Horror's Biggest New Star Is Joining the MCU, But in the Wrong Role (2024)

When it comes to modern scream queens, fans can look to Jenna Ortega, Maika Monroe, and Melissa Barrera, as those taking the baton on from Hollywood icons Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, and Neve Campbell. One name that's quickly rising the ranks in this new batch, however, is Mia Goth.

Goth has shot into prominence even more thanks to horrors like X and Pearl. As is the unofficial industry standard, such a rising star is bound to end up making comic book movies. Goth is due to appear in Blade, but after finishing up Ti West's slasher trilogy, Goth would actually be much better off in another Marvel Studios role.

Mia Goth Was Due to Play Lilith in the Blade Reboot

While it was never confirmed, it was reported that Goth was set to play Lilith. Marvel Comics had two iterations of this character: the first Lilith was Dracula's daughter, a daywalker who wanted to kill him for abandoning her. She was raised by a Rroma clan, and after he attacked her clan, she was cursed to carry out revenge. This created a series of dramatic, emotive wars. The second iteration was the Mother of All Demons, who wanted to sow supernatural chaos across the world.

Lilith ran afoul of heroes like Blade and Morbius. Marvel's Midnight Suns video game even explored Lilith trying to weaponize the Darkhold. It had some fans thinking this was the Lilith that would be brought to the big screen, given Scarlet Witch and Agatha brought this mystical tome into play. Unfortunately, Mahershala Ali's Blade remains in developmental hell. It has experienced multiple production setbacks since being announced in 2019 for Phase Four.

Blade then lost two directors, has undergone script changes, and it's said that Goth, while still attached, may play a different role. This is definitely one of the MCU's most troubled productions, but Goth is as undaunted as ever. She just stated that she doesn't mind the studio being meticulous and patient. With Wesley Snipes' Blade returning for a Deadpool & Wolverine stint, there will be more pressure to get the revamp right.

Studio president, Kevin Feige, reiterated as much. Given how well and with critics, Marvel Studios may now have a clearer vision of where to go. As such, this delay could be a blessing in disguise. Goth would be perfect for another terrifying MCU role, and it's one that has the necessary foundation laid down already.

The MCU Has an Opening for Lady Death

Mia Goth should transition into playing Lady Death. In the comics, Death is an immortal and powerful cosmic abstract entity. It has no real physical body, but it is often embodied as a woman; a beautiful, esoteric Grim Reaper. Thanos, in particular, loves Lady Death. He wants to serve, please, and be her significant other, as evident from the many variant covers of him marrying her. Whether it's using the Infinity Gems to kill the cosmos or other means, she is always observing him, silently egging him on to kill.

In a sense, Death is akin to the Watcher as this omega entity with infinite knowledge and power. She has also been around Galactus when he eats worlds, and even the comics' Deadpool, due to how many times he dies and revives. Wherever death and destruction reigns, she is present. With all these figures in the MCU, and the D23 expo confirming a King Thanos variant beat the Avengers in the Marvel Multiverse, Lady Death would be perfect to have around.

Goth, as this deity, so to speak, could take people on temporary or permanent trips to her realm. With the Asgardian Goddess of Death, Hela, dead, Lady Death can even forge her own alliances with figures like that. Given genocides such as the Snap occurred and then got reversed, it's easy to see Death wanting the till to be balanced and seeking people to do just that. The Snap was destiny, so perverting nature could yield devious repercussions.

This would make Lady Death her own punisher, with or without the Mad Titan, in a sympathetic and tragic role: restoring order to the universe. With the Multiverse fraying and worlds dying in both , Death has all the more reason to intervene and address who is tampering with the Sacred Timeline. They are disrupting her purpose. Goth has the elegance and acting range to pull this off: beauty mixed with pain, substance mixed with style.

Mia Goth Has the Vibe & Repertoire to Play Lady Death

The MCU is attempting to capitalize on Mia Goth's rising popularity. She has incredible range, being able to play traumatized characters, like the ones seen in Nymphomaniac, or those on psychedelic trips, like Suspiria. X had her as a victim fighting off a slasher, Pearl had her becoming this twisted monster from X, while MaXXXine shaped her as someone bending rules and trying to destroy a stalker and a cult. In all these roles, Goth has covered the full spectrum: romance, drama, action and suspense. When need be, she's kind, vulnerable and open. Other times, she can turn into a gothic, straight-up villain.

In MaXXXine, Goth toes the line between both hero and villain. Additionally, Goth already played a similar character to Lady Death in Infinity Pool. Her character, Gabi, corrupted and encouraged killing at an exotic resort. She embraced being a seductress -- sometimes masked -- who basked in bloodshed. She even got others to do this dirty work for her. Between that and MaXXXine, Goth can push Lady Death across two streams: heroism and villainy. It's all according to what the MCU wants. She can play within the confines of the rules, or interfere with reality, as the Watcher has done in the What If...? cartoon.

Goth is also due to play the Bride in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, so her horror stock will be going up even more. By transforming into Lady Death, Goth can become an anchor who will stick around for many years with her growing fanbase. The character of Thanos did this for over five years, but he was flesh and blood. Lady Death is a more spiritual, permanent fixture. Goth is only 30, so she can grow with this role and carry it on for years, the way Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth did with their Captain America and Thor. Robert Downey Jr. is playing Doctor Doom after owning Iron Man for over a decade as well.

Goth has that same potential and the talent to back it up. She just needs an iconic role that will make her a symbol and cornerstone of the MCU. Lady Death is that kind of flagship character. She can float from cosmic wars to magical ones to street-level, grounded battles. This way, the MCU would get more mileage out of one of the new faces of young Hollywood than just a Lilith who may not have legs past Blade. James Gunn used this approach to make David Corenswet (who ironically was in Pearl) his Superman. Feige's team should recalibrate, think in the same vein and go bigger with Goth.

MaXXXine is available to rent or purchase digitially, while Deadpool & Wolverine is exclusively in theaters.

MaXXXine

Horror

Director

Ti West

Cast

Elizabeth Debicki , Mia Goth , Michelle Monaghan , Giancarlo Esposito , Kevin Bacon , Lilly Collins , Bobby Cannavale , Halsey

Main Genre

Horror