She-Hulk: Attorney at Law will finally introduce Jennifer Walters into the MCU, but with several new and returning characters joining the series, the identity of the show’s main villain is unclear. Despite withholding a large amount of information about the plot and character motivations, the She-Hulk teaser trailer shows whom audiences can expect to see across the show’s nine-episode run. Tatiana Maslany will play the titular lawyer and cousin of Bruce Banner, with Mark Ruffalo and Tim Roth set to return to their iconic roles of the Hulk and Abomination.
The Disney+ Marvel series' have made a habit of keeping the identity of their villains a secret. WandaVision remained notably without a main antagonist until Agatha Harkness’ malicious intentions were revealed in the penultimate episode, and Moon Knight’s Arthur Harrow appeared as an almost original invention for the show – only playing a very small role in the comics. Although the She-Hulk trailer showed that Abomination’s Phase 4 future looks to be greatly improved from the prior three Phases, this is not to suggest that Roth will once again be an MCU villain.
Scarcely shown in the first look teaser, it appears that Titania will be taking on the mantle of She-Hulk’s lead antagonist. Unlike the manipulation of Harrow’s comic book origins, Titania’s rivalry can be drawn directly from the source material, with the two characters coming face to face on several occasions. What the series decides to do with this character remains to be seen, but it seems clear that Titania will act as Walters’ main adversary moving forward.
Titania Is She-Hulk's Real Villain (Not Abomination)
Ever since it was announced that Tim Roth’s Abomination would be returning to the MCU in She-Hulk, there has been speculation that The Incredible Hulk villain would be playing a similarly antagonistic role. Last playing a major part in the Hulk’s only solo film – getting defeated at the hands of Banner – Abomination briefly appeared 13 years later in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, fighting Wong in Xialing’s underground fight club. After this long disappearance, Abomination’s friendly attitude and goodwill towards Wong imply that the character has put his villainy behind him – something that may be continued in She-Hulk.
Without Abomination, Titania stands as She-Hulk’s number one antagonist. The two have been enjoined in rivalry on multiple occasions throughout the comics and the series looks set to continue this into the MCU. Continuing the ambitious introductory challenges of Moon Knight, She-Hulk will have to balance telling an original story alongside providing a comprehensive introduction for a new franchise hero and villain.
Who Plays Titania In She-Hulk?
Titania makes a very brief appearance in the She-Hulk teaser, but despite the limited screen time, the trailer shows that Walters’ rival will be played by Jameela Jamil. Notable for her kindly protagonist role in The Good Place, Titania will be a marked departure for Jamil. This being said, the actor’s former self-obsessed role may play into the character’s intense rivalry with Walters, with Titania’s motivations originating from her desire to be the best and belittle She-Hulk’s heroism in the process.
Titania's Comics Origin & Powers
Titania’s comic book origins can be traced to the 1984 edition of Secret Wars, when Mary MacPherran – a fragile, timid student – is pulled into the Beyonder’s Battleworld as part of the ultimate battle between a team of superheroes and villains. Stumbling upon Fantastic Four villain, Doctor Doom, MacPherran agrees to a proposition in which Doom provides her with powers in return for her allegiance to his team of supervillains. As a result of this deal, MacFerran is transformed into Titania and, after fighting several heroes on Battleworld including Thor and Wolverine, returns to Earth with the dissolution of the Beyonder’s plans.
The formerly petite and timid MacFerran is altered by Doom’s bargain, gaining a larger and more muscular physique alongside a newfound sense of confidence. Titania’s powers are very similar to that of She-Hulk, with superhuman strength, stamina and resistance to physical damage becoming her defining attributes. While not transforming as Walters does, Titania developed her strength through vigorous weight and combat training, resulting in a villain with abilities that almost rival that of the Hulk.
As with all MCU projects, there is no guarantee that the franchise’s adaptation of Titania will be faithful to the comics. With a new hero to introduce alongside Jamil’s villain, it seems unlikely that the series will provide them with equal weighting in terms of exploring their origin stories – Walters will presumably take priority through her attachment to future iterations of the Avengers. Regardless of her origins, Titania’s role is set to make She-Hulk: Attorney at Law one of the MCU’s closest-fought contests between hero and villain.
