While Krysten Ritter was perfectly cast as the haunted, heavy drinking vigilante Jessica Jones, bringing her back into the MCU would be a mistake.

Getting Krysten Ritter to reprise her role from Jessica Jones and The Defenders in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while seemingly inevitable, would not be a good idea. As the MCU starts to draw on its back catalog of Netflix characters, it's almost a given that the beer-swilling, sarcastic superhero will turn up in either film or TV. While re-introducing Charlie Cox’s Daredevil in Spider-Man: No Way Home proved that the Defenders could successfully be transferred to the wider MCU, Disney should steer clear of bringing back Jessica Jones.

It was a stroke of genius to cast Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones. The actress fully embodied the wit and wry humor of the character, and through three seasons, the show presented the story of Jessica Jones from start to finish. Netflix split from Disney prior to Jessica Jones season 3, and the showrunners knew this could be the last outing for the vigilante and the last opportunity to fill the gaps in Jessica’s story. The same can’t be said for the other Defenders. Luke Cage hadn’t yet settled into his role as Harlem’s conflicted crime boss, Danny Rand’s journey to understanding the Iron Fist wasn’t complete, and Matt Murdock was left with more story to tell. Out of the group, Daredevil is the only character with a clear MCU future, with his No Way Home cameo and Disney+ reboot in the works, but he likely won't be the last.

Jessica Jones can't be brought back into the MCU because her storyline came full circle. In the ever-crowded Marvel universe, it’s unlikely Krysten Ritter would be given the space to add anything new. While it was clear that Jessica Jones was ready to end, this wasn’t the case when Daredevil, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage wrapped up their latest seasons. The door was open for more, and it was clear there needed to be more. Krysten Ritter herself said (via Collider): “We got to really make sure that we were closing out her storyline and completing her journey, in a way that felt very Jessica.”

When Jessica Jones was first introduced, she was haunted by her time spent under the control of Kilgrave (David Tennant). In Jessica Jones season 1, she killed him, ridding herself of one demon and ticking off the first of many boxes that culminated in a completed character arc. By the end of season 3, Jessica had run the gauntlet of discovering the genesis of her powers and defeating all her in-season enemies. There were very few questions left to answer, and it’s hard to argue that it would be necessary to re-introduce Jessica in any future project other than a cameo. In comparison, Daredevil still has Bullseye waiting in the wings, and Iron Fist looked set to introduce Orson Randell as the show's next villain. The other Defenders still have battles to fight, and re-introducing them is not only the right thing to do but also essential.

Jessica Jones was a psychological character study complete with not one but two complicated and compelling villains: Kilgrave and Patricia “Trish” Walker. She dealt with her past, her family trauma, and the dissolution of her relationship with Trish. The audience doesn’t need to know what happens next. On the other hand, Luke Cage needs to prove that he won’t become a criminal after inheriting Harlem’s Paradise, Iron First needs to explain his double Iron Fists, and Daredevil simply fit into the MCU through Spider-Man's legal need. While there’s still room for more adventure; short of a completely new season, or the return of The Defenders, Jessica Jones can't be brought back for a brief cameo or a reduced role. It would be doing her a disservice and could risk damaging the great work done developing her character.

More: Will Marvel Netflix Actors Return In The MCU? What We Know & What's Been Said