The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has an exciting lineup of movies, and with them come some long-awaited villains.
Known for its star power and compelling heroes, the MCU has thrived on excellent casting and deep character development.
However, villains play an equally important role, and the upcoming MCU movies promise to bring some iconic antagonists to the screen.
Here’s a look at 10 villains confirmed to appear in the next wave of Marvel films.
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1. Galactus
Movie: The Fantastic Four (July 25, 2025)
Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, is set to make his grand entrance in the MCU with the upcoming Fantastic Four movie.
This cosmic being consumes the life energy of planets for sustenance, and he has appointed several heralds, like the Silver Surfer, to scout for suitable worlds.
Known for his immense power and awe-inspiring presence, Galactus’ introduction promises to bring a thrilling cosmic element to the MCU.
The upcoming Fantastic Four movie in 2025 will finally give fans a proper portrayal of this iconic villain, complete with his massive purple helmet and cosmic abilities.
In fact, Galactus used to appear in the 2007 Fantastic Four movie but not so much, only for a few seconds, and we can’t even see his face.
2. Toxin
Movie: Venom: The Last Dance (October 25, 2024)
In the vast Marvel Universe, symbiotes are among the most formidable beings, and Toxin is a standout.
As the offspring of Carnage and the grandchild of Venom, Toxin is the 1000th symbiote in its lineage, marking a peak in symbiote evolution.
Bonding with NYPD officer Patrick Mulligan, Toxin possesses a strength surpassing both Venom and Carnage.
Toxin’s cinematic debut in Venom: The Last Dance will showcase these unparalleled powers.
As the final film in Tom Hardy’s Venom trilogy, fans can expect an exciting addition to the Marvel symbiote saga, highlighting Toxin’s unique abilities and potential for growth.
3. The Leader
Movie: Captain America: Brave New World (February 14, 2025)
Samuel Sterns, aka The Leader, is finally making his MCU debut in Captain America: Brave New World.
Sterns was a professor at Grayburn College, where he helped Bruce Banner search for a cure for his Gamma poisoning.
After being exposed to Gamma radiation himself, Sterns developed a massive brain, transforming into one of Hulk’s most formidable foes.
This film will explore his long-awaited transformation into The Leader, a character who has been eagerly anticipated since his tease in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk.
This addition promises to bring a complex and intriguing villain to the MCU’s expanding roster.
4. Diamondback
Movie: Captain America: Brave New World (February 14, 2025)
Rachel Leighton, known as Diamondback, will appear in the upcoming Captain America film.
Born in Austin, Texas, but raised in New York City’s Lower East Side, Rachel had a tough upbringing in the comic.
She later became a mercenary using the alias Diamondback, training at Taskmaster’s academy.
A skilled combatant, Diamondback is known for her expertise in hand-to-hand combat, gymnastics, and throwing diamond-shaped projectiles that can be acid-laced, explosive, or poison-tipped.
Initially part of the Serpent Society, Diamondback’s encounters with Captain America led to a complex relationship.
Her involvement in Captain America: Brave New World promises an intriguing addition to Sam Wilson’s story.
5. Red Hulk
Movie: Captain America: Brave New World (February 14, 2025)
General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, reimagined as Red Hulk, will appear in both Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts.
Ross, formerly a Lieutenant General of the U.S. Army and later Secretary of State, was initially in charge of the Bio-Tech Force Enhancement Project, which inadvertently created the Hulk.
Frustrated by his inability to control Hulk, Ross’s own experiments eventually transform him into Red Hulk, a powerful doppelgänger of the green giant.
Known for his fierce combat skills and strategic mind, Red Hulk is set to be a formidable presence on screen.
But this time, Harrison Ford will take over the role from the late William Hurt, adding a new dimension to the character and promising an exciting and dynamic portrayal in the MCU.
6. Kraven the Hunter
Movie: Kraven the Hunter (December 13, 2024)
Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as Kraven the Hunter in the upcoming solo film.
Kraven, born Sergei Kravinoff, is a master hunter from the Russian aristocracy renowned for his exceptional hunting skills.
To fulfill his sense of lost nobility, Kraven pushed his body beyond human limits using a voodoo potion, granting him extraordinary strength and speed.
Known for his obsession with hunting Spider-Man, Kraven sees the wall-crawler as the ultimate prey.
This film will delve into Kraven’s origins and transformation into a formidable villain. Possible tweaks to his character may present him as more of a conservationist, adding depth to his relentless pursuit of proving himself as the ultimate hunter.
7. The Chameleon
Movie: Kraven the Hunter (December 13, 2024)
Dmitri Smerdyakov, aka The Chameleon, is set to debut in the upcoming Kraven the Hunter film.
As Kraven’s half-brother, The Chameleon is a master of disguise and deception, making him one of Spider-Man’s classic foes.
Born in Russia, Dmitri was raised in a household where he was treated harshly by his family.
To gain approval, he honed his impersonation skills, which eventually led him to become a master spy and mercenary.
Kraven the Hunter will be an exciting addition to the MCU, with The Chameleon’s character injecting layers of intrigue and deception into the plot.
8. The Rhino
Movie: Kraven the Hunter (December 13, 2024)
The Rhino, another classic Spider-Man villain, will appear in Kraven the Hunter.
Aleksei Sytsevich, known as the Rhino, was originally a thug in the Russian Mafia who underwent life-threatening treatments to gain superhuman strength and a powerful armor bonded to his skin.
This armor, modeled after a rhinoceros, grants him immense strength and durability.
The Rhino’s inclusion in Kraven the Hunter promises to bring exciting and intense action to the film as one of Spider-Man’s iconic adversaries.
9. Cassandra Nova
Movie: Deadpool & Wolverine (July 26, 2024)
In Deadpool & Wolverine, Cassandra Nova, the twin sister of Professor Charles Xavier, will make her cinematic debut with Emma Corrin set to play this complex character.
In the comic, Cassandra Nova is a “Mummudrai,” a spirit that is the equal and opposite of Charles Xavier.
While in utero, Xavier sensed her evil and tried to kill her, leading to her premature birth.
Surviving as a mass of cells for decades, she eventually built a body and emerged with powerful telepathic and telekinetic abilities, seeking revenge on her brother.
Cassandra Nova’s character will add a chilling and intense dynamic to Deadpool & Wolverine, enriching the film’s depth and complexity.
10. Sentry
Movie: Thunderbolts (May 2, 2025)
Sentry, Marvel’s dark take on Superman, is confirmed for the Thunderbolts movie. With incredible powers and a troubled psyche, Sentry often shifts between heroism and villainy.
In the comic, Sentry, aka Robert Reynolds, once a meth addict, gained the power of a million exploding suns after ingesting the Golden Sentry Serum.
This granted him immense strength and the ability to fly, but also created his dark alter ego, the Void.
Sentry’s complex nature and immense power make him a formidable character. Sentry’s role in Thunderbolts will provide a gripping storyline, showcasing the team of reformed villains grappling with his volatile hero-villain nature.