10 Major Characters the MCU Introduced (and Immediately Forgot About)

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe was once praised for skillfully juggling a large group of characters and several different plotlines. But as the franchise has expanded, it’s become harder to give everyone meaningful attention. While characters like Sam Wilson as Captain America and Yelena Belova have become central figures in the current saga, others haven’t received the development they deserve.

A common frustration with Marvel’s recent movies, particularly in the Multiverse Saga, is introducing interesting new characters and then never using them again. While Phases 4 and 5 brought in several important heroes from the comics, they haven’t been included in later films. As the saga progresses towards its conclusion, these characters seem to vanish entirely after their initial appearances.

Eros Was Rumored to Have a Multi-Film Story Planned

Rumors proved true in 2021 when Harry Styles was revealed to be playing Eros, Thanos’s brother, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He first appeared as the powerful superhero in a scene after the credits of the movie Eternals, alongside Patton Oswalt as Pip the Troll, hinting at a future team-up with the Eternals. Eros, also known as Starfox, is a well-known character in Marvel comics, and many fans hoped this appearance would lead to more appearances in the MCU.

When Harry Styles was first announced as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, reports said he’d be in several movies as part of the Multiverse Saga. However, that doesn’t seem to be happening. Since his initial appearance, the character he played, Eros, hasn’t been featured in any films, and Marvel hasn’t confirmed any future plans for Styles. While Eros is a significant character in Marvel comics, his role in the movies so far has been limited to a quick cameo in just one film.

Hercules Still Hasn’t Confronted Thor After Love and Thunder

Many Marvel fans disliked Thor: Love and Thunder, and a major point of criticism is how the character of Hercules was used. The movie’s post-credits scene shows Russell Crowe’s Zeus survived his fight with Thor and is now seeking revenge. Brett Goldstein briefly appears as Hercules at the very end, vowing to kill Thor to avenge his father.

It’s been three years since Love and Thunder, and we still don’t know what’s next for Hercules. While initially presented as a potential villain, he’s a major hero and key member of the Avengers in the comics. As Chris Hemsworth is likely nearing the end of his time playing Thor, the opportunity to explore Hercules’s potential is becoming limited.

G’iah is One of the MCU’s Most Powerful Heroes

The Disney+ series Secret Invasion featured the introduction of Emilia Clarke as G’iah, a Skrull fighting for her people’s liberation. At first, she joined forces with Gravik, who wanted to take over Earth. However, G’iah ultimately turned against him, defeating him and gaining incredible powers. She became the Super-Skrull, absorbing the abilities of heroes like Captain Marvel and the Hulk, making her a major new force in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Since her debut, Marvel hasn’t found a way to include G’iah in the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is likely because Secret Invasion wasn’t well-received, and a lot of the criticism focused on the Super-Skrull plotline. Considering how incredibly powerful she is – and the many inconsistencies with her abilities – it might be best if G’iah doesn’t reappear in future MCU stories.

Werewolf By Night Could Have Been the Beginning of an Epic Horror Saga

Marvel’s Werewolf by Night arrived at just the right moment, offering a welcome and interesting horror story that helped soften the impact of several recent disappointments. The special introduced several captivating characters, including Jack Russell/Werewolf by Night (played by Gael Garcia Bernal), Elsa Bloodstone (Laura Donnelly), and the creature known as Man-Thing. Sadly, none of these characters have appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since the special aired.

Even though Werewolf by Night received good reviews and was popular with audiences, it doesn’t seem like Marvel will expand on its story. There are currently no plans to continue the plotlines or bring back the characters from this special presentation. While Jack Russell, Man-Thing, or Elsa Bloodstone could potentially reappear in future horror projects, fans probably shouldn’t expect it.

The Eternals May Never Return to the MCU

The Eternals were introduced as a team of ten superpowered individuals destined to usher in a new phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Their first movie explained they were sent to Earth by cosmic beings called the Celestials to watch over humanity and fight off threats like the Deviants. While some Eternals died during the film, those who survived seemed poised to become important players in future MCU stories. However, Sersi, Kingo, Thena, Makkari, Phastos, and Druig haven’t appeared in the franchise since their initial introduction.

As a big Marvel fan, I was really excited about Eternals, but it’s a shame it didn’t land with audiences or critics. It seems like Marvel has decided to put those characters on the back burner for the foreseeable future. So far, Kumail Nanjiani’s Kingo has popped up voicing a version of himself in an episode of What If…?, but that’s been it. With the Multiverse Saga wrapping up, and so many other stories to tell, I just don’t see them revisiting the Eternals anytime soon – unless maybe they reboot the timeline at some point. It’s a bummer, honestly, because I thought there was a lot of potential there.

She-Hulk Disappeared After Her Disney+ Series Flopped

The Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law featured Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters, who gains the ability to transform into She-Hulk after a blood transfusion from her cousin, Bruce Banner. When the show first came out, many fans and Marvel watchers thought She-Hulk would become a key hero in future Marvel movies and potentially a leader of a new Avengers team. But because the show wasn’t well-received, Marvel might have different plans for the character now.

As a big Marvel fan, I’m a little bummed to hear that we haven’t seen She-Hulk, played by Tatiana Maslany, scheduled for any future movies yet. There was some leaked artwork for Avengers: Doomsday that looked like it included her, but when the official cast list came out, she wasn’t on it. Plus, she’s been pretty vocal about her issues with Disney since her show She-Hulk ended, which makes me wonder if she and the company might be parting ways. I really enjoyed her take on the character, so I’m hoping this isn’t the last we see of her as She-Hulk!

America Chavez is Strangely Absent From Avengers: Doomsday

Xochitl Gomez first appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the 2022 film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where she played America Chavez, a teenager with the ability to travel between different realities. America Chavez was important to the plot of the Doctor Strange sequel, as it was revealed she’s unique in the multiverse – with no alternate versions of herself – and uses her powers to jump between worlds. Although she seemed poised to be a major player in the ongoing Multiverse Saga, it’s currently unknown if she’ll appear in future Marvel films.

Many fans thought America Chavez’s abilities would make her a key player in the Avengers’ fight against Doctor Doom. However, it now appears that isn’t the case. While some actors in the upcoming movie are being kept secret, America Chavez isn’t popular enough for Marvel to bother hiding her role. This suggests she might not return for the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga, although she could potentially join the Young Avengers later on.

Clea’s MCU Future is Still Undetermined

The movie Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ended with a surprise appearance by Charlize Theron, who will be playing the character Clea in future Marvel Cinematic Universe films. In the Marvel comics, Clea has a significant relationship with Doctor Strange – sometimes as an ally, sometimes as a romantic interest – and a complex backstory. Notably, she’s the niece of Dormammu, a powerful villain Doctor Strange previously defeated.

Clea made a striking first appearance, revealing that Doctor Strange accidentally caused a dangerous tear in the multiverse during his travels. She and Strange set off to repair the damage, but haven’t been seen since. Although many fans expect Clea to reappear in a future Avengers film or Doctor Strange 3, Marvel hasn’t shared any information about what happened to her after Multiverse of Madness.

Black Knight May Never Claim His Legacy

I’m really excited about what’s happening with Kit Harington’s character, Dane Whitman! He played Sersi’s boyfriend in Eternals, but that little scene after the credits? It definitely suggested there’s much more to come for him. Apparently, his family has this magical sword, and he’s supposed to become the Black Knight! It was so frustrating though, because just as he was about to grab the sword, Blade showed up and the scene ended. I can’t wait to see where they take his story!

Kit Harington has said he’d like to reprise his role as Black Knight in future Marvel films after Eternals, but he doesn’t think it’s very likely. There were reports that his character might appear in the new Blade movie, but with all the script revisions, that seems less probable now. We won’t know for sure what the future holds for Black Knight until Blade is released—if it ever is—and even then, he might not be in it.

Moon Knight Disappeared After a Solid Debut

Among the new characters Marvel introduced in its Multiverse Saga, Moon Knight has been a particular letdown. While the character got off to a strong start with his Disney+ series – Oscar Isaac was widely praised for his complex portrayal of Marc Spector and his different identities – the initial excitement hasn’t translated into further appearances. Despite early hopes from Marvel leaders about Moon Knight’s potential, the character hasn’t been featured prominently since the show ended.

The future of Moon Knight has become uncertain since the character debuted in 2022. There haven’t been any announcements about a second season or future projects featuring the character. Oscar Isaac has said he won’t be in the upcoming Avengers movies and doesn’t currently want to work with Disney. If Moon Knight does return, it probably won’t be the same version from the Disney+ series. While Marvel could potentially reintroduce the character with a fresh start in a different timeline, that’s not the most appealing solution for fans.

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2025-11-17 05:39