A new branch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been revealed, and the Marvel Spotlight banner would be the perfect place to explore new characters in the MCU’s future.

Marvel Studios kicked off the MCU with 2008’s Iron Man, and since then, over forty projects have been released, creating the most expansive and interconnected superhero film franchise of all time. This huge back catalog makes it a tall task for new viewers to catch up on the overarching storylines to make upcoming projects more understandable, but Marvel Studios may have just solved this issue by introducing a new category for MCU projects, focusing less on fitting into ongoing MCU lore.

Marvel Studios’ upcoming Echo on Disney+ will be the first project to be released under the Marvel Spotlight banner, allowing Alaqua Cox’s MCU return to focus more on her character of Maya Lopez, a.k.a. Echo, without connecting too heavily to the MCU. This will allow Echo and subsequent Marvel Spotlight projects to focus on more grounded, character-driven stories, focusing more on street-level stakes rather than tying into the greater MCU continuity. Echo’s story will surely benefit from this shift, and several other potential and upcoming MCU characters – both heroes and villains – could also deliver more impactful storylines if they also fall under Marvel Studios’ new Marvel Spotlight banner.

10 Red Wolf

Not Yet Seen In The MCU

Although Red Wolf hasn’t been confirmed to be coming to the MCU yet, he was the subject of 1971’s Marvel Spotlight #1, so Marvel Studios’ new banner would be the perfect place to introduce the Native American hero. Johnny Wakely was the first recorded version of Red Wolf, a Native American man who had been raised by a white couple and who was enhanced by the spirit of Cheyenne god Owayodata. Marvel Spotlight would be the perfect place for the MCU to explore Western-inspired storylines from Marvel Comics, and since Echo will be investigating Native American culture in great detail, this theme could continue with the introduction of Red Wolf.

Red Wolf was introduced in the first issue of Marvel Comics’ Marvel Spotlight series back in 1971.

9 Blade

Last Heard Via Voice Cameo In Eternals (2021)

Mahershala Ali was confirmed to be portraying the MCU’s Blade in 2019, but since the initial announcement, Marvel Studios’ Blade reboot has been through a tumultuous production period. Perhaps the project would benefit from falling under the Marvel Spotlight banner, as this would mean any forced connections to the larger MCU continuity can be dropped, with Blade instead focusing solely on its titular vampire hunter. Echo has been granted TV-MA status under the Marvel Spotlight banner, so Blade could be given a much-desired R-rating if it does, too. Blade is expected to release on February 14, 2025, so there is plenty of time to change the story’s focus.

8 Jessica Jones

Last Seen In Jessica Jones Season 3 (2019)

Since the cancelation of Marvel Television’s series’ on Netflix, there have been calls for Krysten Ritter to reprise her role of Jessica Jones in the MCU proper. Aside from rumors that she’d be making appearances in Echo and Daredevil: Born Again, there has been no word on Ritter’s return, but a Marvel Spotlight series dedicated to the private investigator would fit the bill perfectly. Jessica Jones on Netflix was dark, gritty, and inspired by film noir, which lends itself to Marvel Spotlight’s new focus on character and grounded storylines. This could even see her reunite with Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and potentially other members of Netflix’s Defenders team.

7 Luke Cage

Last Seen In Luke Cage Season 2 (2018)

If Jessica Jones debuts in the MCU proper, then her Marvel Comics husband, Luke Cage, surely won’t be far behind. Mike Colter portrayed the Hero of Harlem in Marvel Television’s Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and The Defenders series’, and his storylines come with themes that would perfectly fit the Marvel Spotlight banner. Luke Cage’s MCU debut would be a great way to increase Black representation in the franchise, just as Netflix’s Luke Cage did, celebrating Black culture and history. Luke Cage leads the Avengers in Marvel Comics, and eventually becomes Mayor of New York, so he could be pivotal to introduce into the MCU.

6 Ghost Rider

Last Seen In Agents Of SHIELD Season 4 (2016)

There has been speculation for several years that Ghost Rider will be coming to the MCU, and this came to fruition with Robbie Reyes’ introduction to Agents of SHIELD. However, since the Marvel Television’s canon status has been disputed, a Marvel Spotlight project focusing on Ghost Rider can bring the Spirit of Vengeance into the MCU properly, potentially debuting his Johnny Blaze or Danny Ketch versions, instead. Johnny Blaze originally debuted in Marvel Spotlight #5, so a project in the MCU under this banner would be the perfect place to bring him into the fold, and his connections to characters including Blade and Doctor Strange make his MCU introduction smoother.

5 Nova

Not Yet Seen In The MCU

Marvel Studios confirmed the development of a Nova project in the MCU in March 2022, but not much has been heard about the project since then, with the MCU facing a series of delays, behind the scenes issues, and Hollywood strikes. Richard Rider, a.k.a. Nova, is the hero of the Nova Corps, which made its MCU debut in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, but was presumably destroyed by the Mad Titan Thanos prior to Avengers: Infinity War. Nova would work brilliantly under the Marvel Spotlight banner, as the project could focus intensely on the human Richard Rider becoming the cosmic superhero without impacting the greater MCU continuity too much.

4 Werewolf By Night

Last Seen In Werewolf By Night Special Presentation (2022)

Jack Russell, a.k.a. Werewolf by Night, has already made his MCU debut during Phase 4’s eponymous Special Presentation, Werewolf by Night, where the character was portrayed by Gael Garcia Bernal. However, for future stories, Werewolf by Night could be produced under the Marvel Spotlight banner, especially since his MCU debut didn’t establish any clear connections to the wider world of the MCU, and his future in the franchise is still unclear. Following Red Wolf in Marvel Comics’ Marvel Spotlight series, Werewolf by Night was featured in Marvel Spotlight #2-4, so this new category for the MCU could better explore the character’s history and future.

3 Rocket & Groot

Last Seen In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Guardians of the Galaxy’s Rocket Raccoon and Groot have become fan-favorite heroes since their introduction in 2014, but there is one story that audiences have been dying to see. While most of Rocket and Groot’s relationship has been explored, their first meeting is yet to be seen, though James Gunn did confirm Rocket and Groot’s backstory. This self-contained story, set between the flashbacks of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and the opening of Guardians of the Galaxy, would be the perfect story to tell with a Marvel Spotlight project, as it will have very little impact on the wider MCU, but fill in the gaps of previous MCU projects.

2 Scarlet Scarab

Last Seen In Moon Knight Season 1 (2022)

May Calamawy debuted as Layla El-Faouly in Phase 4’s Moon Knight, which saw her become the avatar of the Egyptian goddess Taweret and transform into the superhero Scarlet Scarab. Her positive reception led to her being introduced to Marvel Comics, yet her future in the MCU hasn’t been confirmed. Moon Knight was a prominent hero in Marvel Comics’ Marvel Spotlight series, so perhaps both he and the Scarlet Scarab could be explored further in future Marvel Spotlight projects in the MCU. The Scarlet Scarab is an exciting hero for the MCU and a huge step forward for Egyptian representation in the franchise, so the development of her story is highly-anticipated.

1 Thanos

Last Seen In Avengers: Endgame

Although Thanos’ journey in the MCU seems to be over, there is still a huge amount of potential to delve deeper into the Infinity Saga villain’s unseen backstory. Thanos teased his life on Titan during Avengers: Infinity War, but a dedicated Marvel Spotlight project could explore his origin story fully, explaining exactly why he sought the greatest power in the universe. A prequel investigating Thanos’ backstory could also help to explain his connection to Harry Styles’ Eternals character, Eros, who is apparently his brother. Marvel Spotlight gifts Marvel Studios the chance to develop Thanos’ character further without actually bringing him back to the main continuity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.