Avengers: Infinity War only hit theaters a few weeks ago, but hey, it’s never too early to look to the future. Let’s face it, whether you like it or not, superhero movies are now catered to mainstream moviegoers. You no longer need to be a self-proclaimed super-fan or a walking encyclopedia of comic book knowledge to enjoy the films that Marvel keeps producing. As Phase Three closes out with next year’s Avengers 4, so will the focus on many of the current stars in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). With the upcoming phase, the arrival of new faces is inevitable.
Marvel’s own boss, Kevin Feige, is trying remained tight-lipped regarding the specifics of the long-term schedule, but playing coy doesn’t mean a complete lack of hints. The future of the MCU is very bright, and they now have the opportunity to build something new after the clean slate left by Avengers 4. With the Disney/Fox deal still in play (if Comcast doesn’t throw a wrench in the plans), we’ll probably see members of the X-Men make their way into the MCU in the near future.
The diversity within the MCU has been a debate for quite some time. If Black Panther proved anything, it’s that the world is ready for superheroes that aren’t all predominantly white—or male, for that matter. The fact that it took Marvel over a decade to give a female superhero a solo film is disconcerting, but better late than never, right? There is a ton of kickass women within Marvel comics that would make awesome additions to the MCU. Even if they don’t all get solo movies, mixing in more female heroes will keep the MCU trending in the right direction.
Here are some women superheroes we would love to see make their way into the MCU (in no particular order):
1. She-Hulk
The Avengers enjoy bragging that they have a Hulk, but what if the MCU had two Hulks? The comic book character of Jennifer Walters made her first appearance as She-Hulk back in 1980. After receiving a blood transfusion from her cousin, Bruce Banner, Walters gained her own Hulk-like side effects, albeit much less severe than Bruce. Unlike her cousin, She-Hulk has been known to control her emotions and hang on to her personality. Walters is also a top-notch lawyer, so she can clean up criminals in the courtroom while also battling otherworldly threats.
Adding She-Hulk into the MCU might be a bit complicated, since she falls under the Hulk franchise, for which Universal has the distribution rights. For now, she likely wouldn’t be able to appear in a standalone film, but Marvel could use She-Hulk in a similar fashion to how they handle Bruce Banner, appearing in non-Hulk movies. Maybe fans will get their wish and see She-Hulk as part of an A-Force film.
2. Spectrum
When it comes to interesting comic book backgrounds, look no further than Monica Rambeau. A native of New Orleans, Rambeau became exposed to a mysterious energy that left her with the ability to generate and manipulate energy. Most notably, she can travel at the speed of light. At one point, Rambeau served as the leader of the Avengers, where she originally took on the name of Captain Marvel. Over time, she also took on the alias of Photon and Pulsar, before more recently using Spectrum.
Throughout her history, she has teamed up with notable MCU characters such as Captain America, the Wasp, and Black Panther. She also has a history with Carol Danvers, who took over her Captain Marvel mantle. Actress Lashana Lynch was recently cast in Captain Marvel and remains in an unspecified role. Many are speculating that the mysterious character will be that of Monica Rambeau. Could she be an important ally to Carol Danvers and the future of the MCU? We can only hope.
3. Sersi
Kevin Feige’s latest announcement all but confirms our next superheroine on our list will make it to the big screen. According to Feige, Marvel is developing a film based on the Eternals, with the character of Sersi at the forefront. The Eternals are an advanced race of humans created by the Celestials. Not only can they manipulate energy, but they are immortal, due to their regeneration abilities. The Celestials already have a presence in the MCU, so it’s no surprise that studio wants to investigate more cosmic beings within the universe.
As for Sersi, she serves as a member of the Eternals’ fourth generation. She retains all of the badass abilities that come with being an Eternal, such as superhuman strength, atomic manipulation, flight, and immortality, but instead of living in the cosmos, Sersi feels the need to live among humans. While doing so, she eventually encounters members of the Avengers, before joining them. Her unique abilities and connection to the deeper side of the universe could make for an epic MCU adventure.
4. Tigra
The character of Greer Grant might be one of the lesser known on the list, but hear us out. Grant once went on a crime-fighting spree as “The Cat,” where she wore feline-inspired costumes. Her history gets a little intricate after she was mutated by a mix of science and magic that gave her tiger-like abilities. After the transformation, her physical appearance changed to resemble more of a cat-like look, including striped fur, claws, and a tail. And let’s not forget the enhanced senses, superhuman strength, speed, and agility.
If the MCU took a chance on Tigra, they’d have the opportunity to rewrite her background in any way they wanted. She’s had run-ins with more prominently known members of the Marvel universe, so there are many paths that could be explored. It would certainly be fun to see an actress take on the role of a tiger-inspired superheroine. Kristen Wiig is portraying the villain Cheetah in the Wonder Woman sequel, so why not one-up the DCEU and give the MCU another cat?
5. Darkstar
If the Black Widow movie truly comes to fruition, it would be exciting to see Natasha with fellow female allies. Who better than Laynia Petrovna, also known as the mutant Darkstar? Similar to Tigra’s situation, the MCU can take the basis of the character and go in any direction they wish for an on-screen adaption. The coolest aspect of Darkstar is her ability to tap into the Darkforce dimension, which gives her the power of creating and manipulating solid matter out of the Darkforce, teleportation, and flight. Of course, being around Black Widow meant she became highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat.
The concrete plans for Black Widow’s standalone film have yet to take shape, at least publicly. The possibility of including a mutant like Darkstar might not be plausible, depending on the Disney/Fox deal, but if Black Widow remains a big player in the MCU through Phase Four, it is quite possible that more of her story will be dredged out. Both Black Widow and Darkstar were once members of The Champions in the ‘70s, and it could be something the MCU would want to play with on-screen.
6. Firebird
If Marvel were to explore an obscure superhero team as the focus of a movie, I would love to see a live-action adaption of the Rangers. The team consists of western heroes and includes some of the most unique superheroes in the Marvel canon. The team members include Phantom Rider, Red Wolf, Shooting Star, Living Lightning, Texas Twister, and of course, Firebird. Bonita Juarez portrays Firebird and remains one of the most notable Latina superheroes.
While living in New Mexico, Juarez came in contact with a radioactive meteorite and the exposure altered her DNA. After the encounter, she gained the powers of pyrokinesis and taking the form of a bird in flight. Her immunity to radiation and poison also makes her a suitable candidate in battling some of the fiercest villains on the planet.
7. Ms. Marvel
Last but not least, we have the young Kamala Khan, better known as Ms. Marvel. She only just made her appearance in Marvel comics in 2013, but the character has quickly won over the hearts of readers. For those who aren’t familiar, Khan is a Pakistani American teenager with shapeshifting abilities. Even more impressive is that she is the first Muslim superhero to headline her own comic book series. Not only does Khan deal with the issues of being a superhero, but her arc tackles struggles regarding her family life and religious duties.
The Ms. Marvel series has been nominated for a number of awards in its short existence, so there’s no doubt that Marvel has much bigger plans for the young heroine. Just this week, Kevin Feige announced that there are plans to introduce Kamala Khan into the MCU, after Captain Marvel makes her debut. That makes sense considering Khan chose her Ms. Marvel name because she idolizes Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers. It would be amazing to see Carol Danvers serve as some sort of mentor to the young teen, as her future is so bright, and if Peter Parker and Shuri have proved, there’s always room for more witty teens in the MCU.
Which female superheroes would you like to see in the MCU?
(images: Marvel Comics)
Kara Hedash is a freelance entertainment writer who specializes in covering movies, TV shows, and pop culture. She enjoys writing about how entertainment affects and mirrors today’s culture. Her recent work can be found on Movie Pilot, Hidden Remote, AMC Scene, and Reel Honey. When she’s not fangirling about something on Twitter (@KaraHedash), she’s probably trying to prevent her DVR from becoming 100% full.
Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site!
—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—
Published: May 24, 2018 01:10 pm