MCU Phase 7: All 9 Major Villains Marvel Could Introduce After Kang

There are several major villains who could replace Kang the Conqueror in the MCU Phase 7. While smaller-scale villains are pitted against MCU heroes during their solo projects, each of Marvel Studios’ Sagas feature a major villain who poses a threat over the course of several years. For the Infinity Saga, Thanos filled this role, with his quest to collect and use the Infinity Stones being teased throughout Phases 1, 2, and 3. After Thanos’ defeat in Avengers: Endgame, Kang the Conqueror and his variants were unleashed on the MCU timeline, informing stories that will come to a head in Phase 6’s Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars.

Even though the Multiverse Saga is in full swing, and MCU’s Kang the Conqueror is setting himself up to be a formidable adversary to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, there are already discussions about which villain will assume the role of “the MCU big bad” after his inevitable defeat. With over eight decades of Marvel Comics source material to draw from, any number of looming supervillains could be introduced to assume the position in MCU’s Phase 7 and beyond. Marvel Studios’ upcoming Multiverse Saga projects could hint at which villains will be featured in the coming years, but it’s possible that Kevin Feige can still surprise Marvel’s audiences.

9 Magus Is Set Up By Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3

First Appeared In Marvel Comics In 1974’s Strange Tales #178

Magus debuted as an evil future version of Adam Warlock, a cosmic being created to be the perfect next step in human evolution. Driven insane by his continued use of the Soul Stone, Magus traveled back through time with his intergalactic religious organization, the Universal Church of Truth, and went head-to-head with his past self. Magus is eventually defeated by Adam, but various other versions have popped up in Marvel Comics over the years, suggesting he could be a major threat for the MCU since Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock joined the franchise’s heroes via becoming a part of the new Guardians of the Galaxy team.

8 Annihilus Can Be Set Up By Marvel’s Fantastic Four Movie

First Appeared In Marvel Comics In 1968’s Fantastic Four Annual #6

Annihilus is a supervillain often associated with the Fantastic Four, owed in part to the fact the character first appeared in Fantastic Four Annual #6. Regularly seen as the ruler of the Negative Zone, Annihilus came into contact with the Fantastic Four after Reed Richards discovered a way into the mysterious realm. In one major 2006 storyline, Annihilus leads the Annihilation Wave on a mission to invade the universe, only to be opposed by many of Marvel heroes. With Fantastic Four impending, it’s possible that Annihilus could be teased as a Phase 6 villain. Building evidence for this possibility is the Ms. Marvel finale, which seemingly set up the Negative Zone as an MCU location.

7 Mephisto Can Finally Make Use Of Years Of MCU Rumors

First Appeared In Marvel Comics 1968’s Silver Surfer #3

As a recurring adversary to Ghost Rider, Spider-Man, and Doctor Strange, among others, Mephisto is one of Marvel’s most infamous villains, and has been involved in some of the biggest storylines during his history. Although he hasn’t always been the primary villain, the demonic entity has often been a nefarious force in the background. Countless rumors have cropped up regarding the MCU villain’s introduction as a result – with the most notable being the major theories he would appear in 2022’s WandaVision. Recent speculation suggests that Sacha Baron Cohen will be portraying Mephisto in an upcoming Special Presentation and potentially in Agatha: Darkhold Diaries, so it would be great to see him become a much larger threat in the MCU’s future.

6 Mister Sinister Can Build On Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3’s Setup

First Appeared In Marvel Comics In 1987’s The Uncanny X-Men #221

Born Nathaniel Essex, Mister Sinister made his first full Marvel Comics appearance in the X-Men comics, introduced as a genetic scientist with an obsession for evolving humanity into the perfect race of superheroes. Sinister is regularly seen battling with the X-Men, taking a special interest in Cyclops and Jean Grey, as he believes their DNA would make the perfect mutant. Fox’s X-Men franchise teased the introduction of Mister Sinister in various projects, but never followed through, so Marvel using the supervillain in Phase 7 along with the MCU’s X-Men would perfectly pay off these years of hints at the villain’s existence.

Notably, Mister Sinister’s backstory in the comics is linked to the High Evolutionary, who served as the villain of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. While the character did not reference Mister Sinister, the fact the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ending leaves him alive – and notes that he had visited Earth before the events of the movie – does suggest this link could be used in the future, as the pair’s shared interest in concerning kinds of genetic experimentation would work wonderfully to establish some new horrors in the future of the MCU.

5 Apocalypse Is Set Up By Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania

First Appeared In Marvel Comics In 1986’s X-Factor #5

Apocalypse is one of the X-Men’s most notorious and recognizable villains, and deserves redemption more than most after Fox’s X-Men: Apocalypse delivered a divisive incarnation of the character. In Marvel Comics, Apocalypse has ties to Mister Sinister, the Celestials, and Kang the Conqueror, as it was Pharaoh Rama-Tut who inspired the young En Sabah Nur’s rise to power. Since Rama-Tut debuted in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’s post-credits scenes, Apocalypse already has the perfect way to enter the MCU, and since speculation suggests mutants could be the focus of Phase 7, Apocalypse would make for a very powerful and terrifying adversary.

4 Magneto

First Appeared In Marvel Comics In 1963’s The X-Men #1

Easily one of Marvel’s most recognizable villains, Magneto would be a massive addition to the MCU if the Master of Magnetism were ever to be adapted. Magneto is traditionally seen as an incredibly complex character, as he sees mutants as superior to humans, which is why he often takes such an aggressive approach to seeking mutant civil rights. This regularly puts him at odds with his old friend-turned-enemy Professor X, who believes mutants and humans can co-exist peacefully. It’s hard to imagine Marvel crafting an X-Men franchise without their oldest and most important villain, hence why it makes sense he’ll be a part of the equation in some way or another.

3 Maestro Can Utilize The Hulk’s Entire MCU Arc

First Appeared In Marvel Comics In 1992’s The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect #1

Though the Hulk has often been seen as a superhero in the MCU, his adventures in Marvel Comics could hint to a future as a formidable villain to the Avengers. While Marvel has been teasing a potential World War Hulk project in the MCU, one version of the Hulk, introduced in 1992, could make for an even more terrifying threat, as Maestro is an alternate version of Bruce Banner’s alter ego who ruled over the wasteland of a post-apocalyptic Earth.

This would put an interesting spin on the rage-monster Hulk that audiences might be expecting in the MCU’s future. As for what would motivate such a change, the MCU may already be setting it up. With Bruce Banner seemingly in control of Hulk’s body for years and his fellow Avengers doing nothing about it, Hulk could come back with a deep-seated grudge against his former allies.

2 Galactus Has Been Anticipated In The MCU For Years

First Appeared In Marvel Comics In 1966’s Fantastic Four #48

Galactus is a highly-anticipated villain in the MCU, particularly since Phase 6 will see the Fantastic Four enter the franchise, and the planet-eating entity first debuted in the Fantastic Four comics. Galactus roams the universe seeking planets to devour in order to maintain his existence, often helped by heralds such as the Silver Surfer. Though there has been no word from Marvel Studios on when, or even if, Galactus will be introduced to live-action, there have been recent rumors of a Silver Surfer Special Presentation hitting Disney+, which would be the biggest tease yet to the villain’s debut.

1 Doctor Doom Is The Perfect MCU Phase 7 Villain

First Appeared In Marvel Comics In 1962’s The Fantastic Four #5

Much like Galactus, Doctor Doom is a villain often associated with the Fantastic Four, and the confirmation of Marvel’s First Family coming to the MCU boosted excitement for the introduction of this iconic villain. After two failed attempts to do justice for the character in Fox’s Fantastic Four series’, there is a significant amount of hope that Marvel will finally debut a comic-accurate and actually-threatening Doctor Doom in the MCU, potentially as soon as Avengers: Secret Wars. Akin to Magneto, Doom has also often worked alongside Marvel’s heroes when their agendas align, making him someone who could work not only as a main villain, but also as an occasional ally. If handled correctly, Doom could be one of the most important characters featured in MCU Phase 7.