The Marvel Cinematic Universe is getting more obscure with its content, especially with recent releases like Moon Knight. Frankly, the characters they were working with at the start – Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye – were far less popular than the likes of Spider-Man or the X-Men. However, they forged along and created an enterprise hereto unseen.
They were able to elevate these heroes to the legendary status they claim today, and they could do it again for many more. Despite the plethora of success, many fans have shared their thoughts on Reddit on who might not be the right fit for the MCU as their origins, powers, and/or personalities are too strange or obscure.
Thunderstrike
Thor: Love and Thunder featured the next person worthy of using Mjölnir, Jane Foster as the Mighty Thor. She is not the first to have taken up the responsibility as Thor, and the film used another as an easter egg in Thor’s costume at the beginning. That would be Erik Masterson, who took over the Thor Odinson in 1966. When Mjölnir returned to Thor, Erik returned to be just Erik until Odin gifted him a magical mace and he became Thunderstrike.
When presenting a question as to who probably won't be featured in the MCU, u/Realistic_Maximum471 put forth “Thunderstrike (maybe that becomes an alias of Thor instead)” along with characters like Manphibian, Two-Gun Kid, and Living Lightning. That premonition seems accurate because of the design element, but it doesn’t necessarily limit Eric’s inclusion. His son, Kevin, who follows in his father’s footsteps, could be introduced alternatively.
Spiders-Man
In the end, Spider-Man: No Way Home concluded in a way that could seemingly close out Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in the MCU, but fans are still hoping that’s not the case and that a fourth Spider-Man film will happen. Such a transition could finally bring in Miles Morales and/or any of the legendary members of the Spider-Man family. However, one such member who wouldn’t likely find a place in the MCU is Spiders-man.
Redditor u/archer_cartridge clarified their suggestion saying, “not Spider-Man, Spiders-Man, the amalgamation of thousands of spiders who think they're a teenage boy named Peter Parker who fights crime as Spiders-Man.” Not only would the character not fit in entirely with the MCU’s aesthetics, but it could actually be exceptionally triggering for audiences with arachnophobia. Spiders-Man, however, could be an interesting inclusion to the Spider-Verse franchise.
Gwenpool
Disney+ has already changed exceptionally since its inception a few years ago and now again since Deadpool, Deadpool 2, and Logan have arrived on the streaming service. This only heightens the anticipation for Deadpool’s inevitable arrival in the MCU in Deadpool 3. While he would break the franchise’s foundational rules in the best way possible, it could be taken too far by introducing Gwenpool, the amalgam of Gwen Stacy and Deadpool.
User Lambdakastel says “I just don't know how it'll work if they want the MCU to still be taken somewhat seriously. Deadpool will probably already be stretching it. He breaks the 4th wall, but with Gwenpool that wall just doesn't exist.” She is a relatively new character and has rightfully become quite popular, but they’d have to make Deadpool work first before going for Gwenpool.
Paste Pot Pete
The MCU is already quite vast and thus they’re already utilizing some pretty obscure characters, like Arthur Harrow in Moon Knight, yet there are some still worthy to be featured, especially when it comes to villains. However, that might not be the case for Paste Pot Pete aka Trapster. He’s a Silver Age villain who, as his name implies, uses a paste-gun to stick up his enemies.
He is an adversary of the Fantastic Four most often and a member of their counterpart the Frightful Four. u/Rockky67 doesn’t see his inclusion as a likely possibility saying, “Don’t think Paste Pot Pete will be a regular.” While he wouldn’t make a great choice for a solo villain, he could be introduced as part of a team to go up against Marvel’s First Family.
Big Wheel
Spider-Man has faced off against some great villains, several of whom would make for fantastic antagonists in an upcoming MCU film, though not everyone is up to the par of Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, or Venom. One such character is Jackson Weele aka Big Wheel. Best recognized by his big mechanical wheel, he started out as a villain, but eventually tried to reform himself as a hero. It didn’t last.
Redditor u/TemporalAccounts puts it plainly “I don’t think we will ever see small-time villains like Big Wheel, Hammerhead, Abyss, Sauron (not the LoTR one)”. The latter three do face some obstacles to get into the MCU, but none as great as Big Wheel’s obscurity. In particular, Sauron could be coming soon based on rumors that Savage Land will be incorporated significantly soon.
NFL SuperPro
For every great hero in Marvel’s repertoire, there are just as many duds abandoned to obscurity. Some could find revitalization in the MCU, but others don’t deserve it. One such character is NFL SuperPro. u/Uncanny_Doom answered a question on who they do not want to see in the MCU with SuperPro, “an ex-NFL player who survives a freak accident and wears a near-indestructible football uniform.”
They were created in collaboration with the NFL for an ill-fated and incredibly-maligned comic series, which is considered to be one of the worst ever made. Naturally, it garnered an interesting cult following, but even that couldn’t justify bringing SuperPro to the MCU.
Morlun
While Phase Four has been quite insular it has still formally introduced the Multiverse which will naturally play a large role in future projects. This is an important element in Spider-Man’s stories in the comics and has obviously continued to be explored with Spider-Man: No Way Home and the Spider-Verse series. However, one element is still missing – Morlun and the Spider-Totems, multiversal entities connecting Spider-Man to the Web of Life and Destiny.
User ActualTymell doesn’t think this would meld well with the MCU, saying “Trying to tie Spider-Man into some sort of shamanistic destined chosen one mythos just felt ridiculous to me, and not in a good way.” This could mean that Morlun – the psychic vampire who hunts the Spider-Totems – wouldn’t come into play. However, like in the comics, he could end up being an antagonist of the Spider-Verse movies.
Richard & Mary Parker
One of the smartest decisions the MCU made was to adapt what Peter Parker’s origin story could be over his trilogy. No one really wanted to see Ben Parker die again, so it didn’t happen on screen. They saved that impactful moment for Aunt May in Spider-Man: No Way Home, and it paid out emotionally in spades. His parents and their death isn’t even mentioned, and in a strange way, it doesn’t feel lacking from that.
The Amazing Spider-Man movies tried something different and it didn’t really work. Richard and Mary Parker’s death was given some more purpose and intrigue, but it still never got to the point of having them as former secret agents. With Spider-Man: Freshman Year set to explore Peter’s true origins, u/AlpineSummit still doesn’t think it should incorporate his parents like this, saying, “I always thought it was just weird to include them - it takes so much away from what makes him Peter Parker.”
One-Above-All
Thor: Love and Thunder finally introduced some important gods and cosmic beings, such as Zeus, Hercules, and Eternity. There are still some very exciting gods waiting in the wings, ready for their shot. Exploring this facet of the Marvel universe could eventually lead to the introduction of the supreme overlord, the One Above All. Despite being the omnipotent force behind love and all things “good,” he remained largely separate from reality, letting the Living Tribunal govern the Multiverse in its stead.
Redditor u/94Temimi writes, “I like the concept in the comics somewhat because he's not been seen much aside from a few instances here and there but him being the supreme being above the omniverse is too much for the MCU.” Introducing the One Above All – and therefore his dark counterpart One Below All – might just be too much or too weird since he is literally the strongest thing there’s ever been and ever will be.