Jeff the Land Shark is the charming (and notoriously challenging) breakout figure from the smash-hit hero shooter Marvel Rivals – which means it’s clearly only a matter of time before he enters the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Jeff’s upcoming appearance in the MCU has now been affirmed by Brad Winderbaum, Marvel’s head honcho for TV, streaming, and animation.
While speaking on the Share Hero podcast, Winderbaum mentioned that Jeff’s arrival in the MCU is, like Thanos, unavoidable, yet he remained tight-lipped about the specifics of where or when this might occur.
“You know it’s on the way! You know it’s on the way!” Winderbaum joked. “I can’t disclose when or where. But we’re all fans of Jeff around here. He is such a blast to play!”
Indeed – it’s true – even Marvel executives are enjoying the excitement of Marvel Rivals, which has already engaged over 20 million active players since its grand launch on December 5.
Concerning how Jeff might integrate into the MCU, there is certainly some intrigue regarding how he may appear. However, his comic book origins may provide useful hints, as he has robust connections to a character who is already part of the MCU, and who seems to be gearing up for a significant collaboration: Kate Bishop, the second Hawkeye.
In the comics, Jeff is a genetically modified creation of MODOK, who was adopted by Gwen Poole and the West Coast Avengers after they vanquished the villain. Although Jeff resided with Gwen Poole for some time, more recent comic narratives depict him now living with Kate, as she had become the leader of the West Coast Avengers.
In the MCU, Kate is seemingly on the path to a Young Avengers assembly after being recruited by Ms. Marvel in The Marvels, so it’s entirely possible that Jeff could be included in that adventure if they happen to find and adopt him. After all, with Goose the Flerken already in the mix,