Summary
- Wong embraces a carefree lifestyle and parties through his responsibilities as the Sorcerer Supreme.
- Yelena Belova, hilarious and authentic, is brutally honest and a little volatile in the MCU.
- Grandmaster exudes a carefree spirit as he turns Sakaar into a planet of perpetual Brat Summer.
After 16 years, the MCU is now stuffed with characters with unique personalities, but only a handful are definitely living 2024’s “Brat Summer.” Recently, the MCU has been preoccupied with Deadpool & Wolverine‘s record-breaking summer debut and revelations that Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom. Meanwhile, Brat Summer has dominated another section of pop culture as much of society embraces the ethos of Charli XCX’s latest album, “Brat,” but that doesn’t mean MCU characters can’t also get involved.
Before delving into which MCU characters would be enjoying a Brat Summer, it’s prudent to lay out how the originator, Charli XCX, defines “brat.” Thankfully, the pop star took to TikTok to describe it as:
“You’re just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes. Who feels herself but maybe also has a breakdown. But kind of like, parties through it, is very honest, very blunt. A little bit volatile. Like, does dumb things. But it’s brat. You’re brat. That’s brat.”
To elaborate, several online sources describe “Brat Summer” as taking risks, embracing the uncomfortable, being honest with yourself and others, and living life to the full. With that in mind, several fan-favorite MCU characters fit the bill perfectly, and would most definitely be living a Brat Summer in the MCU.
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10 Wong Is Always Living His Best Life
Wong Can’t Help Partying Through His Responsibilities
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Wong is one of the biggest examples of MCU heroes who became surprisingly beloved after debuting in Doctor Strange. This likability is largely thanks to his carefree attitude and repartee – something which may very well be a preferred trait for the role of Sorcerer Supreme in the MCU. For evidence that Wong’s Brat Summer is well underway, however, his recent laundry list of unruly activities should be enough.
Wong became the Sorcerer Supreme after Doctor Strange was snapped out of existence in Avengers: Infinity War.
Wong has recently been seen singing karaoke after meeting Shang-Chi and his beacon-emitting Ten Rings, breaking Abomination out of prison to fight him in an underground ring, and demanding that Doctor Strange leave him out of what would become one of the most egregious misuses of sorcery in the MCU despite being the Sorcerer Supreme.
More recently, of course, Wong befriended Madisynn and discovered a passion for binge-watching television at the expense of other duties. These, incidentally, included breaking Abomination out of prison again to move him to Kamar-Taj.
Doctor Strange 
4.0 PG-13 Where to Watch
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Enter the world of Dr. Stephen Vincent Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), a world-famous neurosurgeon whose car accident left him unable to use his hands. As he desperately tries to find a cure to enable his hands to perform operations again, he comes across a world that leads to another dimension. After being taught about the different dimensions and learning about the constant threat that looms on Earth, he began to embrace his role as the humble protector. Taking after the responsibilities of the Ancient One who trained him before her demise, Strange goes on to become the Sorcerer Supreme himself.
Director Scott Derrickson Release Date October 25, 2016 Studio(s) Marvel Studios Cast Tilda Swinton , Benedict Wong , Michael Stuhlbarg , Mads Mikkelsen , Scott Adkins , Benedict Cumberbatch , Rachel McAdams , Chiwetel Ejiofor Runtime 126 minutes
9 Yelena Belova Is Hilariously Authentic
Yelena Is Both Brutally Honest And A Little Volatile
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Yelena Belova is the little less serious adoptive sister of Natasha Romanoff who debuted in 2021’s Black Widow and will lead Thunderbolts* cast as one of the team’s most prominent members. Like Wong, she swiftly became one of the MCU’s most beloved characters for her hilarity, with plenty of Yelena memes stemming from just a couple of appearances thus far. Throughout those appearances, Yelena has shown herself to be a deadpan yet incredibly charismatic addition to the MCU lineup.
Yelena is brutally honest and at least a little bit volatile, as evidenced by her willingness to get her hands dirty in Black Widow and rob a citizen at gunpoint. Moreover, Yelena does not let tragedy get in the way of her outwardly carefree approach to life. Despite hunting down Clint Barton with a relentless ferocity in Hawkeye, her early scene meeting Kate Bishop shows her to be irreverent nonetheless as she savors Bishop’s macaroni and hot sauce.
Black Widow 3.0 PG-13 Where to Watch
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Black Widow is a film about Natasha Romanoff in her quests between the films Civil War and Infinity War. This is the 24th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first solo film for Black Widow, one of the original six Avengers. The character previously appeared in seven MCU films, including all four Avengers movies. Black Widow was originally scheduled for May 2020 but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Director Cate Shortland Release Date July 9, 2021 Studio(s) Marvel Cast Scarlett Johansson , Florence Pugh , David Harbour , O-T Fagbenle , Olga Kurylenko , William Hurt , Ray Winstone , Rachel Weisz Runtime 134 minutes
8 Sacred Timeline Loki Is Him At His Most Volatile
Loki Will Let Nothing Get In The Way Of His Good Time
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The MCU has spotlighted two variants of Loki, the first being the one introduced in Thor and killed off in Avengers: Infinity War. The second is the star of his self-titled show, who caused a branching timeline before his adventures within the TVA culminated in him becoming the God of Stories and caretaker of the multiverse in a space outside of time, condemned to spend eternity in solitude. The former, therefore, is the one that would most definitely be living out a Brat Summer if he were alive.
Sacred timeline Loki underwent multiple redemption arcs in the wake of his villainous turn in Thor and The Avengers. Nevertheless, his supposed self-sacrifice in Thor: The Dark World was immediately followed by a period of decadence as he usurped and imitated his father, Odin.
His volatility would then repeatedly manifest in Thor: Ragnarok as he double-crossed his brother twice more before Thanos would finally put an end to his chaotic ways. Suffice it to say, the God of Mischief is at his most mischievous on the Sacred Timeline and would relish being “brat.”
Thor 3.5 PG-13 Where to Watch
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Chris Hemsworth’s MCU debut as the Asgardian God of Thunder saw him navigating the ultimare sibling rivalry and parental expectations. Kenneth Branagh’s theatrical adaptation of the long-running Marvel Comics deals with Thor’s quest to prove himself worthy. Banished to Earth for his impulsiveness and tendency to violence, Thor must earn his destiny, while Tom Hiddleston’s Loki tries to destroy him.
Director Kenneth Branagh Release Date May 6, 2011 Cast Chris Hemsworth , Natalie Portman , Tom Hiddleston , Kat Dennings , Stellan Skarsgård , Idris Elba , Clark Gregg , Colm Feore Runtime 115 minutes
7 Paradox Makes A Brat-Like First Impression
Paradox Does Plenty Of Dumb Things
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Warning! This entry contains spoilers for Deadpool & Wolverine.Paradox is unlike any other TVA agent thus far introduced in the MCU. Being put in charge of an entire sector of the multiverse has gone to his head as he recklessly resolves to make an exceptionally “dumb” decision: construct the Time Ripper and make clandestine deals with the Void’s contingent of X-Men villains. This would ultimately lead to the near-destruction of the entire multiverse – which, of course, he is supposed to help maintain.
Paradox’s “brat” energy stems from his almost flippant treatment of the entire situation. The dire state of affairs during the movie’s climax is ostensibly because he is too impatient to deal with the TVA’s tedious new protocols, preferring the more efficient old methods. Matthew Macfadyen excels at turning Paradox into the more traditional definition of a brat as he claps back at Deadpool’s attempts to save his universe with slang like “B-t-dubs,” flying in the face of his prim-and-proper aesthetic.
Deadpool & Wolverine 4.0 R
A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
Director Shawn Levy Release Date July 26, 2024 Studio(s) Marvel , Maximum Effort Cast Ryan Reynolds , Hugh Jackman , Emma Corrin , Morena Baccarin , Rob Delaney , Leslie Uggams , Karan Soni , Matthew Macfadyen , Brianna Hildebrand , Shioli Kutsuna , Stefan Kapicic , Lewis Tan , Randal Reeder , Jennifer Garner , Aaron Stanford , Billy Clements , Ollie Palmer , Chris Hemsworth , Rob McElhenney Runtime 127 Minutes Expand
6 King Valkyrie Exudes A Carefree Spirit
No Longer As Messy But Still Just As Fun
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Valkyrie is the tour de force whom Thor deemed worthy to rule Asgard following his abdication. Multiple demonstrations of valor, cunning, and leadership prove that this was a solid choice, and King Valkyrie has already proven that she is pretty great at her job after overseeing the flourishing of New Asgard and taking in Skrull refugees. Thor: Love & Thunder also showed, however, that she is not necessarily comfortable in politics, and pines after the more high-octane lifestyle she knew before.
Valkyrie was certainly at her messiest at the beginning of Thor: Ragnarok, experiencing a pretty significant breakdown after becoming the only surviving Valkyrie in Asgard and partying through it a little too hard. While it is certainly for the best that her booze-swilling days are behind her, Thor: Love & Thunder showed that she still harbors a more rowdy side that she relished in nurturing in their pursuit of Gorr. Furthermore, King Valkyrie remains one of the most honest and straight-talking characters in the MCU.
Thor: Ragnarok 3.5 PG-13 Where to Watch
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Thor: Ragnarok is the third Thor solo film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first directed by Taika Waititi. In the sequel, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) finds himself stranded on Sakaar, ruled by the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). Soon he teams with Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to return to Asgard and defeat his sister Hela.
Director Taika Waititi Release Date November 3, 2017 Studio(s) Marvel , Disney Cast Chris Hemsworth , Tessa Thompson , Tom Hiddleston , Mark Ruffalo , Jeff Goldblum , Cate Blanchett , Idris Elba , Karl Urban Runtime 130 Minutes
5 Katy Chen Knows How To Enjoy Herself
Katy Chen Is All About Breaking Out Of Her Comfort Zone
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The fact that she also sports some conspicuously brat-colored pants during her visit to Macau also feels like a somewhat prescient wardrobe choice for a character that would definitely be embracing brat summer.
Katy Chen is Shang-Chi’s best friend from San Francisco who wastes no time embarking on a mind-bending quest alongside him in their MCU debut, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Despite boasting no superpowers to speak of, Katy’s willingness to break out of her comfort zone is one of her most defining character traits. This culminates in her picking up archery within a few days and helping to slay the Dweller in Darkness – a giant soul-eating dragon beast – in the movie’s climax.
Throughout her MCU debut, Katy repeatedly throws caution to the wind. This ranges from joining Shang-Chi (and later Wong) for some ill-advised drinks and karaoke on a weeknight to helping to slay the aforementioned eldritch horror through sheer gusto. The fact that she also sports some conspicuously brat-colored pants during her visit to Macau also feels like a somewhat prescient wardrobe choice for a character that would definitely be embracing brat summer.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 4.0 PG-13 Where to Watch
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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the 26th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Simu Liu plays Shaun (Aka Shang-Chi), a valet living and working in San Francisco, along with his friend Katy (Awkwafina), when one day, his past comes knocking back at his door. To protect himself and Katy, Shaun reveals himself to be Shang-Chi and his lineage, with his father being the actual “Mandarin,” the leader of the Ten Rings criminal organization. His father is now reaching out to him, and his estranged sister and Shaun must head back to China to save his sister and figure out his father’s true motivations. Shang-Chi was one of the first films in the fourth phase of the MCU.
Director Destin Cretton Release Date September 3, 2021 Studio(s) Disney , Marvel Cast Awkwafina , Simu Liu , Tony Leung Chiu Wai Runtime 132 minutes
4 Trevor Slattery Continues To “Party Through It All”
Trevor Is Messy, Embraces The Uncomfortable, And Parties Hard
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Although his MCU debut in Iron Man 3 was controversial as he was essentially a human rug-pull that deprived audiences of seeing Iron Man clash with one of his most iconic and longstanding rivals, Trevor was impossible to dislike. His penchant for partying was immediately evident as he was seen chugging beers and admitting to taking the acting job as the Mandarin in exchange for a free flow of illicit substances. This may contribute to the blissful ignorance he maintains in the face of the pretty cataclysmic circumstances he continues to find himself in.
Trevor will return to the MCU in the Wonder Man show, which has yet to receive a release date.
Trevor’s admittedly deserved stint in prison also wasn’t enough to suppress his lust for life. Instead, he became a celebrity – much to the chagrin of fellow inmate Justin Hammer – and embraced the turmoil with characteristic optimism by quite literally continuing to “party through it.” He was most recently seen in Ta Lo, where he remained after witnessing some of the most mind-bending sights in the preceding battle, and would no doubt be continuing to do “dumb things” all the same.
Iron Man 3 4.0 PG-13 Where to Watch
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Iron Man 3 pits genius-billionaire-playboy-philanthropist Tony Stark (Iron Man) against the Mandarin, an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his world destroyed by his mysterious antagonist, he embarks on a dangerous quest to find those responsible. His journey will test his character at every turn. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him and determine whether or not the suit makes the man or if Tony himself is the hero.
Director Shane Black Release Date May 3, 2013 Studio(s) Marvel , Disney Cast Ben Kingsley , Guy Pearce , Paul Bettany , Don Cheadle , Gwyneth Paltrow , Jon Favreau , Robert Downey Jr. Runtime 130 Mins
3 Grandmaster Turned Sakaar Into Planet Brat
Grandmaster Parties Through Life
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Grandmaster’s whole MO surrounds his hedonistic lifestyle as the dictatorial ruler of Sakaar. His jubilantly carefree approach to forcing enslaved outsiders into gladiatorial death matches is something that was perfectly encapsulated by Jeff Goldblum’s inspired casting. He even approaches his downfall in the wake of Thor’s escape with a lovable sense of irreverence.
Grandmaster is the second Elder of the Universe to be introduced in the MCU after Benicio Del Toro’s Collector.
Grandmaster spends most of his time in Thor: Ragnarok enjoying himself within what he has essentially molded into a planet of perpetual Brat Summer. He does show slight volatility as he melt-sticks his own cousin without batting an eye, though he seems perpetually untroubled. As for what Grandmaster is doing in the wake of his deposition, as an Elder of the Universe he has most likely survived and continues to live his best life in some other capacity that the Multiverse Saga will hopefully reveal down the line.
2 Madisynn Encompasses All Things Brat
Madisynn Is Brat But Has Yet To Have A Breakdown
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Madisynn is a minor character who debuted in a single episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law as the very definition of “brat” before it became a thing. Her scenes are few but memorable, and nearly all involve her nursing a cocktail as she stumbles blissfully through a string of unfortunate decisions. The way in which she shrugs off making a deal with a demon called Jake after being sent to a hellish dimension by the charlatan Donny Blaze is even the kind of brat behavior that nothing during brat summer could top.
Madisynn is an original MCU character but was written into Marvel Comics canon after her unforgettable small-screen debut in 2022.
Given their shared brat-related habits, her friendship with “Wongers” is perhaps not as unlikely as it would first appear. Both have proven that they are risk-takers willing to live life to the full, whether it’s tussling with a hulk in an underground fighting ring or selling six drops of blood to a goat demon. Given neither has been seen since She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, it is still hopeful that the MCU will reveal that they have been enjoying Brat Summer together in the intervening months.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
Tatiana Maslany stars as Jennifer Walters, AKA She-Hulk in Marvel’s Disney+ TV series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. She-Hulk is a half-hour comedy series that follows the story of Jennifer Walters, Bruce Banner/Hulk’s cousin. Jennifer is an attorney who must juggle her life alongside being a 6-foot-7-inch hulk. Unlike her cousin, Jennifer is capable of managing her transformation at will. With these newfound powers, Jennifer will head-up a new superhero division at an opposing law firm while trying to learn what it means to be a hero. Additional casting includes Mark Ruffalo, reprising his role as Bruce Banner/ The Hulk, with Tim Roth joining the cast as Emil Blonsky/Abomination, the villain who originally appeared in The Incredible Hulk film. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is a part of the MCU’s Phase 4 and originally aired in August 2022.
Cast Ginger Gonzaga , Jon Bass , Josh Segarra , Tatiana Maslany , Tim Roth , Renee Elise Goldsberry , Anais Almonte , Mark Ruffalo , Benedict Wong , Jameela Jamil Release Date August 17, 2022 Streaming Service(s) Disney+ Writers Jessica Gao , Dana Schwartz , Cody Ziglar , John Buscema , Kara Brown , Francesca Gailes , Jacqueline Gailes , Melissa Hunter , Zeb Wells Directors Kat Coiro Showrunner Jessica Gao Expand
1 Deadpool Would Be Relishing Brat Summer
Deadpool Is Pure “Brat”
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If it had been released just months later, there is no doubt that Deadpool would have mentioned Brat Summer in his MCU debut, Deadpool & Wolverine. Deadpool’s R-rated franchise has made no attempts to quash his overly hedonistic lifestyle while also depicting him saying and doing plenty of “dumb things,” having a breakdown, delivering cutting harsh truths through fourth-wall breaks, and savoring the ridiculous circumstances he is embroiled in. All considered, Deadpool is the most brat MCU hero.
Deadpool & Wolverine saw Deadpool save his universe by introducing a new friend into his ever-growing inner circle – the titular Wolverine himself. Given all they’ve been through together, their rediscovered lust for life should be at its peak as Deadpool has started to rekindle his relationships and helped Wolverine achieve redemption. The fact that Deadpool & Wolverine canonically takes place in the summer of 2024 in their universe (while the MCU’s Sacred Timeline is currently in 2026) is just the icing on the lime-green cake.
Deadpool 4.0 R Where to Watch
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The Merch With The Mouth gets his very own film in Deadpool, an action-adventure comedy movie starring Ryan Reynolds as the titular hero. When mercenary Wade Wilson discovers he has an aggressive type of cancer that threatens to cut his life short, he decides to take a shady offer from a businessman who promises to cure him. Tortured and left for dead, the treatment makes Wade immortal – and a little bit twisted – as he seeks out his tormentors for revenge.
Director Tim Miller Release Date February 9, 2016 Studio(s) Marvel Entertainment , TSG Entertainment , Kinberg Genre , The Donners’ Company Cast Ryan Reynolds , Morena Baccarin , T.J. Miller , Brianna Hildebrand , Karan Soni , Ed Skrein , Michael Benyaer , Stefan Kapicic Runtime 108 Minutes
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Upcoming MCU Movies |
Release Date |
|---|---|
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Captain America: Brave New World |
February 14, 2025 |
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Thunderbolts* |
May 5, 2025 |
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The Fantastic Four |
July 25, 2025 |
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Blade |
November 7, 2025 |
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Avengers: Doomsday |
May 1, 2026 |
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Avengers: Secret Wars |
May 7, 2027 |