While Doctor Doom is set to be the next big bad in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), there should be more prominent villains in the future, especially with another Avengers film also on its way. Many speculate that Mephisto, first introduced in Ironheart, could be a big villain going forward. But could there be more contenders?
Here is a list of other villains who could follow Doctor Doom, including Mephisto.
List of villains who could replace Doctor Doom as Marvel’s next villain
Mephisto
As Mephisto is already here after Marvel teased the villain for years, he will most likely be the big villain in Marvel after Doctor Doom. The recurring adversary of the Silver Surfer and Ghost Rider in the comics may not be the strongest Marvel character, but the MCU may add to his powers significantly and make him the next big bad.
Apocalypse
With the X-Men now in the MCU, there is no doubt that the villains featured in X-Men lore can also enter the MCU. Out of all the X-Men villains, Apocalypse is the strongest. He is, in fact, one of the strongest beings in the Marvel Universe. He can do practically anything and has arcs that resemble Thanos, who was a huge hit for the MCU. This makes it all the more likely that Apocalypse can show up in the MCU.
Annihilus
A primary adversary of the Fantastic Four, Annihilus is a cosmic villain in the Marvel Universe. A powerful being, he often planned to invade Earth. He is also very strong and possesses a wide range of abilities. This makes him a likely adversary for the Avengers and a worthy replacement for Doctor Doom.
A Marvel Villains Cabal
If this turns out to be true, it could make things more complex in the MCU. The Cabal is a secret society of supervillains and antiheroes, described as a villainous counterpart to the Illuminati. Many prominent villains have been part of the lineup, including Namor, Thanos, Maximus, Terrax, Corvus Glaive, and Proxima Midnight, among others. The team has also previously featured Loki, Taskmaster, and Doctor Doom.
Moreover, Marvel could also focus on teaming up other villains in the existing saga, like Mephisto, Apocalypse, and Phoenix Force.
The Celestials
The cosmic beings that have already appeared in the MCU on multiple occasions could eventually turn out to be the primary villains after Doctor Doom. Though this would be an offbeat choice, it could be a very interesting one.
