10 Most Wasted Characters In The Avengers Movies

The Avengers films are the main pillars of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and are known for bringing together iconic heroes, but some characters were completely underutilized. The Avengers movies are frequently the centerpieces of the MCU timeline, bringing together the greatest heroes for thrilling adventures. However, for every shining star, there are characters who, despite having immense potential, are either sidelined or underdeveloped within these films. This article focuses exclusively on the Avengers films, leaving out other MCU projects where these characters were developed further.

The Avengers franchise represents the culmination of years of interconnected storytelling within the MCU. Beginning with The Avengers in 2012, the series expanded in scope, blending solo heroes into team dynamics. The subsequent movies, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame continued this trend. It’s important to note that Captain America: Civil War is excluded from this discussion, as, while it features the Avengers line-up, it is fundamentally a Captain America movie. Likewise, these reflections focus solely on the Avengers films, disregarding the broader MCU, where many of these characters received more attention.

10

The Winter Soldier Was Scaled Back In the Avengers Movies

Played By Sebastian Stan

Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier, thrived in Captain America’s standalone films, particularly Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), where his tragic backstory and complex relationship with Steve Rogers were explored in-depth. However, in the Avengers movies themselves, his role was notably diminished. He was absent from Avengers: Age of Ultron, and while he had a brief but notable presence in Avengers: Infinity War, his arc was interrupted by the Blip, where he was the first character who was dusted after the Snap.

This left Bucky largely sidelined for much of Avengers: Endgame, with a fairly underwhelming return compared to other characters. Despite this, the character found new life in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, where his narrative was given significant focus. With the MCU’s Thunderbolts*, Bucky will likely reclaim his prominence, but within the core Avengers films, he was underutilized.

9

Quicksilver’s Abrupt Death Wasted A Classic Avenger

Played By Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Pietro Maximoff, aka Quicksilver, was introduced in Avengers: Age of Ultron as a powerful speedster with a tragic backstory, closely tied to his twin sister Wanda Maximoff. Despite being one of the earliest Avengers in the comics, his cinematic journey was tragically short. Quicksilver’s death in the same film was abrupt, leaving many disappointed that such a unique and beloved character was removed so quickly. His comic history and potential for team dynamics were all but ignored.

Since then, Quicksilver’s legacy has been explored more in the WandaVision series, with references to his comic book counterpart. However, his brief stint in the Avengers films remains a missed opportunity to flesh out a vital character. It felt like such a waste to have a compelling character be a one-and-done player when he could have joined the main Avengers team for numerous movies.

8

Ultron Squandered A Great Villain (And Performance)

Played By James Spader

James Spader’s portrayal of Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron was one of the film’s few highlights. His voice acting brought a charismatic menace to the character, transforming him into a memorable villain with a clear agenda and wit. Unfortunately, the film’s script and pacing left little room for Ultron to reach his full potential. The character was defeated rather easily, with his role ultimately reduced to that of a generic antagonist.

The decision not to bring Ultron back in later films, particularly considering the strength of Spader’s performance, is a missed opportunity. However, audiences continue to hope that Easter eggs and references point towards a potential return, adding a lingering sense of what could have been. The biggest example is in Spider-Man: Homecoming, where Peter Parker finds the head of an Ultron clone with the eyes still glowing red.

7

Maria Hill Was Set Up To Be A Pivotal Player

Played By Cobie Smulders

When Maria Hill was introduced in The Avengers (2012), she seemed poised to become an integral part of the MCU, playing a vital role in the operations of SHIELD and in the formation of the Avengers team. Yet, after her early prominence, she was relegated to background roles in later Avengers films. In Avengers: Age of Ultron, her presence was minimal, and her later cameos in the MCU films felt more like a nod to her importance than a significant narrative presence.

Despite this, Maria Hill has been given more focus in other MCU stories, especially in Agents of SHIELD, but her underutilization in the Avengers movies is a clear case of wasted potential. Indeed, Maria Hill is one of the most wasted characters in the whole MCU. She could have allowed for further exploration of SHIELD’s inner workings but was mostly reduced to cameo appearances thereafter.

6

Hawkeye Faded Into The Background

Played By Jeremy Renner

Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, has long been considered one of the more sidelined members of the Avengers team. While The Avengers (2012) gave him a solid introduction, much of his character was overshadowed by other heroes, particularly when he was mind-controlled by Loki for a large portion of the film. By Avengers: Age of Ultron, his role felt more background, with little character development, aside from revealing his secret family life. In Avengers: Infinity War, Hawkeye was completely absent.

Even though Hawkeye had a more significant role in Avengers: Endgame, his earlier portrayals cemented him as one of the most underwhelming characters in the team. His own Hawkeye series, however, provided him with the chance for some redemption, making him a more rounded and interesting figure. Yet this came too late to bolster his appearances in Avengers movies.

5

Hulk Has Been Repeatedly Sidelined

Played By Mark Ruffalo

Hulk’s transformation from a solo hero in The Incredible Hulk (2008) to a team player in the Avengers films is an interesting one. In the first The Avengers, Hulk was pivotal to the team’s success, exploring his raw power and inner conflict. However, his presence was diminished in Avengers: Age of Ultron, which gave Bruce Banner some central scenes, but Hulk was relegated to only a handful of appearances.

Despite a thrilling first fight against Thanos in the opening scene of Avengers: Infinity War, Hulk’s absence was conspicuous, with Bruce Banner struggling to summon his alter ego. The character’s role in Avengers: Endgame was even more disappointing, with Hulk being ‘nerfed’ into the Professor Hulk persona, removing much of his raw, chaotic power. The film turned him into more of a comedic element, sidelining his potential as a force of nature.

4

Eitri Wasted Peter Dinklage’s Talent

Played By Peter Dinklage

Peter Dinklage’s appearance in Avengers: Infinity War as Eitri, the King of the Dwarves, was a fun surprise for audiences, but ultimately a missed opportunity considering the actor’s caliber. His portrayal brought gravitas to the character, who played a critical role in forging Thor’s new weapon, Stormbreaker. However, Eitri’s role was largely inconsequential beyond this one task.

Avengers: Infinity War seemed to use Dinklage’s towering talent as a bit of a gimmick. Dinklage’s Eitri, though a dwarf, bucked expectations by being exceptionally tall, seemingly lampooning the actor’s height. As such, it seemed like Marvel had cast him for his stature while not allowing him to truly delve into the complexities of his character. Eitri never returned to the MCU, though appeared in a deleted scene in Thor: Love and Thunde. As a resut, the potential for further development was squandered, leaving Eitri as a one-off character.

3

Agent Coulson Should Have Returned

Played By Clark Gregg

Phil Coulson, portrayed by Clark Gregg, was a cornerstone of the early MCU films, playing a pivotal role in bringing together the Avengers in the solo movies before The Avengers (2012). His death at the hands of Loki was a major emotional turning point for the team, uniting them against their enemy. Indeed, it seemed like Agent Coulson was gone for good. However, Coulson was revived in Agents of SHIELD, where his character was further explored.

Despite his integral role in the MCU’s formative years, Coulson never returned to the Avengers films, despite this resurrection. This makes his absence in later installments feel like a missed opportunity. His return could have added a layer of continuity and emotional depth, tying the earlier films to the more recent events of the MCU and its ancillary projects.

2

Captain Marvel Was Reduced To A Plot Device

Played By Brie Larson

Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, was introduced as one of the most powerful heroes in the MCU, with her own solo film Captain Marvel (2019) showcasing her immense potential. However, when she appeared in Avengers: Endgame, her role was that of a plot device rather than a fully fleshed-out character. After briefly appearing in the early scenes, she was largely absent for much of the film, only to reappear in the final battle against Thanos, where she was used to help turn the tide.

Despite being the most powerful Avenger present, she was reduced to a deus ex machina – something/someone that appears at the end to resolve a narrative. It felt lazy, with the movie struggling to justify her absence until this point. Thankfully, the character has since been given more focus in her own films, where her narrative is allowed to flourish.

1

Falcon Should Have Been Centered More To Better Set Up His Future

Played By Anthony Mackie

Sam Wilson, aka Falcon, played a supporting role in the Avengers films, but his character arc was somewhat overshadowed by larger personalities. His role in Avengers: Age of Ultron was very minor, spending much of the narrative in search of Bucky Barnes. In Avengers: Infinity War, he again faded into the background, save for a couple of memorable moments in the Battle of Wakanda.

It wasn’t until Avengers: Endgame that Falcon received a more triumphant moment, when his entrance signaled the Avengers’ return. As the new Captain America, Falcon’s prominence in future Avengers films, like Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, seems inevitable. However, his earlier lack of focus within the main Avengers films makes his rise feel like an underdeveloped journey, and his potential was not fully realized on the big screen. Though he was given his development in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, his pivotal role in the MCU’s future could have been better served by more prominence in the Avengers movies.

Upcoming MCU Movies

Captain America: Brave New World

Release Date

February 14, 2025

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Thunderbolts*

Release Date

May 2, 2025

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The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Release Date

July 25, 2025

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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

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Spider-Man Homecoming 4

Release Date

July 24, 2026

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Avengers: Secret Wars

Release Date

May 7, 2027

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