The return of Daredevil to the Marvel Cinematic Universe brings rumors about other Netflix characters reemerging in the popular franchise. Daredevil, of course, previously joined forces with Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist to form the Defenders – a team that had an eponymous Netflix show in 2017.
Should the Defenders return to the MCU alongside Daredevil and become the franchise’s street-level Avengers, they will need some characters to fight against. This piece will look at five perfect potential opponents for the Defenders if they return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Titania
Titania debuted in the MCU in Disney+’s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, played by Jameela Jamil. A superpowered social media influencer, she initially interacted with She-Hulk when she was in court for a traffic summons. The two fought, She-Hulk won, and Titania got her revenge by trademarking the name “She-Hulk” for a new range of products. The two fought again, with the same outcome. The MCU spin on the character is a tremendous modern concept, and it would be a shame never to see her again. Given what a nuisance she is, she’s bound to cause more trouble, and landing on the Defenders’ radar isn’t out of the question. A fight between Titania and Jessica Jones is a mouthwatering concept and would be much closer than when She-Hulk outclassed her.
Moonstone
There are two characters in Marvel’s comic books called Moonstone, but the one referred to here is Karla Sofen. Sofen is a human mutate whose powers include superhuman physical attributes, flight, molecular control, gravitational manipulation, light manipulation, and photon blasts. In the 2017 Defenders comic run, she joined Titania in a group of villains put together by Diamondback to face the eponymous team. She’d be more than a match for all four members, and a new Defenders television series would be a great way to introduce her to the MCU. The comics also had her becoming part of a government program led by Luke Cage to reform villains, which would be interesting to see in live-action.
The Hood
The Hood is already confirmed as heading to the MCU, as Anthony Ramos will play the character in the upcoming Ironheart series. He’ll start as a friend of the eponymous Riri Williams, only to slowly transform into a bad guy. Otherwise known as Parker Robbins, he’s a petty New York City criminal who kills a demon, puts on his cloak, obtains magical power, and becomes a significant player in the New York criminal underground – even forming a gang. In the comics, he took over the areas under Diamondback’s jurisdiction after the Defenders defeated the criminal, and that could happen in the MCU, given Diamondback has already been defeated. The Hood and his gang would make superb foils for the Defenders.
Black Cat’s Gang
Black Cat may debut in the next Spider-Man movie as part of Kingpin’s Sinister Six. If that happens, there’s every chance she will bring her gang to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the 2017 Defenders comic book run, Black Cat saved Luke Cage’s life, showing her good side and prompting her gang to turn against her, which turned them into antagonists to the eponymous team. That would be an excellent plot to use in a new MCU Defenders show, and having the Defenders taking on a whole gang of ruthless criminal scum, with Black Cat aiding them against her former henchmen, would be fantastic.
Deadpool
Deadpool isn’t a villain but a nuisance to everyone he meets. In 2017’s Defenders #6, Jessica Jones calls him to help with a gang war. While he only appears on one page, he’s typically irritating, manages to squeeze in more jokes than most people would believe possible, and hits on Jones. It would be terrific to see him show up in a new Defenders series, perhaps attempting to thwart a common threat, which ends up with him briefly fighting the eponymous team. It would be a fun clash of tones, and given the Merc with a Mouth is officially heading to the MCU, it’s plausible.
