Marvel Studios Nearly Replaced An Underrated Villain With a Major Misfire

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During the making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Black Panther, there was a discussion about replacing Ulysses Klaue with a different character connected to Spider-Man. Ultimately, they decided against it, which many fans would agree was the right call. Black Panther introduced Erik Killmonger as a compelling and critically praised villain, while still featuring Andy Serkis as the charismatic but dangerous Ulysses Klaue. Klaue first appeared in Avengers: Age of Ultron and later became a key enemy in Black Panther, even teaming up with Killmonger.

Andy Serkis stole every scene he appeared in, thanks to his captivating performance as Klaue, though his role was unfortunately cut short when his character was killed by Killmonger. Interestingly, director Ryan Coogler revealed on the Happy Sad and Confused podcast that he originally intended to include the Marvel character Kraven the Hunter in Black Panther.

The director shared that Marvel had decided on Erik Killmonger and Ulysses Klaue as the primary villains for Black Panther, though some studio leaders weren’t sure Klaue was the best choice.

Michael B. Jordan was always the perfect choice for Killmonger. When I started working on the film, the writer, Joe Robert Cole, had already been collaborating with Marvel. They had a clear idea of the villains: Klaw and Eric Killmonger. That decision was already made. While Klaw’s role felt somewhat flexible, I was excited to work with Andy Serkis, who was cast in the part. I really wanted the story to be inspired by Christopher Priest’s run of Black Panther comics, specifically the storyline that begins with a fight between Black Panther and Kraven in a kitchen.

Coogler shared that, being a huge Spider-Man enthusiast, he’d suggested using Kraven the Hunter in place of Klaue. However, Sony quickly rejected the idea, saying it wasn’t going to happen.

I’m a huge Spider-Man enthusiast, and I particularly love the ‘Spider-Man: The Animated Series.’ Kraven the Hunter appears in that show, and he’s also a fantastic character in the comics. When we were making the movie, I really wanted to include him. I asked if it was possible, and the studio said they’d look into it. They contacted Sony, who immediately said no. They let me know it wasn’t going to happen, and I accepted it.

Although Ryan Coogler accepted that Kraven the Hunter couldn’t appear with T’Challa in Black Panther, many believe it was a good decision. Kraven’s own movie performed very poorly in theaters, suggesting he wouldn’t have been a successful addition to the Black Panther story.

In May 2025, Deadline announced that Sony Pictures’ Kraven the Hunter lost $71 million, making it one of the year’s biggest box office disappointments for superhero films.

Keeping Andy Serkis as Klaue in Black Panther was a smart decision, especially since many fans felt he was a surprisingly good villain. Beyond Serkis’s captivating performance – he truly commanded attention in every scene – Klaue worked so well as a supporting villain because of his unpredictable behavior and unique, likeable personality.

Many fans were disappointed by Klaue’s death and hope to see him return in the Multiverse Saga, believing he had a lot more story to tell. His comic book counterpart became an incredibly powerful being with god-like sonic abilities, making him a potential threat on the scale of the Avengers. Killing him off in Black Panther felt like a lost chance to explore that side of the character later on.

Why Klaue Was Still the Perfect Villain to Include in Black Panther

If Kraven the Hunter had been in Black Panther instead of Ulysses Klaue, the movie would have been quite different. Killmonger likely wouldn’t have killed Kraven, and this could have created opportunities for Kraven to become a major character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, potentially even leading into a future appearance as a villain for Spider-Man.

However, changing this would have affected the entire movie and drawn focus to Kraven and his connection to Spider-Man’s future. Klaue remained an ideal supporting villain in Black Panther because he was simply enjoyable and had a long-standing relationship with Wakanda and its vibranium.

Many fans feel Klaue’s departure from the Marvel Cinematic Universe was disappointing. He’d built up great momentum after his impressive introduction in Avengers: Age of Ultron, and could have become a consistently entertaining villain. Each appearance could have shown him growing stronger, ultimately leading to the powerful, god-like form he has in the Marvel comics.

With the universe potentially resetting in Avengers: Secret Wars, there’s a possibility that the character Klaue could return in a new form.

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2025-12-29 23:05