The Marvel Cinematic Universe has made waves by reviving a character previously thought to be deceased, raising the question of who else might be resurrected in future projects. The Multiverse Saga has revolutionized the approach to reintroducing characters, allowing for the potential return of beloved figures who met their end in the main timeline through various multiverse variants in upcoming films and television series.
In addition, Avengers: Endgame showcased the concept of time travel, enabling characters like Tom Hiddleston’s Loki and Zoe Saldaña’s Gamora to continue their journeys within the MCU despite their original demises. Recently, the finale of Ironheart introduced Mephisto, the devilish character responsible for resurrecting Riri Williams’ best friend. Below are some of the most prominent MCU heroes and villains who could take advantage of this resurrection narrative:
10
Scarlet Witch
Last MCU Appearance In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
At this juncture, it would genuinely astonish me if Elizabeth Olsen’s character, Wanda Maximoff, did not experience a revival. The Scarlet Witch has emerged as a pivotal character within the MCU, particularly during the Multiverse Saga. Following her transformation into a villain in the Doctor Strange sequel, there is a compelling need for her to return so that fans can witness the much-desired redemption arc.
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Considering the intricate connections between the Scarlet Witch and Mephisto in the comics, the introduction of Sacha Baron Cohen’s character in Ironheart presents intriguing possibilities. Should Wanda make her return, it would likely be the original version of the Scarlet Witch. Mephisto has already demonstrated his capability to resurrect her, and now that both of her sons have re-entered the MCU, they could potentially seek his assistance in bringing Wanda back to life.
9
Quicksilver
Last MCU Appearance In Avengers: Age Of Ultron
There is no reason to stop with the Scarlet Witch when she has a significant deceased family member as well. The decision to eliminate Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Quicksilver in his initial appearance within the MCU is considered one of the most significant squandered opportunities in the franchise’s history. With a decade having passed since his demise and Taylor-Johnson’s current absence from Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, it seems only fitting for Quicksilver to make a comeback.
A fake version of Quicksilver appeared in WandaVision, played by Evan Peters, who gave life to Quicksilver in Fox’s X-Men movies.
Much like Wanda, Quicksilver could potentially be revived by Mephisto following a deal made by the devil with one of Wanda’s children or even Paul Bettany’s Vision. There is also a possibility that the Scarlet Witch could reunite with her brother in the afterlife since both are deceased, paving the way for their return to life together.
8
Thanos
Last MCU Appearance In Avengers: Endgame
Thanos served as the principal antagonist throughout the Infinity Saga. His demise marked a pivotal moment for the Avengers, who had to defeat him twice to restore those he had previously erased from existence. Thanos was already reintroduced posthumously in the MCU via time travel, making it unlikely that Marvel would resort to this method again for the character.
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Nonetheless, Agatha All Along introduced Aubrey Plaza’s character as Death. In Marvel Comics, Thanos is frequently depicted as being romantically tied to Lady Death, often going to great lengths to impress her. Although the recent series hinted that she might not play a role in resurrection, it’s conceivable that Thanos could make a pact with Death to return. Josh Brolin has hinted at the possibility of Thanos’ return.
7
Aunt May
Last MCU Appearance In Spider-Man: No Way Home
Aunt May represents a unique case within the MCU. While she may not fit the traditional hero mold, her tragic death marked a significant emotional moment in the franchise, and her return could enhance the narrative considerably. With Mephisto’s recent introduction in Ironheart, Aunt May’s resurrection might be one of the most plausible outcomes for any MCU character.
This possibility is further amplified by the title of Tom Holland’s next solo film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which references a storyline from the comics where Peter Parker makes a deal with Mephisto to save Aunt May. The upcoming Spider-Man adventure could revolve around the dark bargain of resurrecting Aunt May, along with the consequences that follow.
6
Iron Man
Last MCU Appearance In Avengers: Endgame
Robert Downey Jr. is set to return to the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. Although he will portray Doctor Doom, a character traditionally known as Victor von Doom, there remains the potential for him to reprise his role as Iron Man as well. Marvel has numerous avenues to explore regarding how Iron Man could re-enter the MCU.
|
Every MCU Avengers Movie |
|
|---|---|
|
Movie |
Release Year |
|
The Avengers |
2012 |
|
Avengers: Age of Ultron |
2015 |
|
Avengers: Infinity War |
2018 |
|
Avengers: Endgame |
2019 |
|
Avengers: Doomsday |
2026 |
|
Avengers: Secret Wars |
2027 |
One potential method for his return is through resurrection, where Mephisto or Doctor Doom’s mystical powers could restore the original Tony Stark. Following the introduction of time travel, the Avengers could also potentially recruit a past version of Stark to assist them in contemporary battles. With the vast multiverse at their disposal, the possibilities for Iron Man variants are virtually limitless. The prospect of RDJ’s characters engaging in battles is simply too enticing to overlook.
5
Black Widow
Last MCU Appearance In Avengers: Endgame
The latest Avengers installment witnessed numerous significant character deaths. Just like Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars could provide a platform for Iron Man’s return, the same could be said for Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow. Although the actress has claimed she is finished with the franchise, Natasha Romanoff’s character could still play an essential role in the MCU if resurrected.
I’m convinced that if Mephisto showed her that he could resurrect Black Widow, Yelena would gladly sign away her soul to him.
Thunderbolts* highlighted how Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova was deeply affected by Natasha’s passing. Although Yelena ended the film on a more positive note, the notion that she would willingly make a deal with Mephisto to resurrect Black Widow is quite plausible. The combination of multiverse elements and time travel could also facilitate her return.
4
Jane Foster
Last MCU Appearance In Thor: Love And Thunder
Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster rejoined the MCU after a lengthy hiatus, only to meet her demise in the polarizing Thor: Love and Thunder. Interestingly, while Jane’s end was depicted in the film, one of the post-credits scenes suggested that her story isn’t necessarily over. This is particularly relevant since Jane encountered Heimdall in Valhalla, a realm frequently referenced in Marvel Comics.
There are multiple avenues through which Jane Foster could return following her demise. While it seems unlikely that Thor would negotiate with Mephisto, the God of Thunder could retrieve her from Valhalla in an upcoming Avengers film, or potentially in the rumored Thor 5. In Marvel lore, if someone dies in Valhalla, they have the chance to be revived.
3
Kang The Conqueror
Last MCU Appearance In Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania
Kang The Conqueror is another extraordinary entry on our list. Theoretically, the character portrayed by Jonathan Majors met his end while battling Ant-Man and the Wasp in Quantumania. However, it was clear that this wasn’t intended to be the final chapter for Kang. Nevertheless, due to Majors’ dismissal by Marvel and the ensuing changes in plans, Kang the Conqueror is now considered deceased within the MCU.
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Reintroducing the character is a straightforward endeavor. Marvel could simply recast Majors’ role with a different actor, presenting them as multiverse variants of Kang. The primary version of Kang could return to resolve lingering plot threads from his original arc, potentially culminating in a confrontation with Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom.
2
Yondu
Last MCU Appearance In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3
Yondu’s passing ranks among the most heart-wrenching moments in the MCU. James Gunn has previously stated that he would prefer Yondu remain deceased, yet with Gunn’s transition to DC Studios, there remains a possibility for Yondu to be reintroduced into the MCU’s narrative.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 concluded with the cosmic team disbanding, leading Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord to return to Earth in search of his grandfather. There’s potential for Peter to become one of the characters Mephisto attempts to sway, given his current trajectory in the MCU. Should this occur, Star-Lord might choose to resurrect his mother and/or Yondu.
1
Black Panther
Last MCU Appearance In Avengers: Endgame
Lastly, Black Panther concludes this list. The tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman has left a notable void in the MCU, yet Marvel Studios has the opportunity to resurrect T’Challa to keep this iconic character alive within the franchise. Should T’Challa make a comeback, the role would necessitate a recast. Rumors suggest that Marvel is exploring this option, although not necessarily through resurrection.
Instead, Black Panther 3 or an upcoming Avengers film could utilize the multiverse to introduce a variant of Black Panther. Additionally, aging up T’Challa’s son, Toussaint, through time travel is also a possibility. However, leveraging the MCU‘s original Black Panther appears to be best achieved through the multiverse in Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars.
- Cast
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Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Edward Norton, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Brie Larson, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, Clark Gregg, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Simu Liu, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Angelina Jolie, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Barry Keoghan, Gemma Chan, Ma Dong-seok, Brian Tyree Henry, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Lia McHugh, Jonathan Majors
- Upcoming Films
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Deadpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, Blade (2025), The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Avengers: Doomsday (2026), Avengers: Secret Wars
- First TV Show
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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
- Upcoming TV Shows
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Agatha: Coven of Chaos, Ironheart, Daredevil: Born Again, Wakanda, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Marvel Zombies, Wonder Man, Vision Quest
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
