5 Biggest Missed Opportunities in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga (So Far)

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While Deadpool jokingly claims the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s recent films have been largely unsuccessful, that’s not quite accurate. Several movies, including Spider-Man: No Way Home, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Deadpool & Wolverine, have been huge commercial successes. However, the franchise doesn’t seem quite as guaranteed to succeed as it did in the 2010s, after the first Avengers film. Back then, even movies that critics didn’t love, like Thor: The Dark World, could still earn over $664 million worldwide.

Let’s be real, the last few years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Multiverse Saga have been… complicated. It wasn’t just about the stories themselves. We had huge external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Hollywood strikes completely shake things up, forcing delays and changes to the whole plan. And then, tragically, we lost Chadwick Boseman, a huge loss for everyone. On top of that, the situation with Jonathan Majors added another layer of difficulty. It’s been a really tough time for Marvel, and you can definitely feel it when looking back at this era.

The MCU could have made a few other smart choices – not huge overhauls like avoiding the multiverse altogether, but smaller, more practical decisions. Looking back, these seem pretty clear and could have helped smooth out some of the problems with the Multiverse Saga.

5
Marvel Never Should Have Adapted ‘Secret Invasion’


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Many viewers consider Secret Invasion to be the low point of the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far. While some believe the show simply wasn’t well-made, the core problem was adapting the comic book storyline in the first place. The original Secret Invasion comic, though a popular Marvel event of the last two decades, was heavily influenced by the political climate following the September 11th attacks.

The idea of a superhuman community being secretly taken over by shapeshifters has parallels to far-right conspiracy theories. Though the Skrulls originated as a product of Cold War anxieties, Secret Invasion writer Brian Michael Bendis admitted the 2008 comic was also influenced by the events of 9/11. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he explained the story explores a feeling of distrust, reflecting how, years after 9/11, people often find themselves cautiously observing those around them, even loved ones.

The way the Skrulls are portrayed as religious extremists in both the comics and the series feels unfortunately similar to xenophobia, specifically the anti-Muslim sentiment common in America during the 2000s. The movie Captain Marvel tried to address the prejudice found in earlier Skrull stories by revealing they were actually refugees fleeing a powerful empire. This was a welcome change and feels even more relevant today. However, Marvel Studios abandoned this interesting development, opting instead for a familiar storyline that didn’t quite work within the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. It felt forced and out of place. Secret Invasion wouldn’t have benefited from being an Avengers film, and ultimately, Marvel Studios shouldn’t have adapted the story at all.

4
Not Having The Fantastic Four Ready for Phase Four


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It seems clear that introducing the Fantastic Four, ideally at the end of Phase Four of the Multiverse Saga, would be a smart move. While Marvel couldn’t start working on a Fantastic Four project until after acquiring 20th Century Fox in early 2019, they still had time before Phase Four concluded with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022. Introducing them sooner would also have allowed for earlier hints about Doctor Doom, potentially making his role as the main villain of the Multiverse Saga feel more natural.

Despite any initial concerns, Fantastic Four: First Steps truly delivers and is arguably the best adaptation of the classic team, and one of Marvel’s strongest films in recent years. Interestingly, if the film had been released sooner, actors like Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bacharach might have been considered for the roles of The Human Torch and The Thing, given their breakthrough performances in 2022. This highlights that a strong story and talented cast can be more impactful than relying on a simple marketing angle, like connecting it to Marvel’s phases.

3
Putting She-Hulk in ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Would Have Corrected a Recurring Issue


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Captain America: Brave New World feels disjointed from the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It functions almost as a sequel to The Incredible Hulk, bringing back characters like Red Hulk (Thaddeus Ross), The Leader (Samuel Sterns), and Betty Ross, but it strangely omits Bruce Banner/Hulk. Beyond that, the absence of She-Hulk is puzzling. The film presents a natural opportunity to include her – as a lawyer specializing in superhero law, she could be involved with the case of Isiaah Bradley, who is arrested and facing a death sentence for attempted assassination. A She-Hulk appearance wouldn’t just be a fun cameo; it would make sense within the story.

Having Jennifer Walters, aka She-Hulk, appear as a representative for Isiah would have been a fun way to bring She-Hulk and the new Captain America together. It also would have created a connection that could be used in future Marvel movies. The filmmakers could have minimized costs by not requiring a full She-Hulk transformation; just a few days of reshoots with Tatiana Maslany in a couple of locations likely would have sufficed. Beyond being a natural story link, including She-Hulk could have solved a common complaint about the Multiverse Saga – that new characters haven’t reappeared as often as characters did in the Infinity Saga. Even a short appearance would have made a difference.

2
Not Moving Forward With ‘Shang-Chi’ Sequels Soon Enough


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Following the success of the first Iron Man in 2008, Marvel Studios quickly announced plans for several sequels, including Thor, Captain America, and The Avengers, and even fast-tracked Iron Man 2 for release within two years. While we’re not suggesting Marvel should have rushed a Shang-Chi sequel, the current wait feels excessive. It’s been over four years since Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was released, and despite positive reviews, fan reception, and initial box office success during the pandemic, there’s been no movement on a follow-up. The character won’t be seen in a live-action movie again until Avengers: Doomsday in 2026 – five years after his first appearance.

Throughout the first decade of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, sequels usually arrived every two or three years. Though there was a four-year wait between the Thor films The Dark World (2013) and Ragnarok (2017), fans still saw Thor appear in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), effectively shortening the gap. Marvel should have made a Shang-Chi sequel a priority. Even with the recent writers’ and actors’ strikes potentially causing delays, it could likely have been released in 2024 alongside Deadpool & Wolverine. Instead, a Shang-Chi sequel is now planned for after the Avengers: Secret Wars movie.

The fourth phase of Marvel movies introduced new heroes like Shang-Chi, hoping he’d become the new face of the franchise after stars like Iron Man and Captain America retired. It wasn’t that audiences disliked Shang-Chi – the movie did well in theaters. The problem was Marvel didn’t follow up with a second film or include him in other movies like they did with the original Avengers, leaving fans wanting more.

1
Not Releasing an Avengers Movie Was a Huge Mistake


Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

It seemed logical that Marvel would save Avengers films for big, universe-ending stories rather than just finishing each Phase of their cinematic universe. After the huge success of Avengers: Endgame, a typical Avengers movie would likely disappoint in comparison. So, Marvel decided to reserve the Avengers name for truly epic events. However, this strategy ultimately weakened the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Avengers movies were crucial for developing the character relationships that drew audiences in and kept them engaged. For example, even though Doctor Strange and Captain Marvel fought side-by-side in Avengers: Endgame, what kind of connection do they actually have?

Marvel missed opportunities to create team-up movies—like an Avengers film with six or seven heroes—that could have deepened character relationships and propelled the MCU forward. A Young Avengers movie, which seemed to be in development for a while, would have been a great addition. It’s telling that Thunderbolts, one of the best-received projects in the Multiverse Saga, thrives on the interplay between its characters’ distinct personalities. Similarly, fans praised Marvel Zombies because it felt like the kind of Avengers movie the saga needed.

Marvel and Disney appeared concerned that a new Avengers film might not live up to the massive success of previous blockbusters, and their attempt to avoid negative comparisons has backfired. Now, there’s even more pressure on Avengers: Doomsday than there would have been if they’d simply released a standard Avengers movie.

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2025-12-05 05:05