Species of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on superhero films and other series starring various titular superheroes independently produced by Marvel Studios and based on characters that appear in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The shared universe, much like the original Marvel Universe in comic books, was established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters. Due to the galaxy-spanning nature of the franchise, multiple species have been introduced.

Asgardians[]

The Asgardians, or the Æsir, are the inhabitants of Asgard on which the gods of Norse mythology are based. They are a race of extraterrestrials similar in appearance to humans, possessing a highly advanced form of technology resembling magic and sorcery, which their entire civilization is built on. They are mainly wiped out by Thanos, Hela, and Surtur.

They appeared in the films Thor, The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Doctor Strange, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame; as well as the ABC series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Disney+ series Loki and What If...?.

Celestials[]

Celestials are an ancient race of entities that possess vast matter and energy manipulation abilities. They were present long before the dawn of the galactic communities and even the Asgardians. Their origin and nature is shrouded in mystery. Whatever is known about them is known only by a few, such as Taneleer Tivan / The Collector, who reveals that the Celestials utilized the Infinity Stones as a means of power against lesser life forms. The severed head of a deceased Celestial was converted into Knowhere. The head appears in Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Infinity War. In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Ego the Living Planet, Star-Lord's biological father, is a Celestial who controls a humanoid avatar to travel the universe. His planetary form is a living extension of his Celestial consciousness. Over the course of many years, he planted thousands of alien-seedlings to expand his existence across all life sustaining planets. However, Ego needed another Celestial's assistance to activate them, so he fathered children with various alien races and had Yondu Udonta retrieve them so he could gauge their Celestial powers. Quill is the only child who gained his father's Celestial abilities, though he loses them after killing Ego and foiling his plans. Eson the Searcher is one of the previous owners of the Power Stone. He used its power to level the surface of an entire planet.

They appeared in the films Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Eternals, as well as the Disney+ animated series What If...?.

Chitauri[]

The Chitauri are a powerful, reptilian warrior race, a hybrid between organic beings and machines. They have a caste-like society, with each caste (nearly a different species in itself) fulfilling a different role in Chitauri society. They are in league with Thanos through his vizier, a hooded being called "the Other". They are presented as a race of grey-skinned, six-fingered reptilian humanoids that have a bio-mechanical physiology and superhuman attributes. Their technology ranges from hovercraft-like skimmers and Necrocraft, to living airborne troop carriers called Leviathans, all neurally linked with a mothership.

• In 2012, the Other, acting on behalf of Thanos, lends the Chitauri to Loki for the invasion of Earth. While they eventually overwhelm the Avengers, Iron Man destroys the mothership with a hijacked nuclear missile with the invading forces dropping dead instantly from the mental feedback.
• In 2014, the Other briefly appears where he contacts Ronan the Accuser and Nebula about Gamora's betrayal, and calls them to the Sanctuary on behalf of Thanos. Once the two of them appear, Ronan argues his case to Thanos while The Other scolds him for his failure, and is then promptly killed by Ronan. A Chitauri soldier is also seen as a prisoner in the Collector's museum.
• In 2015, Chitauri technology is being studied and used by a Hydra faction led by Baron Strucker– many of his troops wear suits and use weapons made of Chitauri armor, and Strucker's hidden lab houses the remains of a Leviathan. Furthermore, as first hinted in the psychological trauma shown in Iron Man 3 and augmented by Scarlet Witch's powers giving him a nightmarish vision, Tony Stark has been fearful that the Chitauri may eventually return to Earth, which leads to his rash actions in creating Ultron.
• In 2017, alongside the technology of the Dark Elves and Stark Industries, the Chitauri technology is used by Adrian Toomes and his cohorts, who steal it from Damage Control and modify it into weapons to sell on the black market, and to forge technology such as Vulture's flight suit and Shocker's gauntlets.
• In 2018, the Chitauri are Thanos' enforcers in his mission to obtain the Infinity Stones. It is also revealed in a flashback that the Chitauri took part in the invasion of Gamora's home planet when she was a child, resulting in her being taken in by Thanos.
• In an alternate 2012, Chitauri are seen fighting in the Battle of New York. In present-day 2023, alternate versions of the Chitauri and their Leviathans are brought to fight in the Battle of Earth. While some Chitauri and Leviathans are slain, the rest are taken out by Iron Man using the Stark Gauntlet.

They appeared in the films The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame; as well as the Disney+ series Loki (archival footage), What If...?, and Hawkeye.

Deviants[]

Deviants are a race of organic beings created by the Celestial Arishem. Like Eternals, they are sent to planets to ensure the development of intelligent life, creating the necessary conditions to birth a Celestial. Deviants achieve this by eliminating the apex predators of planets, allowing populations to grow. However, unlike Eternals, Deviants can evolve, and eventually become threats to intelligent life themselves. Eternals were sent as replacements with the additional mission to eliminate Deviants.

On Earth, Deviants were believed to have been eliminated by Eternals led by Ajak in 1521, until their resurgence in 2024. One of these Deviants, Kro, kills Eternals Ajak and Gilgamesh and absorbs their abilities.

They appeared in the film Eternals.

Dwarves[]

Dwarves are an ancient race of skilled forgers and blacksmiths who hail from the realm of Nidavellir. They are ruled by King Eitri. They are close allies of the Asgardians, and after being asked by Odin, forged Mjolnir.

Eitri appears in Avengers: Infinity War, when Thor, Rocket, and Groot arrive on Nidavellir. They find Eitri who informs them that Thanos killed the rest of the Dwarves after they forged the Infinity Gauntlet.

They appeared in the film Avengers: Infinity War; as well as the Disney+ series What If...?.

Elves[]

Elves are two separate races, the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim and the Light Elves of Alfheim. The Dark Elves, led by Malekith, first appear in Thor: The Dark World. The Dark Elves, as with their enemies the Asgardians, are depicted as ancient astronauts. It is stated that they existed in the primordial darkness that predated the current vibrant state of the universe. Their goal is to destroy the current universe and return existence back to that state. They were believed extinct, but unbeknownst to the Asgardians, Malekith and a number of warriors escaped and went into stasis in deep space until another attempt would be possible. For the film, David J. Peterson created a language for the Dark Elves called Shiväisith. In Guardians of the Galaxy, an imprisoned Dark Elf appears as an exhibit in Taneleer Tivan's museum. In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Dark Elf technology that was salvaged from the Battle of Greenwich was used by Tinkerer alongside the technologies from the Chitauri and Stark Industries.

They appeared in the films Thor: The Dark World and Guardians of the Galaxy; as well as the Disney+ series Loki (archival footage) and What If...?.^[1]

Eternals[]

The Eternals are an immortal race of superpowered synthetic beings artificially created by the Celestials at the World Forge to rid planets of Deviants in order to ensure the continual growth of their native populations, allowing new Celestials to "emerge" when the time comes. A group of ten Eternals—Ajak, Sersi, Ikaris, Kingo, Sprite, Phastos, Makkari, Druig, Gilgamesh, and Thena—are sent to Earth on their starship, the Domo by Arishem in 5000 BC, where they help humanity progress while refraining from interfering in human conflicts. In 2024, this group of Eternals rebel once they learn of their true purpose, with Ajak and Gilgamesh being killed by Deviants in the process. Sersi replaces Ajak as the team's leader and activates the Uni-Mind, successfully preventing the Celestial Tiamut from being born and destroying the planet. A guilt-ridden Ikaris, who had vowed to uphold Arishem's instructions but was unable to bring himself to killing Sersi, flies into the Sun, while Sprite is turned into a human.

They appeared in the film Eternals.

Flerkens[]

Flerkens are alien creatures resembling Earth cats in appearance and behavior. They have tentacles that come out of their mouths and can swallow up large objects and store them in pocket dimensions in their bellies. Flerkens also have longevity.

• Goose makes her appearance in the live-action film Captain Marvel. She accompanies Carol Danvers and Nick Fury on their mission, where she demonstrates her abilities by defeating Kree soldiers and swallowing the Tesseract. Later, she stays with Fury.

Frost Giants[]

The Frost Giants are the race of large humanoid beings that inhabit the frozen, barren realm known as Jotunheim. They are ruled by Laufey, king of the Frost Giants, who is also Loki's true biological father. Small and weak for a Frost Giant, Loki was abandoned by his father in a temple, and left to die. In 965 A.D., not long after the war between the Giants and the Asgardians, Loki was found by King Odin and raised as his son.

They appeared in the film Thor, and through Loki in the films The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, as well as the Disney+ series Loki and What If...?.^[1][2]

Kree[]

The Kree are a militaristic race of mostly blue-skinned humanoids from the planet Hala. One of the most technically advanced races in the galaxy, the Kree are skilled in genetic engineering and are responsible for the creation of the Inhumans on Earth.

First featured in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., they make their cinematic debut in Guardians of the Galaxy.^[3] Ronan the Accuser and Korath the Pursuer are the only notable Kree individuals that appear in the film.^[4][5] The Kree Empire is stated to have just signed a peace treaty with the Nova Corps of Xandar, thereby ending a centuries-long war between the two races. This treaty prompts the radical Ronan to embark on a renegade campaign of genocide against all Xandarians. To the Nova Corps' frustration, the Kree Ambassador (portrayed by Tomas Arana) tells Irani Rael that the Kree Empire refuses to stop Ronan's killing spree and that his plot is not their concern as they have done enough with the peace treaty. The Kree briefly appear in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, where their planet Hala is nearly destroyed by Ego.^[6] They next appear in Captain Marvel.^[7][8] Pace and Hounsou reprise their roles as Ronan and Korath, and are joined by Yon-Rogg, Minn-Erva, Att-Lass, and Bron-Char, who are members of the Kree military team Starforce. Mar-Vell and the Supreme Intelligence also appear in the film. Yon-Rogg came to Earth when the Kree discovered that Mar-Vell was working on a light-speed engine experiment as well as harboring some Skrulls. When Mar-Vell died in a crash with Carol Danvers and Yon-Rogg arrived, Carol shot the engine and got exposed to its energies. After a blood transfusion from Yon-Rogg, Carol's memories were altered and worked under him and the Supreme Intelligence. Carol then arrived back on Earth following an encounter with the Skrulls led by Talos. When it came to a parley with Talos, Carol learned what the Kree did to the Skrulls and their homeworld. After getting the dampener removed from her head, Carol uses her powers to fight the Kree forces which resulted in most of them either being killed or incapacitated. Yon-Rogg was sent back to Hala to relay Carol's message to the Supreme Intelligence.

They appeared in the films Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Captain Marvel, and Avengers: Endgame; as well as the ABC series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Disney+ animated series What If...?.

Outriders[]

The Outriders are mindless, feral aliens utilized by Thanos in his army. The Outriders make their first live-action appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Avengers: Infinity War, in which they invade Wakanda. Alternate versions of the Outriders appear in Avengers: Endgame during the final battle, but are disintegrated at the end.

The non-canon novel Thanos: Titan Consumed gives their origin as the result of Thanos combining samples of DNA from the Chitauri, himself, and of various species that he has killed.

They appeared in the films Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

Sakaarans[]

Sakaarans, also known as Sakaarians, are a sentient insectoid race native to the planet Sakaar.

• They make their first appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy, working for Ronan the Accuser. A maskless member of the race is portrayed by James Gunn.
• A separate type, larva-like creatures, appears in Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Endgame, in the form of Miek.

They appeared in the films Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Endgame, and the Disney+ animated series What If...?

Skrulls[]

The Skrulls are a race of extraterrestrial shapeshifters hailing from the planet Skrullos.

• In 1995,^[9] Talos (portrayed by Ben Mendelsohn) is the leader of the Skrulls.^[10] A faction of Skrulls led by Talos are victims of a genocidal war waged by the Kree, having come to Earth to seek the aid of renegade Kree scientist Mar-Vell in devising a light-speed engine that could take the Skrulls to safety. After Kree warrior "Vers" learns of her true identity as Carol Danvers, she helps defend Talos and the other Skrull refugees from a Kree attack before they leave Earth to find a new planet to settle on.
• In 2023, a Skrull posing as an FBI agent informs Monica Rambeau that an "old friend" of her mother would like to meet her.^[11]
• In 2024, Talos and his wife Soren pose as Nick Fury and Maria Hill on Earth while the real Fury works with a group of Skrulls in space.^[12]
• The Skrulls will be featured heavily in the Disney+ series Secret Invasion.^[13]

They appeared in the films Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far From Home, as well as the Disney+ series WandaVision, Loki,^[14] and What If...?.^[2]

Sovereign[]

The Sovereign are a golden-skinned humanoid race that has advanced through genetic engineering and live on the amalgamation of planets of the same name. They are led by Ayesha, the Golden High Priestess. In a post-credits scene in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Ayesha oversees the birth of the latest member of the race—Adam Warlock, who she intends to use as a weapon against the Guardians.

They appeared in the film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and the Disney+ series What If...?.^[2]

Other species[]

Several other species make appearances throughout the MCU, often in the form of a single character. These include Xandarians (such as Kraglin and the Nova Corps), Kylosians (Drax), Luphomoids (Nebula), Flora Colossus (Groot), Zehoberei (Gamora), insectoids (Mantis), Krylorians (Bereet and Carina), Kronans (Korg),^[15] Korbinites,^[16] Dragons (Great Protector), Watchers (The Watcher), and symbiotes (Venom).^[17]

See also[]

• Characters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
• Features of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
• Teams and organizations of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

References[]