The MCU’s expanding cosmos can introduce some powerful galactic empires soon. While the focus right now is on the Multiverse and the threat of Kang the Conqueror coming off Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, space and cosmic tales are integral to the larger MCU. In fact, following Avengers: Secret Wars, it's logical to assume the next big threat could be coming from the great unknown. Such could point to Galactus and the introduction of key characters like Silver Surfer, an Ultimates team-up, and even a new Guardians of the Galaxy lineup.
Phase 5 is bringing audiences back to space after Phase 4 largely remained on Earth with films, one of the missing Phase 6 projects. The subsequent introduction of the Fantastic Four and X-Men will further enhance the MCU’s scope and pave the way for more cosmic heroes and threats, including several galactic empires that could rival the Kree and Skrulls.
Arthrosians
With Nova incoming in Phase 6, the MCU is being primed to travel to even more alternate dimensions and interact with forces like the Arthrosians. They are insectile creatures hailing from the Negative Zone first introduced in 1968’s Fantastic Four Annual #6. Arthrosians are best recognized for their leader, Annihilus, a cruel villain who rules over his people with his Cosmic Control Rod. Overall, Arthrosians are quite naturally formidable, but what really makes them dangerous is their technology that can just make more soldiers with whatever powers Annihilus desires.
Considering Nova and other potential projects in the MCU’s future, an adaptation of 2006’s crossover event Annihilation is definitely feasible. This could unite various disparate storylines involving Silver Surfer, Guardians of the Galaxy, Nova, and even Captain Marvel and the Eternals as Annihilus launches an invasion from the Negative Zone. Such would be a great culmination for a Phase, as opposed to a full Saga, and it could play into a larger role for Galactus and even the return of Thanos. The MCU just has to open the door to the Negative Zone for Annihilus and his buggy forces to come into play.
Badoon
Silver Surfer’s prolific history in the comics means he will have to be a pivotal character in the MCU sometime. Intriguingly, The Marvels does have a Silver Surfer connection, but that doesn’t mean it’ll introduce him this early. Nevertheless, when he does come into play, another galactic empire has its link to the MCU. The Badoon are reptilian conquerors who first appeared in 1968’s Silver Surfer #2, and they could be an incredible threat to Earth should they set their sights on it. Significantly, the Badoon are older than both the Kree and the Skrull, and they rule a great portion of the galaxy.
The Badoon Effulgence is strictly segregated by gender. The men, organized as the Brotherhood of the Badoon, are the conquering and martial forces, while the Sisterhood of the Badoon, the women, are pacifists and dedicated to peace. All in all, the Badoon would be an easy antagonist force for a future Silver Surfer project, perhaps one with Adam Warlock.
Centaurians
MCU audiences are already familiar with a Centaurian, Yondu from Guardians of the Galaxy. They are recognized by their blue skin and the red crest atop their head, although in the comics they are natural and not machines. Interestingly, they are also marsupials, so they have a secret pouch. Centaurians are from Centauri-IV, a planet in the Alpha Centauri star system. While the Badoon are separate by gender, the Centaurians are divided deeply based on religion, and the two factions do not get along well. With Yondu being their only representative currently in the MCU, it might surprise unaware fans that most Centaurians are incredibly spiritual.
While Yondu died in the Guardians' last film in the MCU, that doesn’t mean that Centaurians’ can never appear. Although, audiences shouldn’t expect any major involvement for them in the various cosmic tales. Nevertheless, they could figure into the Annihilation crossover as in the comics and help fight back against Annihilus and the Arthrosians.
Elders of the Universe
The Elders of the Universe have already figured into the MCU with Benicio del Toro’s Collector, Jeff Goldblum’s Grandmaster, and Kurt Russell’s Ego the Living Planet - although Ego is re-imagined as a Celestial in the MCU. The Elders are all incredibly powerful beings who have somehow achieved immortality and view themselves as god because they basically are. Excitingly their potential in the MCU is relatively limitless as they could continue to introduce new individually, or better yet they could feature them all together. The Elders could interact significantly with all sorts of heroes and even down the line, Galactus, who was almost introduced in Phase 4, actually.
Some prominent Elders still missing from the MCU are the Challenger, a former rival to the Grandmaster; the Gardener, who once owned the Soul Stone; the Champion, a wandering warrior; and the Runner, the first being to see all the universe. Altogether, they could set up a sort of Contest of Champions team-up event film in which the Elders force the MCU’s heroes and villains to fight for their entertainment after the Multiverse is reformed in Avengers: Secret Wars.
Inhumans
Inhumans are infamous in the MCU. They were long intended to be a foundational aspect of the franchise when Disney and Marvel still didn’t own the cinematic rights to the X-Men and mutants. Inhumans were incorporated significantly into Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and then the much-maligned Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. They are prominent in the comics and could still be so in the MCU, especially as a more galactic force from Attilan on the Moon.
The origins of the Inhumans trace back to ancient Kree experiments, granting them powers through Terrigenesis. Earth wasn’t alone in their cruel treatment, so there are other civilizations such as the Centaurians, Badoon, and Kymellians who have their own empowered version too. Even more intriguingly, Inhumans also have an important connection with Thanos as his own illegitimate son, Thane is an Inhuman-Titanian hybrid. Such ties could help incorporate them back into the fray.
Inhumans’ future in the MCU is in quite a tricky place now with the impending introduction of more mutants and the X-Men. Agents of SHIELD treated Inhumans as mutants to make the narrative work, and then Ms. Marvel revealed that Kamala Khan, a notable Inhuman in the comics, is actually a mutant. That could be the fate for other prominent Inhumans, but that could be the best way to get them into the MCU. Alternatively, Avengers: Secret Wars may end with a repaired multiverse and the Inhumans from Agents of SHIELD and Inhumans finding themselves at home on the new Earth-616. Regardless, given the baggage, they might be hard sells.
Klyntar
Amidst the exciting nostalgia in Venom to bond with someone new. The symbiotes are also known as the Klyntar, and they are far more complex than they might seem. Their true origins were only revealed in 2018 starting with Venom vol. 4 #3 introducing their godlike creator, Knull, one of the most powerful and dangerous cosmic entities.
At the beginning of the current Marvel Universe, Knull sought revenge on the Celestials, so he created the first symbiote in the form of All-Black the Necrosword, the weapon wielded by Gorr the God Butcher throughout Thor: Love and Thunder. Interestingly, All-Black’s first victim was the Celestial whose head would eventually become Knowhere. It turns out that Knull was the true culprit behind Gorr’s crusade massacring gods across the universe, and it could the same in the MCU as the All-Black had corrupted Gorr. The signs portend Knull being a major villain in the MCU, possibly even on par with Thanos or Kang.
Significantly, the symbiotes’ role in the MCU can look quite different from in previous endeavors as it wouldn’t just center around Venom and Spider-Man. Of course, they would be the uniting forces, but the MCU could go down a path that sees heroes and villains succumb to a Klyntar invasion. It could all trace back to Knull as the big bad, focusing on how he wants control over everything, and it would allow Venom to really shine as a hero fighting for his independence. While it’s just a tiny black droplet now, it can develop exponentially and take over the whole MCU for a Phase.
Shi'ar
In the comics, the three major galactic empires are the Kree, Skrulls, and Shi’ar, and the latter’s introduction is surely coming sometime down the line thanks to the X-Men’s impending MCU arrival. The Shi’ar Empire has been importantly linked to the X-Men ever since their debut in 1963’s Uncanny X-Men #97. They are avian humanoids characterized by their feathered crests with extraordinary pseudo-sentient technology. Most predominantly the Shi’ar are connected to the M’Kraan Crystal, an incredibly powerful cosmic artifact that acts as a nexus point across all reality. Intriguingly, such a thing would be a perfect fit for the ongoing Multiverse Saga, but it’s too soon for the Shi’ar overall.
Their connection to the M’Kraan Crystal also connects the Shi’ar with the legendary The Dark Phoenix Saga in which Jean Grey is corrupted by the Phoenix Force. This is certainly on the menu for the X-Men’s future in the MCU, but hopefully far down the line. Fox’s X-Men failed to do the arc right in X-Men: The Last Stand and Dark Phoenix. Plus, WandaVision might make a Dark Phoenix adaptation difficult as the MCU has given her a similar arc. Nevertheless, given the franchise’s track record, perhaps the MCU can still do the storyline justice when they’ve better established the team, the Shi’ar, and the related lore.
The Shi’ar as part of Scott Summer’s story should the MCU introduce his younger brother, Vulcan, who ends up taking control of the empire. Unlike his heroic brother, Vulcan is a serious villain and threat to the X-Men and the larger galaxy. That would be a fascinating arc to see on the big screen far down the line. Otherwise, the Shi’ar’s involvement in the MCU can introduce key characters including Empress Lilandra, Deathbird, and Gladiator. The Shi’ar’s potential throughout the MCU, like these other empires, is about as boundless and exciting as the cosmos they call home.
