Ever since Avengers: Infinity War was announced, speculation has begun as to which characters from the Marvel movies would return to team-up against Thanos. Given the title of the film, it’s always been a safe bet that the Avengers would all show up to the fight, and recent news has confirmed that members of the Guardians of the Galaxy, like Rocket and Nebula, would also face the threat. Still, with the writers and directors teasing over 60 characters being juggled, many fans have been wondering who else might show up to the fight.

From dead villains to TV heroes to various side characters and humans, Marvel will have spent a decade fleshing out the MCU by the time Infinity War appears. As such, they have no shortage of characters both good, bad, and a little bit of both that they could call upon for the film. Not to mention the stable of new characters that are likely to debut in the film. With all of that in mind, here are 15 Non-Avengers We Want to See in Infinity War.

15. Returning Villains

Right off the bat, you’ll see that we’re fudging the rules a bit and grouping certain characters together. We’ve got some good reasons, however. Thanos will naturally be the primary focus of Infinity War, but he’s going to need lieutenants. It’s possible the movie could introduce the Black Order, his gang of cosmic marauders from the recent Infinity and Inhumanity events in the comics, but what we really want to see is him surround himself with the best villains of the MCU so far.

If one of the crazier Marvel theories holds true, we may see Thanos resurrect every dead villain we’ve seen so far. Even barring that, a number of key rogues could easily return. Red Skull and Malekith have long caused trouble in the comics, and were both seemingly destroyed by an Infinity Stone, leaving the door open for their return. Similarly, the threat to time and space that Thanos poses could see Yellowjacket pulled back out of the Quantum Realm after the events of Ant-Man.

And Loki seems like a shoo-in. Given his cosmic connection, ability to play both sides, and prominence in the MCU so far, it would be a shame if the God of Stories didn’t reappear. The contracts are likely in place, and if nothing else, many of these roles could certainly be recast with someone else behind the mask. Except Loki, of course.

14. Adam Warlock

There’s probably no character that fans have been more vocal about wanting to see join the MCU than Adam Warlock. Part of that is the character’s popularity as an all-around cosmic powerhouse, but it’s been further stoked by all the teases we’ve received regarding the character. The very existence of a film based on the Infinity Gauntlet event from the comicsshould practically be a confirmation that Warlock will join in the action, as he was so pivotal in defeating Thanos in that story.

Warlock has also had a long history in the comics with the Guardians of the Galaxy. His cocoon was teased in the first film, and his other half, Ayesha, looks to be the main villain of the sequel. Then there’s a recent batch of toys from Marvel that put Warlock front and center with the movie versions of the Guardians.

While director James Gunn initially shot down the idea of this being a confirmation of Warlock’s inclusion in the sequel, he seemed to quickly backpedal. At this point, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is so crowded that we’re unlikely to get more than a cameo or tease for Warlock. But what better way to set him up for Infinity War?

13. Agent 13

For anyone who’s seen Emily VanCamp’s work on shows like Revenge, you know she’s been criminally underused as Sharon Carter, aka Agent 13, in the MCU. In the comics, she’s spent decades not only proving to be one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s best agents, but a crucial part of Captain America’s life. After getting essentially a glorified cameo in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, she finally got to flex her acting skills and even show off her physical prowess in Civil War, but she could do so much more.

The fight against Thanos will be one of immense, cosmic power, but there will be plenty of work that needs to get done on the ground. Not only is Sharon Carter a valuable asset in the field, but she’s got a tactical mind to rival Steve Rogers. Infinity War will need all hands on deck, so we hope to see Agent 13 take a commanding role in the action.

12. Quake and the Secret Warriors

Fans have long been hoping that films such as Age of Ultron and Civil War would make good on the idea of Marvel’s shared universe and bring some of the TV characters into the movies. Aside from Peggy jumping back from Agent Carter to appear in the opening flashback on Ant-Man, this hasn’t proven to be the case. Infinity War, however, will make it pretty hard to ignore all the other superheroes and special agents running around and protecting Earth.

Chief among them are Quake and her team of Secret Warriors. Though they’ve lost a few members, we’d absolutely love to see Chloe Bennet lead a team consisting of Slingshot, Deathlok, and a number of other enhanced SHIELD agents to help deal with the fallout of Thanos’ attack. Acting covertly, Quake and her team could run a number of missions, as they’ve got the skills to be spies but the power to be Avengers. Daisy even ran SHIELD for a time in the comics, something that Agents of SHIELD has hinted at and which could come into play during Infinity War.

11. Phyla-Vell

When we recently learned that a major character had been cut from Guardians 2, Phyla-Vell was fairly high on our list of possible candidates. In the comics, she’s a cosmically-powered heavy hitter who wields a wicked sword, can shoot energy, has super-strength, and can fly. She’s carried various mantles, such as Quasar and Captain Marvel, and has spent time as a Guardian during the run that featured the movie’s characters.

In the fight against Thanos, the Avengers and Guardians are going to need to up their game considerably. While the Carol Danvers version of Captain Marvel will likely debut in the film as the team’s ace in the hole, Phyla-Vell would be another great addition to the group under the Quasar moniker. Aside from providing our heroes with another strong ally, it would be wonderful for two of the most powerful superheroes in the MCU to be women, and she could easily stand in for Adam Warlock if he’s not yet destined to appear.

10. Maria Hill

While Maria Hill has had a bit more to do than Sharon Carter, Cobie Smulders still hasn’t had a chance to really dig into the character. In the comics, Hill is every bit as secretive, complex, and cantankerous as Nick Fury, but Smulders hasn’t really been asked to play those notes. Though the return of Samuel L. Jackson is assured, we hope Fury has his right hand in tow.

Throughout the appearance of SHIELD across TV and film, Hill has proved to be an asset to the organization. With the group returned to the fold, it would be amazing to see Hill take up her leadership position from the comics and head up SHIELD’s fight against Thanos’ forces. The Avengers and Guardians will likely being going blow-for-blow with the Mad Titan, but the Earth and its countries and cities will need the support of organizations like SHIELD and a leader like Hill to keep them safe during the conflict.

9. Angela

Angela is a fairly new character to Marvel Comics, but she’s done a lot in her short time. She first appeared as a mysterious warrior who teamed up with the Guardians of the Galaxy. Watching her and Gamora join forces to decimate villains was something to behold, and giving the Deadliest Woman in the Galaxy a sparring partner would be a blast on film. Eventually, she was revealed to be the first child of Odin and the long-lost sister to Thor and Loki.

Long ago, there was a Tenth Realm called Heven, ruled by a race of winged assassins called the Angels. In a war against Asgard, they kidnapped Aldrif Odinsdottir and seemingly killed her. As punishment, Odin cut them off from the World Tree and removed their name and deeds from history. Secretly, the Angels raised Aldrif to be Angela, the universe’s greatest assassin. As a bridge between the cosmic worlds of the Guardians and Asgard, Angela would be a natural fit for Infinity War.

8. Cosmo

We could easily see Cosmo, the cosmonaut dog who heads up security on Knowhere, being added to the lineup of a Guardians film. He’s regularly shown up in their comics, and his appearance and telepathy would be great assets to the comedy and action of the movies, respectively. Of course, the tag at the end of the first Guardians may have already introduced him, though in an uncharacteristic fashion. He may be a bit too silly for the epic nature of Infinity War, but it’s that madcap energy that could help make the movie work.

There’s only so many CGI battles that you can find impressive, and Marvel has always found success by anchoring their spectacle with plenty of humor and heart. Guardians proved especially adept at this, and the team’s presence in Infinity War will certainly help prevent the mood from getting too dour. That’s why we’d love to see Cosmo introduced, running things from the Guardians’ base on Knowhere as they work to take down Thanos.

7. Thunderbolt Ross

We really can’t imagine the Red Hulk showing up in the MCU anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross can’t return. Thanks to his new role as Secretary of State in Civil War, Ross is one of the last vestiges that remain from The Incredible Hulk. Despite helping to kick off the MCU, it’s largely been relegated to black sheep status, as it pales in comparison to the other films. That, and Edward Norton was replaced by Mark Ruffalo in a sort of soft reboot of Bruce Banner.

Still, William Hurt showed that he could still command the room as Ross when he appeared in Civil War, and we have to imagine his position would put him as one of the go-to people during Thanos’ attack. Perhaps we’ll even see him elevated to a position on the World Security Council, helping to call the shots as the Earth attempts to defend itself.

And with all the chaos erupting during Infinity War, the MCU might even find a way to rework the Red Hulk’s origin and lay the foundation for his debut.

6. Moondragon

Like Adam Warlock and Phyla-Vell, Moondragon seems like a natural fit for Infinity War. She’s served time with the Guardians alongside those two, and has an even deeper connection to the team. In the comics, she’s the daughter of Arthur Douglas, the man who would eventually be transformed into Drax the Destroyer after his apparent death. His daughter Heather also appeared to have died, only to be taken under the wing of Thanos’ father and trained to be a skilled martial artist and psychic.

Though Drax’s human origin has been removed in the MCU, he still has a daughter who was killed. What a twist it would be to learn she was still alive and had become the hero Moondragon. She could even be shown to be working alongside Thanos at first, further complicating the narrative.

Moondragon also happens to be one of the characters we think Millie Bobby Brown would be perfect for, assuming the Stranger Things star is actually in Infinity War as a recent set photo has lead many to hope.

5. Howard the Duck

Though no one is quite sure whether Cosmo was the dog featured in the tag for Guardians of the Galaxy, Howard the Duck was certainly the duck.

Voiced by Seth Green, the appearance was a humorous nod to the character who Marvel has often had a contentious relationship with. After headlining the company’s first film (and George Lucas’ first big flop) in the ‘80s, the character became something of a joke. Luckily, that suited him, and writer Chip Zdarsky in particular has done amazing work bringing Howard back into the fold in hilarious fashion in the pages of Marvel Comics.

Knowing that the character exists in the MCU, he absolutely needs to return. For a while, there were rumors we’d see him in Guardians 2, but things have been quiet on that front. Regardless, the insanity of Infinity War would be the perfect time to bring in Howard. After all, a talking duck isn’t that much weirder than a talking raccoon.

4. Nova

Along with Adam Warlock, fans of Marvel’s cosmic side have long wanted Richard Rider to debut as Nova. As one of Marvel’s main members of the Nova Corps, Rider possesses a helmet that grants him all sort of superpowers. He’s also played a role in most cosmic events and teamed up with the Guardians and Avengers plenty of times. A somewhat reworked version of the Nova Corps appeared in Guardians, as little more than a police force. Still, the possibility that cosmic-powered members of the team exist is there.

With Thanos threatening the whole of the universe, it’s important that we see a variety of intergalactic races enter the fray. A proper version of the Nova Corps would not only be a great asset, but a chance to highlight heroes from many different worlds. By doing so, Marvel could also plant the seeds for Rider to eventually appear, and even tease Sam Alexander, the more recent Nova and a member of the Avengers.

3. Death

Like mythological figures and characters from fairy tales, both DC and Marvel have turned even the concept of Death into a character. In Marvel Comics, Death is not just the construct itself, but also the entire reason Thanos became the villain he is. In the original Infinity Gauntlet conflict, Thanos is attempting to literally court Death by destroying the universe. A more recent comic even introduced the idea that she has been with him since childhood, constantly out of his reach as a partner, but still driving him to darker and darker places.

In Thanos’ first appearance in the MCU– the tag at the end of The Avengers– a reference to Death is made followed by a wry smile from the Mad Titan. It seems unlikely that Thanos’ love of Death won’t be his motivating factor in Infinity War, meaning we’re likely to see the character appear in some form.

2. Coulson and the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

While an Inhuman as powerful as Quake makes all sorts of sense to join in with the Avengers et al as they battle Thanos and his forces, nothing would be more cathartic than seeing Agent Phil Coulson return to the movies. After debuting on film, he’s made his way into One-Shots, TV, and even the comics. He’s become an integral part of the MCU, so much so that his absence might have led to the rise of Hydra. And yet, the Avengers still think he’s dead.

For a conflict as big as Infinity War, it makes sense that the newly reinstated SHIELD would be in on the action, and that means Coulson and his team. They’ve been saving the world every week for four years, and have been doing Fury’s old job for most of that time. Not only are they essential in the fight against Thanos, but seeing Coulson finally return to the movies and tell Thor, Tony, and the other Avengers that he’s still alive would be a powerful moment.

1. The Defenders

The movies have had multiple chances to bring back Coulson, and may have proven to us that they have no interest in doing so. The Agents of SHIELD aren’t the only TV heroes that could prove consequential in the fight against Thanos, however.. The destruction caused by the Mad Titan will certainly spill over to Earth, and average citizens are going to need lots of protection. Enter the Defenders.

As a mix between super-powered individuals, mystical warriors, and street-level vigilantes, the Defenders can do an awful lot to save New York and other cities around the world. Marvel seems to also put more stock in their Netflix shows than they do in SHIELD, so hopefully that means Daredevil and the gang will have a better chance to show up in the movies. We know the TV shows will have to address that fallout from Infinity War, but it’d be even more thrilling to see them on screen doing their part and making the MCU a truly shared universe.

Which non-Avengers and -Guardians do you hope turn up Infinity War? Let us know in the comments!

  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Release Date: 2017-05-05 Black Panther Release Date: 2018-02-16 Avengers: Infinity War Release Date: 2018-04-27 The Avengers 4 Release Date: 2019-04-26 Ant-Man 2 Release Date: 2018-07-06 captain marvel Release Date: 2019-03-08