Marvel Needs To Stop Introducing New Characters

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has experienced considerable success with its recent films, albeit not quite meeting the box office expectations of the studio. Nevertheless, both “Thunderbolts” and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” received favorable reviews from both critics and audiences. Notably, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” demonstrates Marvel’s promising approach to origin movies, yet it also highlights challenges in the previous stages of the MCU. Annually, the MCU introduces a multitude of new characters intended for use throughout the Multiverse Saga; however, integrating these characters into the interconnected universe has proven to be a challenge for Marvel.

Although shows like “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and “Ms. Marvel” have been fantastic introductions to new characters, it’s time for Marvel to take a step back from creating new characters and instead concentrate on expanding and refining their existing universe. With an abundance of fascinating characters and talented actors in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it’s disappointing to see so many of them being underused.

Marvel Needs to Include More Post-Endgame Characters in Their Projects

2021 was an outstanding year for Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) productions. In this timeframe, Disney+ debuted five MCU TV series, one of which was an animated production, along with four MCU films over a span of six months. Shows like “WandaVision” and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” have seen characters transition to other projects, but most storylines have yet to continue. Although “Loki” was one of the highest-rated MCU television series, very few characters from it have made appearances in subsequent projects, with only Kang being exceptions, who is now known to be a character we’re unlikely to see again. The Television Variant Authority (TVA) played significant roles in “Deadpool and Wolverine,” but none of the main cast has been featured in anything outside of a post-credit scene in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Loki isn’t the only character who hasn’t been integrated into other Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) productions beyond their original project. For instance, Moon Knight, introduced more than three years ago, has yet to make an appearance outside its series. Given Oscar Isaac’s incredible talent, it’s hard to believe that Marvel hasn’t tried to involve him in something else. The same goes for the Eternals, boasting a star-studded cast like Angelina Jolie and now Harry Styles. However, audiences have only seen the giant celestial being from the movie, and even that didn’t appear until four years later. It’s disappointing to see such talented actors not fully utilized in the MCU.

Love and Thunder” as far back as three years ago, but they haven’t been seen since. Previously, characters introduced in post-credit scenes usually showed up in the next one or two films, such as the Maximoff twins at the end of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and Nick Fury at the end of “Iron Man.” However, this pattern has been abandoned by the MCU, leading to an overcrowded and complex universe that needs streamlining.

What Can Marvel Do to Fix Their Issues?

By masterfully introducing characters, it’s evident they should halt introducing any more. Instead, following the model of Thunderbolts*, which focuses on expanding upon minor yet intriguing characters previously introduced in their projects, would be a wise choice. This strategy not only elevates secondary characters to A-list status but also strengthens the overall universe by hinting at future developments. The Marvels serves as another example of this method. Although its script could have been stronger, the idea of uniting characters introduced in other projects is a promising concept for a film. Adopting this approach with their projects would be ideal for wrapping up loose ends and re-establishing a cohesive universe once more.

In my opinion, as a dedicated fan, I believe Marvel has been diving too deeply into standalone projects like Echo and Thor sequels lately. Instead, it’s high time for Marvel to revisit the concept of a cohesive universe that intertwines these individual stories. While each project undeniably offers its own appeal, the focus on them seems to have overshadowed the broader narrative in recent years. With Avengers: Doomsday set to release in less than a year, I think it’s crucial to temporarily pause on spin-offs, side projects, and new character introductions, so we can collectively gear up for Marvel’s next epic event.

Given the upcoming Avengers movie, it seems peculiar for Marvel to persist in launching projects that seem unrelated to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) timeline. For instance, shows like “Vision Quest” and “Wonder Man,” while intriguing on their own merits due to the return of previous MCU villains, may not be the best focus at this moment. The introduction of new characters that won’t affect the MCU when we’re so close to a major event film could potentially lead Marvel astray. If they don’t adjust course, there’s a risk that their universe might become fragmented.

Feel free to share your thoughts! Are you satisfied with how the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is progressing, or do you think they should make some adjustments?

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2025-08-16 23:41