Marvel Studios’ Phase 6 Confirmed to Include 9 MCU Sidekicks

Marvel Studios has officially brought another familiar character into its growing Phase 6 lineup, making it the 11th supporting character set to return in future Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) productions. As the Multiverse Saga nears its conclusion, heading towards Avengers: Doomsday, secondary heroes are becoming increasingly important. This recent announcement strengthens the ensemble of MCU characters who may not always be in the limelight.

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share that the beloved sidekick from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ned Leeds, seems set to make a comeback in our exciting cinematic journey.

In a lively manner, actor Jacob Batalon fueled anticipation by commenting, “‘We’re back again!’” on Tom Holland’s latest Instagram post featuring the initial teaser for “Spider-Man: Fresh Start.

The unveiling of the new costume, which has quickly become the most popular Spider-Man suit within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as ranked by fans, over half a year prior to its scheduled release on July 31, 2026.

It appears that Batalon’s previous rumored return to the cast might indeed be factual, as suggested by his use of “we,” implying his involvement in the project.

In the three Spider-Man movies produced by Holland, Ned is set to reappear. However, this return sparks significant curiosity since his character now fails to recall Peter Parker following Doctor Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) memory-removing spell in the film “No Way Home.

The upcoming Marvel chapter leaves unanswered the question about Ned’s new role as Spiderman’s partner and the nature of his relationship with Zendaya’s MJ, making it one of the biggest enigmas.

With this announcement, Batalon is now one of eleven sidekicks from the Marvel Cinematic Universe who are either confirmed or highly likely to make a comeback during Phase 6. Though he may no longer be Peter’s best friend in the traditional sense, his return still significantly boosts the number of well-known allies expected to reappear.

Peeking into the next chapter of the Multiverse Saga, let’s explore some of the trusted allies and tech-friendly pals making a comeback.

In this paraphrase, I aimed to use simpler language while maintaining the original meaning, focusing on the idea of returning characters who play various roles, such as sidekicks or companions.

Foggy Nelson

Elden Henson’s character, Foggy Nelson, has been a guiding force and faithful ally to Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) throughout both the original Netflix series “Daredevil” and the MCU’s revival “Daredevil: Born Again”. Even though Foggy met an untimely end at the hands of Benjamin in the premiere episode, his narrative isn’t fully concluded yet.

Brad Winderbaum, the chief of television at Marvel Studios, hinted that Foggy and Karen Page, played by Deborah Ann Woll, will reappear in Season 2, potentially indicating a plot twist involving flashbacks or a comeback.

As a passionate film buff, I can’t help but reflect on the profound ripple effects caused by Foggy’s untimely demise. This tragic event shook the foundation of Nelson, Murdock & Page to its core, ultimately leading to its disbandment. His loss left me, Matt, in a state of introspection, causing me to reassess my role as the Guardian of Hell’s Kitchen. After much contemplation, I found myself being reborn in Season 1, ready to continue the fight against injustice.

Joaquin Torres

I’m thrilled to share that I, Danny Ramirez, will be reprising my character Joaquin Torres in the upcoming movie, Avengers: Doomsday. This time around, I’ll once again be standing by Sam Wilson’s side as his loyal partner. It’s a role I’m deeply grateful for and eager to continue!

In the show “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” character Torres eventually took over the Falcon identity from Sam, assuming the roles of airborne ally and secondary hero to the latest incarnation of Captain America.

Despite his undeniable devotion and courage, Joaquin is regarded as one of the relatively inexperienced and potentially less powerful characters within the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s current roster.

Bucky Barnes

Doomsday”. Sebastian Stan portrays Bucky Barnes in these films.

Despite having moved away from being a traditional sidekick for quite some time, both in the fictional world and in reality, Bucky’s foundation as Steve’s devoted friend and combat companion continues to shape a significant portion of his enduring legacy.

Through time, he has transformed from the Winter Soldier into a more autonomous hero, still maintaining his status as one of the most renowned supporting characters in Marvel Cinematic Universe lore. Many devoted fans fervently hope that the character’s role will never be reassigned to another actor.

In simpler terms, his upcoming role in “Doomsday” brings him back together with The New Avengers team, comprising Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova and David Harbour as Red Guardian. Since 2011’s “The First Avenger,” Stan has been a consistent figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, making him one of its longest-serving stars.

Sam Wilson

Prior to assuming the mantle of Captain America, Sam Wilson had already established himself as a reliable and popular supporting character within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, soaring through the skies by Steve Roger’s side as the trusty Falcon companion.

In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, I stepped out of being just a devoted sidekick and embraced the role previously held by Captain America, taking on both his iconic shield and the legacy that comes with it.

In the film “Avengers: Doomsday,” Sam reemerges as a key character in Phase 6, heading up one of the two major Avengers teams hinted at in the post-credits scene of “Thunderbolts.” Although the identities of the other team members have yet to be revealed, it’s possible that they may include high-ranking superheroes like Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel.

Yelena Belova

Initially, Florence Pugh’s character Yelena Belova made her appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as the humorous and deadly younger sibling and partner to Natasha Romanoff, played by Scarlett Johansson, within the 2021 film Black Widow.

Initially playing a secondary character, Yelena soon demonstrated her ability to stand on her own and more, causing her role to evolve. As time passed, she shifted from portraying a mourning sibling to assuming the main role, leading the Thunderbolts team and eventually ascending to the leadership position of The New Avengers. Her return has been confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday, marking her continued rise as a formidable force in Phase 6.

Shuri

Initially, Letitia Wright joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as T’Challa’s brilliant and supportive younger sister in “Black Panther.” However, after Chadwick Boseman’s unfortunate death in real life, the series took a new path that provided an opportunity for Wright to assume the mantle of Black Panther.

As a die-hard film enthusiast, I can’t help but express my excitement about the evolution of Letitia Wright’s character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). She’s not just a part of the next phase, she’s a pivotal figure, ready to shine even brighter in “Avengers: Doomsday.” During a previous chat, Wright herself hinted that while Shuri had modest roles in “Infinity War” and “Endgame,” this time around, her involvement will be significantly expanded. This suggests that the impact of Shuri in Phase 6 could be monumental!

With M’Baku now on the throne and Shuri standing as Wakanda’s guardian, her influence seems destined to reach far beyond her nation’s borders. I can hardly wait to see what’s in store for this dynamic character!

Vision

Initially appearing as Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) faithful AI assistant named JARVIS across the three Iron Man films, Paul Bettany’s character later transformed into the synthezoid hero known as Vision in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Despite his promotion to Avenger, his origins can still be traced back to his role as a supporting character within the Marvel Cinematic Universe foundation.

After the emotionally charged storyline of “WandaVision,” featuring the introduction of a fresh take on the character known as White Vision, it has been confirmed that actor Bettany will reprise his role in an upcoming standalone series focusing on the subsequent journey of this new character.

Although Vision hasn’t been officially announced for Avengers: Doomsday (as of yet), his reappearance in Phase 6 further develops the narrative of established characters who were previously considered secondary, now finding themselves taking on more intricate and lead roles.

Kate Bishop

2021 saw Hailee Steinfeld’s character, Kate Bishop, debuting as a sidekick to Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Hawkeye series. The finale implied that Clint might be handing over the Hawkeye title to Kate, setting her up for future roles among the upcoming heroes.

Though a live-action comeback for Phase 6 hasn’t been formally announced yet, Hailee Steinfeld will once again take on the role of Kate Bishop, this time in an animated version (following her appearance in Season 3 of “What If…?”). You can catch her in “Marvel Zombies,” streaming on Disney+ starting October 3, 2025.

Her character being part of the undead series maintains her presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and there’s a good chance that she might make a live-action comeback prior to the releases of either “Avengers: Doomsday” or “Secret Wars”.

Bonus: Namora

In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Namora (played by Mabel Cadena) was presented as one of Namor’s leading warriors and most devoted followers. While she wasn’t a sidekick in the typical sense, she acted as a reliable second-in-command during the conflict against Wakanda.

Her unwavering devotion and battle skillset set her apart as a prominent figure within the Talokan military. Although it hasn’t been officially verified, she is anticipated to reappear in Avengers: Doomsday, together with Tenoch Huerta’s Namor, as the underwater nation broadens its involvement during Phase 6.

Bonus: Attuma

In the movie “Wakanda Forever”, another formidable warrior named Attuma, portrayed by Alex Livinalli, hails from Talokan. He fought alongside Namora on the battlefield, displaying his power and warrior ethos. Frequently, he engaged in conflicts with Wakandan heroes such as Okoye (Danai Gurira), demonstrating his might and warrior principles.

Similarly to Namora, Attuma doesn’t fit the typical definition of a sidekick, yet much like her, he plays a significant role in the narrative surrounding Namor. It is anticipated that he will reappear in the upcoming movie, Avengers: Doomsday.

2025-08-15 11:39