The MCU May Have Two Chances To Fix One of Marvel’s Biggest Villain Mistakes, 10 Years Later

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) seems ready to redeem some villains who weren’t treated well in past films, and it has two upcoming opportunities to fix one of its biggest mistakes with villain portrayals. In the early phases of the MCU, villains were often the weakest link in the movies. Too often, memorable villains were either killed off quickly, simplified to the point of being uninteresting, or made so bland they weren’t particularly noteworthy.

Things began to shift in 2015 when Netflix started producing TV series within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with season one of Daredevil. This series notably introduced Wilson Fisk, played by Vincent D’Onofrio, who quickly became one of the franchise’s most compelling villains and is still a key antagonist, with a planned return in the 2026 Daredevil: Born Again season two. However, Daredevil also inadvertently contributed to a significant misstep in how Marvel handled its villains.

Netflix’s MCU Didn’t Get The Hand Right

The Hand was a major enemy throughout several Marvel Cinematic Universe shows, serving as the main villains in the first two seasons of Daredevil, the first season of Iron Fist, and the team-up event The Defenders. This ancient ninja group secretly controls much of New York City’s drug trade. However, their ultimate plan involves unearthing dragon bones buried beneath Hell’s Kitchen, hoping to bring people back from the dead.

Throughout its run, The Hand proved to be a surprisingly dull villainous organization. Because Netflix’s Marvel shows aimed for realism, The Hand inherited that tone, which meant its potentially exciting elements – like a centuries-long history and ninja skills – weren’t used effectively. The villains often came across as ordinary drug dealers who just happened to know some martial arts. The leaders, known as the Five Fingers, felt more like uninteresting corporate executives, and their defeat at the hands of The Defenders made them seem unimpressive.

Netflix’s Marvel shows made significant changes to The Hand from the comics. The comic book version of The Hand gains its powers and immortality by worshipping an ancient demon, but this demon isn’t present in the show’s universe. Also, while the comics depict The Hand as a large group of ninjas wearing bright red outfits and attacking in massive numbers, the show features fewer members who don’t wear the traditional outfits and often fight the Defenders individually.

As a huge Marvel fan, I’ve always been a little disappointed with how The Hand has been handled in the MCU. They’re such iconic villains in the comics, and I feel like their potential hasn’t been fully realized on screen. But honestly, I don’t think it’s too late for Marvel to really do them justice. They could still turn things around and give us the Hand we deserve!

The Hand Could Appear In Two Upcoming MCU Projects

It’s been a while since The Hand has been seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but they might be returning soon. Rumors suggest they’ll appear in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and this time they’ll be sporting their classic red costumes. While their specific role is still a mystery, including them in a Spider-Man movie could allow Marvel to showcase a version of The Hand that’s more faithful to the comics.

Besides the upcoming Brand New Day project, there’s also talk that The Hand will be featured in season 3 of Daredevil: Born Again. This could continue the storyline started in Brand New Day, potentially leading to a full-fledged confrontation between Daredevil and the ninja clan as they were originally envisioned.

All of this is currently based on speculation, so it’s best to take it with a bit of skepticism. However, both of these projects could be a great way to reintroduce The Hand. Because the Netflix shows weren’t as widely watched as the main Marvel Cinematic Universe films, The Hand hasn’t received the same level of attention in the MCU as it has in the comics. Putting The Hand in a Spider-Man movie would give them a much larger platform and expose them to a broader audience.

The third season of Daredevil: Born Again will likely bring the characters back to the darker, more intense tone of their original Netflix series. While encounters with Spider-Man tend to be more playful, Born Again is expected to feel similar to their gritty debut.

Over the next few years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will explore both sides of The Hand, the shadowy organization from the Daredevil series. This creates a great opportunity to revisit a villain from the past, which is exciting news for fans of the show.

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2026-02-09 19:43