9 Netflix Marvel Characters That Can’t Join The MCU (And Why)

Netflix’s several Marvel superheroes were a main staple for the streaming giant for a long time, giving fans such critically-acclaimed series as Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage, among others, but they ended with the rise of Disney+. Now, however, fans of Netflix’s superhero series might be able to see their favorite characters return, this time to the MCU. Viewers managed to see Daredevil himself appear in Spider-Man: No Way Home, with his villainous adversary Kingpin in Hawkeye.

As amazing as the prospect of seeing some of the most famous Netflix Marvel characters in the MCU is, there are a few characters that–for some major reasons–won’t be able to make it into the MCU. These characters either met their end in the course of their respective series or likely wouldn’t mesh well in the MCU’s current climate.

Ben Urich

Ben Urich was one of the main characters throughout most of Daredevil season 1. An ace reporter for the New York Bulletin, he was strangled to death at the hands of Kingpin after the latter learned that Urich was investigating him for a story.

RELATED: Reasons Why Each Daredevil Season Is The Best In The Series

Like many characters in the Daredevil TV series, Urich was an important character whose role in the show was identical to his role in the comics. With his death in season 1 of Daredevil, it wouldn’t make altogether much sense having the character appear in the MCU–not without some major rewrites, anyway.

Reva Connors

Reva Connors was a character that bridged a few Netflix series, appearing as a love interest to Luke Cage and a counselor to Jessica Jones in Seagate Prison. Under the mind control of Kilgrave, Jones ends up killing Connors in an act that would haunt Jones for the foreseeable future.

Connors’ role in the Netflix Marvel universe was an important one, catalyzing for Jones to join with Cage in taking down Kilgrave. Whether Cage or Jones will join the MCU is up in the air, but there’s certainly no way to have Connors appear, unless through flashbacks.

Kilgrave

Kilgrave was easily one of the Netflix Marvel universe’s best villains, and one of Daredevil’s best comic book villains. Using his mind control powers to bend others to his will, he routinely pushed Jessica Jones to her limits, until he was killed by Jones in the season 1 finale.

As interesting a villain that Kilgrave was, it’s unlikely he’ll ever appear in the MCU again, unless through flashback or perhaps as a hallucination of Jones’. Given his ability to worm his way inside various individuals’ minds, it would make sense that the last place Kilgrave lives on is Jones’ head. Outside of that possibility, though, Kilgrave’s death guarantees that he won’t appear as a living villain in the MCU.

The Punisher

Yes, technically, the Punisher can join the MCU—he’s alive and well at the end of his Netflix series. However, given the character’s dark nature—violently punishing criminals by brutally murdering them–it’s unlikely fans will see Frank Castle join the otherwise family-friendly universe of the MCU.

When fans last saw the Punisher, Castle was fully committed to his role as judge, jury, and executioner of criminals everywhere. While viewers praised the storyline and performances of the show, the series’ violence did earn some controversy. With how hyper-violent the Punisher has been in the past, it’s doubtful Kevin Fiege would be that interested in bringing such a dark figure into the Marvel Universe. Plus, with the Punisher’s new logo and symbol, it remains to be seen whether fans would want to see this new version of the Punisher, anyway.

The Castle Family

Similar to the above point, it’s unlikely that fans will see Frank Castle’s family as they appeared in the Netflix show of the same name, largely due to the fact they were murdered in Central Park.

The family’s violent death remains a major turning point for Frank Castle, prompting him to seek those who were responsible for his loved one’s massacre. In the long run, their deaths turned Castle into the Punisher, ready to punish any criminal (drunk drivers included). Even if the Punisher were brought into the MCU, though, fans are almost guaranteed not to see his family, given their deceased status in the show’s continuity.

Elektra

Elektra is one of the most famous and well-known characters associated with Daredevil, and there’s no question Marvel fans would love to see her debut in the MCU. With her death at the end of The Defenders season 1, though, there’s almost no chance she’ll be able to appear in future Marvel projects, unfortunately.

Elektra is a pivotal character in the Daredevil comics, simultaneously a love interest to Matt Murdock and also one of his most dangerous enemies, with Electra’s loyalties and past life a mystery. While it’s a shame fans won’t see Elektra involved in future MCU projects, her iconic death in The Defenders (directly mirroring a classic Daredevil scene from the comics) was one that continues to resonate with viewers to this day.

Sam Stein

It’s no secret that the world of Netflix’s Punisher is more morally grey than it is simply “good guys vs. bad guys.” However, Homeland Security agent Sam Stein was the closest thing The Punisher had to a legitimate hero, making his death all the more tragic when he was stabbed by Billy Russo.

Stein’s death would not be in vain, however, with the Punisher eventually catching up to Russo. Though his character was a somewhat minor one in the overarching Netflix Marvel universe, his death remains one of the more shocking moments in The Punisher‘s history. Like the Punisher himself, though, it’s very unlikely fans will ever see Stein in the MCU (especially given his deceased status by the end of The Punisher).

Alexandra Reid

Sigourney Weaver was a surprising but welcome addition to the Netflix Marvel universe, portraying the character of Alexandra Reid, the leader of the Hand and the main antagonist for the first half of The Defenders season 1. However, she met her shocking end when she was killed by Elektra, who then assumed the former leader’s old role.

Reid’s death was a shocking one, and Weaver managed to portray him as a formidable threat to the Defenders to face off against. While she was a villain that fans may want to more of, though, her death cut off the possibility of any future appearances in the Marvel Netflix series, or in the MCU by default.

Stick

With Daredevil’s recent appearance in Spider-Man, fans are already wondering what elements of the hero’s story will be incorporated into other MCU projects. For one, it’ll be fascinating to see how the MCU handles Matt Murdock’s relationship with Stick, the closest thing he’s ever had to a father.

Serving as a mentor of sorts for Daredevil, Stick helped train Murdock, conditioning him to become the superhero fans know him as today. While the character would be killed by his other pupil, Elektra, it will be interesting to see how the MCU version of Daredevil references Stick, especially due to the fact it’s almost certain Stick himself will not appear in the MCU.