Which Marvel Characters Are Still Off-Limits for The MCU?
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ boasts an impressive roster of Marvel characters, many of whom, including Wolverine himself, haven’t appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) before. Some characters, like Jennifer Garner’s Elektra from the 2003 films and Wesley Snipes’ Blade, predate the MCU. Others, such as the film’s villain Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), Lady Deadpool (voiced by Blake Lively), and Gambit, are making their film debuts, with Channing Tatum finally seeing Gambit on screen after numerous delays.
Despite the upcoming release of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ in July 2025, not all Marvel characters are available to the MCU.
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Spider-Man’s film rights are notably held by Sony, and despite Spider-Man’s integration into the MCU through a 2015 deal, Sony continues to control most of Spider-Man’s universe. This led to a tense standoff in 2019 but ultimately a new deal was struck. Sony’s ‘Spider-Verse Without Spider-Man’ films, like ‘Morbius’ and ‘Madame Web,’ highlight their ongoing control over Spider-Man characters.
Additionally, Universal Studios retains the movie rights for characters like Namor and the Hulk. Universal’s agreement means any solo films for these characters would be distributed by them, complicating Disney’s use of these characters in standalone MCU films. This arrangement is part of a larger deal involving Marvel’s theme park rights, where Universal’s Marvel Super Hero Island at their Orlando resort limits Disney’s ability to use these characters at their East Coast parks.
Other Marvel characters still out of reach for the MCU include Conan the Barbarian, whose film rights are owned by Fredrik Malmberg and Cabinet Entertainment, and ROM: Spaceknight, which is tied to Hasbro and Paramount Pictures. This partnership prevents Marvel from utilizing ROM’s rich comic history in films. Other properties like Micronauts, G.I. Joe, and Transformers, also tied up with various studios, complicate their integration into the MCU.
While some characters face complex legal and rights issues, others are simply not as high-profile or commercially viable. Characters like NFL SuperPro and Almighty Dollar, though part of Marvel’s past, are unlikely to see MCU adaptations due to their lack of popularity and market appeal. Despite the MCU’s vast array of characters, certain Marvel properties remain elusive or impractical to include in the current cinematic landscape.
–Farheen Ali
