The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has introduced dozens of characters over the last 17 years, but there are some characters who need to stay gone. The impressive and growing list of heroes and villains throughout the MCU is a large part of what defines this mega franchise.

However, there are also some characters who have great endings that conclude their stories, who do not need to be brought back. While some characters, like the Scarlet Witch, may have unfinished business that is worth revisiting, there are plenty of others that need to rest in peace.

Gamora

The death of a major character carries an enormous amount of weight. And when these moments happen, it can be difficult for audiences to accept the sudden absence of an old favorite character. However, that doesn’t mean the decisions need to be reversed at any point. Take Gamora, for example.

Gamora was a foundational member of the Guardians of the Galaxy stories, but when Thanos sacrificed her in Avengers: Infinity War, that event had serious ripple effects. And after a variant of the character was brought into the story in Avengers: Endgame, and developed in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, her story is well and truly resolved.

Now, the variant Gamora is leading the Ravagers, but her story does not need to be further explored, as the audience and the Guardians have already said goodbye to the Gamora that they knew and loved.

Tony Stark

Robert Downey Jr. is set to return to the MCU to take on the role of Doctor Doom. And while it appears to have some sort of connection to the hero, Tony Stark, who sacrificed himself in Avengers: Endgame, this is not the same character.

It’s unclear exactly how these characters will be linked, or what history they share, but as far as the Earth-616 version of Stark is concerned, he should not be raised from the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ for some cheap storyline later on. Tony’s arc in the MCU was perfect, and his sacrifice is important, so it shouldn’t be reversed, or made less important.

Steve Rogers

Similarly, the Earth-616 version of Steve Rogers got his perfect ending in Avengers: Endgame. Steve grew up in a world very different from the one where he met Nick Fury and the Avengers. This is because Steve also sacrificed himself to save others during WWII, when he flew a bomb into the ocean, and his body was frozen.

However, being a super soldier, Steve managed to survive. But this meant he missed an entire life he could have had in his own time. Endgame resolves this, with Steve going back to reclaim that life once the world was safe and Thanos was gone. So there is no reason to bring the hero back again.

Peggy Carter

Steve’s beloved Peggy Carter is the biggest reason he decided to retire from the Avengers, and instead build a life with the woman he loved and lost decades earlier. On Earth-616, Peggy initially grew old with someone else, but the ability to time travel as perfected by Tony Stark meant the pair could finally be together.

Now, there are a variety of other Peggy Carters from across the multiverse who have appeared in live-action and animated parts of the MCU, but as far as Earth-616’s Peggy is concerned, it’s time to let the character rest. Her story is intrinsically tied to Steve’s and both have come to a satisfying conclusion.

Phil Coulson

Phil Coulson is technically a complicated case, considering the character is shown to have survived in Agents of SHIELD, but as far as the Sacred Timeline is concerned in the MCU, it appears that Phil was never seen again by any of the heroes. And his death, by the hand of Loki in The Avengers, is instrumental.

Phil became close with several members of the Avengers prior to their forming a team. And it was his death that inspired the heroes to put their differences aside and commit to being a team of superheroes, ready to defend the world, and avenge the death of their fallen friend.

Taking back Coulson’s death would be jarring for audiences that haven’t seen Agents of SHIELD, but it would also undermine the sacrifice that led to the Avengers actually becoming Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Darren Cross

Darren Cross is a very different case from the others listed above, but his story has already ended twice now. In Ant-Man, Darren Cross proves to be a monstrous antagonist who is ultimately killed, or at least, that’s how it seemed.

In Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, it is revealed that Cross somehow survived, and now lives in the Quantum Realm. And he has undergone some incredible changes, becoming a terrifying cyborg called MODOK. In the film, he meets his end once again, and it should really stay that way, as there is no good reason to bring the character back.

Natasha Romanoff

Natasha Romanoff was one of the most influential members of the Avengers team from early on in the MCU, first appearing in Iron Man 2. It was a major missed opportunity that this hero did not receive her own solo movie until after her death in the MCU, but regardless, that movie delivered a fond farewell while introducing her replacement.

Yelena Belova now serves as the MCU’s Black Widow, and a leader to The New Avengers. As much as Nat’s story could have been further developed, the MCU has moved on, and her death has shaped the lives of those who were close to her, which means Natasha needs to stay gone in the MCU.

The Ancient One

Stephen Strange was lost and looking for answers when he came to The Ancient One at Kamar Taj. Once there, he quickly developed as a sorcerer, and he learned a great deal from The Ancient One directly. But after a while, Stephen learned that his mentor had forged a connection to the Dark Dimension.

Despite this, The Ancient One recognized Stephen’s potential, and she did not resist death when it came in order to entrust this responsibility to someone more deserving. Now, years later, Stephen has also died and returned following the Blip, making Wong the Sorcerer Supreme. Bringing The Ancient One back as well would simply be too confusing and pointless.

Yondu

Yondu was largely misunderstood prior to his death in the MCU. Despite being a Ravager, and accepting jobs to kidnap the children of the terrifying Celestial, Ego, Yondu was a sensitive soul. And when he saw how innocent and afraid Peter Quill was, he decided to protect the boy from his menacing father.

For years, Yondu lashed out and acted cruelly towards those around him, but in his heart, he had a lot of love and sincerity for the people closest to him. This is all revealed in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, when Yondu steps up as Peter’s father, before sacrificing himself to protect the man he grew to love as a son.

Thanos

There is another character who has died not once, but twice in the MCU – Thanos. Thanos, aka The Mad тιтan, served as the primary antagonist for the Infinity Saga, and his story was unveiled in spectacular detail in Avengers: Infinity War. However, when confronted by heroes like Thor in Avengers: Endgame, he did not resist death.

Later in Endgame, a younger, more ambitious version of Thanos arrives on Earth hoping to gather the Infinity Stones earlier, but he is also defeated when Earth’s heroes gather together and overpower him. There is no need to bring this villain back, as the MCU has moved on, and there are new heroes and villains whose stories are the focus.