8 MCU Heroes More Important For Secret Wars Than The Kang Dynasty

Several heroes need to come back for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, but in the case of some, it’s actually more important that they appear in Avengers: Secret Wars. Releasing in back-to-back years, the two Phase 6 movies will serve as the fifth and sixth installments in the MCU’s Avengers series. Casts haven’t been confirmed for either movie, but it’s all but guaranteed that each will boast a multitude of returning MCU characters.

Plot details remain under wraps, but the titles of the films (and where they fit into the Multiverse Saga) provide clues as to what to expect from both stories. As revealed by Ant-Man and the Wasp: Qauntumania’s post-credits scene, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty will pit Earth’s Mightiest Heroes against the Council of Kangs. As for Secret Wars, it’ll likely take heavy inspiration from the 1980s crossover event of the same name. For the two team-ups, Marvel is expected to bring back surviving fan favorites from the Infinity Saga, as well as a few of the MCU’s more recent additions. Interestingly, some may not be needed for The Kang Dynasty, but should most definitely make appearances in Secret Wars.

8 Doctor Strange

One character who could easily skip Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange. The former Sorcerer Supreme is a prominent MCU hero and someone the Avengers could certainly use on their side in The Kang Dynasty, but they’ll need him even more in Secret Wars. As a character who just shared a multiverse adventure in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, he’s in a good position to contribute to the team’s efforts. With Secret Wars gearing up to be the finale of the Multiverse Saga, it’s sure to deal heavily with other realities and dimensions, making Doctor Strange well-suited for inclusion.

7 Fantastic Four

Not unlike the approach Marvel took to its adaptation of The Infinity Gauntlet, Marvel is guaranteed to deviate from the Secret Wars comics in at least some ways when it brings the story to life. However, one aspect that should go unchanged is the involvement of the Fantastic Four. Marvel’s First Family is crucial to the comic’s plot, with their archenemy ultimately beating Kang and becoming the main villain of the saga. Regardless of whether the MCU’s Doctor Doom gets the same role, the Fantastic Four deserve to be in Secret Wars as heroes who join forces with the Avengers against a common opponent.

6 Blade

Though recent comics have aligned Blade with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Marvel’s vampire hunter hardly feels like a top candidate for a role in an Avengers film. That said, the comic connotations attached to Secret Wars suggest it’ll be more of a wide-scale crossover than a true Avengers story, as opposed to The Kang Dynasty, which is more of a traditional Avengers tale. The comic version of Secret Wars united heroes from multiple corners of the Marvel Universe. Secret Wars can lean in the same direction by using Blade, who can represent the supernatural side of the MCU.

5 Deadpool

After Deadpool 3, the Merc with a Mouth will be a part of Marvel Studios’ world. Presumably through the multiverse, Ryan Reynolds’ character will make his entry into the MCU. His first MCU adventure, which will somehow incorporate Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and other Deadpool characters, should set the stage for Wade Wilson to cross paths with established MCU heroes and villains. Similar to the situation with Blade, Deadpool wouldn’t fit seamlessly into an adaption of The Kang Dynasty, but feels like an appropriate choice for Secret Wars which memorably included the Avengers, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four. Deadpool may be the closest Secret Wars will get to proper representation for the X-Men, who may not join the MCU until Phase 7.

4 Black Knight

As a classic member of the Avengers and a former leader of the team, Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman should be in consideration for roles in both of Phase 6’s crossover movies. But arguably the movie that makes the most sense for him is Secret Wars, especially when looking at the hero’s multiversal connections. Dane’s biggest story in Marvel Comics was the Avengers’ battle with the Gatherers, a supervillain team from an alternate universe. The group was led by their world’s Black Knight, who had turned into the pure evil villain known as Proctor. Through him, Dane caught a glimpse of what he could become if he made the wrong choices.

By putting Dane in Secret Wars, the MCU can use the multiverse to give its own take on Black Knight’s Gatherers arc. As evidenced by his ability to guide the Avengers through this challenging period in their history, the MCU’s Black Knight has the potential to be a capable team leader in Secret Wars. That could even be necessary, particularly if the events in The Kang Dynasty force the Avengers to look to new leadership ahead of the sixth movie.

3 Scarlet Witch

Wanda Maximoff is supposedly dead after Doctor Strange 2, but based on the comic character’s tendency to return from certain death on multiple occasions, there’s a strong likelihood the MCU isn’t done with her. Scarlet Witch has been in the past three Avengers movies and could be a boon to The Kang Dynasty as well, but given her recent importance, it’s worth wondering if it would be better for Scarlet Witch to take an extended break from the MCU.

Allowing her to sit out The Kang Dynasty and come back for Secret Wars can add hype to her return. Not only that, but Scarlet Witch showing up in the movie would speak to the stakes of the film. With her current power level, only the greatest of threats would be capable of standing up against her now.

2 Adam Warlock

Played by Will Poulter, Adam Warlock finally joined the MCU in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3. Considering that he was the main protagonist of the story Infinity War and Endgame were based on, Warlock’s arrival has come a bit late in the MCU timeline. But that doesn’t mean the window for him to be relevant has closed completely; he’s obviously a force to be reckoned with, meaning that he can be a huge difference-maker if he returns in Phase 6. If he appears in an epic, multiversal crossover like Secret Wars, Warlock can be the unifying figure he was in the Infinity Gauntlet comic but never had a chance to be in the MCU.

1 Spider-Man

One of the promises that comes with Avengers: Secret Wars’ title relates directly to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. In Marvel Comics, it was in Secret Wars that Peter Parker obtained the symbiote, thus setting up the debut of Venom and a long list of important Spider-Man stories. Marvel seemingly set this arc in motion by having Tom Hardy’s Venom unknowingly leave a portion of his symbiote behind on Earth-616 during Phase 4. Avengers: Secret Wars can pay off this tease and give Spider-Man his classic black suit, while also laying the ground for the MCU to have its own Venom in the process.