The Avengers are Marvel's premier team of superheroes, both in the comics and the MCU. However, they aren't the only super-group around, or even the strongest. The Defenders initially debuted as a ragtag squad that came together more due to circumstance rather than being connected by an underlying theme. Following the introduction of a certain Greek demigod in Thor: Love and Thunder, the Defenders have a chance of showing up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The very first incarnation of the group was much different than the line-up featured in the MCU's Defenders Saga. Since these original members have already been introduced in the MCU, it's possible that the classic Defenders could still show up in the movies. The prospect of this happening is incredibly exciting, given that the team is arguably even more powerful than the Avengers.
Marvel's Original Defenders Were A Different Kind of Superhero Team
The Defenders debuted in Marvel Feature #1 (by Roy Thomas, Ross Andru, Bill Everett, Sam Rosen, and Stan Lee), with the team sporting an assortment of clashing personalities. After all, their initial ranks included Doctor Strange, Namor, and the Incredible Hulk, each of whom was noted for their individualistic nature. Interestingly, Roy Thomas used the formation of the Defenders to tie up loose ends, only including Doctor Strange in the roster because his series was canceled. This nicely fed into the idea that the group was essentially forced together, standing apart from other ensemble comics due to a dysfunctional team dynamic.
The Defenders mostly encountered supernatural threats, from Lovecraftian creatures to techno wizards. Due to facing such adversaries, it made sense that the Defenders would eventually expand to include Valkyrie, Hercules and even the Silver Surfer. This is a stark contrast to the MCU's version of the Defenders. There, the team consisted of Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and Iron Fist, all of whom are street-level characters who were fighting the death cult known as The Hand. It was odd to name this team the Defenders, but they might not be keeping the title for much longer.
The MCU Has Already Introduced Many of Marvel's Defenders
Considering Doctor Strange and the Hulk are both MCU mainstays, practically all the pieces are in place for the Defenders to come together on the big-screen. In addition, two prominent members of the team have recently been introduced as villains in the cinematic universe, with Hercules appearing in a Thor: Love and Thunder post-credits scene, and Namor starring as the primary antagonist in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It's not difficult to imagine both of these MCU newcomers undergoing a redemption arc down the line, and becoming members of the Defenders.
Other characters who have been inducted into the Defenders are Hellcat and Ghost Rider. Now that stars from the Defenders Saga are being integrated into Marvel Studios projects, it would be easy to bring in Jessica Jones' Hellcat. And while Robbie Reyes' Ghost Rider was in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the jury is still out on whether the show is part of the MCU's official canon. That only leaves the Silver Surfer unaccounted for, and with the Fantastic Four on their way to the big screen, chances are good that he isn't far behind.
The MCU's Real Defenders Could Be Stronger Than the Avengers
Doctor Strange is incredibly powerful when it comes to magic, mysticism and matter manipulation, making him one of the most powerful on-screen Avengers. Likewise, the Hulk is one of the toughest physically, as is proven by his recovery from the radiation of the Infinity Gauntlet. If Valkyrie and Hercules join the team, the Defenders will have gained more godly might than Thor could muster alone. Add the cosmic power of the Silver Surfer into the mix, and the Defenders more than rival the power level of the Avengers.
Phase Four has noticeably been lacking in team movies, opting to focus more on individual characters. Giving the classic Defenders room to shine in the MCU would therefore be a great way to shake things up. The powerhouse group would lend themselves well to their own film - big action set pieces could showcase the Defenders' combined strength, and the team's dysfunctional nature would make for great drama.