The Marvel Cinematic Universe, in its prime, made several formerly obscure characters into household names. These include the Guardians of the Galaxy and even certain members of the Avengers. Post-Endgame movies and TV shows haven't quite achieved this at the same level, though Marvel Studios continues to try and make certain "deep cut" characters into mainstream heroes. One of these, in fact, may present some surprising possibilities for overlooked icons.

There are rumors about a supposed Blonde Phantom TV series for the Disney+ streaming service, with the show supposedly starring Taylor Swift in the main role. The Blonde Phantom hasn't been a relevant part of Marvel lore in numerous decades, and it feels like a project that is coming out far too late. Despite this, however, it can pave the way for other Marvel heroes of that era to finally get their Golden Age shine in a major way.

Blonde Phantom Is Marvel's Most Random Rumored Project

Debut: All Select Comics #11 by Stan Lee and Syd Shores

As mentioned, the rumors surrounding Blonde Phantom mainly involve her being supposedly played by Taylor Swift, who's also rumored to be appearing in Deadpool & Wolverine as the mutant Dazzler. It's unknown how accurate any of these rumblings are, though in the case of Blonde Phantom, it almost feels too random to be true. Sure, the MCU has adapted some unknown characters, with James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy movies making that team into an intergalactic hit.

Still, Guardians was increasingly a case of lightning in a bottle, with attempts at similar success, namely the 2021 movie, Eternals, completely falling flat. Even more so than the Eternals or the Guardians, however, the Blonde Phantom might be a character that even hardcore comic book fans have trouble remembering. Debuting in the Golden Age, the Blonde Phantom was a meek woman named Louise Grant who took on the costumed persona of a gun-toting crime fighter. Many of her actions were in an attempt to earn the attention of her male employer, Mark Mason.

Though initially popular when she debuted, she was soon forgotten amid a slew of other superheroes of that era. She did have a brief return to the "mainstream" in the pages of The Sensational She-Hulk in the 1980s and early 1990s, but even this failed to truly get her over. Thus, a TV series about a character that almost no one would recognize is a perplexing idea indeed. It doesn't help that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is far weaker and much less popular than it was in the 2010s. Thus, launching a show for such an obscure character when other TV programs on Disney+ have been overlooked by viewers isn't exactly a recipe for success. At the same time, she's not the only one of her era to be a mere footnote in the history of Marvel.

Marvel's Golden Age History Is Relatively Untapped

Rival publisher DC Comics has a rather robust Golden Age lineup of characters, and this is mainly represented through the Justice Society of America and its related heroes. On the other hand, Marvel's Golden Age characters are largely ignored or never touched upon in modern comics. The only real exceptions to this are, of course, Captain America, and Namor the Submariner. Even the original Human Torch was already eclipsed by the introduction of the more popular incarnation, who's a notable member of The Fantastic Four. This makes sense given that Marvel's "Heroic Age" is largely seen to have begun with The Fantastic Four's introduction (both in-universe and in the real world), but it leaves several characters completely overlooked.

The same is the case with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where Captain America, Bucky and the Howling Commandos were seemingly the only major characters active during World War II. Thus, there are several characters who weren't a part of the MCU's equivalent to the Golden Age. At the same time, there's also room for these characters to exist, especially since even Cap's adventures were somewhat unknown during that time period. As a result, a show based on the Blonde Phantom can expand upon this untapped part of the mythos, showcasing the other Golden Age heroes active at the time. It helps that the Blonde Phantom has no special powers, keeping things relatively mundane while also possibly emulating the success of other MCU projects based on female characters.

Blonde Phantom Can Replicate These Marvel Cinematic Universe Hits

One of the biggest successes for the Marvel Cinematic Universe was the adult-oriented Daredevil series by Netflix. This spawned several spinoffs that focused on street-level Marvel heroes, including Jessica Jones. Adapting many of her comic books by creator Brian Michael Bendis, the TV show had a gritty noir tone that helped separate it from other Marvel projects. It didn't at all feel like a superhero show, but rather a dramatic thriller with science fiction elements. A somewhat similar project was the Black Widow movie, ironically released after the character had been killed off in Avengers: Endgame. While still a blockbuster action movie, the film was a bit less bombastic than other movies based on members of the Avengers.

It's this tone and scope that could make the rumored Blonde Phantom show into a success story. Fans clearly want MCU material for older audiences, as shown by the success of the Netflix shows and the hype for the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine. This can scratch that itch, or at least be a bit darker than many of the other Disney+ Marvel shows. It also fits Blonde Phantom perfectly, as she's merely a normal human vigilante in an age without many overt superheroes. Following the formula showcased by Jessica Jones would definitely be a step in the right direction, helping to justify a show for such an unknown and obscure heroine.

One of the best and most rewarding scenes in Avengers: Endgame ironically came at the movie's conclusion. Having gone back in time to restore the Infinity Stones to their rightful place, Steve Rogers returns to the present as an old man. It's revealed to the audience that he changed his past by creating a timeline where he and Peggy Carter got married. Many have wondered about the exact events in this timeline, and some have even begged for a spinoff series detailing them. That might be a bridge too far in terms of programming, especially since the Marvel Cinematic Universe needs to establish success beyond the original Avengers.

At the same time, this divergent timeline can still be shown in another MCU project. This is where Blonde Phantom can further justify its existence, as the show can be set in the timeline where Captain America married Peggy. There, heroes who weren't present in the main timeline's Golden Age can finally debut, namely the Blonde Phantom herself. Such a turn of events would explain why she wasn't known about in previous movies and shows. Likewise, the focus on a world that isn't the main universe would also fit the current "Multiverse Saga" within the MCU.

It might be something of a fake out or shocking twist for some fans, but many viewers would welcome it. Most importantly, it can build upon narrative elements of the MCU's previous ultimate crossover while potentially building toward its next one. In this way, Blonde Phantom would only be a part of a broader whole, but this concept is what made the Marvel Cinematic Universe a success story to begin with.