Marvel’s past is full of characters we haven’t seen in a while who deserve to be on screen again. As Paul Bettany once said, “Kevin Feige is a man who doesn’t really allow loose ends,” so with these characters having been off-screen for so long, we can’t help but wonder if and when they’ll ever make a return. Although many of them were minor roles in the grand scheme of the MCU, we would love to see these Marvel characters return to the big (or small) screen.
10. Harley Keener
Harley Keener (portrayed by Ty Simpkins) was first introduced in 2013’s Iron Man 3 when Tony Stark broke into his garage in Tennessee. We quickly learn that he’s a quick-witted boy who is interested in inventing and mechanics. After assisting Tony Stark throughout the film, he comes home one day to find his garage full of new tools, computers, and other equipment. We don’t hear or see from him again until 2019’s Avengers: Endgame where he can be seen attending Tony Stark’s funeral.
Why does he deserve a return? Simply put, we were never able to see the impact that Tony had on his life. Although one could argue that his relationship with Tony Stark was similar to that of Peter Parker’s, Harley Keener may have taken a different path and it would be interesting to see where he ended up. Fan theories have suggested that Harley Keener ends up as Iron Lad, a Young Avenger known as Nathaniel Richards, a possible descendant of Doctor Doom, a variant of Kang the Conqueror, among many other things who wears a suit of armor not unlike Iron Man. Ty Simpkins even said he would “Do it without a doubt.”
9. Christine Everhart
Christine Everhart (portrayed by Leslie Bibb) first made her Marvel debut in 2008’s Iron Man. As a journalist for Vanity Fair, she approached Tony Stark to ask hard-hitting questions about the way he conducted business as a weapons manufacturer. We see her several more times throughout the movie, once as a one-night stand, but other times questioning Tony Stark about himself and Stark Industries. She returns in Iron Man 2, attending the Monaco Grand Prix in order to interview Justin Hammer, but finds herself much more interested in Tony Stark. Everhart then reappeared in a Marvel YouTube series as a reporter for WHIH World News with her own show, WHIH Newsfront with Christine Everhart. This series was used to market Ant-Man and Captain America: Civil War. She was also seen briefly in What If…? Episode 4, reprising her role as a WHIH reporter.
Why does she deserve to return? Christine Everhart has been a staple in the MCU since the very beginning. As Marvel begins to return to more politically-centric stories, having a reporter who’s more than a nameless face would bring more realism to the story, especially if they were to do another series like WHIH Newsfront as something supplemental to upcoming projects such as Secret Invasion or Captain America: New World Order. She’s been shown to be highly critical of superheroes and was a supporter of the Sokovia Accords, so she would not be afraid to ask the tough questions.
8. Bill Foster
Bill Foster (portrayed by Laurence Fishburne) made his only MCU appearance in 2018’s Ant-Man and The Wasp as Hank Pym’s former colleague at S.H.I.E.L.D. We first meet Foster at the University of California, Berkeley, when Hank Pym, along with Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne come to him seeking help. We later learn that he had been helping Ava Starr a.k.a. Ghost, a woman who was exposed to the quantum realm as a child and was eventually used by S.H.I.E.L.D for stealth missions. After the agency’s collapse, he took her in in an effort to slow the progress of her seemingly inevitable demise. At the end of the film, after Ghost was temporarily cured from her illness by Janet van Dyne, she and Foster went on the run from the police.
Why does he deserve to return? With the announcement of Ava Starr’s involvement in the upcoming film Thunderbolts, it only would make sense that Bill Foster would return with her. However, nothing has been announced or said about his involvement. The characters haven’t been seen or heard from since before The Blip and their fates have ultimately been left unknown. With Foster being the closest thing Starr had to a father and with her return, it’s only fair that he returns as well. Besides that, maybe he could make himself useful to the Thunderbolts with his biochemist background.
7. Helen Cho
Helen Cho (portrayed by Claudia Kim) played a significant part in Avengers: Age of Ultron in 2015. She is a scientific researcher and geneticist who healed Clint Barton using an invention called the Regeneration Cradle. Ultron later used the scepter on her to control her and force her into building him a body. After Wanda Maximoff frees Cho from the mind control, she shut down the system which causes Ultron to attack her which was nearly fatal. Ultimately, her work led to the creation of Vision. She then began working at the Avengers Compound alongside Dr. Erik Selvig.
Why does she deserve to return? Well, it would seem that she would have been useful to keep around, especially after playing such a significant part in the film. It doesn’t make sense that they’ve never brought her up again after she seemed to be close with the Avengers at the time. She could have been recruited by S.W.O.R.D in an attempt to repair Vision during WandaVision or at least gather what unique information she may have known about him. There is still a possibility for this in the future with the upcoming Disney+ series Vision Quest. In the comics, she is also the mother of a superhero named Amadeus Cho. It is possible that they could reintroduce her as his mother if he were to ever make an appearance in the MCU.
6. Sonny Burch
Sonny Burch (portrayed by Walton Goggins) made his only MCU appearance in 2015’s Ant-Man and The Wasp as a black-market tech dealer. Although he had been helping Hank Pym and Hope van Dyne acquire parts they needed to create their Quantum Tunnel, he eventually betrayed them and attempted to steal the miniature-sized Pym lab for his own gain. Although he was almost successful, he was eventually caught and arrested.
Why does he deserve to return? A black-market tech dealer could easily find his place back in the world post-Blip. There are far too many opportunities for an already established dealer with connections to the FBI, I’m sure Burch could find himself in a number of projects. The most obvious ones would be Captain America: New World Order, Thunderbolts, or Armor Wars. Of course, there’s the matter of him being arrested but maybe because of his connections, he never even made it to jail. Ant-Man director Peyton Reed even said there was “always a chance” for his return. Although it is unlikely for him to return in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, I think it would be a nice surprise for fans.
5. Rhomann Dey
Rhomann Dey (portrayed by John C. Reilly) is a member of the Nova Corps who made his only appearance in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy. In the film, he was first seen arresting Groot, Rocket, Gamora, and Star-Lord for fighting on the planet Xander. Later in the film, after they escape prison, Star-Lord made contact Dey to inform him of their plan to stop Ronan the Destroyer who was on his way to destroy Xander. Dey then convinced the commander of the Nova Corps, Irani Rael, and another high-ranking member, Garthan Saal, that the threat was real. Thanks to his efforts, they were able to protect Xander. Dey was promoted to the rank of Denarian following the battle.
Why does he deserve to return? He deserves a return because he is a well-respected member of the Nova Corps and with Marvel developing a Nova project, it only makes sense that we would see the return of the Nova Corps as well. In the comics, Richard Rider, AKA Nova, was recruited by Dey and given his uniform and powers as he was dying. Considering these two already have a connection, if Marvel chooses to go with Richard Rider as Nova over Sam Alexander who also used the moniker, it would make sense for his return. Taika Waititi considered bringing in Rhomann Dey for Thor: Ragnarok, but decided there was “no real way to pull it off.”
4. Grandmaster
The Grandmaster AKA En Dwi Gast was seen in both 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok and the 2018 Marvel One-Shot Team Darryl. In Thor: Ragnarok, Grandmaster was the leader of a planet named Sakaar. Despite being an authoritarian of sorts, he was still well-loved thanks to an event called the Contest of Champions. After fighting against Hela and being kicked out of the Bifrost, Thor and Loki appear in Sakaar. Grandmaster persuaded Thor to compete against his champion, who was later revealed to be the Hulk, who arrived in Sakaar after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, Grandmaster was seen to be cheating, inhibiting Thor’s power with an Obedience Disk attached to his neck. Thor eventually managed to leave Sakaar, taking the Hulk with him while a group called the Revengers revolted against the Grandmaster. The Grandmaster is overthrown but he refuses to accept defeat. When we see him against in the Team Darryl one-shot, he becomes roommates with Darryl, Thor’s former roommate from the Team Thor one-shots.
Why does he deserve to return? People have debated if the Team Thor and Team Darryl one-shots are canon within the MCU, but either way, we don’t see what has become of him. If they are canon, how did he arrive on Earth? Despite being placed on the official MCU timeline on Disney+, it’s unlikely that it is canon. Originally, Grandmaster was to be in Thor: Love and Thunder, but the scenes were cut. Grandmaster became a popular character after Thor: Ragnarok, no doubt because of Jeff Goldblum’s unique charisma and mannerisms. With projects like The Marvels and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 being set in space, with more surely to come in the future, it would be a shame not to visit Sakaar and Grandmaster again. We may also see him wherever we see Hulk next, as it was revealed in the season finale of She-Hulk that Hulk has a son named Skaar who was conceived during his time on Sakaar.
3. Betty Ross
Betty Ross (potrayed by Liv Tyler) made her first MCU appearance in the 2008 film, The Incredible Hulk as Bruce Banner’s former love interest and daughter of General Thaddeus Ross. In the film, she’s a cellular biologist and professor at Culver University who was involved in the project that would turn Bruce Banner into Hulk, the Bio-Tech Force Enhancement Project in an attempt to recreate the original Super Soldier Serum. After Bruce’s first transformation into the Hulk, he destroyed the lab and injured Betty Ross before disappearing. Despite General Ross demanding that all of the research be destroyed, Betty kept the information hidden, believing that one day Banner would return. She eventually moved on with her life until Banner returned two years later. She gave him the stolen data. Throughout the film, she’s seen reconnecting with Banner, attempting to help him. Due to this, she was later able to help calm the Hulk and help Banner take temporary control. After the Battle of Harlem between Hulk and another Hulk-like creature, Abomination, Banner disappears again to avoid being captured. We last see her looking at pictures of herself and Banner on her camera. An alternate version of Betty Ross (voiced by Stephanie Panisello) is seen in What If…? Episode 3.
Why does she deserve to return? In the comics, Betty Ross was Bruce Banner’s on-and-off-again love interest and eventually his wife. Despite having a strong connection in The Incredible Hulk, she’s never mentioned by Bruce Banner in any other MCU film he appears in. Her father, General Thaddeus Ross, also never references her. Marvel has seemingly erased her existence and even used Natasha Romanoff in Avengers: Age of Ultron in the same role Betty may have had as as love interest who could calm the Hulk down. The character has been underutilised and it’s strange that despite still having two connections in the MCU with Bruce Banner and her father, she’s never returned. However, Joe Russo confirmed in an interview that she was a victim of Thanos’ snap. Rumors swirled that she would be appear in She-Hulk but those never came to fruition. If Marvel did want to bring her back, it would make the most sense in Captain America: New World Order where Samuel Sterns AKA The Leader, who was also a victim of gamma radiation and seen in The Incredible Hulk, is set to appear. Considering her expertise, if The Leader is the antagonist of the film, Captain America may call on her for help. However, it may be too late for her to return after going unreferenced for so long.
2. W’Kabi
W’Kabi (portrayed by Daniel Kaluuya) was the head of security for Wakanda’s Border Tribe in 2018’s Black Panther. He was shown to be T’Challa’s best friend in the film until he lost faith in T’Challa’s ability to be King of Wakanda after he failed to capture Ulysses Klaue. He then aligned himself with Erik Killmonger, T’Challa’s cousin, after he killed Klaue, as he fought to take the throne. W’Kabi continued to support Killmonger throughout the film, leading a fight against T’Challa. He was eventually convinced to surrender by his wife and General of the Dora Milaje, Okoye who was willing to kill him for the safety of Wakanda. Because of his actions, he was banished from Wakandan society but was allowed to stay within its borders.
Why does he deserve to return? Daniel Kaluuya was set to return as W’Kabi in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever but due to scheduling conflicts, he was unable to reprise his role. W’Kabi deserves a redemption arc, which may have been the plan in Wakanda Forever after his former best friend’s passing. Despite his quickness to switch sides and support Killmonger, he was doing what he thought was right for his country at the time. He did seem to learn his lesson at the end of Black Panther but it was too late for redemption then. It would be interesting to see him return, despite banishment, after Wakanda was nearly destroyed in Wakanda Forever. Maybe he could redeem himself by volunteering to help rebuild. I suspect that whenever we see Wakanda again, we may see W’Kabi.
1. Justin Hammer
Justin Hammer (portrayed by Sam Rockwell) has been seen in 2010’s Iron Man 2 and the Marvel One-Shot All Hail The King in 2014. Envious of Tony Stark’s popularity and success, he attempted to destroy the reputation and legacy of Stark throughout Iron Man 2 while publicly claiming that he was friends with him. He recruited Ivan Vanko after seeing him fight Tony Stark at the Monaco Grand Prix in his Whiplash armor that featured an arc reactor. Hammer hired a team to break Vanko out of prison and asked him to create Iron Man suits on his behalf for the United States government. Vanko instead convinced Hammer that drones were better than suits, but when Hammer took the drones to the Stark Expo, along with the War Machine armor that Hammer had obtained and outfitted, Vanko betrayed Hammer and used the drones and War Machine to attempt to kill Tony Stark. Despite attempting to help shut down Vanko’s access, because of his involvement, Hammer was arrested by the NYPD after Pepper Potts contacted them. He was then seen in All Hail The King as a prisoner at Seagate Penitentiary, complaining about Pepper Potts while speaking about Tony Stark in a positive way.
Why does he deserve to return? Although Iron Man 2 is one of the least favorite MCU films, Sam Rockwell is commonly said to be the best thing about the film. Much like Sonny Burch, a character like Justin Hammer could easily find his place back in the world post-Blip. A weapons manufacturer with government connections, as he was once the primary weapons contractor for the Department of Defense, could find himself being needed in the world. Despite Hammer Industries being portrayed negatively, manufacturing poor weapons and technology, this is only demonstrated a few times, the most notable of all being the failure of the Ex-Wife missile. However, I would argue that because of its power, if the Ex-Wife missile would have gone off in the short distance between James Rhodes and Ivan Vanko, it would have killed both of them, along with Tony Stark, so if anything, it succeeded in activating a fail safe. It should also be remembered that Hammer also “pimped out” the original War Machine suit. Although yet to be proven canon, Luke Cage Season 1 features several powerful Hammer Industries weapons. A return could portray him as a more dangerous antagonist or a helpful ally. With several members of the government likely to be outed as skrulls in the upcoming series Secret Invasion, Stark Tech falling into the wrong hands in the upcoming film Armor Wars, it only makes sense that someone with a connection to the government, to Tony Stark, and to James Rhodes AKA War Machine, be involved in some capacity, whether as a friend or foe. Of course, he could still be in prison for all we know but it would be interesting to see if he could take advantage of upcoming world events and earn himself a release…or escape. Sam Rockwell also said he would be interested in returning to the MCU for Thunderbolts, which could also easily find a place for Justin Hammer as CIA Director Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s go-to weapons guy.
Which characters in the MCU would you like to see make a return?
