Summary
- Director Ryan Coogler regretted killing off Ulysses Klaue in Black Panther, as he loved the character and felt his potential was wasted.
- Ulysses Klaue could have been a recurring side villain in the MCU, making small but meaningful appearances across multiple movies and shows.
- Klaue had impressive feats despite his limited screen time, and he could have redeemed himself and played a role in future MCU projects, including Wakanda-centered installments and Disney+ shows.
Ryan Coogler’s regret about killing off Andy Serkis’ Ulysses Klaue in Black Panther is still felt in the MCU to this day. Ulysses Klaue is one of the most famous villains from Wakanda’s comic book lore, serving as T’Challa’s archnemesis after murdering T’Chaka and stealing resources from Wakanda in multiple occasions. Klaue’s live-action counterpart, however, barely got the chance to face Black Panther face to face, and his MCU journey was cut before it truly began.
Andy Serkis’ debut as Ulysses Klaue in Avengers: Age of Ultron was the first official hint at the MCU’s Wakanda, as Klaue helped Ultron get his hands on vibranium before the Avengers and the rest of the world even knew about Wakanda’s existence. After T’Challa’s introduction in Captain America: Civil War, the MCU’s Wakanda was presented in its full glory in Black Panther, where Michael B. Jordan’s Erik Killmonger killed Ulysses Klaue in order to travel to Wakanda without interference. Although Klaue’s death helped showcase Killmonger’s ruthless personality, his death now seems like a waste of potential.
Black Panther Director Ryan Coogler Had A Hard Time Killing Ulysses Klaue
Soon after Black Panther‘s release, director Ryan Coogler expressed regret over Ulysses Klaue’s death. In an interview with The Toronto Sun, Coogler explained, “I love Andy, he’s a lovely person. But again, it’s one of those things where when you’ve got so many people in a movie, some of them have to go”. Coogler doesn’t confirm if Ulysses Klaue’s death was mandated by Marvel Studios, but it seems that the director would have preferred to keep Andy Serkis’ MCU character alive: “I like Klaw. I was bugged by having to do that. It’s tough when you have to kill characters off and I really did love that character.”
Klaue Would Be A Perfect Recurring Side Villain In The MCU
The MCU’s interconnected nature allows minor characters to shine across multiple appearances. For instance, Michael Peña’s Luis and Benedict Wong’s Wong may never star in their own movie, but they certainly steal the spotlight every time they appear in supporting roles. Likewise, Andy Serkis could have made Ulysses Klaue a recurring villain with small but meaningful appearances across several MCU movies and shows. Similar to how the Dora Milaje displayed Wakanda’s true reach in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Ulysses Klaue could have revealed Wakanda’s weaknesses by popping up with contraband gear and tech every now and then.
Despite his limited screen time, Ulysses Klaue achieved some impressive feats. Not only did Klaue enter Wakanda and lived to tell the tale, but he also acquired two billion dollars’ worth of vibranium, learned about Baron von Strucker’s experiments with the Maximoff twins, faced Ultron and the Avengers, fought Black Panther with his enhanced arm, and taunted the CIA. If it weren’t for Killmonger’s ruthless methods, Ulysses Klaue could have achieved much more in the MCU. Like Loki, Trevor Slattery, and the Abomination, perhaps Klaue could have also seen the error of his ways and redeemed himself eventually.
MCU Projects That Would Have Been Perfect For Klaue
Ulysses Klaue could have had a big role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, either supporting Namor and Talokan out of sheer ego or siding with Wakanda in order to ravage their resources while the kingdom was at war. But apart from Wakanda-centered MCU installments, Andy Serkis’ Ulysses Klaue could have also appeared in Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts, where his abilities as a thief and his underground connections would have put him in Captain America’s crosshairs and helped him form a business partnership with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, whose goal to acquire vibranium would have aligned perfectly with Klaue’s and possibly earned him a spot within the Thunderbolts.
Ulysses Klaue could have shined in the MCU’s Disney+ shows, as it would have been in character for him to appear in Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, or Secret Invasion, where the Tracksuit Mafia, Arthur Harrow, the Clan Destine, and the Skrulls could have received their weapons, vehicles, and intel from Klaue. With enough experience in his career as a Black Panther supervillain, Klaue could have also been a perfect candidate for an Iron Man suit in Armor Wars, where he could have collaborated with Justin Hammer and other villains who share Klaue’s passion for stolen gear. Unfortunately, the only way Ulysses Klaue may return is through a multiversal cameo.