After Black Panther: Wakanda Forever unveiled the hidden nation of Talokan, it highlighted how the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) still has many unexplored hidden countries waiting to be depicted. Wakanda itself, making its first appearance in the blockbuster Black Panther (2018), is a nation that has remained secluded, consistently protecting its rich deposits of the rare metal Vibranium from the outside world.
Marvel Comics has not been short of hidden nations. With just a slight adjustment to the backdrop or source material, Marvel Studios could easily bring these regions to the forefront in the near future. These nations will help create more compelling story arcs, tightly interwoven and expanding the cinematic landscape of the MCU, such as how Talokan added a new layer of depth to the MCU’s world. Up until now, Marvel Studios has yet to show any significant hint of exploration in the cinematic realm, and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t introduce more hidden territories and nations.
Attilan
If Marvel Studios intends to formally introduce the Inhumans into the MCU (beyond the brief cameo of Black Bolt in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), many believe that Attilan will soon appear in their projects. This city has been the home of the Inhumans for thousands of years and has been located at various points around the globe, often floating in the clouds or even “hovering” above the surface of the earth. However, despite all this, the Inhumans have always kept the existence of Attilan a secret from humanity.
In more recent Marvel story arcs, Attilan is commonly referred to as The Great Refuge, meant for Inhuman refugees facing persecution on the global stage. The truth is that before the reveal, the Fantastic Four discovered this land and made it public knowledge. In theory, even without the Inhumans, Marvel Studios could introduce Attilan into the MCU through the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot, set to premiere on February 14, 2025.
Bagalia
Bagalia is a rogue nation in Marvel Comics and is regarded as a haven for villains. Baron Zemo is the one who leads this nation, and projects like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and even Thunderbolts hint that Marvel Studios still has many ideas to explore concerning Zemo. Following that, in the comics, Taskmaster also joins the leadership of Bagalia alongside Zemo to protect the secrets of this place, helping to conceal the identities of the most notorious villains in the world.
Taskmaster will return in Thunderbolts, a film set to close Phase 5 of the MCU, scheduled for release on July 26, 2024, in a role as a part of a villainous ensemble. Therefore, the potential for Bagalia to appear on the big screen remains elusive. However, Marvel Studios is known for creatively adapting source material. It would not be surprising if Zemo’s secretive regime in this rogue nation is revealed, with Taskmaster being the one to uncover and expose Bagalia’s existence. After experiences in the Red Room in Black Widow, it would be intriguing if Taskmaster seeks to dismantle a rogue nation far removed from others.
Genosha
Genosha isn’t necessarily a hidden nation in comics, but this could very well change in the MCU as a fitting explanation for the X-Men’s historical absence. Similar to Wakanda, Genosha is also a fictional nation, located in the southeastern region of Madagascar. Alongside its rich resources and development, the inhabitants lead a high standard of living, much like those in Wakanda. However, Genosha carries a darker undertone compared to other fictional nations in the Marvel universe and would be rich in content to bring a profound narrative in the future.
Genosha was founded and developed based on the oppression of mutants – individuals who have been persecuted and exploited, while also being oppressed by these very abilities. If Marvel Studios wants to find a way to integrate the X-Men into their cinematic universe in a fitting manner without contradicting previous story arcs, Genosha could be a viable option. The X-Men could indeed be oppressed there and remain unaware of the events unfolding in the outside world. This also raises questions about why they have never participated in battles to protect Earth, especially against formidable threats like Loki, Ultron, or Thanos. The story on Genosha is likely to delve into the complex human-mutant relationship in the Marvel universe.
Krakoa
Marvel Studios previously hinted at a hidden nation during Avengers: Endgame, leading many to believe it was Atlantis. However, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever confirmed that the hidden nation was Talokan, led by the mutant Namor. Nevertheless, Marvel Studios could still explore the “hidden home” detail in Endgame to bring Krakoa to the big screen. This is essentially a mutant nation known as the Pacific Island (formerly known as the Island of Living Mutants). When the Avengers discovered the volcanoes beneath this land, it could very well be the moment Krakoa “comes out,” and its movements would indeed capture attention.
One of the biggest challenges Marvel Studios will face is the complex history of the X-Men, and Krakoa could be the answer they are searching for. The official X-Men film debut in the MCU could potentially lead to mutants migrating to this island to investigate the existence of a new form of life. What many might not realize is that Krakoa is indeed a living entity, serving as a sanctuary for all other mutant beings on the planet.
Latveria
Latveria is a nation quite similar to Wakanda, a place that does not physically exist on Earth within the Marvel Comics universe. It is not hidden like Talokan or Attilan, but rather is a functioning nation operating in secrecy, unwilling to engage in extensive foreign interaction. At the helm of Latveria is Doctor Doom, a character who frequently straddles the line between villain and anti-hero, depending on the events Marvel chooses to explore.
Before Marvel Studios acknowledged that Doctor Doom would not be a villain in the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot, Latveria was always considered the next hidden nation to make its appearance in the MCU. However, even so, there’s no reason why Doom and Latveria couldn’t appear in other projects, especially when this character is almost certain to play a significant role in the Marvel universe. There’s no doubt that Doom would want his nation to operate in secrecy to gather power before executing schemes to dominate the world.
Source: ScreenRant, Marvel
