Speculation on what the roster for a “Midnight Sons” debut might look like?

I want to keep it simple:

* Blade (Leader)
* Moon Knight
* Punisher
* Ghost Rider
* Man-Thing
* Werewolf By Night
* Elsa Bloodstone

If Marvel Studios wants to complicate it by adding the forgotten Marvel TV properties like Coleen Wing (The Current Iron Fist), Nico Minoru, The Hellstorms, Cloak & Dagger then I’d support it, but I just don’t think anyone else remember those characters even exist, so it be like introducing brand new characters. Same goes for Dane Whittman from Eternals.

The audience wouldn’t be familiar with them so you’d waste too much time telling their backstories. You could make that argument for Blade & Ghost Rider but they already have 5 films between them, so most people are at least vaguely familiar with what they’re all about.

Punisher is a debated choice, but I feel you need one “normal” person to be tossed into the fire of all these supernatural shenanigans like an audience surrogate in a way.

Doctor Strange I feel needs to be mentioned or used as a background character for the first film, so as not to steel the spotlight. But I wouldn’t be opposed to him joining the team, but he would have to lead. I’d rather he just join the sequel, maybe with some of the Marvel TV crew previously mentioned — especially Coleen & Nico.

**What Would Your Roster Look Like?**

Commentaires

Cautious_Mission_4382026-01-27 10:25

(Leader) Doctor Strange, Blade, Ghost Rider
Punisher, Moon Knight, Scarlet Scarab, Werewolf by night, Elsa Bloodstone, Man-Thing

GypsyGold2026-01-27 10:44

I originally had Strange as my leader, but decided to save him for the second film so I could better establish Blade. But my gut was to have him lead. I might have over thought it. I like this lineup a lot.

I forgot all about Layla, yea, add her in too!

Cautious_Mission_4382026-01-27 10:50

Yeah either one works if Strange or Blade is the leader I wanted to include Scarlet Witch and swap out Punisher or include them both but decided not to include Wanda really didn’t know if Punisher should be in the lineup since he wasn’t an original member

GypsyGold2026-01-27 10:54

When I over thought it, I figured since Blade isn’t getting his own solo film, that this first Midnight Sons movie needs to focus on him.

But, Doctor Strange sells tickets, and I don’t see how he’s involved unless he leads.

I think Wanda needs to be reestablished as a hero first — possibly through this movie.

Punisher I like as the audience surrogate. He was apart of the Hearts of Darkness storyline from the 90’s

Cautious_Mission_4382026-01-27 10:56

He can be involved in the comics he wasn’t always the leader sometimes he was leading sometimes Blade was you can still have both characters in the film with just Blade as the focus isn’t that hard we’ve seen it in movies all the time we could see Strange gather the heroes for a threat or something and Blade has actual history with whatever that threat is and the focus is on Blade as long as it’s written well it can work with both on the roster

deemoorah2026-01-27 14:13

>I don’t see how he’s involved unless he leads.

In the hypothetical MS' sequel, adapting Damnation storyline. Strange could deal with Mephisto while MS kills monsters

Dazzling-Cod58042026-01-27 18:49

The bill just for the actors would be insane. How can you afford Cumberbatch, Oscar Isaac, Ali, Bernthal and potentially Ryan Gosling in the same film? Not to mention the others.

Cautious_Mission_4382026-01-27 18:53

Who’s to say that Ryan Gosling will play Ghost Rider? Kevin Feige confirmed that the MCU post secret wars reset/reboot a lot of the recasts will be unknown actors and actresses and I doubt Ali will even play Blade I think he will leave and let someone else take on the role hopefully someone younger because Ali is old asl now so only three actors will be expensive which isn’t like some thing that isn’t normal to pay a lot of money to two or three actors Strange Punisher Moon Knight will be the only three the rest aren’t major actors so it won’t cost much for them and plus Marvel pays tons to a lot of actors isn’t like this is something new look at the Avengers movies and how much those actors get paid MCU got enough to spend they got trillions

TriggerHippie772026-01-27 20:35

Even though he is not part of the midnight suns I wonder if they are going to add the Black Knight.

Specialist-Chair3622026-01-27 10:31

Great list and post but you’re missing a magic user. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Jennifer Kale in
Agatha All Along. She flew off at the end of AAA having regained her powers, which felt intentional. Her deep connection to Man-Thing could translate beautifully to live-action also. With Agatha as a ghost and Strange being one of the major franchise tentpoles, my hope is that we’ll see her on this team.

micksandals2026-01-27 10:33

Jennifer Kale would be a great choice, Doctor Voodoo would be another option (albeit another new character to introduce).

GypsyGold2026-01-27 10:46

I forgot about Layla, The Scarlet Scarab from Moon Knight. She fits in well for another female heroine.

I really want Nico & Colleen (who is currently the MCU’s iron fist) but I just don’t think people would remember them.

GypsyGold2026-01-27 10:41

Yea, that’s a very good choice, I like Jennifer Kale, I actually thought about including her. But I thought she’d conflict with Strange (who was originally my teams leader), then I decided to remove Strange and save him for the second film.

So yea, let’s add her to it!

whiskeywin2026-01-27 10:54

In an ideal world, we'd start with Ghost Rider, Blade and Morbius.

In the MCU, it'll probably be Moon Knight, Werewolf by Night, Elsa Bloodstone, Black Knight, Blade and maybe Man-Thing.

Primary_Peach_12672026-01-27 11:27

I don’t think the punisher is necessary, Elsa can be that Everyman type character, only using her skills as a monster hunter and the bloodstone, I like blade, ghost rider, moon knight, man thing, werewolf by night, and if I’m being selfish brother voodoo as a sort of emissary for Wong, the sorcerer supreme, I don’t want doctor strange in this movie, maybe just because of how he’s portrayed in the movies but he feels a little too powerful when compared to werewolf by night or blade, and I want these other characters to shine more, giving much needed attention to all these somewhat forgotten characters by the studio

Primary_Peach_12672026-01-27 11:28

Black knight could also be a really good Everyman

idahoisformetal2026-01-27 14:22

Bernthal and Ali are my two favorite actors working today, even if they get a tiny scene together I might cream.

Soulwarfare422026-01-27 14:47

For the first Midnight Sons roster and the first film, I don't think the team should be a huge roster. 6-7 sounds reasonable to me:

Blade

Moon Knight

Elsa Bloodstone

Ghost Rider (Johnny Blade)

Werewolf by Night

Man Thing

Black Knight

Punisher is not really a character associated with the Supernatural and definitely not a member of Midnight sons in the comics. So I don't think he is needed for the team. Plus, the team only really needs one out-of-the-loop character (to help the audience) and that can be fulfilled by Black Knight (Dane Whitman).

Dr Strange can have a cameo and be a sort of Nick Fury type but I don't think he should be a part of the team

SilverSkywalkerSaber2026-01-27 18:18

The only reason I pitch Punisher for an MCU Midnight Suns adaption is for his everyman perspective. He matches the brutal tone I want, while also being the anchor audiences can latch onto as he learns about the supernatural.

I don't think it's necessary though.

Soulwarfare422026-01-27 20:22

I don't think the team needs two everyman perspective

Especially, if we have Dane Whitman in the team

GypsyGold2026-01-27 19:17

Punisher was Frankencastle for a few years so, he definitely is associated with the supernatural -- but as far as MCU Frank goes, not so much.

Dr_Disaster2026-01-27 21:19

He was also canonically a demon killing angel at one point in the comics.

GypsyGold2026-01-27 21:36

Is that still considered cannon?

Dr_Disaster2026-01-27 21:51

Shockingly, yes! It was mentioned in the start of Garth Ennis’ Punisher run. Frank says he quit the job and he was returned to mortality. It hasn’t been brought up much over the years, but it was neither retconned nor has Punisher been rebooted since then, so it’s still a canon part of Frank’s story. And that’s why some folks still choose to add him to the Midnight Sons roster. Frank has been touched by God and may or may not still have some level of divine protection as a former Angel of Death.

GypsyGold2026-01-28 09:19

Huh. 🤔

Yea. Punisher fits well then.

benewavvsupreme2026-01-27 15:01

I think you're grossly overestimating how many people watched werewolf by night

GypsyGold2026-01-27 19:19

No, just figured if you are going to introduce unfamiliar characters, that's probably the easiest onboarding tool available because a single hour special on Disney+ equates to three characters.

BartleBossy2026-01-27 15:54

I wouldnt want it to be a one and done.

Give me a street level Midnight Suns part 1.

- Moon Knight, Ghost Rider, Punisher, ManTHing and Werewolf by Night.

Then Blade has his own solo (or before, doesnt matter, but seperate from MS)

*Then* bring Blade, Strange, Elsa and Agatha in for the 2nd and final in the project.

If we want to bring a mutant along, give me Magik. Im gonna try and find a way to get Magik in almost anything moving forward lol

Symbiotic_vengeance2026-01-27 16:08

My pitch is similar to yours with a few mods. Strange forms the team but by the end of the film hands leadership over to Moon Knight. I initially had Blade leading too but I think Moon Knight has more of an established teamwork past with his merc days so he might be better suited to lead but Blade would easily be co captain. Like Iron Man and Cap both being leaders in their own right. Blade is like Iron Man, capable in battle but less military leadership and Moon Knight brings the war time leadership that Cap represented.

superseri188882026-01-27 20:39

Most likely the four on the top

All of them are already in the mcu

ElricDarkPrince2026-01-27 21:23

I prefer the original OG with darkhold and the rest

tehCharo2026-01-27 22:29

Add Black Knight, they teased him and the Ebony Blade at the end of The Eternals with the Blade voice over, I need my guy in proper form finally in live action, I've been waiting for this for 2/3 of my life.

GypsyGold2026-01-27 22:58

I know they did, but personally I want to forget that they did. I wouldn’t be opposed to introducing the villainous version of Black Knight and just forgetting the Eternals version even exists

Apprehensive_Egg66562026-01-28 07:41

Blade, Moon knight, Punisher, Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, Werewolf By Night, Elsa Bloodstone and Black Knight