of Ironheart left fans intrigued as it introduced an unexpected alliance, concluding Phase 5 on a thought-provoking note.

In the climax of “Ironheart,” I found myself face-to-face with the enigmatic Mephisto (Sacha Baron Cohen), the mastermind behind the season’s antagonist, The Hood (Anthony Ramos). With The Hood out of play, Mephisto extended an offer to me, proposing that he could grant a wish in return for my loyalty. Overwhelmed by the loss of my dearest friend, Natalie (Lyric Ross), who had been the focus of my sorrow throughout the season, I made the difficult decision to accept his proposition and bring her back from the dead.

Toward the end, Mephisto and Riri find themselves working together, marking a unique moment in the MCU as this is the initial occasion where a phase-ending title features its hero and antagonist joining forces. This unexpected turn of events sets an intriguing stage for Phase 5, and paves the way to delve into the consequences of their unlikely alliance in Phase 6 and beyond. Although it’s unprecedented in an MCU Phase finale, this concept isn’t new to Marvel Studios, as good and evil have often found themselves on the same side in previous projects.

9 Notable Villain and Hero Team-Ups in the MCU

Thor & Loki

As a follower, I’ve always been caught in the whirlwind of rivalry between Thor (played by Chris Hemsworth) and his brother Loki (portrayed by Tom Hiddleston). In the first Thor movie, it was Loki who masterminded a chain of events to position himself as the antagonist, aiming to seize the throne.

On separate occasions, the siblings collaborated twice. Initially, they joined forces in the movie “Thor: The Dark World“, where Thor recruited Loki and released him from imprisonment. Later, they teamed up once more during “Thor: Ragnarok” as they embarked on a quest to find their father together.

The Guardians of the Galaxy & Yondu

In one of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, Yondu (played by Michael Rooker) was a member of the Ravagers who took Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), raised him, but turned against him after he stole from Yondu. As retribution, Yondu placed a bounty on his protege’s head. However, in both the first and second films, Yondu ultimately became an ally to the Guardians. In a selfless act, he even sacrificed his own life to save Peter Quill.

Gamora & Nebula

Gamora (played by Zoe Saldana) and Nebula (portrayed by Karen Gillan) had a complicated past as they were both raised by Thanos as his daughters. In the initial movie, Nebula collaborates with Ronan, positioning her against the Guardians, but in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the two sisters reach an understanding, and eventually, Nebula joins the team.

Spider-Man & Mysterio

In the movie “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” Tom Holland’s Spider-Man ended up working with the film’s antagonist, Mysterio, portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal. At first, Mysterio presented himself as a Multiverse hero seeking help to vanquish the Elementals. However, it was eventually disclosed that Mysterio was actually a dissatisfied Stark Industries worker, aiming to get near Peter Parker so he could seize Tony Stark’s EDITH glasses.

Falcon, Winter Soldier & Zemo

In the Disney+ series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” an unanticipated partnership emerged between Falcon (Anthony Mackie), the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), and Captain America: Civil War’s antagonist, Zemo (Daniel Bruhl). Initially, they enlisted Zemo to help them combat the Flag Smashers. However, the Wakandan Dora Milaje later arrested Zemo for his role in the murder of their king, intending to bring him to justice.

Loki & Sylvie

In the first season of “Loki,” the trickster deity encounters a female counterpart from another universe, going by the name Sylvie (played by Sophia DiMartino). At first, they find themselves on opposing sides as Loki helps the Time Variance Authority apprehend Sylvie, who’s been eliminating their agents. However, circumstances lead them to form an alliance against the TVA instead.

Spider-Man & His Villains

In the multiverse storyline of “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” a magical blunder resulted in the convergence of villains from previous Spider-Man movies into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Initially, Spider-Man (Tom Holland) joined forces with Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), and Electro (Jamie Foxx) with the aim of transporting them back to their respective universes, thus preserving their lives in those timelines. However, a few of these villains reverted to their wicked ways.

Ant-Man, Wasp, Cassie & MODOK

In the movie “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania”, the family trio consisting of Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), and Cassie (Kathryn Newton) joined forces with an unexpected adversary. As it turned out, the menacing Mechanized Organism Designed Only for Killing (MODOK) was actually Darren Cross (Corey Stoll), a past villain. Cassie successfully persuaded this controlled antagonist to betray Kang the Conquerer (Jonathan Majors) and assist the Ant-Man group instead.

Loki & Victor Timely

Following a meeting with He Who Remains (also known as Majors) and gaining insight into his counterparts across the Multiverse, Loki becomes wary of Victor Timely, the 19th-century inventor whose creations lay the foundation for the TVA. Yet, in the second season of Loki, the Trickster God finds himself joining forces with the being he apprehensively fears, needing his assistance to prevent the Multiverse from collapsing.

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2025-07-26 08:37