8 Storylines The MCU Completely Abandoned

Russell Murray - Yesterday 11:15 PM

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For a franchise as old and prolific as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there were bound to be a few stray
plot threads Feige Who Remains had to trim to preserve the sacred MCU timeline (i.e. a coherent and
accessible story).

8 Storylines The MCU Completely Abandoned

© Provided by CBR

8 Storylines The MCU Completely Abandoned

RELATED: 8 Things To Look Forward To In Thor Love And Thunder

While some abandoned threads may be woven back into the MCU and others will be forgotten forever,
it's interesting looking back through the nearly fifteen years of continuity to remember some of the
stories that didn't end up making it. At the very least, it reinforces how impressive it is the MCU was able
to cover as much ground as it did without sacrificing more stories. It also illuminates some unexpected
places the universe could go.

The Sokovia Accords Are Rarely Enforced

For the length of Captain America: Civil War, the Sokovia Accords felt like a cleverly small-scale yet
ultimately universe-defining shift that would change the way heroes operated forever. It's the sort of
storytelling many fans hoped for from the MCU. Yet, after the credits rolled, it seemed like the only
consequential aspect of the accords was the fracturing of the Avengers; superheroes side-step or
otherwise ignore the accords in every single instance. The only time they're even referenced is in Black
Widow and (sort of) Spider-Man: Homecoming. Still, in the latter film, Peter does plenty of crime-fighting
that's ignored by the government. It's unknown if the accords remain effective in a post-blip world, but
it'd be nice to see them have more of an effect on the MCU.

Mac Gargan Never Became The Scorpion

Likely a casualty of the complex relationship between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment
(who essentially share some Spider-Man characters), Mac Gargan was introduced into the MCU in the
2017 film, Spider-Man: Homecoming, played by Better Call Saul's breakout star, Michael Mando.

RELATED: 5 Best Spider-Man Villains Across All Three Series (& 5 Worst)

In the comics, the character not only goes on to become the classic and yet-to-be-seen Spidey villain, the
Scorpion, but becomes a core member of the Dark Avengers (a storyline the MCU is at least flirting with).
However, two Spider-Man movies later and Gargan is yet to be seen or heard from again.

The Iron Legion Was Never Recommissioned

At the beginning of 2015's Age of Ultron, it's shown how Tony Stark has invented and implemented an
effective (yet controversial) peacekeeping force called "The Iron Legion." It was essentially a fleet of
unmanned Iron Man suits piloted by JARVIS.

While Ultron's birth and subsequent murder of Stark's beloved A.I. put a sizable dent in Stark's legion, it
seems odd he wouldn't revisit this technology. After all, the Avengers dissolved, restrictions were put in
place, and Stark seemingly lost his faith in the people protecting the earth; so, why wouldn't he reinstate
this proven protective force?

Mordo's Villainous Arc Happened Off-Screen

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was a triumphant film with flare, fan service, and plenty of
action and heart. Yet, there was one aspect that may have been disappointing to audiences; the
treatment of Mordo. At the end of the previous Doctor Strange film, Mordo was seemingly set up as the
franchise's next villain – and a compelling one at that. However, when the heroes travel to Earth-838,
audiences learn Mordo and Strange have been fighting off-screen for years, which guts that storyline
tremendously – if not clipping it entirely. Indeed, in an early script for the sequel, Scarlet Witch was
slated to behead the sorcerer early in the film's runtime (before audiences would realize she was the
villain). It's a disappointing end to one of the MCU's most interesting threats.

The Films Don't Do Much With The Raft

Another Civil War casualty, the film introduced the iconic superhero penitentiary "The Raft," which fans
instantly recognized from the comic books. However, since its use in Civil War, the location hasn't been
revisited in any meaningful capacity (save for one shot in The Falcon and the Winter Solider and some
lip-service in Black Widow).

RELATED: Falcon's 5 Best Fights In The MCU (& Who Won)

Who currently resides in the prison? Was it built specifically for the Avengers? If so, what are they doing
with it now they're all free? All these questions point toward the fact the Raft could be ripe for
exploration and storytelling opportunities.

Bruce and Natasha's Romance Lasted One Film

Depending on how a fan feels about this pairing, they may believe this omission is for the better or the
worse. Primarily introduced in 2015's, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff had
complicated and un-actionable feelings for each other. These feelings go unresolved as the Hulk pilots a
quinjet into the unknown regions of space at the end of the film. However, when the two are reunited
during Infinity War, this plot point remained unaddressed. In a film that big, it would have been difficult
and likely unsuccessful to jam in a romantic subplot between the two. The Russos allowed for two small
moments of acknowledgment for fans who wanted to read into them, but it still feels as though the plot
went unresolved.

Samuel Sterns Never Became The Leader

A tale as old as the MCU itself: the tragedy of the Hulk franchise. Despite being one of the founding
entries in the MCU, The Incredible Hulk has been all but discarded by the mainstream universe – to the
point many fans wonder if it's still considered canon.
RELATED: 11 Actors Who Should Have Cameod In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

While the character of Bruce Banner has flourished in his shared adventures, and certain supporting
characters like Thaddeus Ross and Emil Blonsky have received second lives a decade later, much of the
film still oozes potential. Chief among these is Samuel Stern's lab accident, which causes his head to
bulge in foreboding ways. In the comics, he becomes the powerful Hulk adversary, "The Leader," though
it seems as though fans may never see this come to pass on the big screen.

Mysterio Is An Entire Team Who Seemingly Vanished

Spider-Man: Far From Home struck a great balance between reinventing Mysterio and honoring his
comic roots. This was accomplished by turning Mysterio into a team of spurned scientists and VFX
geniuses, while still centering the grift around Jake Gyllenhaal's captivating and charismatic pseudo-
superhero, Quentin Beck. While Beck seemingly met his demise at the hands of a ricocheted bullet in the
film's finale, there's still a whole team out there dedicated to their mission: at least enough to convince
the world Spider-Man murdered Beck. The legacy of Tony Stark remains intact, so surely their mission
isn't over?

8 Storylines The MCU Completely Abandoned

Russell Murray - Yesterday 11:15 PM

Follow

View Profile

1 Comment

21

For a franchise as old and prolific as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there were bound to be a few stray
plot threads Feige Who Remains had to trim to preserve the sacred MCU timeline (i.e. a coherent and
accessible story).

8 Storylines The MCU Completely Abandoned

© Provided by CBR

8 Storylines The MCU Completely Abandoned

RELATED: 8 Things To Look Forward To In Thor Love And Thunder

While some abandoned threads may be woven back into the MCU and others will be forgotten forever,
it's interesting looking back through the nearly fifteen years of continuity to remember some of the
stories that didn't end up making it. At the very least, it reinforces how impressive it is the MCU was able
to cover as much ground as it did without sacrificing more stories. It also illuminates some unexpected
places the universe could go.

The Sokovia Accords Are Rarely Enforced

For the length of Captain America: Civil War, the Sokovia Accords felt like a cleverly small-scale yet
ultimately universe-defining shift that would change the way heroes operated forever. It's the sort of
storytelling many fans hoped for from the MCU. Yet, after the credits rolled, it seemed like the only
consequential aspect of the accords was the fracturing of the Avengers; superheroes side-step or
otherwise ignore the accords in every single instance. The only time they're even referenced is in Black
Widow and (sort of) Spider-Man: Homecoming. Still, in the latter film, Peter does plenty of crime-fighting
that's ignored by the government. It's unknown if the accords remain effective in a post-blip world, but
it'd be nice to see them have more of an effect on the MCU.

Mac Gargan Never Became The Scorpion

Likely a casualty of the complex relationship between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment
(who essentially share some Spider-Man characters), Mac Gargan was introduced into the MCU in the
2017 film, Spider-Man: Homecoming, played by Better Call Saul's breakout star, Michael Mando.

RELATED: 5 Best Spider-Man Villains Across All Three Series (& 5 Worst)

In the comics, the character not only goes on to become the classic and yet-to-be-seen Spidey villain, the
Scorpion, but becomes a core member of the Dark Avengers (a storyline the MCU is at least flirting with).
However, two Spider-Man movies later and Gargan is yet to be seen or heard from again.

The Iron Legion Was Never Recommissioned

At the beginning of 2015's Age of Ultron, it's shown how Tony Stark has invented and implemented an
effective (yet controversial) peacekeeping force called "The Iron Legion." It was essentially a fleet of
unmanned Iron Man suits piloted by JARVIS.

While Ultron's birth and subsequent murder of Stark's beloved A.I. put a sizable dent in Stark's legion, it
seems odd he wouldn't revisit this technology. After all, the Avengers dissolved, restrictions were put in
place, and Stark seemingly lost his faith in the people protecting the earth; so, why wouldn't he reinstate
this proven protective force?

Mordo's Villainous Arc Happened Off-Screen

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was a triumphant film with flare, fan service, and plenty of
action and heart. Yet, there was one aspect that may have been disappointing to audiences; the
treatment of Mordo. At the end of the previous Doctor Strange film, Mordo was seemingly set up as the
franchise's next villain – and a compelling one at that. However, when the heroes travel to Earth-838,
audiences learn Mordo and Strange have been fighting off-screen for years, which guts that storyline
tremendously – if not clipping it entirely. Indeed, in an early script for the sequel, Scarlet Witch was
slated to behead the sorcerer early in the film's runtime (before audiences would realize she was the
villain). It's a disappointing end to one of the MCU's most interesting threats.

The Films Don't Do Much With The Raft

Another Civil War casualty, the film introduced the iconic superhero penitentiary "The Raft," which fans
instantly recognized from the comic books. However, since its use in Civil War, the location hasn't been
revisited in any meaningful capacity (save for one shot in The Falcon and the Winter Solider and some
lip-service in Black Widow).

RELATED: Falcon's 5 Best Fights In The MCU (& Who Won)

Who currently resides in the prison? Was it built specifically for the Avengers? If so, what are they doing
with it now they're all free? All these questions point toward the fact the Raft could be ripe for
exploration and storytelling opportunities.

Bruce and Natasha's Romance Lasted One Film

Depending on how a fan feels about this pairing, they may believe this omission is for the better or the
worse. Primarily introduced in 2015's, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff had
complicated and un-actionable feelings for each other. These feelings go unresolved as the Hulk pilots a
quinjet into the unknown regions of space at the end of the film. However, when the two are reunited
during Infinity War, this plot point remained unaddressed. In a film that big, it would have been difficult
and likely unsuccessful to jam in a romantic subplot between the two. The Russos allowed for two small
moments of acknowledgment for fans who wanted to read into them, but it still feels as though the plot
went unresolved.

Samuel Sterns Never Became The Leader

A tale as old as the MCU itself: the tragedy of the Hulk franchise. Despite being one of the founding
entries in the MCU, The Incredible Hulk has been all but discarded by the mainstream universe – to the
point many fans wonder if it's still considered canon.

RELATED: 11 Actors Who Should Have Cameod In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

While the character of Bruce Banner has flourished in his shared adventures, and certain supporting
characters like Thaddeus Ross and Emil Blonsky have received second lives a decade later, much of the
film still oozes potential. Chief among these is Samuel Stern's lab accident, which causes his head to
bulge in foreboding ways. In the comics, he becomes the powerful Hulk adversary, "The Leader," though
it seems as though fans may never see this come to pass on the big screen.

Mysterio Is An Entire Team Who Seemingly Vanished

Spider-Man: Far From Home struck a great balance between reinventing Mysterio and honoring his
comic roots. This was accomplished by turning Mysterio into a team of spurned scientists and VFX
geniuses, while still centering the grift around Jake Gyllenhaal's captivating and charismatic pseudo-
superhero, Quentin Beck. While Beck seemingly met his demise at the hands of a ricocheted bullet in the
film's finale, there's still a whole team out there dedicated to their mission: at least enough to convince
the world Spider-Man murdered Beck. The legacy of Tony Stark remains intact, so surely their mission
isn't over?

8 Storylines The MCU Completely Abandoned

Russell Murray - Yesterday 11:15 PM

Follow

View Profile

1 Comment

21

For a franchise as old and prolific as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there were bound to be a few stray
plot threads Feige Who Remains had to trim to preserve the sacred MCU timeline (i.e. a coherent and
accessible story).

8 Storylines The MCU Completely Abandoned

© Provided by CBR

8 Storylines The MCU Completely Abandoned

RELATED: 8 Things To Look Forward To In Thor Love And Thunder

While some abandoned threads may be woven back into the MCU and others will be forgotten forever,
it's interesting looking back through the nearly fifteen years of continuity to remember some of the
stories that didn't end up making it. At the very least, it reinforces how impressive it is the MCU was able
to cover as much ground as it did without sacrificing more stories. It also illuminates some unexpected
places the universe could go.

The Sokovia Accords Are Rarely Enforced

For the length of Captain America: Civil War, the Sokovia Accords felt like a cleverly small-scale yet
ultimately universe-defining shift that would change the way heroes operated forever. It's the sort of
storytelling many fans hoped for from the MCU. Yet, after the credits rolled, it seemed like the only
consequential aspect of the accords was the fracturing of the Avengers; superheroes side-step or
otherwise ignore the accords in every single instance. The only time they're even referenced is in Black
Widow and (sort of) Spider-Man: Homecoming. Still, in the latter film, Peter does plenty of crime-fighting
that's ignored by the government. It's unknown if the accords remain effective in a post-blip world, but
it'd be nice to see them have more of an effect on the MCU.

Mac Gargan Never Became The Scorpion

Likely a casualty of the complex relationship between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment
(who essentially share some Spider-Man characters), Mac Gargan was introduced into the MCU in the
2017 film, Spider-Man: Homecoming, played by Better Call Saul's breakout star, Michael Mando.

RELATED: 5 Best Spider-Man Villains Across All Three Series (& 5 Worst)

In the comics, the character not only goes on to become the classic and yet-to-be-seen Spidey villain, the
Scorpion, but becomes a core member of the Dark Avengers (a storyline the MCU is at least flirting with).
However, two Spider-Man movies later and Gargan is yet to be seen or heard from again.

The Iron Legion Was Never Recommissioned

At the beginning of 2015's Age of Ultron, it's shown how Tony Stark has invented and implemented an
effective (yet controversial) peacekeeping force called "The Iron Legion." It was essentially a fleet of
unmanned Iron Man suits piloted by JARVIS.

While Ultron's birth and subsequent murder of Stark's beloved A.I. put a sizable dent in Stark's legion, it
seems odd he wouldn't revisit this technology. After all, the Avengers dissolved, restrictions were put in
place, and Stark seemingly lost his faith in the people protecting the earth; so, why wouldn't he reinstate
this proven protective force?

Mordo's Villainous Arc Happened Off-Screen

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was a triumphant film with flare, fan service, and plenty of
action and heart. Yet, there was one aspect that may have been disappointing to audiences; the
treatment of Mordo. At the end of the previous Doctor Strange film, Mordo was seemingly set up as the
franchise's next villain – and a compelling one at that. However, when the heroes travel to Earth-838,
audiences learn Mordo and Strange have been fighting off-screen for years, which guts that storyline
tremendously – if not clipping it entirely. Indeed, in an early script for the sequel, Scarlet Witch was
slated to behead the sorcerer early in the film's runtime (before audiences would realize she was the
villain). It's a disappointing end to one of the MCU's most interesting threats.

The Films Don't Do Much With The Raft

Another Civil War casualty, the film introduced the iconic superhero penitentiary "The Raft," which fans
instantly recognized from the comic books. However, since its use in Civil War, the location hasn't been
revisited in any meaningful capacity (save for one shot in The Falcon and the Winter Solider and some
lip-service in Black Widow).

RELATED: Falcon's 5 Best Fights In The MCU (& Who Won)

Who currently resides in the prison? Was it built specifically for the Avengers? If so, what are they doing
with it now they're all free? All these questions point toward the fact the Raft could be ripe for
exploration and storytelling opportunities.

Bruce and Natasha's Romance Lasted One Film

Depending on how a fan feels about this pairing, they may believe this omission is for the better or the
worse. Primarily introduced in 2015's, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff had
complicated and un-actionable feelings for each other. These feelings go unresolved as the Hulk pilots a
quinjet into the unknown regions of space at the end of the film. However, when the two are reunited
during Infinity War, this plot point remained unaddressed. In a film that big, it would have been difficult
and likely unsuccessful to jam in a romantic subplot between the two. The Russos allowed for two small
moments of acknowledgment for fans who wanted to read into them, but it still feels as though the plot
went unresolved.

Samuel Sterns Never Became The Leader

A tale as old as the MCU itself: the tragedy of the Hulk franchise. Despite being one of the founding
entries in the MCU, The Incredible Hulk has been all but discarded by the mainstream universe – to the
point many fans wonder if it's still considered canon.

RELATED: 11 Actors Who Should Have Cameod In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

While the character of Bruce Banner has flourished in his shared adventures, and certain supporting
characters like Thaddeus Ross and Emil Blonsky have received second lives a decade later, much of the
film still oozes potential. Chief among these is Samuel Stern's lab accident, which causes his head to
bulge in foreboding ways. In the comics, he becomes the powerful Hulk adversary, "The Leader," though
it seems as though fans may never see this come to pass on the big screen.

Mysterio Is An Entire Team Who Seemingly Vanished

Spider-Man: Far From Home struck a great balance between reinventing Mysterio and honoring his
comic roots. This was accomplished by turning Mysterio into a team of spurned scientists and VFX
geniuses, while still centering the grift around Jake Gyllenhaal's captivating and charismatic pseudo-
superhero, Quentin Beck. While Beck seemingly met his demise at the hands of a ricocheted bullet in the
film's finale, there's still a whole team out there dedicated to their mission: at least enough to convince
the world Spider-Man murdered Beck. The legacy of Tony Stark remains intact, so surely their mission
isn't over?