Summary
- Marvel Television’s Defenders Saga may now be canon to the MCU, suggesting that heroes such as Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist may now officially be in the MCU.
- Other Marvel Television heroes including Quake, Mack and Yo Yo from Agents of SHIELD could bring fresh and exciting stories to the MCU.
- Cloak and Dagger, the Runaways, and the Helstrom siblings have potential to join the MCU and contribute to future storylines.
While some heroes from Marvel Television’s shows may have been made canon to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are many others whose fates haven’t been confirmed. Long before Marvel Studios began to produce its own long-form TV shows for Disney+, set directly in the world of the MCU, Marvel Television developed a selection of series based on Marvel Comics’ stories. When Marvel Television was absorbed by Marvel Studios, the canon status of the Marvel Television shows was disputed, but the tide may be changing, and some of these series have recently been integrated into the MCU’s official timeline on Disney+.
In conjunction with the January 2024 release of Marvel Spotlight series Echo, Marvel Studios integrated Marvel Television’s Defenders Saga into the MCU’s official timeline. While there has been no official comment on the matter, this implies that Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders and The Punisher may now be canon to the MCU. This may have made some notable superheroes canon, too, but there are several heroes from Marvel Television’s shows who still aren’t considered canon. These shows range from Agents of SHIELD to Helstrom, and could bring some crucial heroes into the world of the MCU.
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10 Daisy Johnson’s Quake Could Officially Bring Inhumans Into The MCU
Agents Of SHIELD (2013-2020)
Chloe Bennet debuted as Skye in Agents of SHIELD season 1, though she went through many transformations in Marvel Television’s first series, eventually adopting the name Daisy Johnson and operating as the Inhuman Quake. Inhumans played a huge role in Agents of SHIELD, with Daisy acting as the audience’s vehicle during the introduction of this exciting species, and the same can be done in the MCU’s future. The Inhuman King Black Bolt was seen in an alternate reality in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but the MCU’s official Inhumans could debut if Quake becomes canon to the MCU.
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9 Director Alphonso “Mack” Mackenzie Can Reinvent SHIELD In The MCU
Agents Of SHIELD (2014-2020)
While Henry Simmons’ Alphonso “Mack” Mackenzie doesn’t have any superhuman powers to speak of, he would certainly be a worthy hero to bring into the MCU’s official continuity. By the end of Agents of SHIELD season 7, Mack became the new Director of SHIELD, so his integration into the MCU would be the perfect way to bring the organization back. SHIELD hasn’t been seen in the MCU since it was teased in Avengers: Age of Ultron, but the organization has since been replaced with SWORD and SABER. Bringing Mack back into the MCU could revive SHIELD under his powerful leadership.
8 Elena Rodriquez’s Yo Yo Is A Powerful Figure In Agents Of SHEILD’s New Organization
Agents Of SHIELD (2016-2020)
While Mack may be the new Director of SHIELD, Elena Rodriguez’s Yo Yo is a high-ranking figure in the new organization. Natalia Cordova-Buckley’s Yo Yo debuted in Agents of SHIELD season 3, and expanded the mythos of Inhumans, as well as developing Marvel Television’s Secret Warriors team, which would be an excellent addition to the MCU. If Quake and other Inhumans are brought into the MCU’s canon, Yo Yo should also return. However, Cordova-Buckley recently spoke to Comicbookmovie.com and suggested she wouldn’t return as Yo Yo, noting that her five years as a superhero was “enough for [her].”
7 Bobbi Morse’s Mockingbird Could Confuse The MCU’s Hawkeye Reveal
Agents Of SHIELD (2014-2016)
2021’s Hawkeye revealed that Clint Barton’s wife, Laura, had previously worked for SHIELD as Agent 19, a.k.a. Mockingbird, but in Agents of SHIELD, this role was assumed by Adrianne Palicki’s Bobbi Morse. Morse proved herself one of the most formidable members of Phil Coulson’s team, acting as Agents of SHIELD’s answer to Natasha Romanoff’s Black Widow, but since she departed the series in season 3, it’s likely she won’t return in the MCU’s future. Nevertheless, Linda Cardellini’s Laura Barton can be developed as Agent 19 in the MCU, though it would still be great to see Palicki reprise her role.
6 Ghost Rider Has Been Rumored For The MCU
Agents Of SHIELD (2016-2020)
In recent years, Ghost Rider has been heavily rumored to be coming to the MCU, though speculation suggests this may be the Johnny Blaze version of the antihero. If this is the case, it’s possible that Gabriel Luna could return as Robbie Reyes’ version of Ghost Rider from Agents of SHIELD, especially since he was a popular iteration of the character. While the likes of Norman Reedus, Ryan Gosling and Keanu Reeves have been rumored to be portraying the MCU’s Ghost Rider, they could be seen alongside Luna’s Ghost Rider if Agents of SHIELD is confirmed to be MCU canon.
Speculation that Ghost Rider will be coming to the MCU has only risen with the introduction of other members of Marvel Comics’ Midnight Sons team, such as Werewolf by Night, Man-Thing, Moon Knight and Blade.
5 Deathlok In MCU Canon Would Introduce A Powerful New Hero
Agents Of SHIELD (2013-2018)
Although originally depicted as a villain, J. August Richards’ Mike Peterson, a.k.a. Deathlok, eventually took his rightful place as a powerful ally in Agents of SHIELD. This opens the door for him to return in the MCU’s future, particularly with Marvel Studios putting more focus on advanced technology in projects such as Ironheart and Armor Wars. Several characters have adopted the Deathlok moniker in Marvel Comics, including Jemma Simmons, so it’s possible that a new iteration of the villain-turned-hero could be introduced to the MCU, though it would be great to see Richards return as Mike Peterson’s Deathlok.
4 Cloak & Dagger Have Connections To Prominent MCU Heroes In Marvel Comics
Cloak & Dagger (2018-2019)
Aubrey Joseph’s Tyrone Johnson and Olivia Holt’s Tandy Bowen may not have been the most popular heroes in a Marvel Television series, but they would make great additions to the MCU as Cloak and Dagger, a superpowered duo. In Marvel Comics, Cloak and Dagger have connections to the likes of Spider-Man, Doctor Strange and the X-Men, but are also prominent street-level heroes who have dealt with villains as powerful as Wilson Fisk’s Kingpin. With Marvel Studios expanding the street-level corner of the MCU, Cloak and Dagger’s official integration into MCU canon may be imminent.
Marvel Television’s Cloak & Dagger only ran for two seasons between June 2018 and May 2019 before being canceled.
3 The Runaways Could Team Up With The MCU’s Young Avengers
Runaways (2017-2019)
Marvel Television’s Runaways was a much more popular series, and with more attention being given to Marvel Studios’ younger superheroes, now may be the perfect time to bring these six young heroes back. Comprising Alex Wilder, Nico Minoru, Karolina Dean, Gertrude Yorkes, Chase Stein and Molly Hayes Hernandez, the Runaways would make a great addition to the MCU, particularly with a potential Young Avengers project on the horizon. After battling powerful Dark Dimension sorceress Morgan le Fay, the fate of the Runaways was unclear after season 3, so their integration into the MCU could answer some burning questions.
2 Marvel Studios Could Develop A Much Stronger Inhumans Project
Inhumans (2017)
Marvel Studios’ plans for an Inhumans movie in the MCU eventually transformed into Marvel Television’s Inhumans series, but this unfortunately became a tragic failure for the franchise. Inhumans’ major flop means that Marvel Studios will likely avoid integrating the series into the MCU’s official timeline, but certain characters and actors can be reinvented in the MCU, bringing a much more impactful and meaningful Inhuman-centric storyline into live-action. Anson Mount already reprised his role of Black Bolt in the MCU, though Inhumans haven’t been seen in the franchise’s main continuity, but this could soon change.
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1 Daimon & Ana Helstrom’s MCU Debuts Would Support Major Villain Rumors
Helstrom (2020)
Helstrom was perhaps the most unorthodox Marvel Television series, as the only project released under the Adventure into Fear banner, focusing on Daimon and Ana Helstrom, the superpowered children of a serial killer. Helstrom was a dark series, so may benefit from being reinvented as a Marvel Spotlight series, bringing Tom Austen and Sydney Lemmon’s Helstrom siblings into the MCU’s continuity. The Helstrom siblings being made MCU canon could give weight to rumors of the demon Mephisto’s debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, though the poor reception to the series perhaps means Marvel Studios may avoid referencing it at all.
