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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 .

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 .



Custom Image by Diana Acuña


















