Some of the best villains from Marvel movies still haven’t yet made their first appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe itself. Every good superhero movie needs a powerful and terrifying supervillain to oppose the protagonist, and some of the best antagonists in history have appeared in Marvel’s movies over the years. While the MCU proper has included fantastic supervillains like Thanos, the Red Skull, Loki, Ultron, the Scarlet Witch, Killmonger, and many more, these iconic villains still haven’t shown up alongside the MCU’s heroes.

It was only fairly recently that Marvel Studios gained the movie rights to some of Marvel Comics’ most iconic characters, heroes and villains alike. Before, other studios, including 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, New Line Cinema, and more got the chance to develop their own Marvel movies, and many of these debuted some of Marvel’s best villains in live-action. The likes of X-Men movies, Spider-Man movies, Ghost Rider, and Blade have included these formidable foes, and we’d love to see them appear in the MCU proper.

7) Deacon Frost

Stephen Dorff brought Deacon Frost to life in Blade in 1998, starring as the movie’s main antagonist opposite Wesley Snipes’ Eric Brooks. Frost is the leader of a faction of young non-natural-born vampires who tries to incite a war between vampires and humans and awaken the “blood god,” La Magra. Dorff delivers a charismatic and captivating performance as Frost, with a charming personality and flair for creepy theatricality that makes him even scarier. With Mahershala Ali set to bring Blade to the MCU soon, it would be great to see him go up against a more comic-accurate Deacon Frost.

6) Blackheart

Many consider Wes Bentley’s Blackheart from Ghost Rider in 2007 to be a weak villain, but we’d still love to see him make his MCU debut. Given the fact that Sacha Baron Cohen recently debuted as the MCU’s Mephisto, Peter Fonda’s iteration of the demonic villain couldn’t be included here, but his son still posed a huge threat, as he wanted to unleash Hell on Earth. The visual effects of his demonic features are enough to strike fear into the more squeamish viewers, but could, of course, be handled a lot better by Marvel Studios.

5) Harry Osborn’s Green Goblin

The gradual evolution of James Franco’s Harry Osborn from Peter Parker’s best friend, to his romantic rival, to his staunch adversary in Spider-Man 3 makes him one of the best movie villains – even though his performance as the second Green Goblin didn’t receive wide acclaim. His action sequences, however, along with his compelling inner turmoil, sympathetic motivations, and connection to Spider-Man cement him as a memorable foe. Harry Osborn hasn’t made his live-action MCU debut just yet, but it would be great to see Tom Holland’s Peter Parker gain this ally – and eventually enemy – in the upcoming Spider-Man movies.

4) Cletus Kasady’s Carnage

Woody Harrelson’s performance as Cletus Kasady, the host of the Carnage Symbiote, made Venom: Let There Be Carnage a more enjoyable watch than the other projects in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Carnage’s unbridled rage and evil made him a fantastic villain, and one of the disappointing franchise’s best. The personal connection between Venom and Carnage made the latter even more complex and interesting. It would be great to see this explored in the MCU. Venom is set to debut in the animated Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man season 2, while it’s possible the Symbiote could appear in the live-action MCU very soon.

7 Amazing Marvel Movie Villains Not in the MCU

1. Wilson Fisk / Kingpin

Wilson Fisk, or Kingpin, is an iconic Marvel villain known for his brutal strength and masterful criminal intellect.Unlike many Marvel villains,Kingpin doesn’t possess superpowers but commands a vast criminal empire that rivals any superhero’s influence.

• Origin: First appeared in “The Amazing Spider-Man” comics.
• Notable Appearances: Portrayed by Vincent D’Onofrio in the Daredevil (Netflix series) and in Sony’s Spider-Man-related films.
• why Not in MCU: Rights for Kingpin’s portrayal were once tied closely to Netflix’s shows and Sony properties, delaying an official MCU debut.

2. Morbius the Living Vampire

Dr. Michael Morbius is a tragic anti-hero turned villain, a scientist cursed wiht vampiric traits due to a failed experiment. His story dives deep into the horror genre mixed with superhero elements.

• Powers: Vampire-like abilities including super strength, echolocation, and accelerated healing.
• Movie: “Morbius” (2022) starring jared Leto, existing in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.
• MCU Status: Not officially integrated into the MCU, but potential for crossover remains high.

3. The Red Skull (Beyond Captain America Films)

The original Red Skull, Johann schmidt, was a devastating Nazi antagonist in Captain America’s lore. While he appeared in MCU’s Captain America: The First Avenger, his presence outside the established MCU era remains unexplored in Marvel cinema adaptations from other studios.

• Traits: Strategic genius, master of Hydra, and bearer of the powerful Tesseract.
• Expanded Portrayals: Different adaptations depict Red Skull’s legacy in non-MCU superhero films and animated features.

4. Mephisto

One of the most sinister cosmic villains in Marvel comics, Mephisto rules a demonic dimension and manipulates heroes with deals and dark magic. He’s often compared to the devil figure in Marvel’s mythos.

• Not Yet in MCU: Despite hints and rumors, Mephisto has not officially appeared in any MCU film.
• Impact: His presence would introduce supernatural elements far beyond current MCU themes.

5. mr. Sinister

Nathaniel Essex, better known as Mr. Sinister, is a geneticist obsessed with mutant evolution. As a key X-Men villain, his manipulation of DNA and cloning experiments make him terrifying in any story.

• Abilities: Regeneration, telepathy, and immense scientific genius.
• Movie Presence: Expected in upcoming X-Men projects but not yet seen in the MCU.

6. Taskmaster

known for his photographic reflexes, Taskmaster can mimic any fighting style perfectly. He is a formidable mercenary and trainer of villains.

• Featured In: Portrayed by Olga Kurylenko in Black Widow, a Disney+ MCU project but not a full-fledged MCU movie villain yet.
• Potential: Could challenge multiple MCU heroes with his combat skills.

7. Dormammu

Dormammu is an immensely powerful interdimensional warlord who rules the Dark Dimension. He famously opposed Doctor Strange, posing one of the biggest mystical threats in the Marvel universe.

• MCU Appearance: Seen briefly in Doctor Strange, represented as a CGI entity rather than a fleshed-out character.
• Non-MCU Versions: Dormammu’s full menace is explored more deeply in comics and animated adaptations.

Iconic Marvel Villains Comparison Table

Why Thes Villains Deserve a MCU Spotlight

Expanding the MCU by integrating these incredible Marvel villains can:

• Expand the Genre Diversity: Introducing supernatural, horror, and cosmic villains enriches the storytelling palette.
• Create Complex Narratives: Characters like Mephisto and Mr. Sinister offer morally ambiguous and psychological depth.
• Enhance Cross-Character Conflicts: Kingpin and Taskmaster’s skills provide intense face-offs with existing MCU heroes.

Practical Tips for Fans Watching Non-MCU Marvel Villain Films

• understand the Universe: recognize that non-MCU Marvel villains often appear in parallel or Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.
• Character Backstory: Reading comic origins enriches appreciation for their on-screen portrayals.
• Keep an Eye on Crossovers: The future of Marvel cinema might see these villains crossing into MCU projects.

Case Study: Morbius and Sony’s Spider-Man Universe Potential

Morbius serves as a cornerstone villain in Sony’s efforts to build a Spider-Man-centric universe outside the MCU. Though not officially MCU, Evolving collaborations between Sony and Marvel Studios increase the likelihood of appearances in future crossover events.

• Morbius leverages horror thriller elements, differentiating his films.
• The post-credit scenes tease interactions with other Marvel characters, hinting at expanding mythos.
• Fans are excited about potential team-ups or battles involving MCU heroes.

First-Hand Fan Experiences

Marvel fans frequently enough discuss the frustration and excitement of seeing beloved villains like Kingpin or Mephisto excluded from the MCU’s main narrative. Many appreciate how Netflix’s Daredevil and other platforms fleshed out these characters, creating anticipation for future appearances in bigger halls like the MCU.

3) Bolivar Trask

After this sinister villain got a false start in X-Men: The Last Stand, the more popular X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014 introduced a more twisted, sadistic, and influential version of Bolivar Trask. Played fantastically by Peter Dinklage, Trask was the creator of the Sentinels in the 1970s, robots that would subjugate humans and mutants alike in the future. Trask’s fascination and hatred towards the idea of mutants makes him one of Marvel’s most interesting villains, and it’s this kind of human antagonist that we need to see oppose mutantkind in the MCU’s upcoming X-Men reboot.

2) Knull

Knull made basically no impact on the SSU in Venom: The Last Dance, as he wasn’t released from his prison on Klyntar, despite this being teased throughout the movie. Even so, Knull is one of Marvel’s most powerful and dangerous supervillains, so he should move to the MCU, perhaps still portrayed by Andy Serkis – who deserves a more-substantial role. Knull is a crucial antagonist in Venom and Spider-Man’s stories, and has made his mark on Marvel Comics even only seven years since his debut, so Marvel has the perfect opportunity to make him one of the MCU’s most evil threats.

1) Erik Lehnsherr’s Magneto

Erik Lehnsherr’s Magneto is far and away the most impressive, powerful, and memorable Marvel movie supervillain not yet in the MCU. Ian McKellen delivered a stellar performance as the Master of Magnetism in Fox’s original X-Men trilogy, and Michael Fassbender continued his legacy beautifully – contributing to some of the X-Men franchise’s most well-acted and heart-wrenching moments. McKellen will be joining the MCU as Magneto in Avengers: Doomsday, perhaps marking the conclusion of his incredible journey. Magneto is one of the X-Men’s best villains, and we can’t wait to see him take his place in the MCU proper.

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