2020 is a big year for the MCU as it marks the beginning of their very ambitious Phase 4. Following the massive success of Avengers: Endgame and the closing of that chapter, the MCU will be moving forward with plenty of exciting projects and new heroes being introduced.
The new roster of characters joining the MCU is filled with long-awaited debuts from beloved characters as well as little-known heroes stepping into the spotlight. While it’s all very exciting, there are also a few questionable inclusions. Here are some characters from Phase 4 of the MCU we’re looking forward to and some that have us worried.
Excited: Red Guardian
Black Widow gives Scarlett Johansson’s original Avenger her long-awaited solo film. As exciting as that is, there are also a lot of new characters that are getting attention. One of the most exciting new characters that will be introduced into the film is David Harbour’s Red Guardian.
Based on an obscure character from the comics, this is the Soviet Union’s version of Captain America. Harbour looks like he had a ball with the role of the out of shape former hero getting to relive his glory days. Expect him to be a scene-stealer.
Worried: Taskmaster
While we’re still very much in the dark about the plot of Black Widow, it does appear that the villain of the film is Taskmaster. Originally a Captain America villain, Taskmaster has the unique ability to copy and duplicate the fighting styles of his enemies.
This is a great character from the comics, but it seems like the character’s look is not translating well to the big screen. All the footage we’ve seen of Taskmaster makes the character look overly cartoonish. Also, the movie seems to be hiding the character’s identity which could make for a very obvious reveal.
Excited: Makkari
Eternals features one of the most diverse casts of any Marvel film to date in the story of ancient cosmic beings who living among humans of Earth. While big names like Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, and Salma Hayek are on board, it is newcomer Lauren Ridloff that has us most excited.
Ridloff will be playing Eternals member Makkari in the film who will be the first deaf superhero in a big studio film. This mirrors Ridloff herself who is deaf in real life. Along with what Ridloff’s role will mean for the representation of disabled actors in Hollywood, the character will make for a fascinating hero.
Worried: Ikaris
The Eternal characters are not household names for many people outside the comic book community, but perhaps the most famous of them is Ikaris. Played by Richard Madden in the film, Icarus is an all-powerful character who has been the leader of the Eternals in the past.
It will be exciting to see the talented Madden get to be a big-screen hero, but there’s concern over just what this hero is capable of. In the comics, Ikaris is a Superman-level hero capable of just about anything. The MCU runs the risk of having too many overpowered heroes that might make the stakes less high.
Excited: Shang-Chi
As the MCU grows, it is pushing forward with introducing new heroes that might be unknown to the mainstream. Among these new characters is Shang-Chi who will be the first Asian hero to headline a solo film in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. In the comics, Shang-Chi is considered to be one of the best fighters in the Marvel universe.
The character will be played by Korean-Canadian actor Simu Liu. Though unknown to most audiences, Liu has shown his amazing sense of humor and passion for the role through social media and looks to be in great shape to take on the warrior role in the culturally important film.
Worried: The Mandarin
As the title suggests, Shang-Chi’s solo film will reintroduce the Ten Rings into the MCU as well as see the return of the leader of the nefarious organization, The Mandarin. After we got the fake Mandarin in Iron Man 3, this promises to be a true version of the classic villain, played by Tony Leung.
It’s bold of the MCU to follow through with the “real Mandarin” story. It has the potential of being a lot of fun or a total disaster. The Mandarin from the comics is a problematic character, to begin with. Add in all the twists and secret identities and there’s a lot that could go wrong.
Excited: Ms. Marvel
Along with all the exciting movies that are coming out as part of Phase 4, there are also a ton of Disney+ shows to look forward to. One that has a lot of fans excited is Ms. Marvel which will focus on Kamala Kahn, a young Muslim girl who takes after her hero, Captain Marvel, to become a superhero herself.
Once again, the MCU gets a chance to include real diversity and representation in their projects along with introducing amazing characters. Kamala has that same young enthusiastic energy that makes Peter Parker such a lovable hero. It will be great to follow her adventures as she discovers her hero’s path.
Worried: Moon Knight
Moon Knight is a character that fans have been waiting to see in live-action form for a very long time. The character is also one of the most complex in Marvel’s history as he is a crime-fighting billionaire who suffers from multiple personality disorder. However, the character’s background presents challenges for his Disney+ show.
While it will be exciting to see a superhero struggle with mental health issues, the show will need to handle it in a respectful way that doesn’t feel exploitative. Also, there is the risk that Moon Knight feels a bit too much like Batman without distinguishing him enough.
Excited: She-Hulk
Yet another Disney+ show that will be introducing a new hero is She-Hulk. As her title might lead you to assume, She-Hulk is a hero who gets her powers due to a blood transfusion from Bruce Banner. Though she doesn’t grow to the size of Hulk, she does turn green and has immense strength.
The character might sound like a cheap and female version of a popular hero, but She-Hulk has grown into a complex and interesting character in her own right over the years. Her alter-ego, Jennifer Walters, is an accomplished lawyer which will no doubt be at the center of the series, making it the MCU’s first legal drama.
Worried: Black Knight
Along with introducing all of the Eternals characters, that movie will also be bringing another obscure hero into the MCU. Dane Whitman will appear in the movie played by Kit Harrington who will reportedly go on to become Black Knight in future movies.
The character is a member of a long line of heroes to wield a powerful sword that he uses to fight evil. It will be interesting to see how well the medieval elements mix into the MCU. Also, with Harrington taking the role, it could end up feeling like a Game of Thrones parody.
