The MCU engine has no plans to slow down with at least twenty named projects coming down the pipeline between feature films, short films, and tv shows - with Thor: Love and Thunder hitting the big screen in July. As always Kevin Feige and the powers-that-be in Marvel are keeping the secrets of the MCU’s future under lock and key. Naturally, fans are expecting to see new and iconic heroes or villains join the MCU soon. In particular, based on upcoming projects, fans could expect to see these ten villains as main or prominent antagonists throughout Phase Four and beyond.
Mephisto
Fan theories were once again proven just that – theories – in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and so the eternal question surrounding Phase Four remains: “Is Mephisto involved?” At first, it was WandaVision, then Loki, then Spider-Man: No Way Home, but it now could very well come to fruition in the Halloween Special later this year.
While much surrounding this special is still secret, including the title, it will star Gabriel García Bernal as Werewolf by Night, and will hopefully explore a darker and more horror-centric story. In the comics, werewolves’ origins are tied to the Darkhold, but now that Wanda seemingly destroyed the book in every universe, perhaps Mephisto could play a role in their creation and thus, the special.
Namor
Interestingly, one of Marvel’s first and most prominent characters has yet to appear in any live-action project. Namor McKenzie aka the Sub-Mariner is one of the most important Golden Age characters, and though he was introduced as a hero, over time he has become far more antagonistic, especially to Black Panther and Wakanda.
Thus, he seems to be a likely candidate as the antagonist in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, having already teased his arrival in Avengers: Endgame mentioning underwater earthquake activity. Theories suggest that Wakanda might be looking for vibranium, leading them to the Savage Land – teased in a Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness easter egg – and therefore, in conflict with Namor and Atlantis.
Magus
Fans have been eagerly waiting for the next installment in the Guardians of the Galaxy story, and over the next year, they’ll get three different chances to see them. Starting with Thor: Love and Thunder, then The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, and finally Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which James Gunn has made known is the end.
Their story will likely center around Adam Warlock – played by Will Poulter – in his understanding of what it means to be a hero. Along this journey, it could incorporate Adam’s corrupted and evil alter, the Magus as it seeks to conquer the galaxy. Alternatively, rumors suggest that the High Evolutionary could be the primary antagonist, but that doesn’t rule out Magus.
Moonstone
While the title of The Marvels would likely lead to fans thinking about Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan, it could also lend insight into the potential antagonist. It was announced that Zawe Ashton had been cast as the film’s undisclosed villain. There are, of course, many possibilities, but a leading one is that she will be playing Karla Sofen aka Moonstone.
She is actually the third person to use the moniker of Ms. Marvel, though she took the villainous approach opposing Carol Danvers and even joining the Dark Avengers and Masters of Evil. Other options for Ashton could be Hala the Accusor, Deathbird, or even Rogue.
Queen Veranke
On the MCU’s slate of tv shows, perhaps the most intriguing is Secret Invasion. In the comics, this is a massive crossover event with incredibly important ramifications, yet Feige has revealed this show won’t take the same approach and will be far more concentrated. Nevertheless, fans are expecting to see one key figure: Skrull Queen Veranke.
The question, however, pertains to who is playing her. There are two viable options between Emilia Clarke and Olivia Colman, with the former seeming the most likely. The exciting notion for this casting is that fans hope Veranke will model herself off Jessica Drew aka Spider-Woman like in the comics, thus further introducing an iconic hero and ally to Captain Marvel.
Super-Skrull
Another actor cast in an undisclosed role in Secret Invasion is Kingsley Ben-Adir who is supposedly set to appear as the leading antagonist. Of the several possibilities, the most exciting would certainly be the Super-Skrull, who is importantly a common adversary to the Fantastic Four.
Following the cameo appearance of John Krasinski as Mister Fantastic Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and in anticipation of Fantastic Four, it's starting to seem even more likely that this is who Ben-Adir will be taking on. Other options could still lead to crossing paths with Marvel’s first family with Emperor Dorrek VII, Paibok the Power Skrull, or Tititannus.
Crimson Dynamo
Excitingly, Armor Wars seems to have some of the best potential for cameos of returning characters, and definitely for new villains. The series will star Don Cheadle as James Rhodes, aka War Machine, as he tracks down Stark tech that has fallen into the wrong hand – possibly Sharon Carter’s Power Broker and/or Justin Hammer, who fans are eager to see again.
Alternatively, the Stark tech will likely find itself under foreign control, which could lead to the creation of one of Iron Man’s classic enemies, Crimson Dynamo. Like many comic book heroes and villains, the moniker has been used many several different characters – including Anton Venko from Iron Man 2 – and any one of them would make an interesting enemy for Rhodey to fight against.
Monica Rappaccini
His quest to recover Tony’s lost technology could also bring Rhodey into combat once again with A.I.M., Advanced Idea Mechanics. The organization and its leader Aldrich Killian were the main antagonists in Iron Man 3, yet many fans agree that they wish to see A.I.M. once more in a more comic-accurate portrayal.
In this iteration, they could be led by Dr. Monica Rappaccini as Scientist Supreme and even has a previous romantic history with Bruce Banner. She has an incredibly tactical mind that would make things very complicated for War Machine. Her and A.I.M.’s involvement in Armor Wars could then set the stage perfectly for other important related characters, the Super-Adaptoid and M.O.D.O.K.
Dracula
In an Eternals post-credits scene, Kit Harrington’s Dane Whitman looks on the Ebony Blade – setting up his transformation into the Black Knight – when a mysterious voice asks if he is ready. That voice belongs to Mahershala Ali as the iconic daywalker vampire hunter, Blade. With that vampires are technically part of the MCU, and fans should expect to see them again soon.
Undoubtedly, leading these vampires would be none other than the king of vampires himself, Dracula. Due to his prominence in the comics and history fighting against many heroes, there are excitingly just as many possibilities of when he could be introduced. It could be as soon as the Werewolf by Night Halloween Special, but most likely it would be Blade – or if ever confirmed, Moon Knight season two.
Fin Fang Foom
One of the most perplexing questions posed in Phase Four so far revolves around the mysterious rings in Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. In the post-credits stinger, Sorcerer Supreme Wong, along with Bruce Banner and Captain Marvel, reveal that they are emitting some kind of beacon. Immediately, fans connected this with their comic origins and the Makluans.
They are a race of extraterrestrials resembling dragons and the rings could possibly be signaling to them – or to one in particular: Fin Fang Foom. Interestingly, they had already been teased in the MCU since its inception with a hidden easter egg in Iron Man. That detail might not be coming full circle with their theorized appearance in Shang-Chi 2.