MCU Characters We Didn't Expect To Return

Marvel Comics die-hards missed this. After some fans saw it, they reacted.Iron Man 3Fans cried foul over Iron Man 3's disrespect for the classic.Iron Man villainTrevor Slattery, the Mandarin, the last person any self-respecting MCU fan expected back. Marvel wrapped Trevor's story in the 2014 short filmAll Hail the KingIn this film, he breaks out of jail to meet the Ten Rings head and get a criminal justice treatment. We can just assume Mr. Slattery was killed and that's it.

That thread from 2014 actually got a follow-up in the 2021 film.Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten RingsThis showed Trevor was in the Mandarin's custody for years. Marvel joked about the controversy. Plus, who doesn't want more Ben Kingsley?

Remember seeing Avengers: EndgameYou saw Avengers: Endgame in theaters. That movie was the highest-grossing film ever then. Everyone on Earth went to the multiplex, right? Think about Tony Stark's funeral. People dressed in black attended to honor the Iron Man? Steve Rogers, Peter Parker, Wanda Maximoff, and Maria Hill stood silent.

A tall, gangly teenager no one recognized was there too. Who was that kid? That was Ty Simpkins! Harley Keener fromIron Man 3Human beings grow a lot between 12 and 18.

Black Bolt's return to the MCU after the Iron Man 3 disaster surprises even huge Black Bolt fans.InhumansAmong the weak MCU back catalog projects, Inhumans is what Marvel Studios tried to hide. The Inhumans cast needed total care and detail; they lacked it.InhumansMarvel Studios tried to sweep Inhumans under the rug. The Inhumans cast needed high detail; they did not deliver.

Black Bolt did not wear his comics-accurate costume until his appearance inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessIn that film, his cameo was a joke because he died before using his vocal powers. He looked cool! Good to see Anson Mount!

Peter Billingsley's role as William Ginter Riva inIron ManThis was a fun trivia fact for movie fans. "Did you know the guy Jeff Bridges yells at inIron Manwas Ralphie in A Christmas Story?" Then friends would wonder what was wrong with you as they forgot that useless info and moved on.

Riva returned later in a surprising way inSpider-Man: Far From HomeWilliam Ginter Riva teamed up with disgruntled former Stark Industries employees, Quentin Beck, and created the supposed superhero/actual supervillain Mysterio. Riva sent the footage of Beck revealing Peter Parker's identity toThe Daily Bugle, you guys!

One of the great joys is housed inThor: RagnarokMatt Damon, Sam Neill, and Luke Hemsworth played community-theater actors portraying Loki, Odin, and Thor during a short scene on Asgard. They had fun retelling Loki's not-death inThor: The Dark WorldEveryone laughed. That was the point.

Taika Waititi and Marvel Studios got all three actors back forThor: Love and ThunderMelissa McCarthy played Hela in Thor: Love and Thunder. This probably should not have been such a shock. Matt Damon's case shows a little bit of that. He is an A-lister doing a short cameo. That is not the behavior a Hollywood heavyweight shows.

Zach Cherry's MCU character was called “Street Vendor” for years. He had one brief scene inSpider-Man: Homecomingwhere he asked Spider-Man to flip. This guy seemed to be ordering food at a stand, not working there. He was a one-and-done character. Then he wasn't!

In an amazing turn, Cherry returned as the same character forShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten RingsCherry became “Klev.” He appeared during the film's bus fight and streamed it to followers on his phone. He also claimed he learned martial arts as a youth and judged Shang-Chi's fight.

The first episode of the 2021 Disney+ seriesWhat If…?This episode focused on Peggy Carter becoming the world's first super-soldier instead of Steve Rogers. Hayley Atwell returned for voice work. Fans of Atwell and Peggy enjoyed this, as no one expected the London-born actress to play Captain Carter live-action.

Of course,Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessThis surprised fans in several ways. Atwell played the shield-wielding super-soldier. She dies minutes into her appearance, but it was cool! It should lead toMission: Impossiblefans are excited for Atwell's upcoming role in Tom Cruise's blockbuster franchise.

Djimon Hounsou turned a thankless role with few lines into a fan favorite. His confused "Who?" when Peter Quill asks if the man knows him by his Star-Lord name is a standout moment inGuardians of the GalaxyKorath the Pursuer spoke for everyone on Earth. Marvel Studios is so sure about making a movie about a comic book team no one knows about? The Guardians of the Galaxy… who?

Korath was murdered by Drax the Destroyer.Drax the Destroyer.Korath spoke later in the film, and that was all she said. Until Captain Marvel came out, set in the 1990s. Hounsou returned as Korath, working with Jude Law's Yon-Rogg as a Starforce member this time.Captain Marvel came out, set in the 1990s. Hounsou returned as Korath, working with Jude Law's Yon-Rogg as a Starforce member this time.Hounsou returned as Korath, working with Jude Law's Yon-Rogg as a Starforce member this time, set in the 1990s.

When did you last watch The Incredible Hulk?The Incredible Hulk.? When did you last even think about it?about it.about it.The Incredible Hulk.Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, Tim Blake Nelson, and Ty Burrell, the top five billed actors in the movie, appeared in zero MCU projects over the 13 years following.The Incredible Hulk.'s mediocre release. Mark Ruffalo replaced Norton as the Hulk, but that wastes acting talent.

It wasn't until Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings that Tim Roth's Abomination reappeared. He is set for a major role in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.Tim Roth's Abomination reappeared in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He is set for a major role in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.What will it take for Tyler, Nelson, and Burrell to return to Disney's biggest franchise?

Georges St-Pierre's MCU character was named Georges Batroc. It is even better.more.You can never hear of Batroc the Leaper.Batroc the Leaper., a D-tier villain from Marvel Comics. Some people know Batroc the Leaper but did not know Georges St-Pierre's MCU character is based on him. That is fine. No one expected him to show up in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.Anyway.

Steve Rogers kicked him in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.Captain America: The Winter Soldier.Batroc the Leaper escaped, S.H.I.E.L.D. caught him, and he would not reappear. Marvel fans cheered; Batroc made a triumphant return inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier.Batroc was killed by Sharon Carter.

Flashbacks are great. They let you bring back fan favorites without story problems. Ho Yinsen's death in Iron Man allows this.Iron Man.Ho Yinsen's death in Iron Man was a hard moment for fans of the 2008 hit. Yinsen saved Tony Stark's life and showed him fighting for others.

Marvel cannot bring Yinsen back now. Undoing a character's death that early in the franchise? No way… are these movies based on comics?movies based on comics.A flashback at the start of Iron Man 3 gives Marvel fans another look at the man who helped Stark escape the Ten Rings in the first MCU film.Iron Man 3.A flashback at the start of Iron Man 3 showed Marvel fans the man who helped Stark escape the Ten Rings in the first MCU film.

Garry Shandling's Senator Stern was a silly character who probably needed more screen time. Shandling, a comedian, clearly enjoyed playing Stern.Stern and Tony Stark trade barbs in Iron Man 2. Stern's open dislike for Downey's character is also funny.Stern and Tony Stark trading barbs in the early parts of the film are funny. Stern's open dislike for Downey's character also lands well.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier.Captain America: The Winter SoldierHaving Stern be a secret Hydra agent added to the fun. Some Marvel fans saw that turn coming, but most did not.

Swinton's ageless Master of the Mystic Arts dying after one film makes sense. She does not seem like an actress who wants a long contract.This makes her return in Avengers: Endgame even better. Swinton plays with Bruce Banner's astral form before discussing her universe's fate and explaining time travel to the audience.This proves Stephen Strange's 'Oh, I Get It' moment in the film. Tilda Swinton speaks wisdom, dies, and Strange fights Kaecilius without his mentor. Swinton's ageless Master of the Mystic Arts dying after one movie makes sense. She does not look like someone who wants a long contract.

Nicodemus West, the comic book character he is based on, has an important part in the popular mid-2000s Doctor Strange limited series.The MCU version of this role only shows Stephen Strange's intelligence. Then he returns for another unthankful scene in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.Swinton gets to play with Bruce Banner's astral form before talking about her universe's fate and giving exposition on time travel's effects to the audience.

Does Kevin Feige or someone higher up at Marvel Studios know anything about Michael Stuhlbarg? Why is an actor that skilled in a minor Doctor Strange role?Doctor StrangeThe role.comic book characterNicodemus West, who is based on the comic book character, has an important part in the fan-favorite mid-2000s Doctor Strange limited series.Doctor Strange: The OathThe MCU version does not do much except show how smart Stephen Strange is. Then he returns for another unthankful scene inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness!

Michael Stuhlbarg has earned many Emmy nominations, SAG awards, and a Tony. Mr. Feige, release him from any debt and let him live in peace! Or make Nicodemus West the bad guy in the thirdDoctor Strangemovie, and everything will be fine.