7 Marvel TV Icons the MCU Still Hasn’t Introduced

Marvel did a big TV vibes reset when it shifted from Marvel Television to Marvel Studios on Disney+, and a bunch of great characters basically fell into a continuity sinkhole. Netflix had been cooking with the Defenders shows, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. kept the lights on for years, and a few others filled in the gaps on the small screen. The movies barely acknowledged any of it, and once the Disney+ era kicked in with tighter ties to the films, those stories were quietly benched.

The good news: the door is back open. 'Spider- Man: No Way Home' slid Matt Murdock back into the mix, 'Hawkeye' reintroduced Wilson Fisk, and 'Daredevil: Born Again' has gone even harder, bringing back Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, The Punisher, Karen Page, Bullseye, and more. The bad news: a lot of heavy hitters are still missing. Here are the seven I think Marvel should pull off the bench next, and exactly where each one was left when the TV-to-Disney+ handoff happened.

Seven Marvel TV players who still need an MCU return

1. Hellcat (Trish Walker - Rachael Taylor)
   Trish did the full superhero turn across 'Jessica Jones' and, by the end of season 3, she was all-in as Hellcat. She also became the antagonist of that season and wound up locked in the Raft, which is a major, often-used MCU prison. Translation: she is literally sitting in canon, ready to be pulled out as a recurring or one-off villain. With Jessica back in 'Born Again' season 2, it would be weird not to at least check in on Trish.

2. Cloak (Tyrone Johnson - Aubrey Joseph)
   2018's 'Cloak & Dagger' gave Tyrone the power to teleport people through darkness, and by the time of the 'Runaways' crossover he and Dagger had teamed up as a traveling superhero duo. It has been quiet ever since, but he is tailor-made for the street-level corner the MCU is warming back up.

3. Dagger (Tandy Bowen - Olivia Holt)
   Tandy creates literal light daggers, pairs perfectly with Cloak, and was last seen right alongside him in that 'Runaways' crossover after 'Cloak & Dagger' season 2 wrapped. I doubt Marvel continues the exact TV plotlines beat-for-beat, but dropping Cloak and Dagger into a future project as ground-level heroes is easy and smart.

4. Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson)
   Claire was basically the Defenders-verse Nick Fury, the Night Nurse who patched up everyone from 'Daredevil' and 'Jessica Jones' to 'Luke Cage', 'Iron Fist', and 'The Defenders'. She was last seen in 'Luke Cage' season 2 after her relationship with Luke fell apart. Given how crucial she was to making that world feel connected, she really should pop up in 'Daredevil: Born Again' season 3.

5. Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes)
   Wild but true: one of Marvel Comics' most popular characters still has no presence in the proper MCU. The Robbie Reyes version did get a standout arc in 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' season 4, and a planned Hulu spinoff fizzled. He was last seen riding straight into a portal to Hell, which is as open-ended as it gets. If Marvel introduces another Ghost Rider down the line, bring Robbie with him.

6. Quake (Daisy Johnson - Chloe Bennet)
   Started as Skye, became Quake, and evolved into the heart of 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' An Inhuman with seismic powers who can literally shake the room, she is also one of the franchise 's most beloved characters. Yes, the show creates some continuity knots with the current MCU, but that is solvable. She deserves a return, even if the backstory needs a light remodel.

7. Iron Fist (Danny Rand - Finn Jones)
   The Defenders are a four-pack: Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage... and Danny Rand. The first three are back via 'Born Again', and Danny is still MIA. His take on the character got the harshest reviews in the Netflix era, but in-story he was vital: his Hand connection was the backbone of 'The Defenders', he anchored two seasons of his own series, and he crossed into 'Luke Cage' season 2. With the rest of the crew back, it feels like a matter of when, not if. There is already speculation he could surface in 'Born Again' season 3, and after a Luke Cage tease at the end of 'Born Again' season 2, that only seems more likely. For a character as entrenched in Marvel Comics as Iron Fist, it is honestly surprising he has not popped back up yet.

Bottom line: Marvel cracked the door, fans shoved a foot in, and now the studio is clearly listening. If the MCU is going to keep leaning into grounded stories again, these seven are the easiest wins on the board.