The MCU has had a wide variety of wacky characters over the years, many of whom started out as side characters and quickly make their way into the hall of fame as fan favorites. It's always fun when Marvel finds a way to have them appear in future movies or shows, such as how WandaVision brought Darcy Lewis and Jimmy Woo back to have a big role in the story.
Thor: Ragnarok was a movie that introduced a lot of weird characters that fans latched onto, as the wacky nature of the film allowed for fun side characters to steal the spotlight. One of the most prominent of these is Jeff Goldblum's Grandmaster, who acts as comic relief as well as an antagonistic force for the heroes. Goldblum brought so much of his natural charm to this role that it would be a real shame if Marvel never figured out a way to have him return at some point in the future.
The Grandmaster is such an interesting character because it's never quite clear how much of a threat he really poses. His name and status imply that he is the all-powerful ruler of Sakaar and should be feared, and while that's partially true, his energy doesn't quite match this assessment. He's strange and quirky and seems laid-back one second until he's ordering someone's execution the next. What makes him really great is just how much fun Goldblum is having with the role, as he appears to be having the time of his life in every scene he's in.
Goldblum is really what makes the Grandmaster as fantastic as he is. The character almost feels like an extension of Goldblum himself, with his natural strange charm shining through. He walks a balance of funny and intimidating, which makes the Grandmaster very unpredictable. It's all part of the fun, and no one else could have played the role as naturally as Goldblum does.
The character was one of the most memorable parts of Thor: Ragnarok, and it sort of feels like a waste to only have him in that one film. In a post-credits scene, we see him surrounded by Sakaarans, declaring the revolution "a tie" but we don't see what happens afterwards. Is he overthrown? Do things go back to normal on Sakaar with the Grandmaster in charge once again? It would be really great to see the character return and get some answers to these questions.
The important thing is to make sure that he is inserted into another story in a way that doesn't feel forced. Writing the Grandmaster into another MCU movie or show has to feel like a natural fit, and not like fan service just for the sake of it. Luckily, there are a number of ways the Grandmaster could return in the future that would actually work and not feel like pandering.
First off, he could come back in the next installment in the Thor franchise, Thor: Love and Thunder. Jeff Goldblum was spotted with the cast and crew of the movie while they were shooting in Australia, and while there's no full confirmation of his return, it's entirely possible. It would make sense to bring him back within the series that introduced him in the first place, as he already has a connection to characters like Valkyrie and Thor.
Perhaps they have to return to Sakaar briefly for some reason, or they travel to another planet and happen to find the Grandmaster there. He could be an ally or an antagonistic force again; either would really work because of that aforementioned unpredictability that makes the character so great. We also know that the Guardians of the Galaxy will make an appearance in Love and Thunder, and so it would make sense that Thor might be travelling around with them in space, and would perhaps come upon the Grandmaster on another planet.
Speaking of the Guardians, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 would be another perfect opportunity to bring back the Grandmaster. Again, space travel would allow them to end up on planets where he might be, and his character really fits into the tone and vibe of the Guardians movies. His absurd style of humor would also fit into the humor of the Guardians films perfectly, and he really feels like a character that was plucked out of one of their storylines. It would be so much fun to see him interact with the various members of the Guardians, and to see what kind of trouble he could cook up for them. It would be a fun way to have him return and feel like a part of the larger universe without being shackled to the Thor series.
The MCU is normally pretty good at bringing characters back in new and interesting ways, and utilizing their weird and wacky roster of characters as effectively as possible. It would be such a shame if Goldblum's Grandmaster never returned, as it would be such a wasted opportunity. Letting him make appearances in future Marvel entries is the perfect way to add some absurd humor and to please the fans who have already grown very attached to the character.