TheAsgardians (based on the Marvel Comics raceof the same name), or theÆsir - introduced inThor, are the inhabitants ofAsgard, on whom the gods ofNorse mythology are based in MCU mythology. In the first film, they are shown as a race of superhuman extraterrestrials who look similar to humans but possess a highly advanced form of technology resembling magic and sorcery, upon which their entire civilization is built.[1] However, later films contradict this, withThor: Love and Thunder establishing that Thor and Zeus are actual gods in the fictional universe.[2] The film's post-credit scene also confirms the existence ofValhalla in the Marvel universe.
The Asgardians are shown suffering major losses, first duringHela's attempt to harness Asgard's power inThor: Ragnarok, and later byThanos on his quest to retrieve theTesseract, as revealed inAvengers: Infinity War. A group of survivors escape to Earth, and build a settlement under the rule ofKing Valkyrie.
InGuardians of the Galaxy, they are introduced as being present in the universe long before the galactic communities and even the Asgardians. Their origin and nature are not elaborated upon. Whatever is known about them is known only by a few characters, such asTaneleer Tivan, who reveals that the Celestials utilized theInfinity Stones as a means of power against lesser life forms. The severed head of a deceased Celestial, which was converted intoKnowhere, appears in these films:Guardians of the Galaxy,Avengers: Infinity War,The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special andGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Eson the Searcher is shown in a flashback sequence as a former owner of thePower Stone inGuardians of the Galaxy. He uses its power to level the surface of an entire planet.
InGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,Ego the Living Planet 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 plants thousands of alien-seedlings to expand his existence across all life sustaining worlds. However, Ego needs another Celestial's assistance to activate them, so he fathers children with various alien races and hadYondu Udonta retrieve them which meant he could gauge their Celestial powers.Peter Quill is the only child who gains his father's Celestial abilities, though he loses them after killing Ego and foiling his plans.
InEternals,Arishem the Celestial is revealed to have planted seeds of other Celestials in planets with life for millions of years, and created and dispatchedDeviants and Eternals to prepare the planets for their birth. After the Eternals of Earth defy his orders and stop the birth of CelestialTiamut, their remaining members are taken away by Arishem for judgement.
Celestials also appear in the filmThor: Love and Thunder and the Disney+ animated seriesWhat If...?.[4]
TheChitauri (based on the Marvel Comics raceof the same name) are a powerful, reptilian warrior race, introduced inThe Avengers as 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.[citation needed] They are in league withThanos 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.
InThe Avengers, the Other, acting on behalf of Thanos, lends the Chitauri toLoki for the invasion of Earth, leading to the Battle of New York. 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.
InGuardians of the Galaxy, the Other briefly appears where he contactsRonan the Accuser andNebula aboutGamora's betrayal, and also 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. Additionally, a Chitauri soldier is also seen as a prisoner in the Collector's museum.
InAvengers: Age of Ultron, Chitauri technology is being studied and used by aHydra faction led byBaron 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 inIron Man 3 and augmented by Scarlet Witch's powers giving him a nightmarish vision, Tony Stark is fearful that the Chitauri may eventually return to Earth, which leads to his rash actions in creatingUltron.
InAvengers: Infinity War, 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 version of the Battle of New York shown inAvengers: Endgame, Chitauri are seen fighting as they did in the original depiction of the battle. In present-day 2023, alternate versions of the Chitauri and their Leviathans are brought to fight in theBattle of Earth. While some Chitauri and Leviathans are slain, the rest are taken out by Iron Man using the Stark Gauntlet.
They also appear in the Disney+ seriesLoki (archival footage),What If...?, andHawkeye (flashback).
TheClandestines (based on the Marvel Comics storylineClanDestine), introduced inMs. Marvel, are a group who claim to beDjinn that were exiled from their homeNoor dimension. Their presence on Earth is shown to be tied to the background of the family of series protagonistKamala Khan.[5][6] Kamala's great-grandmother Aisha is revealed to be a former Clandestines in a flashback sequence set in the period up to thePartition of India.[7] In 1942, Aisha leaves the group, falls in love with a human man named Hasan, and gives birth to Sana, Kamala's grandmother.[8] In 1947, the other Clandestines find Aisha, and their leader,Najma, kills her.[9][10] The other members include Fariha, Aadam, Saleem,[11] andKamran, who tries to protect Kamala from the other Clandestines when they attempt to forcibly use her to return home.[12]
As of 2026,[update] the Clandestines have appeared in one project: the Disney+ seriesMs. Marvel (2022).
Deviants (based on the Marvel Comics raceof the same name) are a race of organic beings introduced inEternals, created by theCelestialArishem. LikeEternals, 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 theapex predators of planets, allowing populations to grow. But unlike Eternals, Deviants evolve from absorbing traits from those they killed and eventually become a threat to intelligent life themselves. Eternals are revealed to have been sent as replacements with the additional mission to eliminate Deviants. On Earth, Deviants are believed to have been eliminated by Eternals led byAjak in 1521, until their resurgence in 2024. The Deviant leader,Kro, kills Eternals Ajak andGilgamesh and absorbs their abilities to gradually evolve into a sapient being until being killed byThena.
As of 2026,[update] the Deviants have appeared in one project: the filmEternals.
Dwarves, (based on the Marvel Comics raceof the same name) introduced inAvengers: Infinity War, are an ancient race of skilled forgers and blacksmiths hailing from the realm ofNidavellir. They are ruled byKing Eitri. They are close allies of the Asgardians, and after being asked byOdin, forgedMjolnir.
Eitri appears inAvengers: Infinity War, whenThor,Rocket, andGroot arrive on Nidavellir. They find Eitri who informs them that Thanos killed the rest of the Dwarves after they forged the Infinity Gauntlet.
Dwarves also appear in the Disney+ seriesWhat If...?.
Elves (based on the Marvel Comics raceof the same name) are two separate races, theDark Elves of Svartalfheim, and theLight Elves of Alfheim.
InThor: The Dark World, the Dark Elves, as with their enemies the Asgardians, are depicted asancient astronauts. It is stated that they existed in the primordial darkness that predated the current vibrant state of the universe. Their goal is stated as destroying the current universe and returning 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. InGuardians of the Galaxy, an imprisoned Dark Elf appears as an exhibit in Taneleer Tivan's museum. InSpider-Man: Homecoming, Dark Elf technology that was salvaged from the Battle of Greenwich was used byTinkerer alongside the technologies from the Chitauri and Stark Industries.
Runa, a Light Elf with shape shifting abilities, appears inShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law. After impersonating various people includingMegan Thee Stallion, she is caught and sentenced to pay damages and serve a 60 day sentence.[13]
Elves also appear in the Disney+ seriesLoki (archival footage) andWhat If...?.[14]
"Eternals (Marvel Cinematic Universe)" redirects here. For the 2021 film, seeEternals (film).
Eternals (based on the Marvel Comics raceof the same name) are an immortal race of superpowered synthetic beings appearing in the film of the same name. They are revealed to have been created by the Celestials at the World Forge to rid planets ofDeviants 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, andThena—are sent to Earth on their starship, theDomo, byArishem in 5000 BC, where they help humanity progress while refraining from interfering in human conflicts. In the present day, this group of Eternals rebel once they learn of their true purpose, with Ajak being betrayed by Ikaris and her and Gilgamesh both being killed by Deviants in the process. Sersi replaces Ajak as the team's leader and activates the Uni-Mind, successfully preventing the CelestialTiamut 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 kill Sersi, flies into the Sun, while Sprite is turned into a human.
As of 2026,[update] the Eternals have appeared in one project: the filmEternals.
TheFlerken, introduced inCaptain Marvel, are stated to be alien creatures that completely resemble Earth's cats in appearance and behavior, but are shown to possess human-level intelligence. They have tentacles that come out of their mouths and can swallow up large objects and store them in pocket dimensions in their bellies.[15] Flerken also have longevity.[16]
Goose is the Flerken that makes her appearance inCaptain Marvel. She accompaniesCarol Danvers andNick Fury on their mission, where she demonstrates her abilities by defeating Kree soldiers and swallowing the Tesseract. Later, she stays with Fury. InThe Marvels, Goose gives birth to numerous offsprings which help with the evacuation of the collapsingS.A.B.E.R. station.
TheFrost Giants (based on the Marvel Comics raceGiants), introduced inThor, are a race of 10 ft. tall humanoid beings that inhabit the frozen, barren realmJotunheim. They are ruled byLaufey, king of the Frost Giants, who is also Loki's biological father. Small and weak for a Frost Giant, Loki is abandoned by his father in a temple, and left to die. In 965 A.D., shortly after the war between the Giants and the Asgardians, Loki is found by King Odin and raised as his son.
AfterThor, they also appear through Loki in the filmsThe Avengers,Thor: The Dark World,Thor: Ragnarok,Avengers: Infinity War andAvengers: Endgame, as well as theDisney+ seriesLoki andWhat If...?.[14][17]
The Inhuman Royal Family from the TV showInhumans.
TheInhumans (based on the Marvel Comics raceof the same name) are introduced in thesecond season ofAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D., with further development in thethird season. They were created by the Kree, with experiments with the Inhumans dating back to theMaya civilization when a Mayan hunter was turned intoHive. TheAlpha Primitives appeared in the show's third season, though they are referred to simply as "Primitives". This version of the Primitives are the result of Hive andHolden Radcliffe's failed experiments to turn humans into Inhumans through a pathogen created from a combination of Terrigen Crystals, the blood ofDaisy Johnson and a Kree Reaper, and Hive's own parasitic organism. While the Primitives have enhanced strength and infrared sensory capabilities, they also retain the skills they had before their transformation.
An eight-episode live-action television series, titledMarvel's Inhumans, premiered onABC after the first two episodes were screened inIMAX theaters for two weeks beginning on September 1, 2017.[18][19][20] IMAX is also a financial partner forInhumans, and this was the first time a television series premiered in IMAX. The series centered onBlack Bolt and other members of the Royal Family (Medusa,Maximus,Karnak,Gorgon,Crystal,Triton, andAuran),[18][21] and was not intended to be a reworking of the planned film from Marvel Studios, nor a spin-off ofAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.[18]Scott Buck served asshowrunner and executive producer on the series.[22] The series was panned by both fans and critics alike, and was canceled after one season.[23]
A trade report in March 2011 saidMarvel Entertainment was developing anInhumans film.[24][25] In November 2012,Stan Lee reported that the film is in development.[26] In August 2014, it was reported that Marvel was moving forward with the development of an Inhumans film, with a screenplay written byJoe Robert Cole.[27] In October 2014,Marvel Studios confirmedInhumans, with a release date of November 2, 2018, and withVin Diesel openly attached to the role of Black Bolt shortly after the film's announcement, despite already having a role in theMarvel Cinematic Universe asGroot.[28] The date was later pushed back to July 12, 2019.[29] By October 2015, Cole was no longer involved with the film and any potential drafts that he may have written would not be used.[30] In April 2016, the film was taken off of Marvel's 2019 release schedule for unknown reasons, though it is not considered canceled.[31] In July 2016, producerKevin Feige saidInhumans would "certainly" be a part of the discussion regarding the film ideas for 2020 and 2021, adding the following November that he was still optimistic the film could be released in Phase Four, but had since not commented on the reason for the film's removal from its slate.[32] Since then, there have been no further updates regarding the film's development, leaving the project in limbo.
TheKree (based on the Marvel Comics raceof the same name) are a militaristic race of mostly blue-skinned humanoids from the planet Hala, first featured in the ABC seriesAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. 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.
The species made its cinematic debut inGuardians of the Galaxy,[34] withRonan the Accuser and Korath the Pursuer.[35][36] The Kree Empire is stated to have just signed a peace treaty with the Nova Corps ofXandar, 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, before being defeated and killed by the Guardians of the Galaxy.
They next appear inCaptain Marvel.[38][39]Lee Pace andDjimon Hounsou reprise their roles as Ronan andKorath, and are joined byYon-Rogg,Minn-Erva,Att-Lass, andBron-Char, who are members of the Kree military teamStarforce.Mar-Vell and theSupreme Intelligence also appear in the film. Yon-Rogg comes to Earth when the Kree discovers that Mar-Vell is working on a light-speed engine experiment as well as harboring some Skrulls. When Mar-Vell dies in a crash withCarol Danvers and Yon-Rogg arrives, Danvers shoots the engine and gets exposed to its energies. After a blood transfusion from Yon-Rogg, Danvers' memories are altered and she works under him and the Supreme Intelligence. Danvers returns to Earth following an encounter with theSkrulls led byTalos. On a parley with Talos, Danvers learns of what the Kree did to the Skrulls and their homeworld. After removing the damper from her head, Danvers uses her powers to fight the Kree forces, resulting in most of them either being killed or incapacitated. Yon-Rogg is sent back to Hala to relay Danvers's message to the Supreme Intelligence.
The Kree also appear inThe Marvels, as well as the Disney+ animated seriesWhat If...?.
TheOutriders (based on the Marvel Comics raceof the same name) are mindless, feral aliens utilized byThanos in his army, first appearing inAvengers: Infinity War, in which they invade Wakanda. Alternate versions of the Outriders appear inAvengers: Endgame at the ruins of theAvengers Compound in upstate New York, but are disintegrated at the end.
The non-canon novelThanos: Titan Consumed states that the Outriders were created by Thanos, who combined samples of DNA from theChitauri, himself, and of various species that he has killed.
TheSkrulls (based on the Marvel Comics raceof the same name) are a race of extraterrestrialshapeshifters hailing from the planet Skrullos, introduced inCaptain Marvel.
In the film,[40]Talos (portrayed byBen Mendelsohn) is the leader of the Skrulls.[41] 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 asCarol 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.
InSecret Invasion,[44] Talos has been removed from his leadership role and a rogue Skrull faction led by Gravik is formed on a base, New Skrullos, in Russia with intentions to take Earth as their new home. Talos calls Fury for help and he returns from space, learning that rogue Skrulls have kidnapped world officials and replaced them, includingJames Rhodes andEverett Ross. Talos tells him that followingthe Blip, he summoned one million Skrull refugees to live on Earth. Angry that Fury failed on his promise to take care of them, Gravik orchestrates several terroristic attacks across many continents, kills Hill, Talos and other Skrulls that try to rebel against him, and attempts to instigate World War III. He and G'iah, Talos' daughter, use a machine to acquire the DNA from members of theAvengers, theGuardians of the Galaxy, theBlack Order, and other enhanced individuals and become Super-Skrulls. G'iah ultimately kills Gravik, Fury kills Raava, Rhodes' imposter, and the rogue faction becomes defunct. In response to the invasion, the U.S. President initiates the Anti-Alien Act deeming Skrulls and other aliens public enemies. G'iah is recruited into MI6, while Fury's wife, Varra, joins him in space with S.A.B.E.R..
InThe Marvels, Skrulls refugees live in the planet Tarnax and made a peace conversation with the Kree, organized by Fury, but before the arrival of Danvers, Monica Rambeau andKamala Khan, the treaty was dissolved. After Kree leaderDar-Benn makes a jump point with a Quantum Band by mining Tarnax's atmosphere into Hala to restore its air, the remaining Skrulls were evacuated and taken away byValkyrie.
Alternate universe variants of the Skrulls appear in the Disney+ seriesLoki,[45]What If...?,[17] andMarvel Zombies.[3]
TheSovereign are a golden-skinned humanoid race that has advanced through genetic engineering and live on theamalgamation of planets of the same name, later revealed to be creations of theHigh Evolutionary.[46] They are led byAyesha, the Golden High Priestess.[47] She later oversees the birth of the latest member of the race—Adam Warlock, who she intends to use as a weapon against the Guardians.
As of 2026,[update] the Sovereign have appeared in three projects: the filmsGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 andGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3; and the Disney+ animated seriesWhat If...?.[17]
TheMutants (based on the Marvel Comics raceof the same name), are an enhanced species that, from birth, possess specific genetic mutations that grant them unique superhuman abilities or distinct physical characteristics. Usually, the term mutants refer toHomo superior, a race that came into being by having genetically evolved from humans: however, multiple other species, such as theTalokanii, are able to develop mutations and those individuals would also be classified as mutants and/or mutant hybrids, rendering the general term of mutants as anumbrella term.
As of 2026,[update] they have appeared in six projects: the Disney+ seriesMs. Marvel andShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and the filmsDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,The Marvels, andDeadpool & Wolverine. Mutants will appear in the filmAvengers: Doomsday (2026) and the untitledX-Men film.
TheTalokanil (based on the Marvel Comics raceHomo mermanus) are the inhabitants of the underwater kingdom ofTalokan. They are descended from an enhanced group ofhumans fromYucatán who consumed an underwater herb infused with vibranium.[50]
As of 2026,[update] they have appeared in two projects: the filmBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever; and the Disney+ animated seriesMarvel Zombies.
Frost Beasts - The Frost Beasts are mammalian/reptilian creatures from Jotunheim that appear inThor: The Dark World. One Frost Beast was accidentally sent to Earth by Thor. TheSecret Invasion episode "Promises" reveals that Gravik's Skrull group has a DNA sample of a Frost Beast.
Hell Spawn - The Hell Spawn are cyborg uplifted animal creations of the High Evolutionary that first appear inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Known members are War Pig, Behemoth, and an unnamed octopus/hyena hybrid.[46]
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