Say Goodbye To Thanos As Marvel Studios Introduces 2 Villains Stronger Than The Mad Titan

Published Jul 25, 2026, 7:15 PM EDT Ben is a Senior Writer on the New TV team at Screen Rant. He graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class B.A. Degree in English Literature and History. Born and raised in Ireland, Ben has always had a love for storytelling in all forms of media and operates multiple projects under the name Benjamin Blogs. Ben is a comic book writer and podcast host, in addition to his work as an entertainment journalist. He has worked as both a writer and editor for Screen Rant, Collider, and other media outlets across various departments, including features, news, reviews, and interviews. Marvel Studios cast an immense shadow that it has struggled to escape from since Thanos, but that is all changing in 2026. Back when the MCU was first finding its feet, there was a lot of criticism of the way Marvel handled villains. For years, the star-studded heroes of this universe faced off against villains with barely any motive who would meet their end in the third act of their first outing. However, there were some subtle gems hidden amongst the rough, such as Loki, who has gone on to have one of the most compelling and intriguing character arcs in the MCU, ultimately leading him to become a hero rather than a villain. But that still leaves the MCU with a villain problem. Thankfully, Thanos became a shining ray of hope for great villains in the vast 616 universe as a character with a complex backstory, several movies establishing his presence and mission before his debut, and ultimately the strength and grit to take on all of Earth's Mightiest Heroes and beyond and still come out victorious. So, can Marvel Studios dethrone their best villain to date? Doctor Doom Is About To Change Everything In Avengers: Doomsday Easily the biggest threat to Thanos' position as the almighty Big Bad of the MCU is set to arrive in Avengers: Doomsday, and it is, of course, Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU to tackle the role of Doctor Victor von Doom. Doctor Doom is one of the most powerful and prevalent villains of all time from Marvel Comics, and his arrival in the MCU is set to potentially reboot the entire universe. Now, the version of Doom that audiences will meet in Avengers: Doomsday hasn't had a lot of buildup, with the character being announced in 2024, and the first moments teasing his presence on screen coming in 2025's The Fantastic Four: First Steps. That being said, his arrival is hotly anticipated, and there is a lot of excitement to see how Doom's arrival will change things. If anyone has the ability, the intelligence, and the charisma to overtake Thanos as Marvel's new top villain, it is absolutely Doctor Doom. But he is not the only character joining the Marvel universe on a screen in 2026. Apocalypse Has Arrived In X-Men '97 X-Men '97 may not be an official part of the MCU, but it is a Marvel Studios production under their Marvel Television banner, and it has proven immensely popular among fans of the superhero genre. As a series that has revived the original story from X-Men: The Animated Series, which aired between 1992 and 1997, this series came with a built-in fanbase. Bringing one of Marvel's most exciting teams back to the small screen, and picking up on a wildly popular show that immediately triggers an emotional and nostalgic response from audiences, X-Men '97 had an incredible first season, and things are only heating up with the release of season 2. With six episodes of season 2 currently streaming as of this article's publication, this season has seen Apocalypse take on a bigger role after he appeared at the end of season 1. Apocalypse is another extremely powerful villain from the Marvel universe of stories, and while he has been lurking in the background for much of season 2, he remains a powerful threat and the primary antagonist of this season. If Apocalypse fully assumes his position as one of the most monstrous characters in Marvel, then it is very likely his power and lethality will overshadow Thanos, and thus serve as yet another figure who makes the Mad Titan look like a toddler with a tantrum. Thanos Has Been The Highest Tier Of Marvel Villain Onscreen For Years Image via Everett Collection Evidently, Thanos has loomed large as one of the MCU's greatest rivals, and even since his demise, he remains a powerful presence that sets the benchmark for what a Marvel villain can really be. He commands armies, has a dedicated cult-like group of acolytes, and he achieves his ultimate goal to extinguish half of all life across the universe. Following his downfall in Avengers: Endgame, and the reversal of his scintillating snap, Marvel Studios needed to look forward to who could fill the void left by such an awe-inspiring villain. And initially, that mantle fell to Kang the Conqueror, as played by Jonathan Majors. Now, Majors had issues that lost him the opportunity to dominate the MCU, and ultimately forced the studio to course-correct, which resulted in a rushed reshuffle to insert Doctor Doom, which prompted further criticism due to people believing the casting of RDJ was simply done as a cash grab. All of this added up to a very messy legacy following the incredible Infinity Saga, and the extraordinary Thanos, as played by Josh Brolin. But it does seem as though Marvel is finally finding its footing once again, and the hype and anticipation for projects like Avengers: Doomsday and X-Men '97, along with their unique villains, is getting Marvel back on track. And that seems to be shaping more villain stories than just Doom and Apocalypse as Marvel moves forward. More Powerful Villains Are Lining Up To Shake Up Marvel Projects As far as X-Men '97 is concerned, season 2 has been building towards the reveal of another of Marvel's most powerful villains, Onslaught, who is an amalgamation of Professor X's consciousness with the body and powers of Magneto. If these two Omega-level mutants combined their powers, they would have extraordinary power, but also present an extreme threat to all living things if they can't be adequately controlled. Beyond that, characters like Mephisto recently debuted in the MCU, as played by Sacha Baron Cohen, creating another incredible setup for one of Marvel's most compelling and dangerous villains to become a bigger part of the story. Likewise, Galactus debuted in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and the Celestials have had a presence in the Multiverse Saga that can't be ignored. In each of these cases, the MCU is setting up villains who weren't simply eliminated at the end of one film, and leaving their fates and futures more ambiguous. If they can build on these narratives and develop the characters as more than just a one-hit wonder, Marvel Studios has the potential to completely redefine how they approach villains' stories in the MCU and beyond.