After a long legal process and tons of rumors, the Disney-Fox merger is official. As a result, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, along with other beloved characters, are coming home to Marvel. The merger drastically changes the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the deal opens the door to countless new stories. Most fans assume that Marvel will hold off on bringing these new characters into the MCU, but many of them could make a huge difference in A4. Some of the characters Marvel acquired in the deal are game-changers. First, there’s the X-Men, who are one of the most famous teams in comic book history. Among this group, there’s the Master of Magnetism, Magneto, one of the most powerful telepaths in the Marvel Universe in Charles Xavier, a mutant with a healing factor and an adamantium skeleton, Wolverine, and many more. Factor in the Fantastic Four and the possibilities for a new hero in A4 become a little clearer.
We’ve decided to list some of the Fox characters that could save the MCU from Thanos. Some, like the X-Men, seem obvious while others may surprise you. After the events of Infinity War, one thing is clear: the Avengers need to phone a friend and find some external help. Maybe Reed Richards is the key to the team’s conflict with Thanos -- combine Mr. Fantastic intellectwith Tony Stark’s genius, and you have an unstoppable pair. Or maybe it’s a numbers game and in that case, Xavier could gather all the mutants in the world to fight Thanos. The possibilities are truly endless.
15 DARK PHOENIX
When it comes to sheer power, few characters match up to the Dark Phoenix. The Phoenix Force is responsible for unfathomable destruction, and even Thanos pales in comparison to this threatening entity.
Jean Grey is the most famous host of the Phoenix Force. By bringing Grey into A4, introducing the X-Men would be a natural follow-up. Like other characters on this list, the Phoenix Force proves that, instead of more heroes, a more powerful villain could spell Thanos’ defeat. The Phoenix Force’s inclusion in this movie would make a future adaptation of the controversial Avengers vs. X-Men storyline perfectly logical.
14 MAGNETO
Of all the characters on this list, Magneto is one of the most compelling. Plus, he’d be relatively easy to bring in to the MCU -- his children, the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, have already crossed over into the shared universe.
The Master of Magnetism is typically a notable villain but he could certainly save the day in A4. If the conflict comes down to another all-or-nothing fight, like the long climax in Wakanda, Magento could make all the difference. He could use his powers to both attack Thanos and restrict the Mad Titan from using the Infinity Gauntlet. There would be no “you should have gone for the head” moment this time around; Magneto could finish the job.
13 FANTASTIC FOUR
Of all the characters on this list, the Fantastic Four seem like the most logical candidates to join the MCU in A4. The team is based in New York City, a popular setting for Marvel films, including Infinity War. Plus, with Tony Stark stranded on Titan, the Avengers need another genius to temporarily take Stark’s place. Few characters deserve to do so more than Mr. Fantastic, or Reed Richards.
Richards is one of the smartest characters in the Marvel Universe, and his intellect could save the day when it comes to beating Thanos and reversing the damage he’s done. Led by Richards, these fan favorite characters deserve to make their way to the MCU.
12 X-MEN
The Avengers, as we knew them, failed to stop Thanos’ quest to collect the Infinity Stones and fulfill his mission. Maybe another team could be succeed where the Avengers fell short. The X-Men are one of the most famous teams of all time, and they are primed to eventually join the MCU. There’s no time like the present, so the X-Men could help the Avengers defeat Thanos in one of the first post-merger MCU films, A4.
Under the X-Men umbrella, there are various lineups of powerful mutants Marvel could utilize in the sequel to Infinity War. The classic lineup of Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Iceman and Angel is just one of the many possibilities available to Marvel.
11 DOCTOR DOOM
Unexpectedly, Dr. Doom could be the hero of A4 when all is said and done. Yes, Victor Von Doom is one of the most notorious villains in Marvel history but he can still play the hero (the character recently completed a run as Iron Man and he has proven that he has a good heart... sometimes). With a genius-level intellect, a background as a masterful sorcerer and technological expertise that rivals that of Tony Stark, Doom looms as an adversary that could stand toe-to-toe with Thanos.
Like other characters on this list, Doom’s inclusion in the MCU would make more sense if his counterparts, the Fantastic Four, were brought into play, too.
10 DEADPOOL
Hear us out on this one. Deadpool isn’t powerful enough to defeat Thanos in a fight. But, using his comedy and witty antics, Wade Wilson could distract the Mad Titan in a way that would leave him vulnerable to an attack. Subsequently, the Avengers could take Thanos down, and they’d have Deadpool to thank for their victory.
Based on commercial success, Deadpool seems to be a likely addition to the MCU. However, the character might be too inappropriate for Disney’s (mostly) family-friendly brand. Still, now that Disney owns Deadpool’s movie rights, he would be a great addition to future Marvel movies.
9 KANG THE CONQUEROR
In this context, Kang is basically the antithesis to Cable. Whereas Nate Summers would save the day because he’s a hero, Kang would likely take down Thanos to pursue his own nefarious ends. Kang, who is able to time travel with his advanced technology, has extensive knowledge of the past, present and future due to his manipulation of the time-stream. Kang has expertise in the complicated nature of the multiverse, which could come in handy, to say the least.
With a genius-level intellect and an incredibly powerful super-suit, Kang would be a capable foe of Thanos. Plus, Kang helping the good guys isn’t that far fetched -- he’s teamed with the Avengers in the past.
8 MAGIK
Magik may not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of the legendary characters Disney acquired in the Fox merger. However, Illyana Rasputin could be a game-changer in the war against Thanos. Plus, as the sister of Colossus, she could pave the way for Peter Rasputin’s introduction to the Avengers’ world.
Doctor Strange was one of the many victims of the Thanos snap. As a result, the MCU needs another skillful sorcerers to (temporarily) take his place. While Wong is no slouch, Rasputin is the Queen of Limbo who has studied under Stephen Strange. If Marvel brings Magik into play, the student could become the master when Illyana uses her mastery of magic to defeat the Mad Titan.
7 SILVER SURFER
As the Herald of Galactus, the Silver Surfer is often an underrated hero in the Marvel Universe. However, he has a vast amount of power at his disposal, so he could tip the scales in the Avengers’ conflict with Thanos. Armed with the Power Cosmic, Norrin Radd could overwhelm the Mad Titan, especially when you factor in the collective might of the other heroes on the field.
Radd, a virtuous man known for his struggle to make up for the sins of his master, seems like a likely candidate to join the battle against Thanos. Of course, bringing Silver Silver into the MCU would likely be followed by Galactus’ introduction.
6 ROGUE
Yes, we’ve already mentioned the X-Men, but some members of the team deserve an individual spotlight. Rogue is one of the most powerful members of the team due to her particularly dangerous power set. Anna Marie can fly, she has super strength, and, most importantly, she cna drain the energy, skills and memories from anyone she touches.
If Marie manages to get into close quarters with Thanos, she could be a game-changer. Rogue could drain energy, and possibly the abilities of the Infinity Gauntlet (maybe?), from the Mad Titan, which could weaken the villain enough for the other heroes to defeat him once and for all.
5 WOLVERINE
When the X-Men came home in the Disney-Fox merger, fans started dreaming of endless storytelling possibilities down the road. Wolverine, more than other characters, could be an impact player right away. As one of the most famous, powerful members of the team, Wolverine could be the face of the X-Men’s incorporation into the MCU.
Logan is the best he is at what he does, but what he does isn’t very nice. Luckily, for the Avengers, Logan’s skills could mean the difference between victory and defeat. Wolverine’s healing factor makes him one of the hardest characters to kill. Overall, Logan’s durability, and his Adamantium claws, would turn the tide in another battle against Thanos and his minions.
4 GALACTUS
Choosing Galactus to be the hero of A4 might seem like a stretch. After all, this is the Devourer of Worlds we’re talking about -- Galactus literally eats populated planets for breakfast. However, this legendary villain could be just what the doctor ordered for the plague of Thanos.
If Marvel decides to portray Galactus as his newfound personality, the Seeder of Worlds, the character would be an even more appropriate addition to A4. It’s easy to imagine the Lifebringer opposing Thanos’ widespread path of eradication. Galactus prefers to stay out of Earth-bound affairs, but he’d likely make an exception for Thanos.
3 CHARLES XAVIER
While we’ve already mentioned the X-Men and focused on several of Charles Xavier’s other students, Professor X deserves individual recognition, too. The usefulness, and potency, of Xavier’s mind knows no bounds. Additionally, he can use Cerebro to locate any mutant -- Thanos wouldn’t stand a chance against the remaining Avengers combined with an army of mutants.
Xavier’s mind has been called a weapon of mass destruction, and that’s an appropriate description. Professor X could use his arsenal of mind-based powers to defeat Thanos more efficiently than most other characters. Bringing Xavier to the MCU would also be a natural first step in the X-Men’s incorporation into the shared universe.
2 SHI'AR EMPIRE
Captain Marvel will feature the Kree-Skrull War, so adding another alien race to the MCU could overwhelm viewers. However, especially when combined with the Krees and the Skrulls, the Shi’ar could be a vital component in the Avengers’ quest to beat Thanos.
The Shi’ar, typically led by Empress Lilandra, are known for their taste for battle, and, as a imperialistic galactic empire, it’d be easy for Marvel to create a conflict between this notable alien race and Thanos. With many connections to the X-Men and the Dark Phoenix, the Shi’ar would be a logical addition to A4. At worst, the movie could introduce Lilandra, and Dark Phoenix could expand on the Shi’ar as a whole.
1 CABLE
Cable’s initial inclusion in the MCU almost writes itself. With the Time Stone in hand, Thanos can manipulate time. This ability proved to be crucial in the villain’s victory over the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Cable, a time-displaced soldier, is known for his ability to time travel. It’s an antagonistic match made in heaven -- Cable could travel time to counter Thanos at every turn. Marvel could even explore the ethical dilemma of using time travel to end the existence of a powerful threat in its infancy.
As one of the stars of Deadpool 2, Cable seems like a character that Marvel could easily incorporate into A4. Nate Summers’ ability to time travel makes that process seem even more feasible.