10 MCU Projects with the Most Wasted Potential

Following nearly twenty years of successful films and TV shows, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has become one of the defining cultural events of the 21st century. The way Marvel Studios changed how we see superhero stories will always be a landmark achievement in film history. However, it hasn’t always been flawless. In reality, the MCU has sometimes failed to deliver on its promises. Often, this is because certain projects didn’t quite live up to what they could have been.

Certain MCU movies and series would have been better with some adjustments – some storylines were cut short and needed more development, others were released at the wrong time, and a few were just poorly made. Unfortunately, those projects can’t be changed now. However, even the most hopeful fans believe Marvel Studios will take these lessons to heart when planning future stories and sagas.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Needed More Legal Drama

Those familiar with John Byrne’s work on She-Hulk will immediately recognize the influence on the MCU series. He established the show’s signature style – its silly humor, self-aware jokes, and tendency to break the fourth wall. However, viewers felt something was lacking in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law: a greater focus on legal cases and courtroom drama.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law started strong with some interesting legal cases. However, the show didn’t maintain that focus for very long. There were many possibilities for cases Jennifer Walters could have taken on. It would have been even more engaging if the series had featured more well-known MCU characters alongside the new ones – especially considering the show launched in 2022, fourteen years after the original MCU film.

Werewolf by Night Needs More Screen Time

In 2022, Marvel Studios released its very first Special Presentation, Werewolf by Night, starring Gael García Bernal. The black and white series, lasting just 53 minutes, also introduced Halloween-inspired Marvel characters such as Elsa Bloodstone (played by Laura Donnelly) and her family, along with Man-Thing. While the Special Presentation was well-made, it felt like it had the potential to be even better.

Werewolf by Night came out when people were starting to talk about getting tired of superhero movies online and in reviews. Because it was shorter than an hour long, fans quickly moved on from it. It got lost in the large number of MCU projects being released around the same time, which is unfortunate because the character still has a lot of potential. Bernal and the other actors involved should come back to the MCU in the future.

Malekith Could Have Been An Incredible Villain In Thor: The Dark World

For those who enjoy reading about Thor, Malekith is widely considered one of the God of Thunder’s greatest enemies. This ruthless Dark Elf is exceptionally violent and understands precisely how to provoke Thor. What makes him compelling is his sad history, which gives his character a welcome depth. Sadly, the Marvel Cinematic Universe version in Thor: The Dark World didn’t fully capture these qualities.

Despite being played by the skilled Christopher Eccleston, the MCU version of Malekith is considered one of the most one-dimensional villains in the franchise. He lacks any real backstory, simply existing as a villain without much depth. The film also disregarded the established history of the Dark Elves. Unfortunately, those who knew the character and his potentially great conflict with Thor were disappointed, as the MCU didn’t develop his story effectively. Even 12 years after he first appeared, most fans remember him only through his connection to the Aether – which was revealed to be the Reality Stone.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness Didn’t Have Enough Universes

When Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness first came out, fans were thrilled with all the surprise appearances, especially John Krasinski’s, as he was a very popular choice for the role. However, people also pointed out that, despite being about the multiverse, the movie was mostly set in just two universes. The story mainly took place between Earth-616 and Earth-838.

I really enjoyed the part in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness where America and Doctor Strange were jumping between different universes, but honestly, it felt like we didn’t get to see enough of it. It felt like a real chance to explore those realities was missed. I’m really hoping that Avengers: Secret Wars will give us more of what we were looking for and make up for this.

Eternals Should Have Been A TV Show

When Eternals came out in 2021, fans were really excited. It was the second movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to feature entirely new heroes, following the popular Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The Eternals have a long and detailed history in the comic books. With everyone still enjoying the buzz from Endgame, and a cast including stars like Angelina Jolie and Kit Harington, expectations were high. However, the movie wasn’t a success.

People have different opinions on why the movie received so much criticism, but a major complaint was that it featured an overwhelming number of new characters. This is true. Eternals brought in 10 new heroes, which meant none of them had enough screen time to develop, despite being played by talented actors. A better approach would have been to skip the movie altogether and instead introduce the Eternals to the MCU via a TV series that gave each character the attention they deserved.

The MCU Civil War May Have Happened Too Soon in This Universe

The 2006 “Civil War” event was incredibly popular upon its release. Conceived by Mark Millar, this storyline significantly changed the Marvel Universe, impacting nearly every Marvel comic book through numerous related stories. This extensive reach is likely why the movie, Captain America: Civil War, didn’t feel as impactful to some viewers. It’s possible the sheer scale of the original comic diminished the film’s effect, as the comic had so many connected issues.

Captain America: Civil War definitely had some fantastic scenes. It successfully brought in important new heroes such as Black Panther and Spider-Man, and it really showed us the complex dynamic between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark. However, when you consider the source material, the movie’s battle felt small. It featured less than 20 heroes, which is much less than the large-scale conflict in the comics. Marvel Studios might have benefited from waiting to introduce a few more characters to create a truly epic battle.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Failed to Sell Kang

Serving as the initial film in the MCU’s Phase 5, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was intended to launch the Kang Saga within this cinematic universe. However, the film was not successful. With poor visual effects and a storyline that didn’t quite resonate with audiences, the movie is now considered .

Man, this movie really put a dent in things. It feels like Jonathan Majors’ character being removed is what finally killed the Kang storyline for Marvel. Honestly, they never really nailed him as a villain to begin with, which is a shame. I mean, in the comics, Kang has *so* much potential! It’s just sad to see it all fall apart. This movie was supposed to get us hyped for where the MCU was going, but it totally missed the mark and left fans – me included – feeling pretty disappointed. It’s a real bummer. Seriously. What could have been…

Thor: Love & Thunder Ruined Two Great Storylines

When I heard Marvel was bringing Natalie Portman back as Jane Foster and that Christian Bale would be Gorr, I immediately figured Taika Waititi was drawing heavily from Jason Aaron’s Thor: Love & Thunder comic run. It just seemed obvious! But honestly, the movie barely scratched the surface of what happened in the comics. They really only took the most basic elements, which was a little disappointing. I was hoping for a more faithful adaptation, but it felt like they did the absolute minimum to connect to the source material.

Despite having Christian Bale as the terrifying villain Gorr, and Natalie Portman ready to deliver a heartbreaking story as The Mighty Thor, this film was a huge disappointment. Thor: Love & Thunder had all the ingredients for success – a great cast, compelling source material, and a large budget. Sadly, it fell far short of its potential, resorting to things like silly screaming goat jokes.

What If…? Shouldn’t Have Had An Overarching Storyline

What If…? comics are a core part of Marvel. These series offer fun explorations of different universes and possibilities. Because they’re usually standalone stories that aren’t part of the main timeline, the events within them don’t really matter to the overall continuity. This means that in a What If…? story, anything can happen without lasting effects. However, the What If…? series doesn’t always stick to this exciting idea.

What If…? explored key moments from the Marvel Cinematic Universe by imagining alternative outcomes. It didn’t matter if the original Avengers fell and the Chitauri won, or if Aunt May became Spider-Woman following Peter’s death – these events wouldn’t affect the main storyline. They were simply ‘what if’ scenarios. However, the series shifted focus and developed a complete narrative with different characters. This made it feel less like a true What If series and more like an introduction to the broader concept of the multiverse within the MCU.

Secret Invasion Took The Smallest Bits From The Comics

Maybe Avengers: Endgame set an incredibly high standard after adapting Infinity War, but fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe who also read the comics are hoping for faithful adaptations of their favorite stories, particularly during big crossover events. Considering this, Secret Invasion really let fans down. The comic book version was a fantastic crossover with many related stories, but the MCU series focuses on just a few heroes.

The biggest problem with Secret Invasion is how broad its story is. The show depicts an alien invasion happening secretly, all around the globe. But it often feels like Nick Fury is only battling a small group of Skrulls. This makes the series lack a sense of urgency or importance, especially when you consider that the original comic book dramatically changed the entire Marvel universe – Earth-616 – when it first came out.

2025-10-05 00:44