The Marvel Cinematic Universe has several opportunities to bring Elektra back to the franchise in its Multiverse Saga projects. The sai-wielding master assassin was portrayed by Elodie Yung in the second season of Netflix's Daredevil, a series that has become increasingly important to MCU canon in recent years. Currently, Marvel Studios hasn't commented on the possibility of Elektra's return, which would be further complicated by her death at the end of The Defenders. Nevertheless, in a world where death is rarely permanent, it is quite possible that the world hasn't yet seen the last of Elektra Natchios in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Marvel's Netflix shows are returning to the MCU in full force, reestablishing their characters in the franchise's canon. Leading the charge is Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock, who made a surprise cameo in 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home, which was followed only days later by Vincent D'Onofrio's return as the villainous Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. the Kingpin, in Disney+'s Hawkeye finale. With both of these iconic characters set to return in the eighteen-episode Daredevil: Born Again, the likelihood of their compatriots from the Defenders Saga ing them in the MCU seems increasingly high, especially after the news that Jon Bernthal's Punisher would also be returning in the series.
5 Secret Invasion
The MCU's adaptation of Secret Invasion, an iconic comic storyline from 2008 featuring a clandestine Skrull invasion of Earth, is the perfect opportunity for Marvel to feature a long overdue cameo by Elektra Natchios--with a fun twist. The original comic event was several years in the making, and Elektra played a key part in the buildup thereof. In the months leading into the Secret Invasion event, Elektra uncharacteristically picked a fight with the New Avengers, only to be killed in the ensuing battle. Upon her death, however, Elektra transformed into a Skrull, marking the first Marvel character revealed as an imposter during the epic crossover event.
Secret Invasion's endless Skrull twists mean that the series can revisit plenty of MCU characters, whether alive or dead, so long as they are later revealed to be shapeshifting aliens in disguise. Therefore, Elektra's apparent death at the end of The Defenders doesn't need to be overwritten in order for her to return in an episode of Secret Invasion. While the MCU could still elect to bring the character back at a later date, including a cameo from a Skrull masquerading at Elektra would not only add another connection to the Defenders Saga but also act as a fun nod to the comic book source material.
4 Echo
Echo, starring Alaqua Cox's Hawkeye character, will delve deeper into the realm of street-level heroes, a perfect setting for Elektra's long-awaited return. Already, the Disney+ series is confirmed to include both Charlie Cox's Daredevil and Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin, suggesting just how closely it will be tied to the Defenders Saga and the other characters therein. Given that the series deals heavily with the lower-powered characters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Elektra Natchios fits into Echo's paradigm quite nicely, making it the perfect Phase 5 project to include the returning antihero, who can use this opportunity to finally reunite with her one-time lover, Matt Murdock.
Some theories suggest that Echo could set up a new superhero team in the MCU consisting of street-level crimefighters led by Daredevil. If this is the case, Elektra could very easily be a member of the newly formed team--or an enemy. After her villainous turn in The Defenders, it is entirely possible that Elektra would make herself an enemy of Daredevil and his team of crimefighters, perhaps revealing herself to be the new leader of the Hand. If this is the case, Echo could be setting Elektra up to take a much meatier role as an antagonist in future Disney+ projects, including the highly anticipated Daredevil: Born Again.
3 Daredevil: Born Again
The absolute best project for Elektra's return is the Charlie Cox-led Daredevil: Born Again. The Phase 5 series is the biggest link between the Defenders Saga and the larger MCU, making it the best place for any outstanding Netflix characters to make their well-deserved return. The series is already set to include the Kingpin and the Punisher, but Marvel Studios has remained characteristically silent regarding any additional returning characters therein, leaving their fates quite mysterious. Nevertheless, after their many adventures together in Daredevil and The Defenders, Elekra's return would have the most emotional impact if it occurs in a project that also includes Matt Murdock.
Elektra has always been intrinsically tied to Daredevil's story, both in comics and live-action. Although Born Again may focus on MCU cameos instead, it would be difficult for the series to up the chance to bring Elektra back into Matt's life yet again. There are few characters who have such a disarming effect on Matt Murdock as Elektra, making their dynamic incredibly interesting to see play out onscreen. Moreover, Matt's internal struggle as he attempts to decipher Elektra's ever-shifting allegiance would make an intriguing storyline in his Disney+ series, which can finally expand on the Daredevil mythos from the comics.
2 Shang-Chi 2
The as-yet-untitled sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings also has a chance to feature Elektra Natchios. Very little is yet known about Shang-Chi 2's story, but the film is expected to delve deeper into the character's martial arts background and the Ten Rings organization that his father, the Mandarin, once ruled. In the comics, Elektra Natchios ran in many of the same circles as Shang-Chi, though she often dealt with a different band of assassins in the crime syndicate known as the Hand. Her return in a Shang-Chi sequel could set up the Hand's return to the MCU, perhaps as a rival to the Ten Rings.
With Phase 4's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has clearly positioned the Ten Rings as a replacement for the Hand, but that doesn't mean that Daredevil's sworn enemies have disappeared entirely. The group of assassins could easily return to reclaim their role as the mightiest crime syndicate on the planet, challenging Xialing, who recently took command of her father's organization. If the Hand does indeed return in Shang-Chi 2, Elektra could be revealed as their new leader after the top generals were all killed in The Defenders. The story could then focus on an all-out war between Elektra's Hand and Xialing's Ten Rings.
1 Thunderbolts
Marvel's Thunderbolts also has a chance to introduce Elektra to the larger MCU. Planned as the final film in Phase 5, Thunderbolts follows a team of antiheroes, reformed villains, and outcasts as they embark on missions outside the Avengers' typical milieu. Currently, the team consists of already well-established characters, including Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Ghost, Taskmaster, Red Guardian, U.S. Agent, and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. However, the announced cast of Thunderbolts is widely rumored to be incomplete, with other characters heavily suspected of ing the team. Elektra Natchios is one potential addition that would prove to be both perfect and entirely unexpected.
The Thunderbolts is a catch-all team of sorts, gathering together different MCU characters who don't particularly fit in other burgeoning superhero teams. Because of her villainous past, Elektra would fit among the Thunderbolts, who are already sporting multiple reformed villains itching to get their shot at redemption. Though Elektra doesn't have much of a history with the Thunderbolts in the comics, the team is an excellent way to reintroduce the character to the MCU, allowing her to explore her heroic side without fully compromising her morally ambiguous ways. It may prove that Thunderbolts is the perfect corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to host such a complicated and interesting character.
