The Multiverse Saga has introduced many new characters, some in cameo roles and others in key lead or supporting roles. However, something several heroes and villains in both categories have in common is that Marvel Studios has largely wasted them.
Captain America: Brave New World underwent major changes during reshoots, transforming from a pulpy comic book adventure to a poor imitation of 2014's Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
The superpowered Serpent Society was scrapped and replaced by Giancarlo Esposito's Sidewinder. For fans who have campaigned to see The Mandalorian and The Boys star play a major villain, it was a let-down, and the actor was also left underwhelmed.
"I like Sidewinder, and I love the fact that I could be that mercenary, but I was even more interested in playing Seth Voelker, the scientist, the educated man who then flipped," Esposito told Polygon. "There's a story there which I didn't have the ability to tell in what I had to do in Captain America 4."
With Christopher Abbott playing Professor X in the X-Men reboot, his Professor X hopes have been dashed. However, the Master of Magnetism remains an intriguing prospect for the Breaking Bad star best known for playing villains on screen.
"Professor X, just to be clear, was a fan casting idea that got spread very quickly, and it was an idea that appealed to me because of who Professor X is," he shared. "I like Magneto. I like that world. That world has its own rhythm to it that is fantastical in some ways. Freeze is another one that I would like to be."
Over to The Hollywood Reporter, the trade recently caught up with Moon Knight star Ethan Hawke. The news that he would join the MCU shocked fans, but the Disney+ series also underwent some big changes during post-production.
Ultimately, the evil Arthur Harrow was killed by Jake Lockley, bringing a swift end to Oscar nominee's time in that world. Asked about the streaming bubble bursting and his time in the MCU ending, Hawke replied, "I haven’t really thought about it. I never had a big agenda about being in that universe."
"My reason to do that show was largely built on my friendship with Oscar. He’s a really thrilling actor. I like the way he thinks, and he really wanted a good villain for that show. I was also interested in playing in the sandbox that everybody was watching. Part of being an artist is you have to make relevant art."
He continued, "You have to be in dialogue and in concert with your time. Marvel has owned a chapter of cinema history, so I enjoyed being a part of it. They were really good to me. But I was kind of surprised [by the streaming correction]."
"The future hasn’t gone the way that I thought it would in that regard," Hawke said of his brief stint in the blockbuster franchise, "but that’s never been my bread and butter anyway. That’s not really what I do."
While neither actor is holding a grudge against Marvel Studios, it seems both hoped for more from their time in the MCU. Still, if Robert Downey Jr.'s return as Doctor Doom after previously playing Iron Man proves anything, it's that they can always take on other roles.
Captain America, meanwhile, will return in Avengers: Doomsday this December. As for Moon Knight, Oscar Isaac has said he's open to returning as the vigilante, suggesting it could happen in a Midnight Sons project.