Marvel Studios has introduced many heroes, villains and antiheroes who would be perfect to join futureMCUThunderbolts line-ups after the team’s upcoming live-action debut in 2025’sThunderbolts*. Marvel boss Kevin Feige confirmed themain cast forThunderbolts*at SDCC 2022, confirming that a number of antiheroes and reformed villains from the MCU’s history would be returning. This was met with some criticism, however, as some of the Thunderbolts' most iconic members from Marvel Comics were omitted from the team, despite having been introduced to the MCU already.
Ant-Man and the Wasp(2018)
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier(2021)
Olga Kurylenko
Black Widow(2021)
Marvel’s Thunderbolts teamfirst appeared in Marvel Comics in 1997’sThe Incredible Hulk #449, with Baron Zemo bringing together several former Masters of Evil members to create a new team in the wake of the Avengers' apparent deaths at the hands of Onslaught.The Thunderbolts have taken on many forms over the years, comprising villains, dark heroes, espionage-themed heroes and even being twisted police forces. Many characters have joined and departed the team, which means the same may be done in the MCU, and any of these notable characters could joinfuture Thunderbolts teams.
10Baron Helmut Zemo
Daniel Brühl Debuted As Baron Zemo In Captain America: Civil War (2016)
The most shocking omission from theMCU’s first Thunderbolts team was Baron Helmut Zemo. Daniel Brühl brought Zemo to life inCaptain America: Civil Warand reprised the role inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier, seemingly setting him up perfectly to join the Thunderbolts, especially given his pivotal role in the team’s formation in Marvel Comics.The Thunderbolts first came together under Zemo’s command in 1997, so it would have been brilliant to see him have a key role in Marvel Studios’Thunderbolts*, but this doesn’t seem to be the case.
Why Isn’t Zemo On The Thunderbolts Movie Team?
Daniel Brühl’s Baron Zemo was absent in the MCU’s first look at Marvel’s Thunderbolts at D23. There’s an in-story reason why he wasn’t included.
Baron Zemo was last seen being taken to the Raft by the Dora Milaje inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier, imprisoned for the murder of the Wakandan King T’Chaka and his other crimes inCaptain America:Civil War. His residence in the Raft means Zemo would be very easy for someone building a team of antiheroes and villains to track down, so it’s a wonderJulia Louis-Dreyfus' Valentina Allegra de Fontainemissed him.Zemo would make the perfect candidate to join and even lead future Thunderbolts teams, especially considering his moral ambiguity.
9Frank Castle’s Punisher
Jon Bernthal Debuted As The Punisher In Daredevil Season 2 (2016)
Jon Bernthal first appeared as iconic Marvel antihero Frank Castle, a.k.a. the Punisher, in 2016’sDaredevilseason 2, and went on to star in his own spinoff series before being announced to be reprising the role in2025’s highly anticipatedDaredevil: Born Again.Frank Castle first joined Red Hulk’s iteration of the Thunderbolts in 2012’sThunderbolts (Vol. 2) #1, though it’s a mystery why he wasn’t featured on the team earlier, as he is perhaps the perfect Thunderbolt candidate. This means it’s also very possible he could join the live-action team after their upcoming debut.
Red Hulk’s Thunderbolts team in 2012 included Deadpool, Elektra, Agent Venom, Red Leader, Mercy and Ghost Rider, as well as the Punisher.
Until now,Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castlehas been something of a lone ranger, though he has at times teamed up with Daredevil, Micro, Dinah Madani and Amy Bendix.It would be fantastic to see him join a team of like-minded antiheroes, though he likely won’t jump straight into being a Thunderbolt after his return inDaredevil: Born Again. The Punisher’s brutality, violent tendencies and moral code fit the Thunderbolts perfectly, and this would set up a bright future for Jon Bernthal’s antihero in the MCU.
8Marc Spector’s Moon Knight
Oscar Isaac Debuted As Moon Knight In Moon Knight (2022)
Moon Knight is one of the most exciting antiheroes introduced to the MCU in recent years, but Marvel Studios hasn’t yet confirmed a future for the Protector of the Travelers of the Night in live-action. While there has been speculation that Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight could be crucial to the development of theMCU’s Midnight Sons team, a supernaturally-focused group, he would also make a formidable Thunderbolt.Moon Knight has not been involved with the Thunderbolts in Marvel Comics, but this could be his perfect next step in the live-action MCU.
Jake Lockley
TBD
2022’sMoon Knightseries introduced Marc Spector and his alters to the MCU, all of whom act as the avatar of the Egyptian God of the Moon, Khonshu.Khonshu has granted his Moon Knight some incredible gifts that would certainly benefit a future Thunderbolts team, including nigh-invulnerability, extreme acrobatic skill, stamina and strength, to name a few. Moon Knight could even be joined byMay Calamawy’s Layla El-Faouly, a.k.a. the Scarlet Scarab, another exciting recent hero whose MCU future hasn’t been confirmed, both of whom would make the Thunderbolts significantly more powerful.
7Clint Barton’s Hawkeye
Jeremy Renner Debuted As Hawkeye In Thor (2011)
While original Avenger and steadfast hero Clint Barton may seem an unorthodox choice to join a team of antiheroes and reformed villains,Hawkeye was actually featured as one of the first Thunderbolts members in Marvel Comics’Thunderbolts #21in 1998.Jeremy Renner’s Clint Bartonhas shown off some of his darker sides time and again, which makes him a clear candidate to join, and perhaps even lead, a future Thunderbolts team. With a huge wealth of experience in other superhero teams, Hawkeye could be the most notable Thunderbolts member ever.
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2021’sHawkeyeseries saw Clint Barton battle with the idea of branding himself better, as he has been perhaps the most forgettable Avenger since his brief debut in 2011’sThor.Becoming the leader of the Thunderbolts would not only help with this branding issue, but would also give the brand-new team some gravitas and impact, and paint them in a more positive light in the public eye.Jeremy Renner’s future in the MCUhasn’t been confirmed, but it’s likely he’ll return, and given his connection to Thunderbolt Yelena Belova, it would make sense for him to join this new team.
6Maya Lopez’s Echo
Alaqua Cox Debuted As Echo In Hawkeye (2021)
Similarly to Marc Spector’s Moon Knight, Maya Lopez, a.k.a. Echo, has never been involved with the Thunderbolts in Marvel Comics. However,Alaqua Cox’s depiction of the Native American hero in the MCU has been perfectly primed to join future iterations of the Thunderbolts, especially after learning how to access her ancestors' powers in2024’sEchoMarvel Spotlight series. Maya is an incredibly skilled and brutal fighter with close connections to major criminals, including her surrogate uncle, Wilson Fisk’s Kingpin, so she’d be right at home among the Thunderbolts.
Alaqua Cox made her acting debut as Maya Lopez inHawkeye, and Maya is currently Cox’s only on-screen role. Her maternal cousin, Darnell Besaw, portrayed the younger version of Maya Lopez in bothHawkeyeandEcho.
If the Thunderbolts team comprises reformed villains, Maya Lopez fits the bill perfectly. She started her MCU career as the leader of the Tracksuit Mafia inHawkeye, chasing the enigmatic Ronin in an effort to avenge her father’s death. After learning the truth, however,she returned home to Tamaha, Oklahoma, and discovered new superpowers that means she could stand her ground among the likes of Red Guardian, US Agent and Ghost. Like many recent MCU characters, it’s unclearwhat the future holds for Echo, so folding her into a future Thunderbolts team could be a great course of action.
5Shang-Chi
Simu Liu Debuted As Shang-Chi In Shang-Chi & The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)
In 2024, following Marvel Comics’Captain America: Cold Warevent, Bucky Barnes brought together a new team of Thunderbolts comprising some of the world’s best spies and assassins. Under the Gamemaster moniker,Shang-Chi was recruited to this team to help bring down the Red Skull and his enterprises across the world, leading to a final stand-off in Latveria. Simu Liu brought Shang-Chi to life in 2022’sShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and while his future as a Thunderbolt would be unexpected, he would be a formidable addition to the team.
Simu Liu will voice Shang-Chi inWhat If…?season 3 andMarvel Zombies.
Shang-Chi’s command of the mystical ten rings makes him one of the MCU’s most powerful new heroes, yet his live-action future hasn’t yet been confirmed by Marvel Studios.It’s very possible Shang-Chi could become a member of the upcoming Avengers team, particularly since he met Wong, Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers' Captain Marvel inShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’mid-credits scene. However, it would be great to see Shang-Chi get more development before joining a team of such big personalities, and futureThunderbolts*projects could present the perfect opportunity.
4Melina Vostokoff’s Iron Maiden
Rachel Weisz Debuted As Melina Vostokoff In Black Widow (2021)
The only member ofBlack Widow’smain cast who hasn’t been confirmed to return inThunderbolts*, including Scarlett Johansson, is Rachel Weisz. Weisz portrayedMelina Vostokoff inBlack Widow, an elite Black Widow assassin and a high profile scientist in the Red Room who worked on the chemical mind control agent that subjugated hundreds of girls, including Yelena Belova. When she learned the truth, Melina fought alongside her surrogate family to bring down the Red Room, andgiven her connection to Yelena Belova and Alexei Shostakov, it’s surprising she isn’t a member of the Thunderbolts.
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Melina Vostokoff becoming a Thunderbolt could have created the opportunity for her to debut her Iron Maiden persona. In Marvel Comics,Melina Vostokoff’s Iron Maidenis an armored enemy of Natasha Romanoff’s Black Widow, just as she was inWhat If…?season 2, but her live-action depiction could be very different.Rachel Weisz has been rumored to be making an appearance inThunderbolts*, but it would be great for this to evolve into her having a permanent role in the titular team as Iron Maiden, a formidable new antihero and assassin.
3Elektra Natchios
Élodie Yung Debuted As Elektra Natchios In Daredevil Season 2 (2016)
Since Netflix’s Defenders Saga was confirmed to be canon to the MCU in early 2024, and was folded into the MCU’s official timeline on Disney+, it’s possible thatÉlodie Yung’s Elektra Natchioscould return alongside Charlie Cox’s Daredevil. Elektra had a tumultuous time inDaredevilseason 2 andThe Defenders, as she lost her life at the end of the former before being resurrected as the dark Black Sky by the Hand in the latter.Elektra was presumed dead after the collapse of Midland Circle, but the “no body, no death” rule could apply here, allowing Elektra to return.
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Jennifer Garner’s reprisal of Elektra inDeadpool & Wolverinereignited interest in seeing the powerful female warrior on-screen again. Élodie Yung’s depiction is arguably the more comic-accurate and more popular, and her darker corners that were explored inDaredevilandThe Defendersmean she’s a perfect candidate to join the Thunderbolts team. Yung has expressed her interest in reprising the role in the MCU’s future, and sinceDaredevil: Born Againis already crammed full of returning Defenders Saga characters, it would be great to see her become a Thunderbolt instead, paving her own path without Matt Murdock.
2Wade Wilson’s Deadpool
Ryan Reynolds Debuted As The Current Deadpool In Deadpool (2016)
After becoming one of the most popular and successful aspects of 20th Century Fox’sX-Menfranchise in 2016’sDeadpooland its 2018 sequel, Ryan Reynolds' Merc with a Mouth made hisMCU debut in 2024’sDeadpool & Wolverine. The Phase 5 movie has seen huge success, even becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie in history, which meansDeadpool will inevitably be integrated even further into the MCU. Since Deadpool is a prominent member of the Thunderbolts in Marvel Comics, it would be great to see him flesh out this brand-new live-action team in the MCU.
Both Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine have been rumored forAvengers: DoomsdayandSecret Wars, but their appearances haven’t been confirmed by Marvel Studios.
SinceDeadpool & Wolverineended with Wade Wilson back on Earth-10005, with no sign of him entering Earth-616 permanently, the future is uncertain for Deadpool. He could form a new version of his X-Force team fromDeadpool 2or join theMCU’s upcoming X-Men team, expanding the growing narrative around mutants in the MCU.It would be great to see him as a Thunderbolt, however, particularly alongside the Red Hulk, the Punisher and Elektra, perhaps adapting the version of the team from 2012’sThunderbolts (Vol. 2)in Marvel Comics.
1Emil Blonsky’s Abomination
Tim Roth Debuted As The Abomination In The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Perhaps the most obvious possible Thunderbolts member who has been omitted from the team’s first line-up is also one of the MCU’s oldest characters: Emil Blonsky’s Abomination. Tim Roth debuted as Russian-British soldierEmil Blonsky in 2008’sThe Incredible Hulk, who was enhanced with an experimental super soldier serum by General Ross and then exposed to Bruce Banner’s blood, transforming him into the Abomination.Abomination never became a Thunderbolt in Marvel Comics, but he fits the brief of the live-action team perfectly, so his exclusion is mysterious.
Where’s Abomination In Marvel’s Thunderbolts Movie?
One of the most glaring omissions in Marvel’s Thunderbolts cast is Abomination. Is he not in the movie? Here’s why he may have been avoided.
Tim Roth reprised his role after 14 years in 2022’sShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law, which saw him bring a more lighthearted and laid back version of Emil Blonsky into the MCU. He was last seen being freed from prison by Wong, which could lead to him joining a completely different superpowered team, perhaps even the new Avengers. However,Abomination will first and foremost always be seen as a villain, so it’s far more likely he’ll become involved with the Thunderboltsat some point after the team’s debut in 2025’sThunderbolts*, and this would be very exciting for the Abomination.
Thunderbolts*
Cast
Thunderbolts follows seven disillusioned individuals who find themselves trapped in a perilous situation. Tasked with a daunting mission, they must face the most shadowy aspects of their histories in order to survive and achieve their goals.
