Marvel Studios is gearing up to unleash some of their most formidable foes in Phase 6, bringing iconic comic book villains and complex anti-heroes to the big and small screens. From cosmic devourers to criminal masterminds, these antagonists promise to challenge our favorite heroes in unprecedented ways. Here’s your complete guide to the confirmed and rumored villains set to shake up the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Confirmed Villains
Galactus
Appearing in: The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Release Date: July 25, 2025
Portrayed by: Ralph Ineson
In the comics, Galactus stands as one of Marvel’s most terrifying cosmic entities, a being who literally devours planets to sustain himself. Originally a mortal named Galan from the dying Sixth Cosmos, he was transformed into the Devourer of Worlds during the universe’s rebirth. Despite his devastating actions, Galactus holds no malice toward living beings—he simply does what he must to survive, appointing heralds like the Silver Surfer to scout suitable worlds for consumption.
Shalla-Bal / The Silver Surfer
Appearing in: The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Release Date: July 25, 2025
Portrayed by: Julia Garner
A fascinating twist on the Silver Surfer mythos, Shalla-Bal was originally Norrin Radd’s beloved on the peaceful world of Zenn-La. In the comics, she stood by Norrin through his dreams and struggles, even after he became the Silver Surfer to save their planet from Galactus. Her deep connection to Norrin and her own eventual wielding of the Power Cosmic make her a compelling character torn between love and cosmic duty.
Mole Man
Appearing in: The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Release Date: July 25, 2025
Portrayed by: Unknown
Harvey Elder’s transformation into the Mole Man is one of Marvel’s most tragic villain origin stories. Born around 1910, Elder was ridiculed for his appearance and poor eyesight throughout his life. His quest to find legendary underground realms led him to become ruler of Subterranea, commanding the Moloids and various monsters while developing enhanced senses in the darkness. His character represents the pain of rejection and the lengths one might go to find belonging.
Magneto
Appearing in: Avengers: Doomsday
Release Date: December 18, 2026
Portrayed by: Ian McKellen
Erik Magnus Lehnsherr, the Master of Magnetism, remains one of Marvel’s most complex villains. A Holocaust survivor who discovered his mutant abilities through tragedy, Magneto believes mutants are superior to humans and should rule over them. His philosophical battles with Professor Xavier have defined decades of X-Men stories, positioning him as both a terrorist and a freedom fighter depending on perspective.
Mystique
Appearing in: Avengers: Doomsday
Release Date: December 18, 2026
Portrayed by: Rebecca Romijn
Raven Darkhölme, known as Mystique, is a shapeshifting mutant whose mysterious origins have made her one of Marvel’s most unpredictable characters. Originally working alongside her clairvoyant wife Destiny to shape mutant futures, Mystique has infiltrated countless organizations while pursuing her extremist goals. Her complex relationship with her foster daughter Rogue adds emotional depth to her terrorist activities.
Kingpin
Appearing in: Daredevil: Born Again Season 2
Release Date: March 2026
Portrayed by: Vincent D’Onofrio
Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime, built his criminal empire through ruthless ambition after murdering his boss Don Rigoletto. As both a powerful crime lord and former mayor of New York City, Fisk represents the corruption that can exist at every level of society. His intelligence and physical imposing presence make him a formidable opponent for street-level heroes like Daredevil and Spider-Man.
Vanessa Fisk
Appearing in: Daredevil: Born Again Season 2
Release Date: March 2026
Portrayed by: Ayelet Zurer
Vanessa Marianna Fisk evolved from an art dealer into a crime lady, proving her loyalty to Wilson Fisk even after learning of his criminal empire. In recent comic storylines, she has taken over Wilson’s criminal operations while he pursued political ambitions. Her character demonstrates how love and loyalty can lead someone down dark paths, making her a compelling antagonist in her own right.
Bullseye
Appearing in: Daredevil: Born Again Season 2
Release Date: March 2026
Portrayed by: Wilson Bethel
The assassin known as Bullseye possesses supernatural accuracy with any projectile, making him one of Marvel’s deadliest killers. His mysterious origins and conflicting backstories add to his menace—he delights in psychological games and has claimed responsibility for burning down his family home. His obsession with proving himself superior to Daredevil has led to some of the hero’s most personal losses.
Grim Reaper
Appearing in: Wonder Man
Release Date: December 2025
Portrayed by: Demetrius Grosse
Eric Williams became the Grim Reaper after his brother Simon’s transformation into Wonder Man and subsequent death. Jealous of Simon since childhood and bitter about their family dynamics, Eric’s guilt and anger drove him to become a scythe-wielding villain. His inability to harm the Vision, who possesses Simon’s brainwave patterns, creates complex emotional conflicts in his villainous pursuits.
Doctor Doom
Appearing in: Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026) or possibly The Fantastic Four: First Steps post-credits
Portrayed by: Robert Downey Jr.
Victor Von Doom stands as Marvel’s greatest villain—a brilliant scientist and sorcerer who rules the nation of Latveria with an iron fist. Scarred both physically and emotionally by his rivalry with Reed Richards, Doom believes he alone can bring order to the world. His combination of technological genius, mystical knowledge, and unwavering pride makes him uniquely dangerous, capable of stealing power from cosmic entities and reshaping reality itself.
Unconfirmed Villains
Mister Negative
Appearing in: Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Release Date: July 31, 2026
Status: Rumored
If confirmed, Mister Negative would bring a unique dual-identity villain to the MCU. In the comics, the man who became Mister Negative was a victim of illegal human trafficking and drug experimentation, resulting in two distinct personalities—the charitable Martin Li and the criminal Mister Negative. His tragic origin story mirrors that of Cloak and Dagger, with whom he shares his powers’ source.
Jocasta
Appearing in: Vision Quest
Release Date: 2026
Portrayed by: T’Nia Miller
Status: Role unclear
Created by Ultron to house the Wasp’s consciousness, Jocasta defied her programming to become a heroic figure. Whether she’ll appear as villain, anti-hero, or ally remains to be seen, but her complex relationship with artificial intelligence themes could provide fascinating conflict for Vision.
Paladin
Appearing in: Vision Quest
Release Date: 2026
Portrayed by: Todd Stashwick
Status: Role unclear
A mercenary and private investigator in the comics, Paladin has worked both sides of the law throughout his career. His appearance in Vision Quest could position him as either an obstacle or reluctant ally to the android Avenger.
Raza
Appearing in: Vision Quest
Release Date: 2026
Portrayed by: Faran Tahir
Status: Likely antagonistic
The Ten Rings commander who originally captured Tony Stark returns to the MCU. Given his terrorist background and connection to the organization that has plagued the MCU since its beginning, Raza will likely serve in an antagonistic role.
Ultron
Appearing in: Vision Quest
Release Date: 2026
Portrayed by: James Spader
Status: Likely antagonistic
The return of the mechanical menace who nearly destroyed Earth promises significant implications for Vision’s story. In the comics, Ultron’s relationship with his “son” Vision has provided some of Marvel’s most emotionally complex storylines, exploring themes of family, identity, and the nature of artificial consciousness.
Who are you most excited to see during Marvel’s Phase 6? Let us know in the comments below! Be sure to follow @NoConCulture for more!
