10 MCU Characters Who Deserve A Comeback As Much As Star-Lord

Published Oct 25, 2026, 1:17 PM EDT Richard Craig is a Senior Author at Screen Rant covering film and TV. Richard has also written extensively about horror and film soundtracks, contributing a chapter to the first major academic collection on the folk horror genre, The Routledge Companion to Folk Horror. Richard is also a performing musician and holds an MA in Music and Sound Art. Sign in to your ScreenRant account The Marvel Cinematic Universe has introduced dozens of fascinating characters over the years, but not all of them have received the screen time their potential deserves. Some have been sidelined for years, others have been killed off prematurely, and a few have been left hanging after storylines that seemed destined to continue. With the MCU timeline preparing for another major Avengers crossover, there are plenty of opportunities to revisit some of its most compelling heroes and villains. Chris Pratt has now confirmed that Star-Lord will return in the MCU's future, although he has yet to reveal which project will feature Peter Quill's comeback. Speaking to Variety, the actor explained that discussions with Marvel Studios have progressed beyond wishful thinking. “I have a great relationship with Kevin [Feige] and Lou [D’Esposito], and there have been both ongoing conversations about how we make good on that promise and also hard action taken to make sure that we make good on that promise,” Pratt said. Following Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in 2023, Quill returned to Earth to reconnect with his grandfather, while Rocket took over leadership of the Guardians. His story clearly has room to continue, but he isn't the only MCU character who deserves another opportunity to shine. From unfinished villain arcs to heroes whose deaths came far too soon, these characters deserve a comeback just as much as Star-Lord. Agatha Harkness Kathryn Hahn's Agatha Harkness became one of the MCU's most entertaining characters in WandaVision and Agatha All Along. The witch's story took a surprising turn when she sacrificed herself to save Billy Maximoff from Lady Death. Rather than moving on to the afterlife, Agatha returned as a ghost, choosing to remain with Billy as he searched for his twin brother, Tommy. Agatha's spectral existence leaves plenty of room for another appearance. Marvel's VisionQuest, the final chapter of the WandaVision trilogy, is an especially tempting opportunity to bring her back. Billy's search for Tommy could benefit from Agatha's knowledge of magic, even if her advice comes with the usual helping of sarcasm and questionable motives. Whether she eventually regains a physical body or remains Billy's supernatural companion, the MCU has plenty more mischief for this witch. Moon Knight Oscar Isaac's Moon Knight introduced a fascinating new corner of the MCU, blending Egyptian mythology, psychological drama, and superhero action. Yet, despite the series earning strong reviews and leaving several major questions unanswered, Marc Spector and Steven Grant have not appeared in another MCU project since the show's 2022 finale. Marvel Television head Brad Winderbaum has indicated that the character's future may involve something other than a second season. The finale saw Marc and Steven reject Khonshu's control and secure their freedom, seemingly unaware that their third personality, Jake Lockley, remained under the Egyptian god's influence. Marvel could explore that revelation in an Avengers film or introduce Moon Knight into a supernatural team-up alongside characters such as Blade. Moon Knight deserves more than a dangling post-credits tease, especially when his most dangerous personality is still lurking in the background. Scarlet Witch Marvel Studios (via MovieStillsDb) Wanda Maximoff has undergone one of the MCU's most dramatic character arcs, progressing from an Avengers adversary to a hero, a grieving mother, and finally a terrifying villain. Unfortunately, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness appeared to bring her story to an abrupt end when she destroyed Mount Wundagore. However, Marvel never showed Wanda's body after the collapse, leaving her fate deliberately ambiguous. Elizabeth Olsen has also remained open to reprising the role if Marvel finds a worthwhile story for her. Wanda deserves another appearance partly because her villainous turn was so compelling that it could have supported an entire film of its own. The introduction of the X-Men also presents an exciting opportunity. The MCU could explore Wanda's mutant heritage more explicitly, bringing her closer to her comic-book origins while examining her powers and family history. Lady Death Aubrey Plaza's Rio Vidal was one of the most intriguing additions to Agatha All Along, initially appearing as a mysterious witch with a complicated history with Agatha. The series eventually revealed that Rio was the personification of death in the Marvel universe. Plaza's unnerving performance, combined with the character's dark humor and genuine menace, made her an instant standout. Marvel could bring Lady Death back through another supernatural storyline, perhaps involving Moon Knight, Blade, or a future Doctor Strange adventure. Most importantly, Rio shouldn't be reduced to a one-off antagonist. Death is an enduring cosmic force, and her presence could raise the stakes of any story involving resurrection, the afterlife, or characters attempting to cheat mortality. With Plaza's performance already establishing such a distinctive personality, there is every reason to let Lady Death wreak more havoc. Justin Hammer Sam Rockwell's Justin Hammer was one of the best parts of Iron Man 2, playing a weapons manufacturer desperate to compete with Tony Stark. Unlike the MCU's world-threatening villains, Hammer was driven by petty jealousy and an almost comical inability to recognize his own shortcomings. Rockwell made that combination genuinely entertaining, and the character's subsequent absence has deprived Marvel of a particularly enjoyable antagonist. Hammer's last significant appearance came in the Marvel One-Shot All Hail the King, when he was shown imprisoned. A comeback could work particularly well in a story involving Riri Williams, War Machine, or another character developing advanced armor. Hammer could attempt to rebuild his company, steal Stark technology, or profit from the growing market for superhuman weapons. Dormammu When Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange confronted Dormammu in 2016, Marvel introduced a villain on a scale far beyond the MCU's usual superpowered enemies. The ruler of the Dark Dimension was an immense cosmic being capable of threatening Earth itself, and his bizarre appearance made him one of the franchise's most memorable antagonists. Strange trapped the entity in a time loop using the Time Stone, repeatedly killing him until Dormammu agreed to withdraw his forces and release Earth from his influence. It was an ingenious solution, but hardly a conventional victory over an immortal cosmic entity. Dormammu has not returned since, despite the enormous possibilities his character presents. The introduction of Dormammu’s niece Clea in the mid-credits scene of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness offered another potential route back into the Dark Dimension. Karl Mordo Chiwetel Ejiofor's Karl Mordo was introduced in Doctor Strange, helping Stephen Strange learn the mystic arts while defending the world against supernatural threats. However, Mordo's faith in the order of sorcerers collapsed after witnessing the Ancient One draw power from the Dark Dimension. By the end of the film, Mordo had abandoned his former allies and embraced a mission to eliminate what he considered an excess of sorcerers. That setup promised a deeply personal rivalry between Mordo and Strange, but the MCU has barely explored it. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness featured a friendlier Mordo variant, reducing Strange's confrontations with Earth-616's Mordo to an off-hand comment. A comeback could finally deliver the rivalry promised by the first film, with Mordo hunting powerful sorcerers or attempting to dismantle Kamar-Taj. Mordo deserves a proper villain arc rather than being remembered as a setup Marvel never followed through on. Quicksilver Image credit: ©Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection Aaron Taylor-Johnson's Pietro Maximoff barely had time to establish himself in the MCU before being killed in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Although the sacrifice gave Pietro a heroic exit, his death also meant the MCU lost a character whose relationship with Wanda could have supported much richer stories. The MCU could introduce a new version of Pietro who is a mutant in the same world as the upcoming X-Men. That would allow the studio to explore his relationship with Wanda and his troubled relationship with his father, Magneto. Pietro could initially appear as a villain in an X-Men story before crossing paths with the Avengers, creating opportunities for the speedster to develop beyond his original supporting role. Quicksilver's death was memorable and annoying, but it shouldn't have to be the defining moment of his entire MCU existence. Agent Coulson Image via MovieStillsDB Phil Coulson was one of the MCU's foundational characters. His death became a pivotal moment in the Avengers’ formation, but it wasn't the end of his story. Coulson returned in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., where the series explored his resurrection, his leadership of the organization, and several increasingly unusual encounters with death. By the show's finale, Coulson was operating in a Life Model Decoy body, allowing him to continue his work despite his original human body being long gone. His future in the wider MCU remains uncertain, particularly because the relationship between Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the main film continuity has never been fully clarified. There is, however, a fresh reason to be optimistic. Clark Gregg recently shared the logo for Marvel's upcoming spy thriller Zodiac, prompting speculation about Coulson's potential involvement. After surviving so many deaths, Coulson has earned another shot at the spotlight. Kang The Conqueror Kang the Conqueror was once positioned to become the MCU's next overarching villain, with his variants appearing in Loki and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The post-credits scenes then teased a council of Kang variants, suggesting that the threat was only beginning. That plan changed dramatically when Marvel dropped Jonathan Majors following his criminal conviction and shifted its attention towards Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr. Nevertheless, Kang remains a character with enormous potential. Kang's variants make him particularly well suited to recasting, allowing Marvel to introduce a new interpretation without needing every version to look identical. A future film could revisit the consequences of the multiversal conflicts established in Loki and Quantumania. Once enough time has passed, a recast Kang could return in a fresh storyline that capitalizes on everything the MCU already established. Movie(s) Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, ​The Avengers, Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Far from Home, Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever , Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Marvels, Deadpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Avengers: Doomsday, Werewolf by Night , The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, The Punisher: One Last Kill TV Show(s) Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter, Inhumans, WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, What If...?, Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Secret Invasion, Agatha All Along, Ironheart, Daredevil: Born Again, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Wonder Man, Echo, Marvel Zombies, Eyes of Wakanda First Film Iron Man First TV Show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Cast Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Edward Norton, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Brie Larson, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, Clark Gregg, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Simu Liu, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Angelina Jolie, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Barry Keoghan, Gemma Chan, Ma Dong-seok, Brian Tyree Henry, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Lia McHugh, Jonathan Majors Director Jon Favreau, Joss Whedon, Shane Black, Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, James Gunn, Peyton Reed, Taika Waititi, Ryan Coogler The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a long-running multimedia franchise drawn from the heroes, villains, and narratives of Marvel Comics. The MCU formally began with 2008's Iron Man, with other successes forming the basis for the contemporary path from comic page to screen, including over 30 films and 20 TV shows. Writers Joss Whedon, Ryan Coogler, Christopher Yost, James Gunn, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Edgar Wright, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Paul Rudd, Don Payne, Shane Black, Jon Watts Created by Kevin Feige