The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s grip on fandom and entertainment isn’t going to loosen anytime soon, especially not now with Kamala Khan’s Embiggened hands in the fray. Ms. Marvel ended with a shocking and earth-shaking reveal, and fans will have to wait a while to see what comes next for their new favorite teen hero. Thankfully, she is far from alone.
So far, the roster of young heroes has expanded exponentially with the additional introduction of Kate Bishop, Eli Bradley, Tommy and Billy Maximoff, Kid Loki, America Chavez, Axl, and finally, Love. Other new teen heroes have been outright referenced, while some have existing connections leaving a foot in the door for them. As such, fans could expect to see any of these heroes quite soon in the MCU.
Spider-Man (Miles Morales)
He’s only been in one animated film, but Miles Morales continues to dominate conversations about Marvel films with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse being his next. Fans are waiting in rapt anticipation for Miles’ arrival in the MCU, but their patience might be waning. Now that Tom Holland has completed his first MCU trilogy, the wide open for Miles – though that doesn’t have to mean losing Tom.
Miles has been referenced a couple of times already. The first was in Spider-Man: Homecoming by his uncle, Aaron Davis, played by Donald Glover – who had previously expressed interest in playing Spider-Man. The next was by Electro in Spider-Man: No Way Home, when he said there's gotta be a black Spider-Man out there in the Multiverse. He’s correct, of course, and will hopefully be proven even more so in Spider-Man 4.
Iron Lad (Nathanial Richards)
Jonathan Major’s seminal inclusion in Loki as He Who Remains set the stage for a game-changing villain’s arrival. He’s set to reprise in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but finally as the famed Kang the Conqueror. Regardless, Kang is too important and complex a villain to only take part in a single film, so many are expecting him to a significant and long-lasting role going forward. Interestingly, Kang is not only connected with the Avenger and the Fantastic Four but also the Young Avenger, through Iron Lad.
Iron Lad is a younger variant of Kang, who traveled back in time and joined the Young Avengers to avert his villainous future. Throughout Phase Four, the roster for the Young Avengers has steadily expanded in the MCU with the likes of Kate Bishop, Wiccan and Speed, and maybe even Ms. Marvel. Iron Lad could very well be the next one to arrive. However, Riri Williams aka Ironheart could be taking his place instead.
Franklin & Valeria Richards
Fans were shocked when John Krasinski cameoed in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as Mister Fantastic. Though he didn’t last long – being turned into spaghetti by Scarlet Witch mere minutes later – his inclusions formally set the stage for the Fantastic Four’s arrival in the MCU. In an easter egg, he briefly references his family, saying he has a wife and children. This would be Susan Storm aka Invisible Woman and their children, Franklin and Valeria.
Both Franklin and Valeria grew up with strong abilities and eventually started working alongside their parents. Franklin is extraordinary and one of the most powerful people in Marvel comics as he can warp reality to his whim like a god. Valeria, on the other hand, might be one of the smartest people in the comics to the point of possibly exceeding her father. While it would be fun to see Marvel’s First Family as a full-blown family with Franklin and Valeria, it does seem like they won’t be around just yet in Fantastic Four.
Starling (Tiana Toomes)
Due to the Marvel-Sony dealings, there are some daunting and confounding inconsistencies and perplexities plaguing the MCU Spider-Man films. One such confusing moment came in Morbius when Michael Keaton’s Vulture was somehow transported to the SSU – Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, which currently lacks a Spider-Man – as a result of the spell in Spider-Man: No Way Home. While he might have left the MCU, his successor could still find a place in it.
Tiana Toomes aka Starling is Adrian Toomes aka Vulture’s granddaughter who is a recent addition to the comics, having been introduced opposite Miles Morales in 2019. She and Miles eventually started working together and she even teamed up with other young heroes as part of the Champions. If they’d want to go down that route and bring back Liz from Spider-Man: Homecoming, or a variant of her, she could take on this role.
Brawn (Amadeus Cho)
Phase Four has made a special focus on setting up the next generation of superheroes, whether introducing younger protégés or fully passing the mantle. In the case of Hulk, his cousin Jennifer Walters is the next hero to premiere, becoming She-Hulk in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law. There are still some great Hulk allies, villains, and contemporaries yet to feature in the MCU, and at the top of that list is Amadeus Cho aka Brawn.
He becomes the new Hulk – though now he goes by Brawn – and operates differently than Bruce Banner, really embracing his vast capabilities. Amadeus already has a link into the MCU through the character Helen Cho in Avengers: Age of Ultron, who could be his mother. He was just announced as one of the new characters featuring in Spider-Man: Freshman Year as Peter Parker’s classmate along with Harry Osborn and Nico Minoru, though that show now seems to be taking place in an alternate universe.
Victor Mancha
With the return of Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio from Daredevil, fans are expecting to set some more familiar faces from the Marvel Television days on Netflix, Hulu, and ABC. The former Netflix heroes face fewer hurdles than characters from the Hulu series, like Marvel's Runaways or Helstrom, but fans still have some theories about how they could return. If any of the Runaways come back into the main continuity, then they could also introduce Victor Mancha.
He is a member and adversary of the team, initially created by Ultron to infiltrate and take the Avengers down from the inside. He was referenced as a possible antagonist in The Runaways season three, facing off against the team sometime in the future. Fans are already hoping that Ultron could return one day so the MCU could take full advantage of all his great storylines, and perhaps his son could join him.
Viv
There's another robotic teen hero ready to join the MCU in the case of Viv, Vision’s daughter. She, her brother, Vin, and their mother, Virginia, were all created by Vision in his attempt to understand humanity. MCU’s Vision might be ready for such an exploration. WandaVision ended with White Vision reacquiring his memories, stating “I am Vision,” and flying away from Westview. It’s anyone’s guess when and where he will show up next, but bringing in his new family could be the next logical step for him.
Viv possesses many of the same abilities as her father, though she refuses to experience emotions – especially after the deaths of her mother and brother. She joined Ms. Marvel, Miles Morales, and Ironheart on the Champions but the MCU’s Young Avengers could use someone like her since it doesn’t seem likely they’d introduce a Young Vision to the team. She could even be introduced in Ironheart possibly as a friend or classmate to Riri Williams since they develop a romantic relationship.
Nova (Sam Alexander)
Marvel recently announced that a Nova project is in development, and whether it’s a new film or a Disney+ series, it will most likely feature Richard Rider as the protagonist. Fans have been waiting for something like this since Guardians of the Galaxy introduced the Nova Corps differently than widely recognized in the comics. Xandar might certainly need new protectors after their supposed decimation by Thanos before Avengers: Infinity War, but Richard Rider wouldn’t need to be alone.
The second Nova, Sam Alexander, could also be introduced. Unlike Richard who gets selected by the Nova Helmet to replace Roman Dey, Sam follows in his father’s footsteps as a Nova Centurion. He could end up teaming up with the other young heroes as part of the Young Avengers and/or Champions or even staying out in space to work with Captain Marvel, Thor, and the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Doyle Dormammu
Phase Four came with a surprising change to the magical side of the MCU with it being revealed in Spider-Man: No Way Home that Wong is Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme since he never blipped away. Since this and the result of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – with America Chavez training at Kamar-Taj – fans are now hoping the MCU will adapt the Strange Academy series, but as Wong Academy.
If this happens, this could lead to the fun introduction of Doyle Dormammu, the son of Doctor Strange's antagonist. Like his father and cousin, Cleo – played by Charlize Theron in the Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness mid-credits stinger – Doyle is a Faltine from the Dark Dimension. With Doctor Strange returning there, hopefully, Doyle could come into play in Doctor Strange 3.
Iceman (Bobby Drake)
Ms. Marvel changed the entire pace and foundation of the MCU’s future by introducing her as the franchise’s first mutant. Interestingly, they used the X-Men ’97 theme song for that reveal – something they also did for Patrick Stewart’s came in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – so perhaps they’ll take a note out of that book and have mutants and the X-Men being here the whole time, just hidden from society. Whether that's the approach or not, when these iconic characters do finally arrive, it would be smart to introduce the main team as teens like in the comics.
Compared to X-Men like Cyclops, Wolverine, or Jean Grey, someone like Iceman could get overshadowed, but he has some of the best potentials in the MCU. Not only is he a popular gay hero, but he is a frequent ally to the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man, and thus could help facilitate some crossovers. Plus, since he’s an original team member and an omega-level mutant, he deserves some better recognition in the films.