In the three years since Avengers: Endgame, the Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn’t stopped its steady expansion, and now Phase Four will soon come to a close with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The franchise has come to explore various forms and genres for storytelling, with no better examples right now than She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Werewolf by Night, while also setting the stage for exciting new developments in Phase Five.
Currently, Phase Five is consisting of five films and TV shows each, starting with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Secret Invasion and culminating in Thunderbolts all in a condensed year-and-a-half timetable. There might also be some new special presentations like The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and/or animated shows such as What If…? too, so there are plentiful opportunities to continue introducing compelling new heroes. From the vast amount still waiting for their shot, these heroes could make for fun and, in some cases, unexpected additions to the MCU in Phase Five.
Tigra
Following Avengers: Endgame, the Avengers aren’t an active organization as they are in the comics. However, there are prospects for a variation on the team to arise soon, specifically the West Coast Avengers. One pivotal member of that team and the Avengers overall that should finally come into play is Tigra. Like DC Comics’ Cheetah, but heroic, Tigra is a hero empowered with cat-like abilities.
Where exactly she could come into play is questionable, but since she’s a storied hero who has worked with all sorts of other heroes, the case could be made for really any Phase Five project. They could delve into her magical origins or just introduce her as a more street-level tech-based hero, but she would be a fantastic addition for more high-paced action sequences.
Spider-Woman
Recently some casting information was revealed for Phase Five’s first Disney+ show, Secret Invasion. After much speculation and theorizing, Olivia Colman and Kingsley Ben-Adir are playing Sonya Falsworth and the rebel Skrull leader, Gravik, respectively. However, Emilia Clarke’s role is still undisclosed, though many fans believe she could be playing either Abigail Brand, Queen Veranke, or Jessica Drew AKA Spider-Woman.
Even if she doesn’t end up in the role in Secret Invasion, Spider-Woman should still be introduced in Phase Five. She is an important character throughout the comics, from her origins as a brainwashed HYDRA spy to her transformation to a costumed superhero, and Spider-Woman deserves the live-action treatment.
Blue Marvel
The Marvels is set to premiere on July 28th, 2023, and will center on the triad of Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan. However, other “Marvel” monikered heroes could be welcome sights in The Marvels. The one who would be the coolest addition is Blue Marvel.
Adam Brashear AKA Blue Marvel is an incredibly powerful hero created in 2008, but with origins in the comics that date back to the 1960s. He was granted immense cosmic powers rivaling Carol Danvers or Thor thanks to a botched experiment delving into the Negative Zone. He donned a mask and became a hero until it was determined that the world wasn’t ready for a Black hero like him. His story is something that needs to be told in live-action, and he deserves the recognition that would come with it.
Songbird
While the Thunderbolts team in Thunderbolts is made up of existing anti-heroes and villains like Yelena Belova, Winter Soldier, and Taskmaster, there’s still hope that classic members from the comics could still appear, including Songbird.
She was originally known as the supervillain Screaming Mimi, but as part of the original Thunderbolts team, she takes up the name Songbird, and over time she becomes a prominent anti-hero in the comics. She’d fit in well narratively and thematically with the rest of the Thunderbolts, and even if it's not in Phase Five, she could show up later down the line in a sequel or Avengers: Secret Wars.
Quasar
There were all sorts of theories about what Kamala’s bangles were in Ms. Marvel, even suggesting the Quantum Bands. They are powerful bands created by the cosmic being Eon as the signifier for the Protector of the Universe. They are most readily associated with Wendell Vaughn AKA Quasar, and while those theories haven’t panned out, that needn’t limit his introduction to the MCU.
As a prominent cosmic hero, Quasar could have a role to play in The Marvels or Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – although those films seem quite full of story and characters, so it might be reserved for post-credits scenes. Nevertheless, he should soon be seen in live-action, especially if the MCU does expand to more cosmic stories after the Multiverse Saga has ended.
Captain Britain
Sonya Falsworth is an old ally to Nick Fury, seemingly running a British spy agency. She is also the granddaughter of James Montgomery Falsworth from Captain America: The First Avenger, who in the comics is the hero, Union Jack. Perhaps she could follow in his footsteps, but otherwise, this inclusion can open the door to other important British heroes, including Captain Britain.
Brian and Betsy Braddock are twins and have both donned the title of Captain Britain, who, unlike their American counterpart, actually has an important connection to the Multiverse in the comics. They are part of the Captain Britain Corps, a multiversal team that protects the stability of reality. Both should definitely be introduced in Phase Five so that later they can get their own Disney+ series.
Hannibal King
Thanks to Werewolf by Night, Marvel Horror is an exciting new sector for the MCU to explore. Unless they do another Halloween Special in 2023 – which many fans hope there'll be – the next endeavors into these stories are Blade and Agatha: Coven of Chaos. Both will likely introduce new magical or supernatural heroes, such as Hannibal King.
Hannibal King was Ryan Reynolds’ inaugural superhero role in Blade: Trinity, and in the comics, he’s such a prominent ally to Blade that he will probably be introduced in Blade opposite Mahershala Ali. He’s a fellow vampire hunter who would make a worthy addition to an eventual Midnight Sons team.
Rick Jones
The MCU already has some great supporting characters like Darcy Lewis, Jimmy Woo, and Ned, but there’s one major ally still missing – Rick Jones. He’s been a staple in the comics since his introduction right alongside Bruce Banner in The Incredible Hulk #1 in 1962, and he’s also prominently worked with Captain America and two Captain Marvels. He could come into play in Captain America: New World Order.
With Tim Blake Nelson returning as the Leader from The Incredible Hulk, Captain America: New World Order could see new gamma mutates rise up. Rick Jones does gain gamma powers after being experimented on by the Intelligencia, and he becomes the blue hulking behemoth, A-Bomb. This could also come into play in Hulk’s future, though that might not be seen until Phase Six.
White Tiger
Phase Five will also showcase some street-level stories in Echo and Daredevil: Born Again. While there is high hope that both series could help reincorporate heroes from the Netflix Marvel series, they also present a great opportunity to introduce someone like White Tiger.
In the comics, several people use that name – starting with Hector Ayala, who eventually passes on his empowering Jade Amulet to his niece and sister, Angela del Toro and Ava Ayala, respectively. They have each worked with various other street-level heroes like Daredevil or Spider-Man, so any one of them would be a welcome sight in Phase Five just for the prospect of suspenseful action sequences alone.
Great Lakes Avengers
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law successfully introduced casual viewers to all sorts of underrated and obscure characters, from El Aguila to Mr. Immortal. The latter’s inclusion can give hope to the Great Lakes Avengers showing up sometime soon.
The Great Lakes Avengers is a team made up of Midwestern Avengers rejects like Mr. Immortal, Big Bertha, Flatman, Doorman, and later, more popular heroes like Squirrel Girl and Gravity. If there’s a chance to at least acknowledge and honor this team of C-listers in Phase Five and beyond, they should do so, but they might have to wait for a new season of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law or a show of a similar tone.