Summary
Marvel’sThunderbolts*is coming to theaters in 2025, featuring an impressive new team of characters with dark pasts that have largely been covered in past MCU movies. Presumably brought together to work for the interests of the U.S. government, each member of the Thunderbolts has quite a history marked by darkness and hardship. However, it’s been a while since certain members of this new team were last seen in the MCU.
Coming from director Jake Schreier,Thunderboltsis set to release on April 30th, 2025. Thus far, only the core roster has been revealed to the public via concept art released by Marvel Studios at San Diego Comic-Con in 2022 alongsidemore recent exclusiveThunderboltsfootage that was revealed at SDCC 2024. While this footage debuted new characters like Lewis Pullman’s “Bob” (most likely the MCU’s powerful Sentry), each known member of the Thunderbolts has already made one or more prior appearances in the MCU. To that end,here’s each member of the Thunderbolts roster explained where we last saw them.
Yelena Belova
Sister of Natasha Romanov’s Black Widow
First appearing in 2020’sBlack Widow,Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belovawas revealed as the estranged adoptive sister of the Avengers' Natasha Romanov aka Black Widow. A trained Black Widow herself and a product of the Russian Red Room, Yelena reunites with Natasha inBlack Widow, working together with their adoptive father (Red Guardian) and mother (Melina Vostokoff) to dismantle General Dreykov’s Red Room once and for all. Yelena made a subsequent appearance in 2021’sHawkeye.
Having been given a new contract from Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) inBlack Widow’spost-credits scene, Clint Barton’s Hawkeye became Yelena’s next target, a target she had no problem carrying out as she blamed him for her sister’s death inAvengers: Endgame.However,Yelena and Clint eventually make peace in 2021’sHawkeye, serving as Yelena’s most current appearance in the MCU ahead of her confirmed role inThunderbolts*.
The Winter Soldier
Bucky Barnes aka White Wolf
The best friend of Steve Rogers and one of Captain America’s Howling Commandos during WWII,Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) was also kept alive into the modern era, having been captured by Russian agents of Hydra who enhanced his body and brainwashed his mind, turning him into one of their most deadly assassins known as The Winter Soldier. Sporting an advanced metal arm to replace the one he lost in WWII, Steve eventually finds and helps Bucky regain his mind with assistance from Wakanda as seen inCaptain America: Civil WarandAvengers: Infinity War.
Given the name White Wolf by the Wakandans,Bucky was last seen in 2021’sThe Falcon and the Winter Soldierwhere the former Winter Soldier helped Sam Wilson’s Falcon truly accept and take on the mantle of Captain America, as Steve Rogers had chosen Sam to wield the shield as seen inAvengers: Endgame. Having worked hard to reconcile his dark past and those he’d killed, it will be interesting to see how Bucky becomes involved in this new group being assembled for 2025’sThunderbolts.
Red Guardian
The Soviet Union Super Soldier
The adoptive father of Natasha Romanov and Yelena Belova,Alexei Shostakov was the Soviet Union’s Red Guardian, a successful super soldier with enhanced strength and reflexes not unlike Steve Rogers. Played by David Harbour, Shostakov made his MCU debut in 2020’sBlack Widow, seeking revenge on General Dreykov who had betrayed him and thrown him in a Siberian prison to rot before his daughters broke him out. To that end,the exclusive SDCC footage suggests that Alexei will be the most enthused about joining the Thunderbolts, seeing this new team as a chance to reclaim the glory he was ultimately denied.
Taskmaster
Dreykov’s Daughter
Also debuting in 2020’sBlack Widow, Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) was the primary operative serving General Dreykov as the Red Room’s commander. However, it was later revealed thatTaskmaster was Dreykov’s own daughter Antonia, having been turned into a lethal killer via a chip that granted her uncanny photographic reflexes, allowing her to mimic the movements and abilities of any rival she sees or comes across. With Natasha having freed her mind from Dreykov’s control alongside the other Widows using the Red Dust,it will be interesting to learn more about how Antonia rebuilt her life and what she’s done ahead ofThunderbolts*.
U.S.Agent
The Former Captain America
Chosen to be the next government-sanctioned Captain America after Sam Wilson initially gave up Rogers' shield, John Walker’s Cap (Wyatt Russell) clashed with both Falcon and the Winter Soldier while wielding the shield, working to take down the anti-nationalist group known as the Flag Smashers. Eventually giving in to his feelings of inadequacy, Walker secretly injects himself with a dose of super soldier serum. However, this serves to make Walker more unhinged in 2021’sFalcon and the Winter, resulting in his public murder of one of the Flag Smashers who had been actively surrendering.
Walker was stripped of his rank by the U.S. government and dishonorably discharged. While he initially sought revenge, Walker does end up helping Sam Wilson’s Captain America and the Winter Soldier prevent the Flag Smashers' attack on the GRC as seen in the show’s finale.However, the aftermath also sees John Walker agreeing to work for Valentina, becoming theMCU’s U.S.Agentwho will continue serving the country in a more covert capacity, a relationship that will most likely continue heading into 2025’sThunderbolts*.
Ghost
Former SHIELD Stealth Operative
Played by Hannah John-Kamen,Ghost hasn’t been seen in the MCU since her debut in 2018’sAnt-Man and the Wasp. A former shadow operative who worked for SHIELD before its fall, Ava Starr attempts to cure her painful intangibility from a quantum accident by using the quantum tunnel built by Hank Pym and Hope van Dyne. Eventually, Ghost’s affliction was stabilized by the movie’s end thanks to Janet van Dynce who was successfully rescued from her years in the Quantum Realm, thoughStarr’s whereabouts in the MCU have largely been unknown 6 years later ahead of her upcoming appearance inThunderbolts*(though she will have a new suit).
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
Director of the CIA
Having made her first appearance in 2021’sFalcon and the Winter Soldierrecruiting John Walker, the next appearance ofJulia Louis-Dreyfus' Valentinawas inBlack Widowwhere she pointed Yelena in the direction of Clint Barton’s Hawkeye. This suggests that Val has slowly been gathering agents at her disposal to be used in this upcoming team of operatives. However, her most recent appearance was in2022’sBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreverwhere it was revealed that Val is none other than the MCU’s Director of the CIA, the implication being that the Thunderbolts will likely be a black ops meta team assembled to work in the interests of the U.S. Government.
Honorable Mention: Red Hulk?
President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross
While he’s by no means the founder of the Thunderbolts in the comics and hasn’t yet been confirmed for the MCU movie,it’s worth noting that Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross will be returning to the MCU inCaptain America: Brave New Worldwhich will immediately precedeThunderbolts*. It’s also been revealed thatRoss will finally be transforming into the Red Hulk, just like his comics counterpart. Having first appeared in 2008’sThe Incredible Hulkas the classic general hunting Bruce Banner, the late William Hurt’s Ross would later be featured in bothCivil War, Avengers: Infinity War,andBlack Widowas the US Secretary of State.
Now, Harrison Ford has taken up the role of Ross who will have recently been elected as President of the United States inBrave New World. To that end,perhaps Ross will indeed be the founder of this new and seemingly sanctioned team of superhumans, especially if his desire to bring back the Avengers with Sam Wilson (as teased inBrave New World’strailers) ultimately falls through. Likewise, it’s also worth noting that Red Hulk was once a member of the Thunderbolts on the page as well.
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 to survive and achieve their goals.
