10 Biggest MCU Surprises We Didn't See Coming
5. S.H.I.E.L.D. Being Run By HYDRA
Although HYDRA has existed since ancient times, they are perhaps most well-known in the MCU for their exploits during World War II, working to develop technology for the Nazis.
After HYDRA was supposedly defeated by Captain America in 1945, they secretly fled to America, where Arnim Zola and other former HYDRA members began rebuilding HYDRA under the guise of S.H.I.E.L.D., America's new defense agency.
Audiences have been familiar with S.H.I.E.L.D. for years before they were revealed to be secretly run by HYDRA in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Prior to this movie, there was no indication of the secret nefarious nature of the organization, in fact they were crucial to the defense of Earth in the first Avengers movie. Many high-ranking officials such as Nick Fury were not even aware.
When all of HYDRA’s secret files were leaked onto the internet, the world learned of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s true leadership and the government disbanded the organization.