Misfits haven’t looked any better than what we’ve seen up to now fromThunderbolts*. TheJake Schreierfilm’sinteresting marketing strategyhas established clearly these people aren’t the Avengers—nor heroes to begin with. Although it’s a new team name in the MCU, you’ve already met the six anti-heroes (and their recruiter) before.This unlikely bunch is made up of characters from other franchises under the Marvel Studios umbrella.Knowing it might be difficult to be all caught up, here’s your guide to where you’ve last seen all these faces.
‘Black Widow’ and ‘Hawkeye’ Hold the Key to Half the ‘Thunderbolts*’
InBlack Widow, we’re introduced to Natasha Romanoff’s (Scarlett Johansson) adoptive family of assassins. Their post-Civil War and pre-Infinity War reencounterbrings down the Red Room—the Russian secret agent program led by Dreykov (Ray Winstone). The movie sheds a light on the most mysterious Thunderbolt—the infamous “Drekov’s Daughter” mentioned inThe Avengersas part of Natasha’s red ledger—a.k.a. Taskmaster. InBlack Widow,Olga Kurylenko’s Antonia Dreykov is revealed to be alive but living a brainwashed existence as Taskmaster. At the end of the film, Natasha sets her free,with her whereabouts unknown until today.
The film’s climax also sees Natasha’s adoptive parents—David Harbour’s Red Guardian andRachel Weisz’s Melina Vostokoff—leaving with the rehabilitated Widows. The Red Guardian is set to return inThunderbolts*as some sort of father figure for the group, but mainly forFlorence Pugh’s Yelena Belova. During her quest to release the Widows from their mind control, Yelena was one of the Blip’s casualties. Returning five years later,Hawkeyeshows her chasingJeremy Renner’s Clint Barton—deeming him responsible forNatasha’s death at Vormir. Clint confesses he is, in fact, guilty. But, in wanting to honor her sacrifice and legacy, he went on with his life.Yelena finds solace in his confession and is last seen sparing his life.
Two Former MCU Villains Are Added to the ‘Thunderbolts*’ Roster
Gaining notoriety as the infamous Winter Soldier in theCaptain Americafilm series,Sebastian Stan’s Bucky seems to be the backbone ofThunderbolts*.Bucky has been through hell and back, having enlisted as a World War II soldier and ending up as a brainwashed agent for Hydra. His road to recovery ends with his much-deserved redemption by joining the Avengers in the Battle for Earth. He last appeared inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldierand its sequel film,Captain America: Brave New World. Both of them portray him as a supporting figure for Sam (Anthony Mackie) as he struggles to become Captain America. The latter shows him on the road tobecoming a U.S. Congressman, a plot point that will be picked up inThunderbolts*.
Another former villain that debuted way back during The Infinity Saga’s Phase 3 is set to join the anti-heroic team.Hannah John-Kamen’sAva Starr, a.k.a. Ghost, wreaked havoc on Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and company inAnt-Man and the Wasp. Blaming her molecular instability on Hank Pym’s (Michael Douglas) experiments, she coerced them into finding a cure. Ava was last seen at the end ofAnt-Man and the WaspalongLaurence Fishburne’s Bill Foster,escaping with the intention of finding a way for her to control her unstable powers. Eventually, Pym and family agreed to help, but it’s unknown whether they achieved this, for they disappeared during The Blip.
The McU’s Connective Tissue Can Be Traced From ‘Winter Soldier’ to ‘Black Panther’ to ‘Thunderbolts*’
Wyatt Russell’s John Walker was introduced inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldieras an out-of-his-depth Captain America. He wielded the shield and donned the suit after Sam declined Steve’s (Chris Evans) offering. But his mission went awry and some very public catastrophes later, he ends up being discharged. He finds redemption by aiding in the final fight against the Flag Smashers. But, with his reputation still tarnished,he’s then recruited by the mysterious Valentina Allegra de Fontaine(Julia Louis-Dreyfus), who designates him as U.S. Agent.
Florence Pugh and David Harbour Haven’t Read ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Script Despite Production Start
Marvel recently announced an absolutely massive cast for the next Avengers movie.
Rounding up the team, Valentina seems to be acting asthe Thunderbolts’ version of Nick Fury(Samuel L. Jackson). She was last seen inBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever. In the Phase 4 capper, she arrests Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) for treason against the United States. But the most shocking revelation is that they used to be married (gasp!).At least the MCU hasn’t lost its flair for the dramatic. As expected,Thunderbolts'*background can be traced all the way back into the Infinity Saga. The first of Marvel Studios’ 2025 summer tentpoles isbuilt upon many films and TV shows that came before. Only this time around, secondary characters will be fleshed out andgiven their time to shine as the main characters.
Thunderbolts*
