10 Villains Powerful Enough to Replace Doctor Doom as the MCU’s Next Big Bad

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is nearing the conclusion of its Multiverse Saga with the upcoming films Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, which will showcase a massive battle between the Avengers and Doctor Doom (played by Robert Downey Jr.). What happens after Secret Wars is currently unknown, but Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has suggested a multiversal reset, essentially giving the MCU a fresh start for its next big storyline.

As a huge MCU fan, I’m already thinking about what’s next after the Multiverse Saga! If Thanos defined the Infinity Saga and Doctor Doom seems set to be the big threat now, we’re going to need another massive villain to carry us through the next few phases. There are so many powerful characters in Marvel comics who could step up – everything from magical, otherworldly creatures to totally unknown threats from places like the Negative Zone. Honestly, some of them could even become more powerful and iconic villains than Thanos or Doom ever were!

Galactus Is Already Making Moves in the MCU

The Fantastic Four have officially joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe! Their first story arc, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, shows them fighting Galactus, a powerful being who controls the Power Cosmic and always has a helper. Although First Steps is set in an alternate universe (Earth-838), it’s been confirmed that Galactus is a unique entity – meaning every Galactus across all universes is the same being, even if he appears a little different each time.

Galactus is a significant character who will likely reappear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His return could signal a shift towards more cosmic-level stories, potentially involving a team-up between the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men to protect Earth. This would be a natural fit for the Fantastic Four, who have historically faced off against Galactus, and could position them as key players in the next big MCU event.

Apocalypse Is Rumored to Be the MCU’s Next Main Antagonist

Apocalypse is a powerful and dangerous foe for the X-Men in Marvel Comics. This ancient mutant possesses god-like abilities and leads a group called the Four Horsemen. He’s been a key villain in many large-scale X-Men storylines over the years. While the X-Men films tried to bring Apocalypse to life in 2016, with Oscar Isaac in the role, the adaptation wasn’t well-received by most comic book fans.

Following the disappointing portrayal of Apocalypse in Fox’s films, the character deserves a better adaptation within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There’s speculation he could even become the primary villain of the upcoming X-Men storyline, potentially taking the role originally intended for Doctor Doom. As a hugely powerful enemy of the X-Men, Apocalypse would be an excellent choice to lead the villains, and could even pave the way for a live-action version of the famous “Age of Apocalypse” story.

Ultron Deserves to Return as a Bigger Threat

Many fans consider Ultron a letdown as a Marvel Cinematic Universe villain. Created by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner to be a global protector, Ultron decided humanity itself was the biggest threat and tried to eliminate everyone. He was defeated in Avengers: Age of Ultron, which frustrated comic book fans who expected a more substantial storyline for the character. Despite this, recent developments hint at a potentially larger role for Ultron in the future.

Ultron will be back in the new Disney+ series, Vision Quest, hinting that he survived his last defeat. This series could lay the groundwork for another attempt by Ultron to conquer the world, potentially spanning several future Marvel phases. Like in the comics, Ultron consistently rebuilds himself, becoming more powerful with each return. The upcoming saga of MCU films might show Ultron continuing to evolve and grow stronger, leading up to a final showdown with the Avengers.

Magneto Would Give the X-Men a Central Place in the MCU

Sir Ian McKellen will be returning as Magneto in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, bringing his famous portrayal from the X-Men films. While McKellen’s appearance is exciting, the role will likely be recast as the Marvel Cinematic Universe reimagines the X-Men for a new audience. Magneto is expected to play a significant role in this reboot, and could even become a major threat on par with the Avengers themselves.

Marvel is likely planning to center the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe around the X-Men. A great way to do this would be to introduce a classic X-Men villain as the main antagonist. Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants could become the big threat, requiring the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four to join forces and defeat them – essentially launching a full-scale “Mutant Saga.”

Kang the Conqueror’s Story Isn’t Finished Yet

Originally, Jonathan Majors’ character, Kang the Conqueror, was meant to be the central villain throughout Phases 4, 5, and 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The storyline was designed to feature various Avengers battling different versions of Kang from across the multiverse, leading up to the films Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. However, after accusations of domestic violence against Majors surfaced in late 2023, Marvel had to change its plans and shifted the focus of this story arc to Doctor Doom.

Even with the issues surrounding Jonathan Majors, Marvel hasn’t completely abandoned the Kang storyline and might still continue it after the current Multiverse Saga. There were rumors that Marvel was already considering a focus on Doctor Doom, suggesting Kang’s story didn’t quite fit into the current plans and might be saved for Phase 7 or later. Ultimately, Kang’s story needs a resolution, whether that involves recasting the role or, potentially, Majors returning.

Annihilus Is a Powerful Tyrant From the Negative Zone

Annihilus is a powerful and recurring foe of the Fantastic Four in Marvel Comics. He’s a ruthless ruler from the Negative Zone, gaining his strength from the Cosmic Control Rod. He’s repeatedly tried to conquer the entire Marvel Universe, but the Fantastic Four and their friends have always managed to defeat him.

Annihilus could be a compelling villain for the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Introducing him would allow the franchise to finally explore the Negative Zone, a setting that hasn’t been featured yet. This new storyline could be inspired by the popular “Annihilation” comic book arc.

The Celestials Are Returning to Judge the Earth

The movie Eternals ended with a significant unresolved plot point in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At the film’s conclusion, Sersi and other Eternals were taken by the Celestials, who promised to return and decide Earth’s fate. Because Eternals wasn’t very well-received by audiences or at the box office, it’s uncertain if Marvel will continue this story, but it’s still a possibility.

I was completely blown away by the “Judgment Day” storyline in the comics, and I’m really hoping the MCU goes there next! The idea of the Celestials judging everyone – deciding who lives and who doesn’t – is just epic. It would be amazing to see the Eternals’ cliffhanger finally addressed, and to watch the Avengers and other heroes team up against such a powerful threat to save the planet. Plus, it feels like the perfect way to wrap up some storylines from the Multiverse Saga and really push the MCU into even bigger, more cosmic adventures. I think it would be incredible!

Kingpin is the Street-Level Villain Marvel Deserves

Marvel stories often feature incredibly powerful villains from outer space, like Thanos and Doctor Doom, as the main threat. But the Marvel Cinematic Universe might take a different approach with its next big storyline, focusing on a more grounded, street-level villain. If they do, Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin, played by Vincent D’Onofrio, would be a perfect choice. As we’ve seen in Daredevil: Born Again, he’s now the mayor of New York and is already causing serious problems, with no indication he’ll stop anytime soon.

Though Kingpin might not be as overwhelmingly powerful as some previous Marvel Cinematic Universe villains, a more grounded, street-level story could be a good change of pace. The recent focus on cosmic characters during the Multiverse Saga hasn’t always resonated with audiences, while characters like Daredevil and Spider-Man remain consistently popular. The next phase of the MCU should prioritize these street-level heroes and villains, potentially leading to a final showdown with Kingpin.

Mephisto Will Be a Major Player in the MCU

Mephisto, a major Marvel villain, has finally appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He first appeared in the series Ironheart, where he manipulated reality to bring back people who had died. The show ends with a big surprise, suggesting Mephisto successfully achieved his goals with Ironheart. Although his next appearance isn’t confirmed, Marvel fans can expect him to play a significant role in future stories.

As a huge MCU fan, I’ve been hearing whispers for ages about the Midnight Sons finally showing up – a team of supernatural heroes like Blade, Black Knight, Moon Knight, and others. Honestly, that would be amazing! And if they do bring that team together, I think Mephisto would be the perfect big bad. He’s powerful enough to be the villain across multiple movies and shows – a real, sprawling saga. He’d be a threat even the Avengers would struggle with, which is exciting to think about!

Knull Could Unite the Marvel Multiverse

The movie Venom: The Last Dance brought the incredibly powerful character Knull into live-action, suggesting he could become the main villain across Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Now that Sony has ended its Spider-Man Universe plans, Knull’s story doesn’t have to stop. If Sony allows it, Marvel Studios could continue Knull’s arc by having him battle the Avengers in the main Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The “King in Black” storyline features a massive attack on Earth led by Knull and his symbiote army. Many fans consider it one of Marvel’s greatest crossover events of the last ten years, and it would be amazing to see adapted for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Introducing a “Symbiote Saga” based on this story – with Knull as the villain – would be an epic storyline and could position Spider-Man and Venom as leading characters for the next several phases of the MCU (Phases 7, 8, and 9).

2025-11-06 02:44