17 villains from superhero movies who were wasted in spite of great potential 

Steppenwolf – Justice League (2017) | Image Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
Steppenwolf – Justice League (2017) | Image Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

6. Mandarin – Iron Man 3 (2013)

Mandarin – Iron Man 3 (2013) | Image Source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Mandarin – Iron Man 3 (2013) | Image Source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The Mandarin is one of Iron Man's iconic villains, yet Iron Man 3 made the shocking step of transforming him into a farce. Trevor Slattery, the goofy actor hired to mimic the terrorist, was played by Ben Kingsley and received an overwhelming reaction from those expecting a faithful rendering. Though bold, it relegated the Mandarian's legendary status to being a mastermind. Decades later, in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, came true Mandarin, but by then, the damage was done to the cinematic potential that belonged to the original.

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Edited by Apoorva Jujjavarapu
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