In the summer of 2017, Netflix and Marvel dropped the eight-episode miniseries The Defenders. For the first time, characters that had already received their own Netflix shows — Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist — would be starring in a crossover event together. This event brought the four teammates together where they formed the Defenders for the very first time.
With the cancellation of most of the Marvel Netflix shows soon after, and the eventual cessation of this series altogether, it seemed that the Defenders would never return to the MCU’s world again. However, with the news that Matt Murdock may be appearing in Spider-Man rumbling in Marvel circles, fans wonder now if some of the Defenders’ comic teammates might pull the team back up onto the silver screen.
10 The Incredible Hulk
One of the original founding teammates for the Defenders in the comics was Dr. Bruce Banner, also known as the Incredible Hulk. In the MCU, Bruce Banner has been played now by both Edward Norton and Mark Ruffalo. Now, Bruce Banner and the Hulk have combined into one being, and he has essentially outlived the rest of the original Avengers team. With Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff dead, Steve Rogers and Clint Barton retired, and Thor off-planet who-knows-where, Bruce is really the only Avenger left fighting on the team. If he were to bring the Defenders up to help him, this would make a lot of sense related to comic book lore.
9 Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange is about to really play with the concept of the multiverse in the MCU. With Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and WandaVision still revealing what exactly Doctor Strange will be exploring in these other universes, fans are curious to see how other Marvel properties will come into play.
As it’s clear that Matt Murdock may be appearing in the MCU now, audiences are anticipating that one of the Defenders’ comic book founders, Doctor Strange, may want to unite the original team once again. Even if he doesn’t reunite them, he could just visit them — if he’s opening portals all over the place, fans definitely want to see Nelson, Murdock, & Page again.
8 Namor The Sub-Mariner
In the Marvel Comics origin for the Defenders, Namor the Sub-Mariner was a frequent founder of this b-level Avengers. As Namor is yet to be introduced to the MCU, fans are still eagerly awaiting his first appearance on screen. It’s possible that he could be forming a team of his own — and, if he was, there are a few heroes for hire out there that might be looking for work. When Marvel last saw the four Defenders, each of them was back to fighting crime in their own way. If Namor is going to become a large presence — especially in the eastern United States — the Defenders would likely feel a need to get involved.
7 Hawkeye
Another famous Defender from the comics is Hawkeye. As there are now two Hawkeyes in the MCU, Clint Barton and Kate Bishop, there are double the opportunities to introduce one of the Hawkeyes to the Defenders.
If Hawkeye is fighting on the street level now, defending parts of New York much like the Defenders did, it would logically follow that the Defenders would be interested in who is acting on their turf. Kate Bishop would also make a great next addition to the new Defenders team, unless she signs up for the Young Avengers, which may be in the process.
6 Valkyrie
After the events of Avengers: Endgame, Valkyrie has been put in charge of all of Asgard and functionally taken Thor’s place as ruler. It seems that Jane Foster will soon become the Mighty Thor and that Thor himself will move on, much like Captain America and Iron Man before him. If this is in fact the case, this frees Valkyrie up for stories with other Marvel characters. In the comics, Valkyrie was a Defender for a time, so she could reasonably join up with the team. If she brings the Guardians of the Galaxy along with her, there could be a cool team-up between the two groups united by Valkyrie herself.
5 Ant-Man
Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne didn’t get much time as Ant-Man and the Wasp before the mantles were quickly passed down to Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne. Fans enjoy seeing Hank and Janet as Ant-Man and the Wasp in flashbacks, but they’re not really the Ant-Man and the Wasp that are serving in the MCU right now.
However, both Hank and Janet were both on the Defenders team at separate points in the comics. If the MCU wanted to give them a bit more airtime, they could have them as mentors for the Defenders — or even heroes fighting on the team, as both actors are more than capable of fighting evil.
4 Falcon
With the new success of Disney’s shows for properties like Marvel and Star Wars on Disney+, fans look forward excitedly to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. This new show will star Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, AKA the Falcon, and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, AKA the Winter Soldier.
It would be interesting if the Falcon needed to team up with one of his groups from the comics — and one of the only pre-established groups he could call on is the Defenders. The Falcon was a Defender briefly in the comics, so he and the Winter Soldier might just make good teammates on-screen once more.
3 Beast
The Beast, also known as Hank McCoy, has appeared on the silver screen more than once in the 21st century. Portrayed by both Kelsey Grammer and Nicholas Hoult, Hank McCoy may be recast again when the X-Men finally make their appearance in the MCU. Regardless of how the Beast is introduced, he could make a fine addition to the Defenders, and could help revive the series. He could appear as both an X-Man and a Defender, perhaps introducing this concept of singular heroes who move from team to team to the MCU. Previously, the MCU has had strict definitions of who is on which team, but as the franchise expands, this is likely going to change.
2 Wolverine
Audiences are always excited to see more of Wolverine. This is likely why he appears so frequently in the Fox X-Men franchise, popping up time and time again. He even arrives in cameo appearances in movies like X-Men: First Class, that otherwise have nothing to do with him. If anybody was going to appear in the MCU — and soon — it would be Logan Howlett, or the Wolverine. Assuming the MCU is too impatient to bring Logan in to wait for the X-Men, they could introduce him first as a Defender. As Wolverine was a Defender in the comics, this introduction wouldn’t be a stretch for this timeline.
1 Spider-Man
Spider-Man, also known as Peter Parker, has appeared quite a few times in the 21st century. Even more frequently recast than Beast, Peter Parker has been played by Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and most recently Tom Holland. It seems likely that all three of these actors will be playing different Peter Parkers from alternate timelines in the upcoming Spider-Man movie. If this is the case, it wouldn’t be difficult at all to introduce a Spider-Man who is a member of the Defenders. This could indicate fan interest in the Defenders and, if successful, could reintroduce the team to the franchise.