Summary

Sometimes the superheroes of theMCU , theDCU , and beyond see gaps between their on - concealment appearances , but these cinematic payoff are often deserving the wait . The superhero genre has develop to unprecedented stature within the film manufacture , with the majority of each respective class ’s box office take coming from themovies of the MCUor those establish on DC properties . However , with such a rich vein of character in the comics to adapt to the big screen , even the most iconic hero simply can not seem in a movie with anything approaching the consistency some might expect .

Once production care , issue with developing , and periodic box government agency letdown are factored in , some characters have endured drawn-out absence from the bad screen . In many cases , these characters ’ eventual comeback is something to be fete , especially when the mo of their return proves to be unexpected or emotional . This has come in superhero cinema across theDCEU ’s picture timeline , throughout the MCU , and even in moving-picture show outside these major partake universes . With all that in judgment , here are 10 superhero film return that were well worth the postponement .

Often , superhero sequels do n’t correspond up to the success of their predecessors , but there are several sequel that far outstrip the original films .

Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man and Christian Bale as Batman

10Killmonger’s Ancestral Plane Return

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Despite being the main opponent ofBlack Panther , Erik Killmonger quickly became one of the MCU ’s most popular characters . Michael B. Jordan ’s performance in the character earned considerable praise , as did the depth yield to his character by the cinema ’s hand . Black Panther ’s endingsees Killmonger dice , but Marvel was capable to have him return four years later for the continuation . Upon traveling to the Ancestral Plane , Shuri is greeted not by the disembodied spirit of her brother T’Challa but by Killmonger or else . The villain ’s return was brief but an excellent way to ante up homage to his popularity .

9Harley Keener’s Presence At Tony Stark’s Funeral Was A Touching Cameo

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Harley Keener represent as a sidekick of sorts to Tony Stark during the events ofIron Man 3but was ostensibly block by the MCU in the age that accompany . Even though his story was directly connect to Stark ’s own genial health egress following the Battle of New York , Harley Keener was nowhere to be found in the subsequent chapter of the champion ’s story . Avengers : Endgamechanged all that , asHarley Keener made a cameo visual aspect at Tony Stark ’s funeral . get Harley attend prove the alliance he and Tony shared , and though brief , it was an brilliantly emotional narrative contact .

8Superman’s Return After Two Decades Brought Him Into The Modern Era

Superman Returns (2006)

Richard Donner’sSupermanmarked the birth of the New epoch of superhero blockbusters , with the titulary Man of Steel played by Christopher Reeve . After the actor ’s four - film run finish with the underwhelmingA Quest for Peace , the iconic Heron disappear from the big sieve for many years . He did n’t return until 2006 , with the competently titledSuperman Returns , recreate by Brandon Routh . ThoughSuperman Returnswasn’t considered the bully succeeder , it lend one of the man ’s quintessential superheroes back to the big screen , and the style it recaptured the spirit of the character reference was certainly worth the wait .

7Captain Marvel Brings The Noise In Avengers: Endgame

Captain Marvel was formally introduced to the MCU in her first solo movie , 2019’sCaptain Marvel . Though the postponement for her yield itself was n’t long at all , the anticipation certainly made it seem so , asCaptain Marvel ’s post - credits scene teased her appearance inAvengers : Endgame . As her story span much of theMCU ’s movie timeline , her in - universe restoration to Earth was one that was deserving the wait , as she bring her considerable set of powers to join the battle against Thanos .

6Professor X’s Multiverse Return

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

2000’sX - Menwas a landmark film for superhero picture palace , as it bring out a Brobdingnagian team of heroes in a unmarried film . The leader of the titular team , Professor X , was play by Patrick Stewart in a art object of casting so perfect it ’s been almost impossible to amaze for decades since . After having enjoyed many years in Fox ’s movie franchise , Professor X made his return to the MCU in a surprising Multiverse cameo . Professor X ’s regaining as part ofDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ’ Illuminati was a welcome addition and one that paid off class of anticipation .

5Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin Steals No Way Home

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Althoughmultiple Spider - Man characters return inNo Way Home , few stood out quite so starkly as the Green Goblin . Willem Dafoe in the first place play the role in Sam Raimi ’s 2002 movieSpider - Man , andhis income tax return after a 19 - class absence viaNo Way Home ’s Multiverse story was a reverberative succeeder . Dafoe examine definitively that he was always the complete Norman Osborn , shake up the MCU considerably and delivering a layered performance as the film ’s adversary . It may have taken almost two decades for him to generate , but the Green Goblin ’s character inNo Way Homewas worth the wait .

4Beast’s Return In The Marvels Sets Up An Intriguing Mystery

The Marvels (2023)

Kelsey Grammer first seem as Beast inX - Men : The Last Stand , and though the pic itself was not well - received , Grammer try out a democratic choice to play Dr. Hank McCoy . 2023 saw Grammer accidentally return to the role as part ofThe Marvels ’ post - credits scenery , confirming the existence of an alternative realness featuring the ten - Men within the MCU.Beast ’s return was worth the wait as his reintroduction teased an interesting MCU mysteryregarding the blood of the franchise ’s 10 - Men and exactly how they will be introduce .

3The Justice League’s Return In The Snyder Cut

Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

Cast

2017 saw the release ofJustice League , although its response was not what Warner Bros. had ab initio hop . The expiration of Zack Snyder and the conflicting influence of Joss Whedon over the film extend to disappointing reactions , prompting the calls for Snyder ’s original cut of meat of the flick to be spillage . Four year afterward , the Justice League give inZack Snyder ’s Justice League , a longer cut of the moving picture designed to fit the director ’s original sight for the franchise . Considering the get-up-and-go from fans to see the Snyder Cut discharge , it would seem that the submarine ’ reappearance was worth the postponement .

2Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine Makes Deadpool 3 Hype White-Hot

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

There are few actors substantially suited to roles than Hugh Jackman to Wolverine . His tenure as the acute - clawed mutant throughout Fox’sX - Menfranchise was nothing inadequate of iconic , on the face of it ending with the character reference ’s last inLogan . The promulgation that Jackman would return to the character in the MCU forDeadpool & Wolverinemade anticipation for the celluloid rocket . With Jackman ’s Wolverine ultimately making an show in the MCU , it ’s all but certain his return will be more than deserving the time lag .

1Maguire & Garfield’s Spider-Man Returns

As one of the most iconic heroes in pop civilization , the many cinematic iterations of Spider - Man have each found success on the great screen . Spider - Man : No fashion Homesaw the three major movie versions of the character unite to fight villains from across the Multiverse , with both Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire accidentally reprising their roles . The return of both Maguire and Garfield was more than worth the hold , specially where it related to their on - screen chemistry and their relationship with the MCU ’s resident Spider - Man , lay down it one of the best in the history of theMCUor theDCU .

All Marvel movies in this listing can be streamed on Disney+ , while the DC project are available to pullulate on Max .

Iron Man looking inside Sokovia in Avengers Age of Ultron

Spider-Man in the MCU and Jean Grey in Marvel Comics

Split image of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man, and Brie Larson as Captain Marvel

Custom Image by Diana Acuña

Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger in the Ancestral Plane in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

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Harley Keener at Tony Stark’s funeral at the end of Avengers Endgame

Iron Man 3 IMAX Poster

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Captain Marvel Carrying Infinity Guantlet And Flying Through An Explosion In Avengers Endgame

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Green Goblin with his helmet off in Spider-Man No Way Home.

Kelsey Grammer’s Beast in The Marvels

Headshot Of Ben Affleck

Headshot Of Henry Cavill In The World premiere of ‘Argylle’

Headshot Of Gal Gadot

headshot of Ray Fisher In The Premiere of ‘Rebel Moon, Part One, A Child of Fire’

Deadpool and Wolverine in the Void in Deadpool and Wolverine

Deadpool and Wolverine Poster Showing Wade Wilson’s Swords Showing Hugh Jackman’s Reflection

Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parkers in Spider-Man No Way Home

Marvel Cinematic Universe

DC Extended Universe