Canceled after only one season, Hulu's Helstrom was an adaptation of the Marvel horror characters, Daimon and Satana Hellstrom. Also known as Son of Satan, Daimon first appeared in the first issue of Ghost Rider in 1973, the same year his sister Satana appeared in the Marvel comic, Vampire Tales.
The Hulu series seemed to have all the ingredients to make a great horror adaptation, which makes fans wonder if they might be used better elsewhere. With the MCU stepping into a more supernatural realm with Blade and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, there is plenty of material that could be recycled and used in another movie or show.
Introduce Daimon Helstrom To The MCU
An easy start is to look at one of the main characters of Hulu's Helstrom series, Daimon. Far from a boring character, his presentation appeared to be an attempt at placing him in a grounded setting, surrounded by the supernatural. Hulu did include some references to fan-favorite elements such as his flaming trident and a scar across his chest, though not the pentagram as seen in the comics.
A reintroduction of Daimon into the MCU could be a great inclusion, as he has assisted the Avengers and other heroes throughout the comics, typically in situations that involved demons and possession.
A Change In Ana Helstrom's Character
In the comics, Ana is still Daimon's sister and the daughter of the demon Marduk. However, a major difference between the show and the comics is that Ana (Satana in the comics) at first embraced her father's evil wishes. She eventually turns against him, however, and partners up with multiple teams to put a stop to the demonic entities that threaten all things good.
If Ana/Satana is to be adapted again in a later MCU storyline, it may be fitting to show a more drastic change in her character. The change could perhaps show the brother and sister at odds with one another. This change could even show Satana's demonic look, and later when she gives up evil, she could be introduced in her human form.
Introduce Sara The Caretaker
The Caretaker was first introduced into the comics in the 1990s with Ghost Rider #28. The nameless guardian of the graveyard was part of the Blood, an ancient group that defended the world against evil. Years later, a new Caretaker would take up the mantle — the former nun, Sara.
Played by Robert Wisdom, Hulu’s Helstrom marks the second time the character was adapted for the screen, with the first onscreen iteration of the character being played by Sam Elliott in the 2007 film Ghost Rider. There has yet to be a live-action adaptation of Sara, making it seem like a better choice to try and start fresh with an underutilized character.
Introduce The Blood... Or The Fallen
Like their Helstrom counterpart, the race known as the Blood was always lurking in the shadows of the comics, protecting the world from threats they didn't know existed. Beyond this initial concept, the Hulu group differed greatly from their comic counterparts. But that does not mean they couldn't make a great addition to the MCU with some minor tweaking.
Having been around for centuries, the Blood could assist the other heroes of the MCU by providing them with information. Or for a twist, the MCU could instead use the evil Blood spinoff group, the Fallen, who dedicated their lives to following the other Marvel comics demon Zarathos.
Louise Hastings To The Rescue
A professor and archeologist, Louise Hastings first appeared in the 1992 comics, Darkhold: Pages from the Book of Sins, in which she teamed up with Victoria Montesi and Sam Buchanan in search of the book's pages. Played by June Carryl in the short Hulu series, Louise was a perfect choice for an overseer of the Helstrom family.
Though maybe as well-known as other Marvel occultists, Louise is an intricate part of the dark side of Marvel. She has saved the lives of Ghost Rider and Blade and put herself in danger time and time again. Now with the Darkhold seen yet again in WandaVision, it opens up the possibility of Louise arriving to protect the world from its influence.
Demonic Possession In The MCU
There have been many demons, monsters, and spirits that roam the universe of Marvel comics, so it would only make sense that these supernatural entities have been in the MCU all along.
A fascinating aspect of Helstrom was that the show was able to introduce the idea that these demons have also been amongst humans, in one form or another. Audiences have already seen MCU characters under the influence of the God of Mischief, Loki, so it wouldn’t be that much of a leap to show demonic possession as well.
Marduk Helstrom In Demonic Form
The demon and father of Daimon and Satana, Marduk was a powerful character who took the titles of Satan and Lucifer when needed. In the Hulu series, he was only briefly seen in quick flashbacks, but not revealed fully till the very end.
In the comics, Marduk took multiple forms, at times resembling a traditional devil, and fought against Marvel heroes such as the Defenders and even Wolverine. If he were to be recycled, it could add more of a fear factor to see Daimon and Satana's father as the demonic creature he is, and not just another evil being in human form.
Gabriella's Misdiagnosis
Based on the exorcist Gabriel the Devil Hunter from many of Marvel's horror titles, Gabriella Rossetti is an agent of the Vatican who works alongside Louise, Daimon, and Ana in the Hulu show.
In the seventh episode of Helstrom, Gabriella reveals that when she had seizures as a child, her parents thought she was possessed before she was diagnosed as epileptic. If handled sensitively, the subject of misdiagnosis could be a poignant, thoughtful storyline in the MCU.
Lilith As The Next Big Antagonist?
At the end of the series, the audience is introduced to the newest incarnation of the Mother, who calls herself Lily. This is the first real reference in the show to the character’s comic book influence, Lilith.
Lilith, also known as the Mother of Demons (or Lilin), first appeared in Ghost Rider #28. She and her multiple offspring were integral in the 1990s Danny Ketch Ghost Rider series, as they were the reason that the Midnight Sons first came together. Having Lilith return in MCU in some form could introduce not only new dimensions but also a larger "big bad" villain from Marvel that is like Thanos or even much scarier.