10 MCU Heroes And Villains Who Were Killed Off By Marvel Studios Way Too Soon

10 MCU Heroes And Villains Who Were Killed Off By Marvel Studios Way Too Soon

Marvel Studios has had a great run since Iron Man launched in 2008, but it would be wrong to say they haven't made some mistakes. Among them was the decision to kill these heroes and villains far too soon.

Feature Opinion
By JoshWilding - Nov 28, 2023 12:11 PM EST
Filed Under: Marvel Studios

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has expanded in a lot of very unexpected ways in recent years, with Disney+ adding heaps of new characters to the franchise. Of course, with literally thousands of great characters at its disposal, there's never going to be room to tell all their stories, and Marvel Studios has subsequently killed off some heroes and villains way too soon.

Whether it's a character with the potential to be one of the greatest Avengers ever or a villain who could have become an effective recurring threat, the characters listed here should have never met their maker when they did.

Below, we're taking a look back at 10 huge deaths in the MCU that came too soon and robbed Marvel Studios of the opportunity to tell some incredible stories. Imagine Ultron factoring into Avengers: Endgame or Crossbones taking aim at his old foe, and new Captain America, Sam Wilson. And why the heck did Kang the Conqueror die during his first appearance?!

To take a look through this feature, all you need to do is click the "Next" button below.
 

10. T'Challa/Black Panther

black-panther-suit-pr-copy

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was an emotional, fitting send-off for Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther. However, we can't help but think T'Challa should have lived on, a decision which would have done nothing to tarnish the late actor's legacy. 

That's not to say Shuri doesn't have potential, but the fact remains that the King of Wakanda's story was far from over. 

It wouldn't have been easy for anyone to pick up where Boseman left off. Given how inspirational Black Panther was (the sequel didn't resonate in quite the same way), we also can't help but think the MCU's original T'Challa actor would have supported the idea of someone else picking up the baton in his absence. 

At this stage, it is what it is, but a recast is a must if and when this franchise is rebooted. 
 

9. Ikaris

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It's possible we're jumping the jump, but Eternals ending with the apparent death of Ikaris was one of Marvel Studios' biggest blunders in the divisive 2021 movie. 

After first turning on his fellow immortals and then helping them stop the Emergence of a new Celestial, the conflicted hero flew into the sun in a moment that was far too on the nose for our liking. There were still so many places to take the character, and a redemption arc would have been incredibly satisfying to watch play out.

He could have even remained a villain, and one less two-dimensional than most of the MCU's offerings.

There's always a chance Ikaris could return, and we remain optimistic that's in the works given what an immense talent Richard Madden is.
 

8. Jane Foster

Mighty-Thor-Infobox-copy

We're guessing Natalie Portman only wanted to make a one-off MCU return, though it's a shame it had to happen in a movie as underwhelming as Thor: Love and Thunder.

The actress looked awesome as the Mighty Thor and had some standout moments throughout the course of a blockbuster which largely dropped the ball on this character's story. Ultimately, her sacrifice was effective, but it came far too soon. 

There's a chance she could return in a future project (especially after that post-credits scene) but Taika Waititi dropped the ball here and it's far from a safe bet. 

Fingers crossed Portman at least gets a second chance as part of the Multiversal Thor Corps, anyway. 
 

7. Arnim Zola

Zola

Arnim Zola only played a small part in 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger, but The Winter Soldier delivered a real fan-pleasing moment a few years later when he returned in robotic form.

He didn't get up and start walking around, though that idea was considered by Marvel Studios (that Zola nearly had a cameo role in Ant-Man). Instead, he was blown to smithereens in an attempt to kill Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff, and it appears that's the end of the HYDRA devotee.

It's possible he could return, but this felt like a definitive end for the villain. 

Perhaps Marvel felt that a walking, talking robot was just too goofy, but Zola is one of Captain America's best villains and someone who deserved better than this. On the plus side, What If...? did at least give us a glimpse at what his final form could have looked like!
 

6. The Warriors Three

WT

Thor: Love and Thunder underwhelmed, but Taika Waititi delivered one of Marvel's best films with Thor: Ragnarok. However, his decision to kill The Warriors Three still stings. 

Hela had already done enough to establish herself as a threat to Thor and Asgard, and making such short work of Volstagg and Fandral (Ray Stevenson and Zachary Levi) did no favours to anyone. It just wasted a couple of talented actors and two characters who had been overlooked from the start. 

Hogun (Tadanobu Asano) got a slightly better ending, but this was a confusing move by Marvel Studios, and likely a rushed way to take them off the table ahead of Avengers: Infinity War

Like Sif, they should have been M.I.A. from Asgard, setting up a future return. Then again, that also disappointed, so perhaps not. 
 

5. Kang The Conqueror

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The controversies surrounding Jonathan Majors aside, he's done a fantastic job as He Who Remains, Victor Timely, and Kang the Conqueror. However, Marvel Studios massively dropped the ball by killing the latter in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania

We do think there's something to be said for the theories that this Kang Variant will return as The Beyonder after being imbued with the powers of his Multiversal Engine Core, but if not, the MCU really has just wasted the Kang...in an Ant-Man movie. 

An earlier cut of the threequel saw him escape, so perhaps Marvel Studios simply wanted to subvert expectations.

It didn't really work, anyway, and we think this character death played a big role in why so many fans seem disillusioned in the Multiverse Saga. 
 

4. Quicksilver

QS

Quicksilver was introduced in Avengers: Age of Ultron less than a year after a different version of the mutant showed up in X-Men: Days of Future Past

Fox's version, played by Evan Peters, managed to overshadow Aaron Taylor-Johnson's, but the latter never really got the chance to shine after being killed off so soon. His sacrifice was in equal parts heroic and memorable, but we'd have loved to see Pietro become a full-fledged Avenger.

His sister Wanda has received her fair share of the spotlight since, but Quicksilver could have been a key player in the MCU.

WandaVision did bring the speedster back, of course, but not in a way that satisfied fans. Peters got to play Pietro, but we'd later learn he was only an actor in Westview called Ralph Bohner who Agatha Harkness had taken control of in order to toy with Wanda Maximoff.
 

3. Crossbones

CB

With his origin story playing out in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, it made sense for Brock Rumlow to return as Crossbones in Civil War

Set photos teased an impressive costume design, but little did we know his screentime would be limited to a brief fight with Cap before being blown up by the Scarlet Witch. With that, his story ended, and one of the hero's best baddies was placed back on the shelf. 

It's a real shame too, especially when you stop and imagine how cool it would have been for Crossbones to come after the new Captain America, Sam Wilson. 

Sin could have even joined him, but Marvel Studios missed a trick here, and this stands as one of the few missteps made by the Russo Brothers in the MCU.
 

2. Baron Strucker

Strucker

Baron Strucker is a recurring villain in the Marvel Comics Universe, and he once even managed to brainwash Wolverine and use him as a HYDRA agent. 

The MCU's version was responsible for creating Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, but after easily being defeated by Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Avengers: Age of Ultron, he was killed in his prison cell by Ultron. It was a fitting enough arc for the villain, but one that also underwhelmed.

We're not saying he was going to be a big bad in the MCU, but it was strange he didn't even have a role to play in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

It's hard not to think about what might have been with this one.
 

1. Ultron

Ultron2

Ultron is one of the greatest comic book villains ever created, and among the most formidable foes the Avengers have ever faced. 

Making him a one-and-done bad guy in Joss Whedon's sequel was an unusual decision, even if his final scene delivered a far more poignant end than we're used to seeing in superhero films. The Vision, the son, destroying Ultron, the father, was both fitting and tragic in equal measures.

Five years on, it's still surprising there hasn't been a single hint about Ultron's survival, but that could and should change as we head into Phase 4 and beyond. 

The hope had been that WandaVision might do something to set the stage for the villainous android's return, but unless he's buried somewhere in the White Vision's programming, we're not banking on it (especially now he's been revisited in What If...? with "Infinity Ultron").
 

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EZBeast
EZBeast - 11/28/2023, 12:12 PM
URCOMMENTSUCKS
URCOMMENTSUCKS - 11/28/2023, 12:18 PM
Odin is objectively is the number one pick. Not like Waititi's Space Balls remake would do justice to the premise of Ragnarok either way, but not having Odin partake in the battle (well, if you call that goofy skirmish at the end a battle) and dying a heroic death fighting against either the Wolf or Hela was some terrible usage of the character. It's one of the worst cases where we are told a character is powerful in movies, but never see him do anything powerful.
Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 11/28/2023, 12:28 PM
@URCOMMENTSUCKS - !00% In fact, I would say one of the worst offenses Marvel has made was destroying Asgard in general. They have mishandled so many characters. This list and some exclusions have made that painfully obvious. Odin, Black Widow, Iron Monger, etc. There are way too many.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 11/28/2023, 2:28 PM
@URCOMMENTSUCKS - Oh god....now you've done it. You said Twika Waititi and Space Balls Remake in the same sentence. Delete that comment NOW, for the love of all that is holy! Maybe there's still time and if you delete it now no one will take notice and make that blasphemous sounding project a reality.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 11/28/2023, 5:44 PM
@URCOMMENTSUCKS - Never got why after he went into the regeneration thingy he didn't come back with any display of power. Can easily write off him not being as OP as he should be before that, but after then shuffled off into a Nursing home then die after being found was an odd creative choice for sure.
Nomis929
Nomis929 - 11/28/2023, 12:21 PM
I agree with all of these choices, but I like to add Iron Monger.



Jeff Bridges was so good!
Natey1991
Natey1991 - 11/28/2023, 12:22 PM
Dude. Chadwick Boseman DIED. That wasn’t a creative decision it was a real life one. I can’t believe you have a job.
MrDandy
MrDandy - 11/28/2023, 12:31 PM
@Natey1991 - if you actually read it, he mentions that but says he should have been recast. And yeah, he should have.
Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 11/28/2023, 12:36 PM
@Natey1991 - As tragic as Chadwick dying was, he is not the Black Panther. The character should and could have been recast. So yes, that is a creative decision they made as a way to honor the actor who played the character. Some agree with it (seemingly you), and others disagree with it (me).
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 11/28/2023, 2:30 PM
@Natey1991 - Boseman should have been recast. They could have done that. They ended up changing the entire movie because they decided not to recast him. It was 100% a creative decision.
bcom
bcom - 11/28/2023, 3:24 PM
@CorndogBurglar - I think Marvel were clever about it though. The movie respected Boseman by not recasting him and letting his Black Panter pass, but we were introduced to his son at the end who is also named T'Challa. I'd bet this was done so eventually he will become the next Black Panther. It's a recast in a way, but a clever one in that it plays into the story.
Blastaar
Blastaar - 11/28/2023, 5:20 PM
@bcom - They could've done without the bastard child though, that was in very poor taste.

They also could've just alluded to the fact that he was still alive in some way. Poor writing and allowing your emotions to take over your job.
bcom
bcom - 11/28/2023, 5:40 PM
@Blastaar - I think they did the best with what they were faced with at the time. Chadwick's passing was very much in the spotlight and I think a straight recasting, regardless of how respectfully it was dealt with, may not have felt like the right thing to do at the time and no matter how great the recast actor could've been, he would've ALWAYS been compared to Chadwick in the role, for better or worse.

I think passing the mantle to Shuri and then potentially passing it on to a new T'Challa as T'Challa's son helps it feel more like a new T'Challa Black Panther rather than a replacement for Boseman's T'Challa Black Panther.
Blastaar
Blastaar - 11/28/2023, 5:56 PM
@bcom - An actor's role will ALWAYS be compared to another actor's role, that will NEVER go away. That should never be a fear for an actor or else we would never have iconic characters last for generations.

That new "T'Challa" is not T'Challa son of T'Chaka its Toussaint.

They should've delayed the movie, made a Wakanda Forver series on Disney +, that would segue into BP2 which releasing it next year February would've been PLENTY of time to mourn and proceed with show must go on.

Shuri cannot beat Namor, but they made the terrible mistake with doing that in Wakanda Forever which taints Namor's reputation as well.

They could've implied that T'Challa could still be alive without actually saying it, by keeping it vague and slight. Making room for a recast in 2024. Chadwick unfortunately passed in 2020, it'll have been close to four years.
MisterDoctor217
MisterDoctor217 - 11/28/2023, 12:22 PM
I really need Daddy Ikaris and hunky Pietro back.

Also Sassy Ultron was great.

T’Challa , with all due respect to Chadwick Boseman, he was an amazing actor, should have been recast. Plain and simple.
Shuri ruined Wakanda Forever for me.
Patient2670
Patient2670 - 11/28/2023, 12:29 PM
Is Josh inferring that Kevin Feige killed Chadwick Boseman? Wow... Maybe Jonathan Majors should watch his back.
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 11/28/2023, 12:29 PM
Iron monger should be listed.
Doomsday8888
Doomsday8888 - 11/28/2023, 12:29 PM
Can't believe no one said Killmonger, i'm cool with it, just kinda surprised no one mentioned him tho.

He had a dope theme
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MrDandy
MrDandy - 11/28/2023, 12:30 PM
Strucker is a big one for me. A big character from the comics that got about 3 minutes of screen time.
Gabimaru
Gabimaru - 11/28/2023, 12:31 PM
As much as i love Chadwick as an actor and with his Black Panther portrayal. I think MCU made a mistake for not giving the role to somebody else.
Blastaar
Blastaar - 11/28/2023, 5:23 PM
@Gabimaru - Enough time has passed, people have to move on. Right about next year February would've been a great time for BP2 to be released.

A Wakanda Forever tv series would've been THE perfect way to segue into BP2 with a recast.
KaptainKhaos
KaptainKhaos - 11/28/2023, 12:39 PM
This has and always will be my biggest complaint about the MCU is that they are so wasteful with fan favorite characters.

bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 11/28/2023, 12:41 PM
Only Ultron is character that was killed off too soon imo. And that doesn't even matter, considering a robot can be rebuilt
ShimmyShimmyYA
ShimmyShimmyYA - 11/28/2023, 1:03 PM
Good thing Marvel literally pointed to the audience at the end of WF and said T’Challa will be back (he’ll just be TJ, same way Steve Trevor is sometimes Steve Trevor II/III OR Nick fury Jr and Nick fury )

PapaBear562
PapaBear562 - 11/28/2023, 1:08 PM
Quicksilver, the Warriors Three, Black Panther, Zola, yep, I agree. The rest no, except maybe Ultron. Black Panther should have been recasted. Even Boseman's brother said as much. Marvel greatly err'd by not doing so. I hated Thor Ragnarok and part of the reason was killing the Warriors Three, Odin and destroying Asgard. Zola would have been a clever keep if Marvel could have given him a body that resembles what he was in the comics, but it would have to have been done right.
mountainman
mountainman - 11/28/2023, 1:08 PM
T’Challa - Yes but it’s somewhat understandable why they did

Ikaris - Absolutely no way he’s dead

Jane Foater - She didn’t die too early, they just made a mockery of her cancer which is disgusting

Arnim Zola - No his was fine. He’s not really a character that they could do more with unless they went too out there.

Warriors Three - They didn’t die too early, Ragnarok is actually a good place for them to die. They just weren’t adapted well. Odd how The Dark World was their best representation.

Kang - Yeah he really should have won at the end of Quantumania. The Conquerer being defeated so easily has really tarnished the character.

Quicksilver - Maybe but his death added stakes and was well done. The only benefit to keeping him around would be as a check on Wanda going crazy.

Crossbones - Nah. 2 movies with him was fine.

Striker - Nah. This villain in modern times is really cheesy. Maybe if they would have had him in the past picking up Hydra after Red Skull died it could have worked.

Ultron - Yes yes one of the best Avengers villains. The thing is that he could have uploaded his consciousness somewhere so he may not be dead.



URCOMMENTSUCKS
URCOMMENTSUCKS - 11/28/2023, 3:09 PM
@mountainman - The Warriors Three sure as all hell died too early because they deserved to stay until the climax and have interaction with Thor. Also, Thor 2 was not their best depiction. Thor 1 was. They were actually important to the plot and had more than one action scene that wasn't even connected to the main story.
mountainman
mountainman - 11/28/2023, 3:23 PM
@URCOMMENTSUCKS - To your first point, I agree. I would have loved to see the Warriors Three and Sif help in that final battle and sacrifice themselves when Asgard fell. They were only used to show how powerful Hela was. I was more focused on the movie they died in, but yeah they should have made the climax. Hela could have defeated them but they escape or survive until the final battle.

I guess it’s been a while since I’ve seen Thor. I just remember Fandral having a good role in that second one. The first one did have that cool Frost Giant scene at the beginning, but I was always underwhelmed by that Destroyer battle at the end.
Blastaar
Blastaar - 11/28/2023, 5:33 PM
@mountainman - Ultron not taking over all technology, A.I, and cloud tech in the world was a HUGE missed opportunity, and a bio-tech virus are all VERY scary premises.

Wakanda Forever should've been a Disney Plus series that gave some time to mourn Chadwick, introduce new characters(Not Namor yet), then segue into BP2, which should've/could've been released Feb 2024.

The Warriors Three was THE perfect way for Marvel to delve into LOTR aspect and explore the nine realms.

Quicksilver should've been perceived as dead. It should've/could've been revealed that he had accelerated healing somewhat similar to Wolverine where it could've been that he was in a coma/stasis and healing. Quicksilver is important for more stories and the Inhumans(hopefully brought back RIGHT in the MCU).

I also agree with everything else you said.
mountainman
mountainman - 11/28/2023, 5:43 PM
@Blastaar - All good points.

Even back in 2015, the world was so connected that it seems impossible that Ultron wouldn’t have infected every server on the planet. I still hold out hope that he’s just been dormant all these years and could plausibly return at any point.

The Black Panther thing is tough. I was mixed on BP2. The mourning for T’Challa (and by extension Chadwick) was beautiful and needed for some people. The surrounding characters are good in that franchise. But the MCU just feels at a loss without T’Challa, especially when he only featured a few times.

The biggest missed opportunity with the Thor movies is not making them Lord of the Rings in Space.

Good Quicksilver idea. I always associated him more with X-Factor and the mutants than the Avengers or Inhumans, but I get that he’s dipped his toes all over. Very interesting character.
Blastaar
Blastaar - 11/28/2023, 6:01 PM
@mountainman - Agreed.

In terms of Chadwick Boseman, they just needed time, in would've been inappropriate to recast so soon, but now into 2023 would've been fine.

Having Shuri beat Namor creates all sorts of problems.
Matchesz
Matchesz - 11/28/2023, 1:16 PM
Cmon guys he obv referring to how they didnt recast T’Challa. If you notice in the MCU none of the funny characters ever really die, and the warriors three were hardly characters before they died.. like you’re punished for not cracking jokes but imagine the impact if they killed off Katy or Korg (forreal) or even the asian agent character from antman
marvel72
marvel72 - 11/28/2023, 1:22 PM
T'Challa and Baron Von Strucker most definitely plus Ultron could return.
MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 11/28/2023, 1:25 PM
The ones that upset me the most are Ultron, Odin and to some extent the Red Skull. Yea he was "back in IW and Endgame" which was cool but still think he was wasted.

Some of these i can go either way but those 3 really upset me
PC04
PC04 - 11/28/2023, 2:15 PM
Ultron absolutely needs to return.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 11/28/2023, 2:25 PM
Baron Strucker and Arnim Zola were definitely killed off too quickly.

I really wanted to see Zola in his big robot body. I suppose they could always bring him back easily enough, but I doubt they will.

T'Challa should have been recast, along with Iron Man and Captain America. The characters should always be bigger than the actors playing them. But I do understand the decision with T'Challa, at least. It was a tough decision with no real "right" answer, I don't think.
mpk1988
mpk1988 - 11/28/2023, 2:26 PM
[frick] with the Jane Foster nonsense - I gave it a chance again only to be let down even more. One of the biggest drawbacks of Thor in the MCU has been Jane Foster - a pointless uncharismatic character with whom Hemsworth has less than zero chemistry. Hell, he had more chemistry with that wooden twilight girl in a movie and also with Tessa in Ragnarok.
WhatIfRickJames
WhatIfRickJames - 11/28/2023, 3:02 PM
Half of these people aren't even dead. Plus - multiverse.

Jane Foster is coming the [frick] back, Valhalla style

Kang ain't dead - multiverse bro

Ultron - multiversssssse also What If

Ikaris - regenerates in a Celestial spaceship foo

Wanda no ded, she will wish QS back
bcom
bcom - 11/28/2023, 3:20 PM
Josh does know that the Kang that died in Quantumania was just a variant and not THE Kang, right?

Also, his final sentence in T'Challa's blurb... "At this stage, it is what it is, but a recast is a must if and when this franchise is rebooted."... If and when the franchise is rebooted? The MCU will never be rebooted, as Kevin Feige has said many times in the past, there's no 'do overs', the MCU will just continue to evolve. Given that we were introduced to T'Challa's son at the end of Wakanda Forever, who was also named T'Challa, it's likely they'll introduce him as the new Black Panther at some stage.
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