Is Jordan Peele heading to the MCU? New rumors suggest the noted comedian-turned-horror auteur may be bringing his unique sensibilities to the ever-growing Marvel superhero franchise. Years ago, Peele turned Marvel Studios down when they approached him about tackling the MCU’s Blade reboot. The Get Out director was also reportedly courted to helm the X-Men reboot before Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier was hired.
With Marvel potentially knocking at Peele’s door again, there are numerous projects he would be perfect to helm in the MCU, with some already in development. However, some characters still need a proper MCU debut, and the Nope director could be a stellar choice to bring them to life. With exciting rumors swirling, it begs the question: What projects could Peele direct for the MCU?
‘Blade’
Sure, Peele already turned down the opportunity to board Marvel’s Blade reboot 6 years ago when it was first announced, but since then, it still hasn’t been made. In fact, Blade could easily be considered one of the MCU’s most troubled productions, as it has been stuck in development hell, shifting between various directors and writers, making it an unknown quantity for the superhero franchise. Therefore, Marvel may have circled back to Peele in a bid to finally see the reboot come to fruition.
While there have been rumors of another Wesley Snipes outing as Blade, likely in an upcoming Avengers film, Peele would be eyed for the Mahershala Ali-starring reboot. Yet, even Ali seems unsure of what Marvel’s plans are for the vampire-hunting anti-hero. Peele’s involvement could be the kick-start the Blade reboot needs to get moving, and the writer-director could thrive thanks to his adept ability to blend horror and humor.
‘Midnight Sons’
While not officially confirmed, rumors suggest Marvel may be developing a Midnight Sons project for the MCU. The Midnight Sons are a team of heroes and anti-heroes from Marvel Comics who deal with supernatural and magical threats. Like a darker lineup of Avengers, the team has shifting members, but it presents an opportunity to introduce several to the MCU, such as Blade, Ghost Rider, and Morbius. The MCU has even introduced characters who were on the team in the past, such as Doctor Strange, Wong, Werewolf by Night, and Man-Thing.
If the MCU is looking to bring the Midnight Sons into the MCU, Peele is a spectacular choice, as the team would venture into darker, horror movie themes, much like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Peele has already shown his ability to juggle numerous characters, as seen in Us, with his distinct voices and tense dynamics proving to be just what the mystical heroes may need.
‘Moon Knight’
Following the first season of Moon Knight, audiences have been eagerly awaiting the return of Oscar Isaac’s unstable anti-hero. The show ends, teasing grand implications following the finale’s events and the reveal of an unseen personality stemming from his dissociative identity disorder. Details have been scarce about the character’s return, though rumors have pointed to him joining the possible Midnight Sons project, or even an upcoming Avengers movie.
Peele could be the perfect voice to help get Moon Knight back into action. The character presents a unique avenue to explore mental illness and dark themes, even venturing into the horror of having your body taken over by another personality, which plays directly into the themes in Peele’s Academy Award-winning Get Out. While Peele’s interests may lie elsewhere, Moon Knight presents an exciting opportunity.
‘Ghost Rider’
Ghost Rider has been another character that fans have wanted to see in the MCU for years. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. featured Robbie Reyes as Ghost Rider. Still, that show isn’t necessarily canon, and rumors of Nicolas Cage potentially reprising the role in a future Marvel film remain unproven. Rumors have also surfaced that Marvel may already have cast someone to play the anti-hero, with names like Ryan Gosling and Norman Reedus being floated, yet nothing has been confirmed.
Peele could easily bring the tortured Johnny Blaze to life, with his flaming skull finally breaking into the MCU. While Ghost Rider could be the perfect addition for a Midnight Sons movie, he also has the clout to carry a standalone feature. Past iterations of Ghost Rider failed to impress audiences in theaters. Still, the dark hero could see Peele putting the anti-hero’s Penance Stare to disturbing use as Ghost Rider blasts into the MCU on his flaming Hell Cycle.
‘Doctor Strange 3’
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is one of the MCU’s darkest and scariest films, often feeling like a horror film that’s too intense for some. The sequel owes its tone to horror icon Sam Raimi being at the helm, with the movie even highlighting the director’s stylistic flair within the franchise. Given the movie’s penchant for grim story beats and notable scares, Peele could be perfect if Raimi doesn’t return for the third outing.
While Marvel may rely on Raimi to bring the Sorcerer Supreme back to theaters, Peele has shown his aptitude for handling characters battling moral quandaries, much like Doctor Strange weighed with America Chavez in Multiverse of Madness. The impactful emotional stakes, balanced with horror filmmaking, speak to what Peele does best, making the possibility of his Doctor Strange 3 quite intriguing.
‘Man-Thing’
Michael Giacchino directed Werewolf by Night, and he is slated to return for the sequel. One of the characters introduced in Werewolf by Night was Man-Thing, who is a giant, empathic swamp monster. Man-Thing was Dr. Ted Sallis, who injected himself with his experimental super-soldier serum, transforming him in unforeseen ways that venture into body-horror territory.
The tortured character could also return in a Midnight Sons project, along with other Werewolf by Night figures, like Elsa Bloodstone. Still, Man-Thing could warrant his own story, acting as the Marvel counterpoint to Swamp Thing, with a character haunted by a mistake that changed him forever. Peele could embrace the tone of Werewolf by Night and even its unique black-and-white aesthetics to significant effect, making Man-Thing an interesting idea, albeit a long shot.
‘X-Men’
Schreier is set to bring the X-Men reboot to the MCU after the impressive reviews of Thunderbolts*. While Peele is unlikely to take the job from Schreier, X-Men presents a team of characters that may offer unique opportunities for solo films. Much like Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine was capable of leading his own franchise, the X-Men have a roster from which to pick and choose.
One of the most popular and powerful heroes on the team is Storm, with Peele being perfect for the job, as fans know she could carry her own story. Storm also has ties to Black Panther, and with Ryan Coogler planning the third entry in his franchise, Storm could have a place beyond X-Men. What would work well between Peele and an X-Men outing is his penchant for social commentary, as the mutants have always faced bigotry, allowing the director’s talents to highlight societal struggles in a new way.
‘Cloak & Dagger’
While Cloak and Dagger had a short-lived series and briefly appeared in the first season of X-Men ’97, they haven’t had a proper MCU debut. The show was never directly connected to the larger MCU, but the characters have become more popular over the years, especially with their inclusion in games like Marvel Rivals.
Cloak and Dagger sees two teenage runaways who garner powers through exposure to experimental drugs, gaining powers that complement each other. Cloak can master Darkforce, using his cape to teleport, while Dagger harnesses light to create daggers and heal people. The show’s dichotomy presents a framework in which Peele could continue to explore themes of social commentary while also bringing lesser-known heroes into the light. The MCU doesn’t appear to have concrete plans for Cloak and Dagger, but they would make a great choice if Peele is looking to introduce new characters.
‘Luke Cage’
Luke Cage found success outside of Marvel Comics when Mike Colter starred as the hero in the Netflix series. Since then, Luke Cage has been absent from Marvel’s live-action slate. However, rumors point to Colter possibly returning in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 alongside Charlie Cox and Krysten Ritter, who is confirmed to return as Jessica Jones.
While Marvel may be looking to keep Luke Cage in the TV space, Peele would be perfect to resurrect the hero as a showrunner. Peele has produced TV in recent years, including his Twilight Zone reboot, suggesting he may be open to the idea. If the director is looking to develop a grounded hero in which his skilled social commentary can shine, Luke Cage may be an excellent choice for Peele.
‘Captain America’
Captain America may be a long shot, as Chris Evans is set to return, and Sam Wilson’s solo future is unknown after Brave New World failed to deliver with critics and audiences. Whether Peele could tackle a Captain America film would rely on how the events of Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars play out. If Sam Wilson continues, Peele may be the perfect choice to help rectify the mistakes seen in Captain America: Brave New World.
Isaiah Bradley, first introduced in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and later in Brave New World, presents a look at the darker side of Captain America’s history. Exploring Bradley’s origins in full could be a unique avenue, or even delving into his grandson, Patriot, could give Peele a new angle to find new life for Captain America. Still, even if the focus remains on Sam Wilson, Peele could give Anthony Mackie’s hero the solo outing he deserves.
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