2023 is around the corner, and now that Phase 4 of MCU’s ‘The Multiverse Saga’ is officially over, Marvel is about to make a Big Bang with Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania of Phase 5. As most of the projects from Phase 4 of MCU started receiving mixed reviews from its audiences (both fans and critics alike), the term ‘Marvel fatigue’ started becoming a reality. However, Marvel Studios is trying to change all of that and return to its glory days with Phase 5. With multiple movies and Disney+ shows lined up for their releases, audiences are particularly excited about some new faces that have been confirmed to appear in Phase 5. Let’s look into our 5 picks for the most anticipated new Marvel characters to appear in 2023.

5. M.O.D.O.K.

To appear in: Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

MODOK or M.O.D.O.K., an acronym for Mental/Mobile/Mechanized Organism Designed Only for Killing, is actually George Tarleton, a former employee of Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.), an arms-dealing organization specializing in futuristic weaponry. In the comics, George undergoes mutagenic experimentation on himself. The experiment results in him developing an increased intelligence but deforms his body to a great extent. He develops a freakishly overdeveloped head and a stunted body.

George thereby uses a hoverchair for mobility, thus giving MODOK his signature look. He first appeared in Tales of Suspense #93 (1967), and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Combining all the rumors and reports (from the exclusive SDCC trailer), it is being said that the character will have a much different look in the upcoming Ant-Man 3 and will have a different origin, and will probably be played by Corey Stoll’s Darren Cross from Ant-Man (2015).

4. High Evolutionary

To appear in: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Chukwudi Iwuji first made an appearance as High Evolutionary before the public at the SDCC 2023 before the panel of the GOTG Vol. 3. Iwuji will play a scientist who seeks to enhance lower life forms into a perfect species. In the Marvel comics, the High Evolutionary was a geneticist from the 1930s obsessed with evolution inspired by the work of Nathaniel Essex to conduct genetic experiments. After being expelled from Oxford University for his unethical methods he set up a base on Mount Wundagore, where he would continue his work for decades. He is also responsible for giving Adam Warlock the soul stone.

However, this MCU iteration will probably give us an origin story for our beloved guardian – Rocket Racoon. The High Evolutionary has no confirmed link to Rocket in the comic – but that doesn’t matter. It makes perfect sense in the MCU. He also will face off against Star-Lord’s team after the Guardians’ appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder and the Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special.

 3. Riri Williams aka Ironheart

To appear in: Disney+’s Ironheart (2023)

Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams (aka Ironheart) has already appeared in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). She was charming and charismatic in her portrayal of the character and has surely hyped up fans’ excitement for the upcoming Ironheart Disney+ series. It will be exciting to see Marvel’s live-action portrayal of the character and see how they tackle her origin story. Riri, surely has bigger plans for MCU’s future and can have significant roles in upcoming Avengers movies as well.

In the comics, however, Riri is a 15-year-old MIT engineering student who is a certified tech genius. She builds a crude Iron Man armor all by herself and is later helped by Tony Stark who decides to endorse her decision to become a superhero. Riri goes on to join Captain Marvel in Civil War II. It shall be exciting to see her journey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe going forward.

2. Adam Warlock

To appear in: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

In July 2022, Marvel Studios officially announced that Will Poulter will play the MCU version of Adam Warlock. The character was last teased in the post-credit scene of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. At the SDCC, the attendees were given an exclusive look at some footage that reportedly included the first look at Poulter’s character. The rest of the public finally saw the character in the first teaser trailer of the movie which was released a month later.

In the comics, Adam Warlock has a pivotal role in almost every major cosmic event including the Infinity War storyline. That is why fans were very eager to see the character to come alive on big screen ever since Marvel announced they were doing Avengers: Infinity War. However, that did not materialize and now it seems the character is finally making his appearance in the MCU with GOTG Vol. 3. His look in the trailer is undoubtedly badass and hopefully the movie will do justice to him. Adam Warlock is not a small character, so he probably will have a huge role to play in the movie and in future projects as well.

1. Kang, the Conqueror

To appear in: Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), Loki Season 2 (2023)

This probably is not a surprise. The one character that Marvel fans are most anticipated to see in 2023 is Jonathan Major’s portrayal of Kang, the Conqueror. With Endgame, Marvel culminated its 11 years long journey into a very satisfying and grand conclusion. Primarily it happened because of Josh Brolin’s amazing performance as the mad titan, Thanos. As an antagonist, he carried the humungous task of ‘The Infinity Saga’ and subdued the earth’s mightiest heroes down to their blood and sweat. Going forward, with the ambitious plan of ‘Multiverse Saga’, fans are now eager to see how Majors will play the antagonist. Whether Kang will be able to carry the torch of Thanos with equal might and fury, or not.

Majors, previous appearance as ‘He Who Remains’, a flushed-out-calm version of Kang, in Loki season 1, instantly became a hit among the fans. However, in the end, he is killed by Silvie, thus disrupting the timeline and unleashing many other fearsome versions of Kang across the multiverse, who would now fight for their dominance. With Major’s first look as Kang in the first teaser trailer of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, getting numerous accolades for being on point both look and performance-wise, we just can’t wait for more.