Even in a franchise as big as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there's no way every character can be given the attention they need or deserve. The trio that made up the Warriors Three are perfect examples of heroes who never quite got their due, but at least their story was given an ending (albeit an unsatisfying one).
They should count themselves lucky, though, because some characters were totally overlooked after their first appearances; in fact, we'd go so far as to say they were forgotten. Given the sprawling nature of this shared world, there's every chance they'll eventually be revised - who ever expected to see Darcy again? - but as we write this, they remain M.I.A.
These heroes, villains, and supporting players all had heaps of potential in the MCU. None of them have confirmed projects unlike, say, Sam Wilson/Captain America, who we last saw nearly three years ago but will eventually make a comeback in 2025 in What If...? season 3 and Captain America: Brave New World.
To take a look at these poor forgotten heroes and villains, simply click the "Next" button below...
9. Moon Knight
Moon Knight was a little chaotic (fitting given its lead) but there was a lot to love about the Disney+ series. Oscar Isaac was clear from the start that he'd only signed up for those six episodes but the fact we still have no clue what the future holds in store for the unhinged hero is unforgivable.
Why Marvel Studios didn't find a way to tie Moon Knight's story into Kang Variant Rama-Tut is hard to say and a missed trick which has lessened his importance to the wider MCU.
Earlier this week, a rumour surfaced suggesting Moon Knight might factor into Marvel Zombies...but it won't be Marc Spector beneath the mask.
With any luck, the Fist of Khonshu will be a major player in the next Avengers movies and we'll finally get to learn what the deal was with Jake Lockley. Still, we can't look past Isaac not getting a second season of Moon Knight to continue exploring the character/s.
8. Nova Prime
Convincing Glenn Close to join the MCU proved to be a big win for filmmaker James Gunn when he cast Guardians of the Galaxy for Marvel Studios.
Her role as Nova Prime was minor, but still crucial to how the story played out. Richard Rider was M.I.A., but the existence of the Nova Corps proved to be more than enough to leave fans chomping at the bit for their MCU future.
Unfortunately, Thanos decimated them off-camera in Avengers: Infinity War, so we can only assume Nova Prime was among the fallen. Marvel Studios has never bothered to address what became of the interplanetary police force, revisiting them only in a recent episode of What If...?
With a Nova project rumoured to be in the works, though, answers may finally be on the horizon.
7. Aaron Davis
Atlanta star Donald Glover is one of the biggest talents working today, and even those who quickly forgot about Solo: A Star Wars Story agreed that his take on Lando Calrissian was a highlight.
Bringing the actor into the MCU was huge, but as Aaron Davis (Miles Morales' uncle, and the vigilante known as Prowler), he brought surprisingly little to the table in Spider-Man: Homecoming. A funny exchange with the inexperienced wall-crawler followed, as did a throwaway mention of Aaron's nephew.
What felt like a perfect way to introduce Prowler and/or Miles in the sequel was completely overlooked, which was no great surprise when Peter Parker was heading overseas. On the plus side, we did get to see Glover suited up as the anti-hero in last year's Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Now, Marvel Studios has the perfect opportunity to bring him into the MCU as a fully realised Prowler in Spider-Man 4.
6. Tiamut
Eternals may have been Marvel Studios' first "Rotten" movie according to critics but the way it's been forgotten since makes little to no sense.
It's been nearly three years since that massive cliffhanger ending and we're still no closer to learning what became of these immortal heroes or even Dane Whitman (who has reportedly been cut from Blade) for that matter. However, the biggest omission - literally - is Tiamut the Celestial.
The giant cosmic being is sticking out of the Indian Ocean and, outside of a blink-and-you'd-miss-it nod in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, no one has bothered mentioning that small face. Even Namor never referred to it in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever!
There are rumblings that Tiamut will be the MCU's source of Vibranium in Captain America: Brave New World. Let's keep everything crossed that isn't BS.
5. Dr. Selvig
In the early days of the MCU, Dr. Erik Selvig was a major part of how the stories in this shared world unfolded. He was in Thor, then The Avengers. He was crucial to Thor: The Dark World, too, and even showed up in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Avengers: Endgame confirmed he was among those Thanos snapped out of existence, but that means he eventually came back with everyone else. Only Spider-Man: Far From Home has covered the aftermath of the Blip, so Selvig could return, but as it stands, he's still been M.I.A. for going on nine years.
On the plus side, he made a brief appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder, so at least we know he's still alive!
That wasn't overly satisfying, though, and we'd like to see Selvig once again helping out Earth's Mightiest Heroes. With the Multiverse now in play, that may well happen as soon as the next time they assemble. Here's hoping, anyway.
4. Mitchell Carson
Once a major player in S.H.I.E.L.D., it was later revealed that Mitchell Carson was yet another undercover HYDRA operative. That was why we saw him in Ant-Man attempting to acquire the Yellowjacket armour.
That plan failed, but he made it out of Darren Cross' building alive to fight another day.
He didn't leave completely empty-handed, however, as his briefcase was full of Pym Particles. There's a lot that could be done with those vials, but there's been no sign in the years which have followed that Marvel Studios has any plans to either bring Carson back or reveal what ended up happening to them.
Seeing as Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania's mysterious Benefactor was also never identified, we're optimistic an upcoming project like Ironheart or Captain America: Brave New World will tie these dangling plot threads together.
3. Dr. Cho
With the Chinese box office becoming increasingly important, many film studios in the mid-2010s realised that embracing the Middle Kingdom might increase their chance of success in the country.
Iron Man 3 included scenes specifically shot for China, though many filmgoers there took umbrage with the way they were presented. Despite that, Avengers: Age of Ultron still prominently featured Claudia Kim, an actress who is a big star in that part of the world.
As Dr. Helen Cho, she played a crucial role in how the sequel panned out. Despite being attacked by Ultron, Cho later joined the staff of the New Avengers Facility...and hasn't been seen since.
Bizarrely, she was included in the recent Avengers Tower LEGO set, so we'd like to think that means she'll have a surprise supporting role in a future movie or TV show which perhaps sets the stage for Ultron's return.
2. Rhomann Dey
It's all too easy to forget just how impressive Guardians of the Galaxy's cast was, with John C. Reilly another big name we never expected to see in the MCU.
As Rhomann Dey, he made a lasting impact and added even more heart to a film packed full of it.
Like Nova Prime, he's been missing in action since 2014; having him cross paths with the team again in Vol. 2 would have been easy enough. Unfortunately, we're again left to assume that both he and his family were victims of Thanos when the Mad Titan attacked Xandar.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 came and went without a mention of Dey or the Nova Corps but when the team next assembles, we'd love to see him return. Alternatively, he could factor into that rumoured Nova project.
1. Dr. Leonard Samson
Ty Burrell became a huge star after starring in The Incredible Hulk thanks to Modern Family, but Marvel Studios still failed to bring the actor back to the MCU as Dr. Leonard Samson.
That's a weird decision, and this psychiatrist could have fitted into any number of films. For starters, he could have been the shrink Tony Stark spoke to at the end of Iron Man 3; albeit transformed into his heroic alter ego as Doc Samson. He didn't get enough screentime to justify that, though, especially as his role in the 2008 movie was little more than a cameo.
It seems Marvel never had any serious plans for Samson, with his inclusion being little more than an Easter Egg for fans. It's no wonder, then, that he ended up being forgotten, and it was a missed trick not bringing him back in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
There's always World War Hulk...