WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for Black Widow.
Black Widow introduced Yelena Belova, Natasha's younger sister and heir apparent to the legacy of the iconic Avenger. The movie's post-credits scene clearly sets up Yelena's immediate future regarding another prominent Avenger, but she will likely appear elsewhere in the future of the MCU. The only question is where.
Given her connection to one of Phase 4's potential big bads, it's possible Yelena could show up in a number of series or movies in the next few years as the mysterious plot surrounding the Contessa begins to unfold. There are some likely places she could appear, but comic fans might anticipate her appearing in some unexpected ones too.
10 Hawkeye
The most obvious place Yelena will appear next is in the upcoming Hawkeye streaming series. With The Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine steering Yelena toward going after Hawkeye for Natasha's death on Vormir, Yelena's role in the Disney+ series is assured and makes Black Widow one of many MCU projects necessary to watch before the series.
She will likely play the role of the villain in the series, at least until the truth comes out about Natasha and the mystery about The Contessa starts to unravel.
9 Secret Invasion
Comic fans know The Contessa shares a big connection with Nick Fury in Marvel Comics, so it's likely she will appear in some form in the Secret Invasion series. With that being the case, Yelena is likely to appear as well.
If The Contessa is building a Dark Avengers or possibly a version of the Thunderbolts for the MCU, they will likely play a role in the streaming series if it follows the epic battle of the original comic book storyline. While she might not be a big part of the series, Yelena will probably make some kind of appearance.
8 She-Hulk
The Contessa is a good bellwether for Yelena. If The Contessa is recruiting other members of her Dark Avengers, one target might be Jennifer Walters. One of the storylines She-Hulk might use from the comics is "Court Costs."
This story features She-Hulk fighting the Mutant Registration Act and working with both Black Widow and Hawkeye. It could be easily amended to fit into the current circumstances of the MCU, leading both Hawkeye and potentially Yelena to She-Hulk for legal - and heroic - help.
7 Armor Wars
While the plot of Armor Wars is unknown, the original comic book storyline involves other companies and countries stealing Stark Industries technology. Given Yelena's past as a Black Widow and as an agent of the Contessa, it's very possible that she is involved in this series somehow.
If Yelena participated in the theft of Stark tech in the past as a Widow or is actively doing so in the present at the behest of her new handler, then she could find herself at the center of the storm of this upcoming series.
6 Ironheart
Given the fact that the Ironheart and Armor Wars series will be closely connected, Yelena could also appear in the series featuring Riri Williams. This storyline is also a mystery, but Riri is both likely to be involved in a potential battle over stolen Stark tech and a target for The Contessa.
As the spiritual heir to the legacy of Tony Stark, Riri might register on The Contessa's radar as someone she wants to either take out or bring in. Yelena could be the instrument she uses for either scenario.
5 Moon Knight
Marc Spector, the hero known as Moon Knight, is exactly the kind of person The Contessa is likely to want to recruit. He's also exactly the type of person that Yelena has likely crossed paths with in the past.
An ex-CIA agent and mercenary, there are a number of scenarios in which the two characters could find themselves at odds around the world. Given the reach of the Black Widow program, it's probable that Marc Spector knows Yelena and could meet in an adaptation of a number of classic Moon Knight comic stories.
4 Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings
Yelena's potential involvement in Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings is likely to be minimal, but there is a possible link. With the Hulk villain Abomination appearing in the movie, another door opens to the Thunderbolts.
Abomination is definitely a character who could join the MCU Thunderbolts, thanks to his connection to their comic book founder, General 'Thunderbolt' Ross. If The Contessa is working with Ross in any way, she could use Yelena to collect potential members like Abomination.
3 World Of Wakanda
Comic fans know that Baron Zemo was the leader of the Thunderbolts in Marvel Comics at one point. With his connection to the team and potentially Yelena, any attempt to free him is likely to draw the ire of the Wakandans. With that in mind, Yelena might appear in the World Of Wakanda MCU series.
It's easy to see how any attempt to spring Baron Zemo from his cell could induce a response from the Dora Milaje, providing a potentially exciting plotline for the upcoming streaming series to explore.
2 Captain America 4
A major and logical place for Yelena to appear next is in Captain America 4. The movie is likely to continue the storylines set up in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier series, including The Contessa's involvement with John Walker, U.S. Agent, and the continued efforts of Sharon Carter, the Power Broker.
These two plots might actually be related, meaning Yelena could play either a hero or a villain in the movie, depending on how her story evolves in the next few chapters of Phase 4.
1 Black Widow Sequel
The early success of the Black Widow movie is likely to inspire a desire for sequels. With Natasha Romanoff out of the picture at least for the moment, the only real option is to continue with Yelena.
A sequel could help further explore her character, as well as those of her 'parents,' the Red Guardian and Melina. She could very easily be at the helm of her own franchise as she also continues to work with the other Avengers against the mounting threats to the world from within and without.
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July 17, 2021 at 12:00AM
