The Marvel Cinematic Universe has killed quite a few villains who should have gotten more to do, and the next Avengers movies offer the perfect opportunity for some of them to return in a major way. One of the main criticisms the MCU has dealt with during the Multiverse Saga is the fact that there has been no new Avengers movie from Marvel Studios since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. However, that will soon change with two new entries.

2026’s Avengers: Doomsday will see the debut of a new team of heroes, as well as establish Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. A year later, Avengers: Secret Wars‘ story will put an end to the Multiverse Saga. Through the concepts of the multiverse and time travel, which the MCU has explored in the past, the next two Avengers movies can bring back some deceased villains in interesting ways, be it as foes again or as new allies to the Avengers.

10. Thanos

The Infinity Saga’s Main Villain Can Prop Up Doctor Doom’s Story

Starting the list is Thanos, which is a must-have if dead villains are coming back. The Mad Titan is the MCU’s most iconic villain so far, being the main threat of the Infinity Saga. Time travel should not be used to have Thanos return, as it already played out in Avengers: Endgame. However, the multiverse offers a few interesting possibilities for how Thanos could be back.

Thanos actor Josh Brolin has teased that the character could come back to the MCU in the near future.

In the Secret Wars comics, Doctor Doom becomes all-powerful and rips Thanos’ spine out of his body, killing him. That anticipated moment could be recreated in Avengers: Secret Wars through the use of a multiverse variant. Thanos also has the potential to play a major role again. The King Thanos variant of the character — the main villain of a planned Avengers Campus attraction — could be assisting Doctor Doom in his quest.

9. Kang The Conqueror

The Original Main Villain Of The Multiverse Saga Might Not Be Done

Kang the Conqueror is another dead villain who has to return in at least one of the next two Avengers movies. Before Jonathan Majors was fired by Marvel, Kang and his variants were supposed to serve as the main threat Earth’s Mightiest Heroes would have to deal with in the upcoming Avengers movies. Now, their future is up in the air, with RDJ’s Doctor Doom taking Kang’s place.

Kang’s return is easier than other characters on the list, in a way. Marvel could simply recast Majors with multiple actors as the Kang variants. Then, Downey’s Doctor Doom could wipe out the Council of Kangs to start Avengers: Doomsday. Similar to Thanos’ first scene in Avengers: Infinity War, this would set up Doom’s power. Kang the Conqueror can also be revealed to be alive and now working for Doom.

8. Cassandra Nova

An X-Men Family Reunion Needs To Happen

Cassandra Nov was the most recent main villain to be added to the MCU. Emma Corrin’s Marvel character is no other than Charles Xavier’s twin sister. Her powers and persona made her quite a frightening villain in Deadpool & Wolverine. However, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s Marvel heroes managed to defeat Cassandra Nova in the end, with the character dying. A one-off is not nearly enough for the villain.

With Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige teasing that familiar X-Men will show up in the next few MCU movies before Marvel’s X-Men reboot film, Cassandra could return. The next Avengers movies have the chance of putting her opposite her brother on the big screen. Cassandra would be unlikely to play ball with Doctor Doom, but the character’s experience ruling the Void could make her an unpredictable figure in Battleworld.

7. MODOK

Marvel Studios Needs To Redeem The Villain After A Silly Debut

MODOK is a villain from the comics that the MCU did not make the most of. Instead of being a frightening character, MODOK was played for laughs in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Marvel Studios also changed his origins, with Yellowjacket turning into MODOK in the MCU instead of AIM scientist George Tarleton. There are a couple of ways for how Marvel could bring back MODOK.

The character can either return as a villain or an ally to the Avengers. When he died in the MCU, MODOK hilariously asked Scott Lang if he was an Avenger. The MCU could pay off that moment with a variant of the character played by Corey Stoll finally being part of the Avengers as they fight Doctor Doom. Alternatively, a comic book-accurate MODOK could be a vicious villain helping Doctor Doom, changing his silly image in the MCU.

6. Gorr The God Butcher

The Avengers Movies Can Do Right By A Huge Superhero Star

Christian Bale’s work as Batman in director Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed The Dark Knight trilogy cemented him as one of the best stars in superhero cinema. His MCU casting was met with a lot of excitement, and Bale delivered an energetic and nuanced take on Gorr the God Butcher. However, Thor: Love and Thunder was disappointing, not allowing Gorr to fully display his “God Butchering” on the big screen.

Thor and Love could find a good multiverse variant of her father that helps the Avengers against Doctor Doom.

With the multiverse allowing Gorr to return in the next Avengers movies, the character could be both a villain and an ally to the heroes. Right before he died, Bale’s character seemed to understand the wrong in his actions. Thor and Love could find a good multiverse variant of her father that helps the Avengers against Doctor Doom. However, an evil Gorr the God Butcher could be the reason why a couple of heroes die in the Avengers films. Having Christian Bale return for the crossover projects would be a major move from Marvel.

5. Ultron

The Avengers Movie Villain Is Already Set For An MCU Comeback

Ultron is an interesting character. As the main villain of the second Avengers movie, it would make sense for the sentient AI to return in one or both of the next Avengers films. With Robert Downey Jr. playing one of Ultron’s MCU creators, Tony Stark, and now giving life to Doctor Doom, there is a chance that the villain will have an Ultron of his own.

However, the MCU’s original Ultron could also be part of the next Avengers movies, and the character will likely show up beforehand. While no confirmation has come about which version of the villain it is, Ultron will return in Marvel’s upcoming Vision series. James Spader once again voices the character, reprising his Avengers: Age of Ultron role. Ultron’s story in the Disney+ series could set up a new Avengers arc for the villain.

4. Killmonger

Michael B. Jordan Has Multiple MCU Return Options

2018’s Black Panther was a worldwide event, and a lot of the movie’s success comes from Michael B. Jordan’s performance as Killmonger. The character is one of the MCU’s most complex antagonists. His actions, albeit not right, can be understood. Killmonger’s death in his MCU debut cut off the character’s potential, with the villain only returning for a cameo in the afterlife in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

However, Marvel Studios’ animated series What If…? showed how Killmonger can be a threat to the entire MCU. In the show, Killmonger tries to reshape the multiverse in his image through the Infinity Stones. A new Killmonger could either be an ally to Shuri or one of Doctor Doom’s Barons in Battleworld, depending on what path Marvel chooses. However, with T’Challa reportedly being recast, Michael B. Jordan might move on to playing Black Panther.

3. The Mandarin

A More Recent MCU Villain Who Deserves More Time

The Mandarin was done dirty by the MCU in Iron Man 3. However, after several years, things were made right when Tony Leung brought the real Mandarin to life in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The character had a complex backstory and the chance to showcase his impressive fighting skills. Sadly, the villain was killed in his first real MCU appearance.

The Mandarin’s soul was absorbed by the Dweller-in-Darkness, but a multiverse variant of the character could still play a role in the next Avengers movies. Marvel Studios’ What If…? featured an action-packed episode with the Mandarin and Hela that showed how the character could still be part of many exciting interactions with other MCU heroes and villains. Doctor Doom could use a martial arts expert who controls the Ten Rings in his team.

2. Mysterio

The Spider-Man Villain’s Potential Was Recently Shown In Animation

Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio is one of the MCU’s most important villains. He was the one who revealed to the world that Peter Parker was Spider-Man. However, Mysterio was a victim of Marvel’s disappointing trend of killing villains in their first MCU appearance. Mysterio was considered for Spider-Man: No Way Home, which could have brought him back through illusions or the multiverse, but he has yet to return.

Marvel’s What If…? season 3 showed the potential the character has for the next Avengers movies. In the animated series, Mysterio became the ruler of what was left of the Earth after the Celestial seed was birthed and tore the planet apart. Mysterio’s “powers” make for compelling visuals, and with Doctor Doom’s magic, the villain could become a major threat to the Avengers. Marvel would also have two stars from the Spider-Man franchise teaming up in the films.

1. Hela

A Thor Family Reunion Could Be On The Way

The next two Avengers movies have the chance of reuniting Thor, Hela, and Loki in the MCU. At the moment, Hela was seemingly killed by Surtur when he destroyed Asgard, while a variant of Loki became the protector of the multiverse in his own Disney+ series, and Thor continues to serve as a hero and now as the father of Love. The MCU can unite the trio with a new dynamic.

Cate Blanchett’s Hela return would be more interesting if she were not to play a villain, but a good version of the character. This way, the Avengers movies could explore what a healthy version of Thor’s family could look like, as the three aid the Avengers in stopping Doctor Doom and whatever villains may appear. Marvel Studios has many possibilities when it comes to bringing back dead villains in the upcoming Avengers movies, and hopefully, the franchise will make the most of it.