With the introduction (and record-breaking success) of DC’s Joker film, it’s probably about time for Marvel and Disney to shine a light on some of their most powerful and unique antagonists. As audiences clamor for a deeper and more complex antagonist, Marvel will struggle to stay the course with the same old single film antagonist.
While Loki (more of an anti-hero at this point, but we’ll see how his run on Disney Plus goes) and Thanos remain the two villains that have lasted more than a single film, there are plenty of opportunities moving forward to mirror DC’s success by highlight the darker side of their superhero epics.
Minor spoilers ahead.
Dr. Doom
If there is any character in the entire Marvel universe that deserves his own film, it’s Dr. Doom. With his film rights back in the hands of Marvel and big daddy Disney, it just might happen. Fans of Doom don’t need to be told that the mad magician turned doctor, king, and ultimately God has been criminally underused and just downright shamed on-screen.
Victor Von Doom is not just some character you cram into a film about four other characters. This is the man who became a literal G-O-D and found it beneath him. Just do the film(s) already, Fiege! Fans have been patient enough. Or, as Doom might say, “Dolts! Such insolence will not go unpunished.”
Magneto
While Magneto hasn’t exactly risen through the ranks and ruled as a God, he’s certainly a god among mutants. Magneto has such a vibrant and interesting history that has barely been touched in the Fox films. A series of films following a young Magneto through Nazi Germany and the immediate aftermath? Nazi-hunter Magneto, anyone?
They touched on it very briefly in the films, but there’s just so much to be done with the premise. Whatever Marvel and Disney have planned for the nazi-killing purple magnet will likely be incredible regardless. Seriously, let’s put some spotlight on the villains who truly deserve it.
Magus
Another villain that audiences may end up seeing sooner rather than later, Magus will likely get at least a little bit of the spotlight when Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 finally releases. However, even though it’s quite likely that he’ll make an appearance when Adam Warlock eventually shows up, there’s always the fear that he’ll get the one-and-done treatment that so many other villains have received over the past decade or so of films.
Much like with Thanos, it would be nice to see Warlock/Magus in more than one film. With their complicated history and immense power, it wouldn’t be difficult to turn Magus into Marvel’s next big bad.
Carnage
Fans already know that Carnage will likely be the main antagonist of the next Venom film, but what does Sony (or possibly Marvel) plan to do with the character after that? Having cast Woody Harrelson in the role, it’s tough to say whether or not he would allow himself to be contracted to appear as Cletus Cassady throughout several films.
That’s not to mention all the rumors about Disney trying to buy Spider-Man from Fox (and what that means for the Spidey universe Fox is trying to establish). Regardless of what role Cletus will play in the future of the MCU, it’ll be great to just see the bloody super-powered psychopath on film.
Kang The Conqueror
Kang The Conqueror has been antagonizing the Fantastic Four, as well as the rest of Marvel’s heroes, for as far back as any of them can remember. And with his ability to pop up anyway in the timestream whenever he wishes, they’ll likely never be rid of him.
Kang is one of a few villains who is perfect to fill the void left behind by Thanos. He’s also a natural fit for an anthology series following his adventure through time, taking on different heroes of the week. It’s an easy way for Marvel and Disney to test the waters by introducing new heroes, while simultaneously tying their Disney Plus series together with an overarching villain.
Apocalypse
While it is true that Fox has recently taken a crack at bringing one of the original mutants to the big screen, it’s very likely that fans will see the fish-lipped baddie somewhere down the line in the MCU.
It may take a while for the X-Men to show up as a team or in solo ventures, but with the rise of the X-Men, Apocalypse inevitably follows close behind. Whenever Marvel and Disney finally decide to bring Apocalypse into the fold, let’s all just hope he comes out better than he did during his time under Fox’s supervision.
Galactus
Much like with Apocalypse and the X-Men, Galactus and the Fantastic Four are a package deal; literally, as it turns out. Who knew? And much like with the X-Men, Fox really did its damnedest to make Marvel fans forget what they loved about Marvel’s other giant purple baddie.
While you’d never know it by the previous films, Galactus actually has an amazing backstory. His journey from humble humanoid to devourer of worlds is certainly a story worth delving into in one form or another.
The Beyonder
There have been whispers of a Secret Wars film in the MCU for some time now. Now that Marvel has entered the next phase of their ever-expanding cinematic universe, it’s likely we’ll see The Beyonder pop up in one form or another.
Whether he’s the big bad guiding the way to the MCU’s next big event or he heads up a series of his own on Disney Plus, The Beyonder is just too big of a character to leave out of the cosmic future of the MCU.
Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch has shown up for the Avengers time and time again since she first appeared in the MCU. Fans of the comics, however, are already more than expecting a dark turn for her character, especially following the events of Avengers: Endgame.
It’s a slippery slope, and when you’re as powerful as Scarlet Witch, there’s really no telling the damage one bad day could cause. While WandaVision is expected to drop on Disney Plus sometime in 2021, it’s likely audiences won’t be met with the same superhero they knew throughout the Avengers films.
Deadpool
While Deadpool may not have exactly been a hero, he certainly wasn’t a villain. Doing heroic things while stacking bodies like papa Disney stacks intellectual properties has more or less been Deadpool’s story.
So far.
As Deadpool enters the Marvel Cinematic Universe, wouldn’t it be incredible to watch him break bad? Deadpool has been on a meteoric rise since his first film came out, and with the success of his last film, well, the only place left for Deadpool to go is down.
