For every Marvel movie that dominates the box office, there are those that remain stuck in development limbo or are outright canceled. Over the years, several highly anticipated Marvel projects were announced or heavily rumored but ultimately never saw the light of day. Here’s a look at some of the most intriguing Marvel movies that could have been, why they were scrapped, and what we missed out on.
The Amazing Spider-Man 3
After the lukewarm reception of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), Sony had ambitious plans for a third installment featuring Andrew Garfield. This film was meant to set up a broader Spider-Verse and delve deeper into Peter Parker’s life. However, the 2014 Sony hack revealed internal conflicts, and Garfield’s absence from a critical press event soured relations. Ultimately, Sony chose to pivot to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in the MCU, leaving this sequel on the cutting room floor.
Iron Fist
Back in 2001, Marvel Studios intended to bring Iron Fist to the big screen, with Ray Park (Darth Maul in Star Wars) attached to star. The script went through several revisions, and directors like Kirk Wong were briefly involved. However, continuous delays and script issues led to the project’s quiet shelving by 2007. The character later appeared in Netflix’s Iron Fist (2017), though the series received mixed reviews.
El Muerto
Sony announced El Muerto as part of its Spider-Man spin-off universe, with Bad Bunny set to star. Directed by Jonas Cuaron, the film was slated for a January 2024 release. Unfortunately, a combination of production delays, the WGA strike, and Bad Bunny’s busy schedule caused the project to stall. By late 2023, the film was quietly removed from Sony’s release slate, leaving fans disappointed.
Guillermo del Toro & Neil Gaiman’s Doctor Strange
Imagine a Doctor Strange movie crafted by Guillermo del Toro and Neil Gaiman. The duo pitched a 1920s origin story for the Sorcerer Supreme, but Marvel’s hesitation and del Toro’s commitments to The Hobbit derailed the project before it gained traction in 2007. While Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange (2016) is beloved, many fans still wonder what this visionary team could have achieved.
Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 4
Following the success of his Spider-Man trilogy, Sam Raimi planned a fourth film with Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst returning. John Malkovich was reportedly cast as the Vulture. However, creative disputes with Sony and Raimi’s dissatisfaction with the direction of the script led to the project’s cancellation in 2010. Instead, Sony rebooted the franchise with Andrew Garfield.
X-Men Origins: Magneto
After the success of X-Men (2000), Fox explored solo origin stories for its iconic mutants. X-Men Origins: Magneto was set to focus on the character’s survival during the Holocaust and his early life. However, development stalled due to overlap with X-Men: First Class (2011), which incorporated much of Magneto’s backstory. The standalone project was ultimately abandoned.
Gambit (Starring Channing Tatum)
Channing Tatum’s Gambit was long in development, envisioned as a romantic heist movie. Multiple directors, including Rupert Wyatt and Doug Liman, came and went, and repeated rewrites delayed the project. Following Disney’s acquisition of Fox in 2019, Gambit was officially shelved. Tatum later expressed his disappointment, calling the character his dream role. However, in a twist of fate, Tatum finally portrayed Gambit in Deadpool and Wolverine (2024), giving fans a glimpse of what could have been.
Fantastic Four 3
Fox had plans for a third Fantastic Four movie after Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), with rumors of Black Panther making an appearance. However, the second film’s underwhelming box office and critical reception led the studio to abandon the sequel. Instead, Fox attempted a reboot in 2015, which also failed to impress.
Namor the Sub-Mariner
Namor’s solo movie has been a rumor for decades, with Universal and Marvel Studios both expressing interest at various times. Despite its potential, rights issues and the lack of concrete development kept the project in limbo. Namor eventually debuted in the MCU via Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), but a standalone film remains to be made.
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
Originally slated for a May 2026 release, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty faced uncertainty after legal issues involving Jonathan Majors, who played Kang. Marvel’s restructuring of its cinematic roadmap also contributed to the project being shelved in 2024. Currently, the MCU has moved on to another multiversal threat, with Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom being the main antagonist to Earth’s mightiest heroes in Avengers: Doomsday.
Which of these scrapped Marvel movies do you wish had made it to the big screen? Let us know your thoughts!
