What could a Dark Avengers release date for a possible movie be? Is the MCU building to a Dark Avengers movie, beginning with Black Widow and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and if so, what would it be like? If so, what would the Dark Avengers movie character roster look like? Is it related to Contessa Valentina, last seen in the Black Widow post-credits scene? Here are some possible answers to all these Dark Avengers movie questions.
What would a Dark Avengers movie be?
The Dark Avengers are, as their name suggests, a shadow group designed to counter or even replace the Avengers. While in the comics it was a slightly-reformed Norman Osborn/Green Goblin who put the team together, in the MCU, the mysterious Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) seems to be recruiting a team for some equally mysterious purpose. She first appeared in the final two episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Disney+ series before making her return in the end credits scene of Black Widow, following the Taskmaster twist.
Assuming that Valentina is recruiting a Dark Avengers team of her own, here are all the names Marvel has revealed and ones who could possibly feature, along with the Avenger they counter:
Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
- Played by: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
- Counters: Nick Fury
- Status: Confirmed
- The Dark Avengers MCU leader and recruiter, Valentina is known as Madame Hydra in the comics, suggesting her methods may not be altruistic. She’s already lied to Yelena in Black Widow about Natasha’s death in order to send her after Hawkeye.
Yelena Belova
- Played by: Florence Pugh
- Counters: Black Widow (or Hawkeye)
- Status: Confirmed
- Yelena, Natasha Romanoff’s “sister,” was revealed as currently in the employ of Valentina at the end of the Black Widow movie. Her next appearance will be in the Hawkeye Disney+ show, where she’ll presumably try to kill him, as Yelena believes Clint killed Natasha. In the comics, she becomes the new Black Widow.
John Walker / US Agent
- Played by: Wyatt Russell
- Counters: Captain America
- Status: Confirmed
- John Walker was recruited by Valentina at the end of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and was given the name US Agent alongside a fancy new suit. He’s also a super-soldier now, one of the last few remaining. He may return in Sam Wilson’s Captain America 4 movie.
Agatha Harkness
- Played by: Kathryn Hahn
- Counters: Doctor Strange (or Scarlet Witch)
- Status: Unconfirmed
- Agatha went up against Scarlet Witch in WandaVision and almost won, as she is an extremely powerful magic-user. However, Wanda left Agatha alive but with no memories or powers. If Valentina found a way to undo the spell Agatha would be a key ally. On the other hand, maybe Doctor Strange 2 will reveal that it’s Wanda Maximoff herself who gets recruited?
General Ross / Red Hulk
- Played by: William Hurt
- Counters: Hulk / Bruce Banner
- Status: Unconfirmed
- General ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross has been an enemy of the Hulk since the second ever MCU movie and proved he wasn’t a fan of the Avengers in Captain America: Civil War. He also notably appeared in Black Widow, the only other recurring Marvel character to appear in that movie. In the comics, he becomes the Red Hulk and would be perfect for the Dark Avengers team.
Jane Foster / Thor
- Played by: Natalie Portman
- Counters: Thor
- Status: Unconfirmed
- Jane Foster hasn’t been seen since Thor: The Dark World but will return in next year’s Thor: Love And Thunder, where she will be able to wield Mjolnir and gain the power of Thor, as she did in a recent comics arc. While Sylvie from Loki might make a more natural antagonist to Thor, it seems unlikely that any Loki would join the earthbound Dark Avengers. If Jane Foster has a disagreement with Thor in the movie, however, she might be willing to join the anti-Avengers.
Eddie Brock / Venom
- Played by: Tom Hardy
- Counters: Spider-Man
- Status: Unconfirmed
- While there are several villains who could counter Spider-Man, the most natural is Venom, who is about to return in this year’s Venom: Let There Be Carnage. While Eddie Brock has only sort of been in the MCU with his two movies, a Dark Avengers team-up would be a spectacular way to bring him in proper.
What is the Dark Avengers release date for the movie?
A release date for a Dark Avengers movie is uncertain. The current MCU release schedule is full until late 2023, so any Dark Avengers project wouldn’t release until at least 2024. However, in the comics the Dark Avengers team rose after the events of the Secret Invasion storyline, and the Secret Invasion Disney+ show is down for late 2022. If Dark Avengers is a Disney+ show instead, then it may happen in 2023.
