The 36th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, "Thunderbolts*," is poised to inject new energy into the MCU and has already sparked intense discussion among moviegoers and comic book fans. Notably, the film's roster has been adjusted compared to the source material, and the team itself is ultimately rebranded as "The New Avengers," signaling a new direction for this emerging group of heroes.
In fact, many characters who have already appeared in the MCU were once members of the Thunderbolts in the comics. Here are nine such characters who joined the team in the source material, some of whom could even make a surprise appearance or a major comeback in the cinematic universe's future.
9. Baron Zemo
Portrayed by Daniel Brühl, Zemo is often a leader of the Thunderbolts in the comics. Given his complex partnership with Bucky Barnes, many fans originally expected him to appear in "Thunderbolts*."
However, the film chose to focus on "fallen heroes with tragic pasts," a theme that doesn't quite fit Zemo's conspiratorial nature. Still, considering his history with both Bucky and John Walker in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," a mention of him wouldn't be surprising.
8. The Punisher
Jon Bernthal's Punisher is already set to appear in "Daredevil: Born Again" and is expected to get a standalone special. While he's a cold-blooded killer, his actions are driven by a desire to punish evil and protect the innocent.
He briefly joined the Thunderbolts in the comics. However, the Punisher has never been a team player; even when working with figures like Daredevil, he's proven difficult to command and remains a volatile wild card.
7. Elektra
Jennifer Garner reprises her role as Elektra from the 2005 film in "Deadpool & Wolverine," but that version appears to be trapped in the Void of the multiverse, her fate uncertain.
Meanwhile, the Netflix version of Elektra may also be integrated into the main MCU timeline. While she doesn't have many direct ties to the current Thunderbolts members, she was indeed part of the team in the comics.
6. Hawkeye
Clint Barton, portrayed by Jeremy Renner, is one of the MCU's original Avengers. During the Blip, he showcased a darker side as the vigilante "Ronin."
Although his grim persona would be a perfect fit for the Thunderbolts' tone, he has already passed the Hawkeye mantle to Kate Bishop and has stepped back from the superhero world to focus on his family.
5. Red Hulk
Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, previously played by the late William Hurt and now by Harrison Ford, is set to transform into Red Hulk in "Captain America: Brave New World."
In the comics, Ross once led the Thunderbolts. However, in the MCU, his position as President and subsequent rampage leads to his imprisonment on The Raft to prevent further destruction.
4. Luke Cage
Mike Colter's Luke Cage currently remains separate from the main Earth-616 timeline, but his return is a hot topic as Netflix characters are gradually integrated into canon.
In the comics, Luke Cage briefly joined the Thunderbolts, serving as a reliable powerhouse with his superhuman strength. As of now, however, he has no established connections with the MCU's Thunderbolts characters.
3. Taskmaster
In the film, Taskmaster, aka Antonia Dreykov (Olga Kurylenko), is killed by Ghost at the very beginning of the story, preventing her from officially joining the team.
The comic book version of the character is Anthony Masters, who held a prominent spot on the Thunderbolts. While their fighting styles are similar, their fates are vastly different.
2. Abomination
Tim Roth has played Emil Blonsky, the Abomination, since 2008's "The Incredible Hulk." He recently reappeared in "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law," demonstrating control over his transformations.
He has collaborated with Wong and appears to be on a path to redemption. Although an opportunity to work with the Thunderbolts exists, he currently seems more aligned with the world of Sorcerer Supreme Wong.
1. Bullseye
Introduced in the Netflix "Daredevil" series, the former soldier Lester became a deadly assassin. After a direct confrontation with Kingpin, he was forced into hiding.
In the comics, he did team up with the Thunderbolts for a time. However, in the MCU, he has had no contact with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, making his inclusion highly unlikely.
via： Screen Rant