The Mandarin still has a future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Mandarin has had a divisive presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe thus far, but the character still has plenty of potential.

In its 11-year existence, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has introduced a plethora of characters. These characters range from major heroes like Iron Man and Captain Marvel to supporting players like Erik Selving and Luis. Unfortunately, with so many faces in one universe, some are serviced less than others and fall under the radar.

This couldn’t be any truer than with the villains of the MCU. Loki, Vulture, Erik Killmonger and a few others managed to get interesting stories. Conversely, others like Abomination and Zemo had arcs that felt either shortchanged or unfinished. Still, there is one antagonist whose potential has yet to be realized: The Mandarin.

Any MCU fan or general comic book movie lover no doubt knows how controversial the Mandarin’s inclusion in Iron Man 3 was. Instead of being a powerful mystic, he was touted as a brutal terrorist  with plans to rip America apart from the inside. However, in a major twist, he turned out to be a drunken actor named Trevor Slattery, played humorously by Ben Kingsley, who was only a pawn in a larger scheme.

While some (like myself) didn’t mind this new take on the classic villain, others were left disappointed. And it’s hard to argue that there could certainly be more to the Mandarin, as well as Ten Rings organization, which was first set up in Iron Man. But as it so happens, it appears Marvel Studios has more in store for both.

More from Marvel Cinematic Universe

• Loki season 2 finale does set the stage for Kang Dynasty
• Marvel: (Spoiler) exits Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
• Will Loki air a new bonus episode tonight? (November 16, 2023)
• What If…? season 2 gets premiere date (and there’s a major twist)
• Marvel rumors hint Pedro Pascal has been cast in key Fantastic Four role

During his Reddit AMA, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed that there are plans to continue the story of the Mandarin and the Ten Rings. The producer, however, remained coy on the specifics of those plans. So how could the Ten Rings make a comeback?

Well, thanks to the Iron Man 3 Prelude comic, we know the Mandarin does indeed exist in the MCU, as he was unhappy with Colonel James Rhodes interfering with the Ten Rings’ activities as War Machine. This displeasure only increased after Slattery masqueraded as the terrorist leader, leading him to order the actor’s abduction in the Marvel One-Shot All Hail the King.

But aside from him merely existing and being an active threat in this continuity, there’s also the question of where his return would be most. appropriate. A War Machine solo film could be an option. The Mandarin is already well aware of Rhodes and has bad blood with him. Additionally, having Rhodey finish the the fight that his best friend Tony Stark started would be somewhat fitting.

However, there is one upcoming Marvel film that would be an obvious, and effective, place for the Mandarin to show up: Shang-Chi. The Master of Kung-Fu hasn’t always had a solidified rogues’ gallery. Because he gets around in the Marvel Universe, he typically ends up fighting other established villains like the Kingpin or HYDRA. Adding the Mandarin to Shang-Chi would give the hero a more than formidable antagonist.

And with the Ten Rings (not including what Trevor Slattery and Aldrich Killian did) being steeped in Asian culture and mythology, it would be a natural fit. There may even be a way to tie Shang-Chi’s backstory to the organization.

The Mandarin is alive and well in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it’s only a matter of time before he rears his ugly head. Where and when that will be is anyone’s guess. But whenever he does, he’s going to cause serious headaches for anyone who crosses paths with him.