Summary
- Members of the Thunderbolts* possess unique skills, with Sentry as both an asset and a threat due to his alternate personality.
- Florence Pugh has been a consistent highlight of Phase 4 and 5 as Yelena Belova, resulting in her becoming a Thunderbolt and an Avenger.
- U.S. Agent seeks redemption in Thunderbolts*, showcasing the evolution from villain to flawed superhero.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is introducing a new team of heroes with Thunderbolts*, set to hit theaters on May 2, 2025. They may not be the Avengers—at least not yet—but they represent Earth's best hope. After years of buildup through Phases 4 and 5, Thunderbolts* combines several darker heroes into a superhero team established by the government.
MCU: Phase Five, Ranked (So Far)
Despite the MCU's momentum winding down, Phase Five still has a few tricks up its sleeve to impress those who can't get enough of Marvel's heroes.
Like the original Avengers lineup, Thunderbolts* features seven team members, each possessing unique skills and personality traits that help them stand out. Many of them are either failed super soldiers or former villains seeking redemption for their troubled pasts, including some beloved favorites from the MCU.
7 Sentry
Earth’s Strongest Superhero Can Also Be Its Greatest Threat
- First Appearance: Thunderbolts*
- Played By: Lewis Pullman
Lewis Pullman is confirmed to be playing a character named Bob Reynolds, a mysterious man in a hospital gown that the Thunderbolts* encounter on their mission. However, fans of the comics will know Reynolds will eventually become the hero known as Sentry, a Superman-like character who wields the power of a thousand exploding stars inside him.
Sentry has the potential for so much greatness, but he can also be one of the universe’s greatest threats thanks to his alternate personality: Void. Void is a demented yet powerful villain who can murder thousands of innocent people without blinking an eye. As a result, Sentry will be the biggest asset and threat to the team in Thunderbolts*.
6 Taskmaster
Photographic Reflexes Will Be Useful Against Villains
- First Appearance: Black Widow
- Played By: Olga Kurylenko
Thanks to her cold-hearted father, Antonia Dreykov was transformed into a mindless assassin who could analyze and replicate the fighting style of any opponent, including superheroes. She became known as Taskmaster, and she proved to be Natasha Romanoff’s greatest opponent in the Black Widow movie until she was freed from her programming.
Marvel: 10 Most Forgettable MCU Villains, Ranked
Not all Marvel villains manage to leave a lasting impression; here are some of the most forgettable ones seen throughout the MCU.
It was a drastically different take on Taskmaster compared to the comics, which led to controversy since Taskmaster is a famous and iconic Marvel villain. However, it’s far from the first time the MCU has changed a character’s story from the source material. Now, she is set to be a Thunderbolt* and is shown wearing an entirely new suit compared to her Red Room design.
5 Ghost
From Tragic Villain To Reluctant Hero
- First Appearance: Ant-Man and The Wasp
- Played By: Hannah John-Kamen
In Ant-Man and The Wasp, Ghost was introduced as a tragic villain whose own powers of intangibility were killing her, which drove her into a state of mania until she was cured by Janet Pym. The movie ended with Ghost and her friend, Bill Foster, going into hiding, and it's likely few expected her to return, since audiences initially found her to be a disappointing villain.
However, the great thing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that anybody can come back and villains can become superheroes. Ghost is not only set to come back in Thunderbolts*, but she has been confirmed to be a part of Avengers Doomsday, suggesting that her evolution will keep going.
4 U.S. Agent
John Walker Is Trying To Redeem Himself
- First Appearance: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
- Played By: Wyatt Russell
John Walker, also known as U.S. Agent, was meant to be the new Captain America, even donning the Stars and Stripes and showing potential, despite skepticism from Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes. However, his egotism and need to prove himself resulted in many mistakes, including injecting himself with unstable super soldier serum. He killed someone in cold blood and tarnished the Captain America moniker.
In Thunderbolts*, U.S. Agent is going further to try and make up for his mistakes, like he tried to do in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier after the world abandoned him like a piece of litter. He’s an example of how someone can do wrong even if they are not a villain, with Wyatt Russell portraying the idea of a flawed superhero elegantly.
3 Winter Soldier
The Thunderbolts* Are Going To Need A Leader
- First Appearance: Captain America: The First Avenger
- Played By: Sebastian Stan
The longest-serving superhero on the team is Bucky Barnes, now a U.S. Congressman, who spent years as both a hero and a villain known as the Winter Soldier. Created by Hydra to be the evil counterpart of Captain America, he ultimately broke free from his programming and even joined the Avengers to confront the forces of Thanos.
For the Thunderbolts*, Winter Soldier will likely be the closest thing to their leader, since he has the most experience with superhero work and being on a team. Even in World War 2, Bucky was a skilled soldier who served alongside Steve Rogers on the Howling Commandos, and he didn’t have super-soldier biology or a cybernetic arm to help him back then.
2 Red Guardian
A Foolish Super Soldier With A Heart Of Gold
- First Appearance: Black Widow
- Played By: David Harbour
David Harbour proved to be a highlight of the Black Widow movie, debuting as the Red Guardian and the surrogate father for both Natasha and Yelena. All he wants in life is to be a superhero like Captain America and, despite his immense strength as another super soldier, he is a clumsy oaf who rarely succeeds in doing so, but he never gives up on himself or the ones he cares about.
Marvel: 10 Best MCU Sequel Movies, Ranked
Some sequels set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have become iconic modern films, such as Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 and Avengers: Infinity War.
Red Guardian bounces between hilarious and serious, which is going to be a big part of his role in Thunderbolts*; he's even the one who comes up with the team’s name. While he finally gets to be part of a superhero team, he also gets to reunite with Yelena and try his best to be a good father to her, just as he did before.
1 Black Widow
She Is Becoming A Star Of The Multiverse Saga
- First Appearance: Black Widow
- Played By: Florence Pugh
After appearing in both the Black Widow movie and the Hawkeye series, Yelena Belova has become a beloved character in Phase 4 and Phase 5, as played by Florence Pugh. She is a Black Widow who was freed from her programming to become a hero, allowing her to take full advantage of her free will and carry the torch left behind by Natasha Romanoff.
Audiences quickly fell in love with the new Black Widow, which is likely why Marvel Studios have made her the focus of Thunderbolts*. In one second, Yelena can be as fearless and powerful as her sister, but rather funny in a charming yet awkward way the next, with Florence Pugh proving to be another powerful addition to the MCU’s long list of talented actors.
Avengers: Doomsday – 10 MCU Characters Who Deserve To Be In The Movie, Ranked
These Marvel characters could make surprise appearances in Avengers: Doomsday, shaping the story with epic battles and unexpected alliances.