Many once-important characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have unfortunately been forgotten and completely wasted by Marvel Studios, leaving their fates and futures in the franchise uncertain. In the 17-year history of the MCU, dozens of notable and powerful characters from Marvel Comics have been adapted for live-action, making the MCU the most expansive, successful and exciting superhero movie franchise. However, one of the downsides of developing a shared universe this big means some characters have become lost in the mix.
It’s been great to watch many iconic characters from Marvel Comics get a huge amount of attention in the live-action MCU, but not everyone has been so lucky. There have been several characters over the years who have been teased to be important, but have ultimately amounted to nothing. This fate has befallen even some of the MCU characters with the most potential, such as the likes of Leonard Samson, Baron Mordo and Justin Hammer, and while it’s possible this could be amended, the futures of these characters are yet to become clear.
You are watching: These 10 Forgotten MCU Characters Were More Wasted Than Any Of Marvel’s Main Movie Heroes & Villains
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Mitchell Carson
Martin Donovan Debuted As Mitchell Carson In Ant-Man (2015)
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Following the dissolution of HYDRA in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Age of Ultron, Marvel Studios could have easily just forgotten about the villainous organization, allowing the MCU to move on. Instead, 2015’s Ant-Man teased HYDRA’s return as a prominent force, as Martin Donovan’s Mitchell Carson, a former HYDRA agent working in a high-level position in SHIELD, showed up to Darren Cross’ Yellowjacket presentation. This teased HYDRA perhaps acquiring the Yellowjacket suit for its own benefit, but nothing ever came of this.
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Marvel Studios even made a point of showing Mitchell Carson stealing Pym Particles during the commotion caused by Scott Lang’s Ant-Man. In Marvel Comics, Carson was a disgraced SHIELD agent and serial killer who was supposed to wear the Ant-Man suit, but didn’t get the chance. Director Peyton Reed revealed that the original plan for Ant-Man saw Scott Land take down Carson and recover the stolen Pym Particles (via CinemaBlend), suggesting Marvel never had plans to bring him back, which could explain why we haven’t seen or heard from Mitchell Carson for a decade.
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Rhomann Dey
John C. Reilly Debuted As Rhomann Dey In Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
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A prominent member of the Nova Corps and the direct contact for Peter Quill’s Star-Lord on Xandar, John C. Reilly’s Rhomann Dey was a crucial character in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Following his actions during the Battle of Xandar, Dey was even promoted to the role of Denarian, which could have made him an even more important character in the MCU. Unfortunately, neither Dey nor the entire Nova Corps have been seen in live-action since Guardians of the Galaxy, and now that one upcoming MCU project has seemingly been shelved, it’s unclear whether they will.
Marvel Studios was previously in active development on a Nova series, which could have brought Richard Rider into the MCU. In Marvel Comics, it’s Rhomann Dey, Nova Prime, who gives his powers to the human Richard Rider upon his death. This storyline could have been explored in a Nova series, but the status of this project is now unclear. Had Thanos’ attack on Xandar prior to Avengers: Infinity War also been explored, this would have been a great opportunity for Rhomann Dey to return, but it’s uncertain what the future holds for John C. Reilly’s exciting MCU hero.
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Leonard Samson
Ty Burrell Debuted As Leonard Samson In The Incredible Hulk (2008)
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Following the recent returns of Emil Blonsky, Betty Ross, Thaddeus Ross and Samuel Sterns, the absence of Leonard Samson from the MCU has now become even more noticeable. Ty Burrell brought Samson to life in The Incredible Hulk, and the 2008 movie could have teased his evolution into Doc Samson, following in the footsteps of his Marvel Comics counterpart. Leonard Skivorski Jr. became Doc Samson after exposing himself to some of the gamma radiation siphoned from Bruce Banner, giving him superhuman abilities and long, green hair.
|
MCU Hulk |
Actor |
Debut Project |
Year |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bruce Banner’s Hulk |
Mark Ruffalo |
The Incredible Hulk |
2008 |
|
Emil Blonsky’s Abomination |
Tim Roth |
The Incredible Hulk |
2008 |
|
Samuel Sterns’ Leader |
Tim Blake Nelson |
The Incredible Hulk |
2008 |
|
Jennifer Walters’ She-Hulk |
Tatiana Maslany |
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law |
2022 |
|
Todd Phelps’ HulkKing |
Jon Bass |
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law |
2022 |
|
Skaar |
Wil Deusner |
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law |
2022 |
|
Happy Hogan’s Freak |
Jon Favreau |
What If…? Season 2 |
2023 |
|
Thaddeus Ross’ Red Hulk |
Harrison Ford |
Captain America: Brave New World |
2025 |
Ty Burrell revealed in 2008 that he would be up for returning as Leonard Samson in future MCU projects, but this hasn’t come to pass, and the character has never been mentioned since. There was no hint of him becoming Doc Samson in The Incredible Hulk, as the movie made him nothing more than just Betty Ross’ new boyfriend – quickly forgotten about when Bruce Banner came back on the scene. It would still be great to see Burrell reprise the role and finally become Doc Samson in the MCU, though it’s unclear when this could happen.
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Betty Ross
Liv Tyler Debuted As Betty Ross In The Incredible Hulk (2008)
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Leonard Samson isn’t the only character from The Incredible Hulk who was forgotten about, as Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross, despite her return in 2025’s Captain America: Brave New World, has also been all but removed from the MCU. Ross was Bruce Banner’s first love interest, and his intellectual equal, which could have made her a very exciting, long-running character in the MCU. Unfortunately, The Incredible Hulk didn’t adapt her faithfully from Marvel Comics, she wasn’t the strong-willed and independent character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, which meant she was better left forgotten.
Betty Ross eventually became the hybrid bird-like Harpy, and later became the Red She-Hulk, later combining the two into the Red Harpy. It’s very unlikely this will ever happen in the live-action MCU with Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross.
Betty Ross’ return in Captain America: Brave New World was very brief, only appearing as a voice on the phone to her father, President Thaddeus Ross, and in person at the very end of the movie, visiting her father in the Raft. The very fact that she was willing to forgive Thaddeus Ross after so many years of him hunting Bruce Banner and hating the world’s heroes, against her wishes, proves how weak-minded she is. There is nothing of the strong Marvel Comics character in the MCU’s Betty Ross, which is a dire shame.
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Madame B.
Julie Delpy Debuted As Madame B. In Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015)
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The Scarlet Witch’s manipulations and mind-warping in Avengers: Age of Ultron gave us a glimpse at Natasha Romanoff’s history prior to joining SHIELD. This scene introduced Julie Delpy as Madame B., a high-ranking supervisor working in the Red Room who trained young girls to become Black Widow assassins. Madame B. trained Natasha Romanoff and oversaw her “graduation ceremony,” including her sterilization, making Madame B. one of the most interesting villains in the MCU, and meaning it’s a shame we haven’t seen her in the decade since Age of Ultron.
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This scene in Avengers: Age of Ultron spurred calls for Scarlett Johansson to get her own MCU movie as Natasha Romanoff. 2021’s Black Widow was expected to delve deeper into Romanoff’s backstory, which would have been the perfect place for Madame B. to return to the MCU, but this did not happen. Black Widow explored the most recent past for Romanoff, which means her history with the Red Room is still mostly a mystery, and the prominence of Madame B. in Romanoff’s life is also very uncertain.
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W’Kabi
Daniel Kaluuya Debuted As W’Kabi In Black Panther (2018)
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In Marvel Comics, W’Kabi was a staunch ally to T’Challa’s Black Panther, and remained so until his death at the hands of Spider-Man villain Morlun. This was vastly different in the MCU, however, as Daniel Kaluuya’s Border Tribe member W’Kabi allied himself with the villainous Killmonger instead of his King. Kaluuya was a fantastic addition to Black Panther’s impressive cast, so it’s a shame that he didn’t appear in the 2022 sequel, Wakanda Forever, which was explained as W’Kabi being imprisoned for his crimes against Wakanda’s throne in the original 2018 movie.
|
MCU Black Panther Project |
Premiere Date |
Director |
Box Office |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Black Panther |
February 16, 2018 |
Ryan Coogler |
$1.35 billion |
|
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever |
November 11, 2022 |
Ryan Coogler |
$859.2 million |
|
Eyes of Wakanda |
August 6, 2025 |
Todd Harris |
N/A |
|
Black Panther 3 |
TBD |
Ryan Coogler |
TBD |
Had W’Kabi been adapted more faithfully to his Marvel Comics counterpart, he could have become a more permanent fixture in the MCU’s Black Panther franchise. During the battle against Killmonger in the comics, W’Kabi lost an arm, so he was given a cybernetic prosthetic, which would have been great to see in the live-action MCU. We also could have seen Daniel Kaluuya deliver a surely-beautiful performance in response to the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman prior to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s development. It’s possible W’Kabi could return in Black Panther 3, but this seems unlikely.
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Helen Cho
Claudia Kim Debuted As Helen Cho In Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015)
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Claudia Kim’s appearance as Dr. Helen Cho in Avengers: Age of Ultron was very exciting for fans of Marvel Comics, as her debut set up the introduction of other highly-anticipated MCU characters. Helen Cho is a world-renowned geneticist and the leader of the U-GIN Research Group. She developed a machine called the Regeneration Cradle that was able to use Clint Barton’s cells to regenerate his body and heal his wound, and was also able to create a body out of vibranium for Ultron, which went on to become Vision’s body thanks to Tony Stark, Bruce Banner and Thor’s intervention.
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In Marvel Comics, Helen Cho is not a genius, but her two children do exhibit this gift. Twins Amadeus Cho and Madame Curie “Maddy” Cho expressed genius-level intellects from a young age, and the former became a significant ally to heroes such as the Hulk and Hercules, and even became a Hulk himself, known as Brawn. Helen Cho’s debut in Avengers: Age of Utlron provided the perfect set-up for Amadeus Cho’s debut and evolution into Brawn, but this hasn’t yet taken place in the MCU, and Cho hasn’t been seen or heard from in ten years.
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Baron Karl Mordo
Chiwetel Ejiofor Debuted As Baron Karl Mordo In Doctor Strange (2016)
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Mordo was a huge part of Doctor Strange’s narrative, and a key player in Stephen Strange’s evolution from egotistical surgeon to egotistical Master of the Mystic Arts. A steadfast follower of the teachings of the Ancient One and the mythology of Kamar-Taj, Mordo feared breaking the natural order more than anything, which spurred him to leave Kamar-Taj after the Ancient One’s death and Doctor Strange breaking the natural law to defeat Kaecilius. Mordo then promised to rid the world of its sorcerers, starting with Jonathan Pangborn, but this version hasn’t been seen since.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduced the variant of Mordo from Earth-838, who harbored the same resentment toward Stephen Strange, but was a member of the Illuminati as the Sorcerer Supreme. In the original plan for Multiverse of Madness, the Scarlet Witch killed Baron Mordo on Earth-616, ending his conquest against the world’s sorcerers before it even truly began. The fact this didn’t make the final cut means Chiwetel Ejiofor can return as Mordo, but it’s been almost a decade, so his current status is uncertain.
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Aaron Davis
Donald Glover Debuted As Aaron Davis In Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
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While Tom Holland’s first solo MCU movie as Peter Parker’s Spider-Man was incredibly exciting anyway, the introduction of Donald Glover as Aaron Davis made it even more brilliant. In Marvel Comics, Aaron Davis is the brother of Jefferson Davis and the uncle of Miles Morales. The latter becomes Spider-Man after Peter Parker’s death in the Ultimate Universe of Earth-1610, so Aaron Davis’ debut in the MCU hints at Miles Morales already existing on Earth-616, which could set him up to be Peter Parker’s successor in Marvel Studios’ upcoming Spider-Man 4 and beyond.
Miles Morales is voiced by Shameik Moore in Sony’s animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its sequel, Across the Spider-Verse. Moore will voice the character in the upcoming sequel, Beyond the Spider-Verse, but is too old to portray the character in live-action.
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This is a thrilling concept, but Aaron Davis hasn’t reappeared in the MCU since his debut back in 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming. Donald Glover did appear as Aaron Davis in his costume as the villainous Prowler in 2023’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, but it’s unclear if this version of the character will return to the MCU proper. Aaron Davis mentioned his nephew in Homecoming, so Marvel Studios now runs the risk of Miles Morales becoming too old to bring into the MCU, as he originally becomes Spider-Man as a young teen.
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Justin Hammer
Sam Rockwell Debuted As Justin Hammer In Iron Man 2 (2010)
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Okay, Justin Hammer was arguably the main villain of 2010’s Iron Man 2, so perhaps he shouldn’t be included on this list. However, since it could also be argued that Iron Man 2’s primary antagonist is Ivan Vanko’s Whiplash and his Hammer Drones, it’s worth noting just how misused and wasted Sam Rockwell’s charismatic Justin Hammer has been in the MCU. Hammer is one of Tony Stark’s most notable and longest-running adversaries in Marvel Comics, so it’s shocking he’s only appeared in one movie, though there have recently been calls for him to return to the MCU.
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Sam Rockwell was the perfect actor to bring Justin Hammer to life in the MCU’s Phase 2, and we were reminded of this when he returned to voice the iconic villain in What If…? season 2. Since 2010, however, Justin Hammer has been imprisoned at Seagate Prison, and hasn’t been seen or heard from in live-action since the All Hail the King one-shot. It would be brilliant to see Justin Hammer return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to get more attention and development, but there has been no word from Rockwell or Marvel Studios on whether this will actually happen.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
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First Film
Iron Man
Upcoming Films
Deadpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, Blade (2025), The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Avengers: Doomsday (2026), Avengers: Secret Wars
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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
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Upcoming MCU Movies
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Thunderbolts*
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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MCU Spider-Man 4
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July 24, 2026
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May 7, 2027
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