The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had many villains unexpectedly return after seemingly being killed or otherwise incapacitated within the franchise. Alongside the franchise’s many heroes, the movies of the MCU have introduced a wealth of antagonists. Lifted from the pages of Marvel Comics and adapted to the big screen, the MCU has featured a number of noteworthy and nefarious villains, many of whose respective stories tend to reach what appears to be a natural conclusion.
Not all of these apparent endings are actually the villain in question’s last appearance in the timeline of the MCU, however. Many of the antagonists of the MCU reappear, continuing their story within the franchise, and often in an unexpected manner. Whether they return from the dead or simply make another appearance after their villain arc has seemingly been resolved, here are 12 MCU villains who returned.
12 Zemo Returned As An Unlikely MCU Ally
First Appearance: Captain America: Civil War (2016)
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Although Baron Zemo’s role in Captain America: Civil War was not the main focus of the movie, he was undoubtedly the main antagonist of the 2016 film. His scheme to divide the Avengers by seeding discontent within their ranks came off just as the villain planned, exacting his revenge for the deaths of his family in the Battle of Sokovia during the events of Age of Ultron: Civil War ended with Zemo being taken into custody, seemingly bringing his MCU story to a close.
However, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier saw Baron Zemo return, as he was enlisted by Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes to assist in stopping the Flag Smashers. The nature of the show’s antagonists meant that Zemo’s own goals aligned with those of the heroes, making the former villain an unlikely – and temporary – ally. Even so, his story was seemingly over after Civil War, and his return was a somewhat unexpected narrative development for the MCU.
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12 8.3/10 Captain America: Civil War
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*Availability in US Director Anthony Russo , Joe Russo Release Date May 6, 2016
11 Red Skull’s Return Saw The Villain Given A New Role
First Appearance: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
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When it comes to powerful MCU villains that the franchise seemingly wasted, Red Skull is often listed as one of the most obvious examples. His appearance in Captain America: The First Avenger set him up to be Steve Rogers’ ultimate nemesis, but his apparent death at the end of the movie put an abrupt end to that potential. Seven years without even a mention of Red Skull made it seem as though his MCU story was truly finished after just one appearance.
The events of Avengers: Infinity War saw many characters return to the fold, including an unexpected appearance from the Red Skull. The villain’s new role as the keeper of the Soul Stone within the MCU saw him play a further part in the franchise’s Infinity Saga with his return. Furthermore, it also opened the door for the antagonist to reappear in the MCU in a more antagonistic role once more.
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8.9/10 Captain America: The First Avenger
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*Availability in US Director Joe Johnston Release Date July 22, 2011
10 Vulture Made His Return Outside Of The MCU
First Appearance: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
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Michael Keaton’s MCU debut came in Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017, where he appeared as Adrian Toomes – better known as the villain the Vulture. After being thwarted by Spider-Man, Toomes is arrested and shown at the end of the movie in prison alongside other villains. As his crimes will have earned him a significant sentence, it appeared as though Toomes’ story was over within the MCU for some time.
Five years later, however, the Vulture returned in an unlikely manner. The Multiversal fallout of Spider-Man: No Way Home saw Toomes appear in Morbius’ post-credits scene, teasing a future Sinister Six movie within Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Having the Vulture cross over into another movie universe was an inventive way of freeing him from custody, and it saw the return of an MCU villain that seemed otherwise destined to remain in prison.
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8/10 Spider-Man: Homecoming
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*Availability in US Director Jon Watts Release Date July 7, 2017
9 General Thunderbolt Ross Returned To Oppose The MCU’s Heroes
First Appearance: The Incredible Hulk (2008)
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General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross first appeared in the MCU in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, which saw him pursuing Bruce Banner across the world in an attempt to capture him. Considering Ross has long been a major player within the world of Marvel Comics, his role in the franchise seemed short-lived, as he all but disappeared alongside the rest of The Incredible Hulk’s supporting characters. However, Ross did return on multiple occasions.
Ross first returned in an attempt to exert governmental control over the Avengers in Captain America: Civil War in 2016, marking his second appearance in the MCU after an eight-year hiatus. He then reappeared in 2021’s Black Widow, albeit in a supporting capacity. The death of actor William Hurt cast Ross’s continued MCU role into doubt, but he is set to return – with the role recast and played by Harrison Ford – as part of the cast of Captain America: Brave New World.
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6.7/10 The Incredible Hulk
Director Louis Leterrier Release Date June 13, 2008
8 Yellowjacket Returned As A Whole New Villain
First Appearance: Ant-Man (2015)
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Corey Stoll’s Darren Cross made his MCU debut in 2015’s Ant-Man, serving as the movie’s main antagonist. The film saw Cross recreate Hank Pym’s formula for Pym Particles, building a suit of his own and dubbing himself the Yellowjacket. Cross’s plans to sell his formula to the highest bidder – namely, the organizations such as Hydra and the Ten Rings – saw him opposed by Scott Lang and Hank Pym. The movie’s ending saw the villain lost to the Quantum Realm, a fate that was supposedly as final as death.
Darren Cross made his unexpected MCU return as part of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’s cast, albeit as an entirely different villain. Scott Lang and the Ant-Family’s journey into the Quantum Realm saw them once again encounter Cross, who had been transformed into the villain MODOK by the quantum malfunction of his Yellowjacket suit. In doing so, Darren Cross became one of a select number of MCU villains to assume the mantle of multiple villains with his franchise return.
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7.3/10 Ant-Man
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*Availability in US Director Peyton Reed Release Date July 14, 2015
7 Trevor Slattery & The Mandarin Returned Separately
First Appearance: Iron Man 3 (2013)
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Iron Man 3 proved massively controversial in its handling of the Mandarin, as the film revealed that the MCU’s iteration of the villain was simply a fabrication using an actor named Trevor Slattery by Aldrich Killian. The reveal was as unpopular as it was subversive, seemingly robbing the MCU of one of Iron Man’s most iconic foes from the comics. However, Iron Man 3’s Mandarin actually returned in more ways than one.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings saw the introduction of the real Mandarin, Xu Wenwu, as a true MCU villain. It also saw the return of Trevor Slattery, who had been imprisoned by Wenwu for making use of his persona. This came after the Mandarin’s brief return in the All Hail the King one shot, establishing the villain’s full return within the MCU on multiple fronts.
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6.1/10 Iron Man 3
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*Availability in US Director Shane Black Release Date May 3, 2013
6 Abomination’s Return Improved The Villain Significantly
First Appearance: The Incredible Hulk (2008)
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Tim Roth was cast as Emil Blonsky for 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, which saw the character transform into the villain Abomination. The film ended with a large-scale showdown between Hulk and Abomination, culminating in Blonsky’s capture and imprisonment. The villain then went unacknowledged within the MCU for many years, seemingly forgotten alongside several other Phase 1 villains. Just when it seemed his story was over, however, he reemerged.
Roth returned as Blonsky for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, reprising his villain role in the best way possible. She-Hulk‘s Abomination was a reformed villain, instead offering support to the show’s hero in an attempt to redeem himself for his past misdeeds. Having Blonsky return after a 14-year absence to redeem himself in the eyes of the MCU was an incredibly satisfying development for one of the franchise’s seemingly forgotten villains.
5 Klaue Came Back To Play A Bigger Villain Role
First Appearance: Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015)
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A relatively unknown figure from the comics, Ulysses Klaue made his MCU debut with a minor role in Avengers: Age of Ultron. The arms dealer was approached by Ultron for his stock of stolen vibranium, with the AI antagonist cutting off Klaue’s arm before relieving him of his wares. This initially seemed as though it might be the end of Klaue’s MCU story, but he made his return with a significant role a few years later.
Klaue reappeared in 2018’s Black Panther, playing a more significant role as a part of Erik Killmonger’s plan to infiltrate and seize control of Wakanda. Klaue’s prior experience entering Wakanda made him a valuable asset to Killmonger, although he was promptly betrayed by his accomplice and killed. Klaue’s MCU return may have been short-lived, but he was able to play a larger role in his second outing in the franchise.
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16 7.3/10 Avengers: Age of Ultron
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*Availability in US Director Joss Whedon Release Date May 1, 2015
4 Ronan The Accuser Returned After Death
First Appearance: Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
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Making his MCU debut in Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014, Ronan the Accuser was the franchise’s first major introduction of the Kree. His role as a puppet of Thanos before being corrupted by the Power Stone into betraying the Mad Titan marked an important moment in the MCU. As Guardians of the Galaxy ended with Ronan being consumed by the energy of Power Stone and killed, it certainly seemed as though his MCU story had come to a close.
2019’s Captain Marvel saw Ronan return, however. The MCU’s connection between Carol Danvers and the Kree afforded the film an opportunity to include Ronan once more, as it was set roughly two decades before the events of Guardians of the Galaxy. Ronan only makes a brief appearance in which he’s easily overwhelmed by Captain Marvel, but he was able to return despite his on-screen death five years prior.
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8.9/10 Guardians of the Galaxy
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*Availability in US Director James Gunn Release Date July 30, 2014
3 Killmonger Reappeared On The MCU’s Ancestral Plane
First Appearance: Black Panther (2018)
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Often cited as one of the most complex and morally captivating villains in MCU history, Michael B. Jordan first appeared as Erik Killmonger in 2018’s Black Panther. The villain emerged with the goal to establish himself as the ruler of Wakanda in order to share its power with the world, overthrowing the film’s hero in the process. The movie ended with Killmonger’s death after a battle with T’Challa, giving him a story seemingly contained within a single movie.
The sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, saw Killmonger make his MCU return. The tragic and untimely death of Chadwick Boseman saw the sequel take on a new perspective, with Shuri assuming her late brother’s mantle within the MCU. During her transformation, she meets Killmonger in the Ancestral Plane, with the villain making his second appearance in a limited role as Shuri’s unlikely guide to becoming a hero.
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11 9/10 Black Panther
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*Availability in US Director Ryan Coogler Release Date February 16, 2018
2 Agatha Returned To Head Her Own MCU Show
First Appearance: WandaVision (2021)
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Agatha Harkness served as the main villain of WandaVision, albeit in a manner that kept her true nature concealed from the audience for the majority of the show. The witch’s manipulation of Wanda Maximoff ultimately saw the two face off, with the former Avenger gaining the upper hand. After taking the Darkhold from Agatha, Wanda stripped her of her magical abilities and her memories, instead forcing her into the role she chose to play during the Westview hex.
Agatha All Along saw Agatha recover, shaking off the Agnes persona and embark on a journey to recover her powers. Though WandaVision certainly left Agatha’s story open to continuation, it also gave her an ending final enough that the character may never have reappeared. Even so, Agatha All Along brought Harkness back to rediscover her abilities in order to reclaim her former status within the MCU’s magical community.
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16 8.9/10 WandaVision
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*Availability in US Release Date January 15, 2021 Seasons 1
1 Loki Came Back From The Dead Many Times
First Appearance: Thor (2011)
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When it comes to making sensational MCU returns, no villain is able to match Loki. Having appeared in multiple MCU movies, Loki has either died or been presumed dead on several occasions within the franchise. 2011’s Thor, its 2013 sequel Thor: The Dark World, and Avengers: Infinity War all saw Loki supposedly meet his end, although each and every occasion has proven to be surmountable for Asgard’s former God of Mischief.
Each time Loki’s story appears to have ended, he returns from the dead in one manner or another to continue his role within the MCU. His post-Endgame foray into the Multiverse not only brought him back yet again, but it also saw the beginning of his journey to become much more heroic, ultimately ending with a heroic sacrifice to save all of reality. As such, Loki is recognized as the villain to have most often returned against the odds in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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7.6/10 Thor
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*Availability in US Director Kenneth Branagh Release Date May 6, 2011
Upcoming MCU Movies
-
Captain America: Brave New World
Release Date February 14, 2025
- Thunderbolts*
Release Date May 2, 2025
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
Release Date July 25, 2025
- Blade (2025)
Release Date November 7, 2025
- Avengers: Doomsday
Release Date May 1, 2026
- Avengers: Secret Wars
Release Date May 7, 2027
Captain America: Brave New World
Thunderbolts*
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
Blade (2025)
Avengers: Doomsday
Avengers: Secret Wars