Note: I originally published this on 4/16/18, just before “Infinity War” hit theaters. As the MCU is close to wrapping up this phase of storytelling with “Avengers: Endgame,” I thought it might be worth revisiting this list. Since this was first published, Shang-Chi is confirmed to be turned into a Marvel movie.
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As “Avengers: Infinity War” prepares to destroy the box office by using every single one of its “Marvel Cinematic Universe” stars in one movie, a question remains: Who’s left? I mean, we live in a world where Ant-Man and Groot have mainstream familiarity. Is there anyone left on Marvel’s bench?
Here are seven recommendations (not including characters whose movie rights are currently owned by FOX and may end up in the MCU if the Disney/Fox deal is approved, and assuming Kamala Khan will somehow appear in Captain Marvel):
1. She-Hulk. Lawyer by day. She-Hulk by night. It writes itself.
2. Shang-Chi. Marvel’s main martial artist, and the son of Fu Manchu. A big, knock-down Marvel martial arts movie could be amazing.
3. Sub-Mariner. Namor’s been around since the beginning of Marvel, and complicated movie rights have kept him from appearing in the MCU. One has to assume Namor will come home eventually. When that happens, there’s no shortage of places where he can be used, including the Avengers, a Doctor Strange solo movie, a Hulk solo movie or (if the FOX deal goes through) a Fantastic Four movie.
4. Hercules. Marvel’s version of Hercules is a womanizing, hard-drinking, no-joke, Greek god. Maybe not necessary in a movie world where Thor is super-active, but worth considering for down the road.
5. Son of Satan. It’s been a long time since we saw the “dark” side of Marvel at the movies (“Blade” got the whole modern wave going). Who better to bring us back to darkness than THE LITERAL SON OF THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS?
6. Nova. We met the Nova Corps in “Guardians of the Galaxy.” It’s kinda like DC’s Green Lantern Corps, but not. The singular character Nova’s been around since the 70s, most recently as the alter ego of fifteen-year-old Sam Alexander.
7. Moon Knight. Often referred to as Marvel’s Batman, though there are significant differences between the two. Most notably, Moon Knight is saddled with a profound multiple personality disorder. Conventional wisdom says he’d be perfect for a Netflix series.
