I Don’t Care If They’re Dead, These 7 MCU Villains Still Need To Return

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is filled with great characters, but it doesn’t always handle their stories as well as we might want. Since 2008, the MCU has been the definitive adaptation of Marvel Comics in live-action. The franchise’s shared universe was groundbreaking, ushering in a whole new era for superhero cinema that cemented the MCU’s massive success. The movies of the MCU have continued to build the franchise over the years, introducing countless new heroes and villains in that time. Though the franchise has an unfortunate habit of mishandling some of its Marvel antagonists, there have been many great MCU villains over the years.

Though the Marvel Cinematic Universe has featured some truly memorable villains, a few had their stories end abruptly. Given their importance in the broader Marvel Universe, it’s unfortunate these characters seemingly died without having their full potential explored. While they appear to be gone, the MCU should find a way to revive them and finish their arcs.

7) Cassandra Nova

Cassandra Nova appeared as the antagonist in Deadpool & Wolverine and was seemingly killed, which felt abrupt considering she’s the twin sister of Charles Xavier, a major X-Men figure. Her powerful abilities also make her an ideal villain for the MCU’s X-Men stories. While her apparent death creates a problem, she’s such a strong and compelling villain that Marvel really needs to find a way to bring her back into the fold to challenge the X-Men.

6) Thanos

Leading up to the full introduction of Doctor Doom, Thanos remains the most major MCU villain in the franchise. His role in the MCU’s Infinity Saga made him its biggest and most dangerous antagonist, ending with his death in Avengers: Endgame. While the future doesn’t necessarily hold an obvious role for Thanos in the MCU, he’s a character that simply needs to return. There are few superhero movie villains as iconic as Thanos, and it seems a waste to have him gone forever within the MCU.

5) Killmonger

Many fans believe Killmonger is the best villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it’s easy to see why. Michael B. Jordan delivers a fantastic performance as a character whose motives – wanting to share Wakanda’s resources with the world – are understandable, making him a surprisingly sympathetic antagonist. It’s a shame his potential was cut short by his death, and many hope the MCU will find a way to bring him back.

4) Hela

Throughout his adventures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor has battled numerous strong opponents, but few were as challenging as his sister, Hela. He ultimately defeated her by allowing her to take Asgard, then letting Surtur destroy the planet and her in the process. While it was an abrupt ending for such a dangerous villain, Cate Blanchett’s exceptional performance made Hela a standout, especially considering she only appeared in one film. Many fans believe she’s powerful enough to deserve a return in future MCU stories.

3) Kang the Conqueror

Kang the Conqueror’s part in the Marvel Cinematic Universe ended up being much smaller than originally intended, following the introduction of his variant, He Who Remains. While he was the main villain in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the film seemingly resulted in his death. Plans to build future storylines around Kang as the MCU’s major villain were abandoned, turning him into a character who appeared in only one film. This feels like a waste, as Kang is a significant character who deserved a more substantial role, and the MCU should reconsider bringing him back.

2) Mysterio

As a huge Marvel fan, I really think Mysterio is one of the most clever villains they’ve created. The way he messed with Peter Parker, convincing him to hand over control of EDITH and essentially stealing Tony Stark’s tech, was brilliant – and so damaging! Even though his story seems finished, I truly believe Mysterio needs to come back to the MCU. He’s a fantastic antagonist for both Spider-Man and Daredevil, and honestly, Jake Gyllenhaal was so good in the role that it felt way too soon to kill him off.

1) Scarlet Witch

While several characters have died in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and could return, Scarlet Witch’s death feels particularly premature. Wanda Maximoff’s time as a villain was brief, ending in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. With the MCU preparing to introduce its Mutant Saga, there are clearly many more stories to tell with Wanda, making it seem essential that the franchise brings her back somehow.

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2026-06-10 17:14