Thunderbolts in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Thunderbolts factor into this greater Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) full of too many heroes, is a fascinating new addition to the mega-franchise.
It is a redemption story; the team is full of morally gray flawed protagonists pushing their own agendas. This gives audiences something to think about in addition to the one-dimensional heroes they are accustomed from the Avengers.
Who are the Thunderbolts?
Originally created by Baron Zemo as a group of evil-doers in disguise, the Thunderbolts is a long-running comic series from Marvel.
Some of the characters managed to feel redeemed, if not always entirely, and some of them were tethered to their villainous origins.
The MCU’s Thunderbolts are based on this idea, but naturally have to be retro-fitted into the universe that films like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Black Widow built up.
What are Thunderbolts in the MCU?
The MCU’s Thunderbolts is expected to also be a black-ops team made up of anti-heroes, villains, and morally ambiguous characters, much like the comic book version.
Moreover-marvel-has-been-slowly-deploying-characters-that-aren-t-the-most-heroic-and-creating-almost-an-immediate-skewering-body-of-opposition-that-could-eventually-become-this-team.
None would be particularly heroic, and all would likely involve covert operations, morally ambiguous tasks, and instances where their general lack of heroism can used toward the greater good.
With the MCU telling more layered stories, the Thunderbolts will involve some fun fights and snappy banter, but you can also bet that it will delve deep into questions of ethics, second chances, and what humanity even means.
For once, the MCU is afforded the opportunity to explore narratives outside of the straight and narrow path of heroism which dominates all mainstream superhero movies.
Who Will Appear in Thunderbolts?
Some legacy characters who may show up other than Zemo if Thunderbolts comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and each of them has own advanced arrangement of abilities, traits and moral problems that might be gone head-to-head against their friends.
Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh): The sister of adoption from Najda Romanoff, Yelena is a first-time Black Widow as well as was an immediate darling with the followers.
Yelena is a highly skilled assassin with a wicked sense of humor who welcomes Alex, as she then tells her to show the team her moves (yeah, we are not kidding).
She was caught up, trying to navigate between who and what she used to be, and what it seemed like others wanted her to continue being.
Bucky Barnes: Bucky has been the dreams boy of Melancholy for the MCU. Brainwashed and turned into a weapon of Hydra, he has spent years trying to make up for his sins.
With his work with the Thunderbolts, it appears he’ll at least be continuing in his redemption story as he tries to find himself while doing good… even if not everyone believes him.
Red Guardian (David Harbour): While Johansson has been portraying Black Widow since Iron Man 2 in 2010, she’s getting first solo movie with this one, which introduces her ex-husband, the Russian Captain America counterpart Red Guardian (David Harbour).
He has a big personality and can be quite boisterous. He is somewhat amusing, but a seasoned fighter and provides an interesting dynamic to the team as he reminisces on his former glory days.
TaskMaster (Olga Kurylenko): Taskmaster, who is able to replicate the fighting style of others, was an antagonist in Black Widow. It was an introduction that while did not grant the character much development, but her comeback in the Thunderbolts is offering a promising space to further delve into who she is and quite possibly redeem herself.
John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell): Debuting on The Falcon and the Winter Solider, John Walker took up the mantle of Captain America but struggled to embody the moral compass associated with the title.
After a string of personal and public failures, Walker was eventually stripped of the title but later returned as US Agent instead, a grittier version of the superhero persona.
While the shield is more problematic than ever walker has become a must-have team member: he wants to act like a hero, but his moral ambiguity precludes him from participating in traditional hero deeds.
Baron Zemo (Daniel Brühl): This has not been confirmed as of this writing, but Zemo is assumed to be involved Zemo orchestrated Captain America: Civil War and factored heavily into The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Well given his master manipulation and strategy, that he really hated being counteracted by superheroes, the return could really spice things up for this team.
Who is in the Thunderbolts Poster?
Some of the main characters to appear in the Thunderbolts movie had been teased on an official poster, including Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, John Walker, Ghost as well as Taskmaster.
This duality is echoed through the visual design of the poster, which reinforces both that varied pooled skillsets of team members and their morally grey areas.
Every character is portrayed with a sullen intensity, which suggests that the Thunderbolts movie will be darker and more somber in tone than the MCU super-team entries of yesteryear.
The poster suggests as much, with a darker color palette and less conspicuous poses — the team just seems shady in nature, to say the least.
It gives you a feel that people can be this different, while still coming together because they are part of something. This serves to remind us that the Thunderbolts are more of a loosely-knit assemblage than they are a team in and of itself, but a diegesis with its own agenda.
In a Short
The MCU’s Thunderbolts could represent a new direction for the franchise, assembling a squad unafraid to color outside the lines of traditional heroism.
These characters, who all carry their own baggage that shape them into flawed individuals with varying skills, will provide a different layer to the MCU.
Featuring a host of death-defying stunts and incredible action scenes, THAT EXTRA MILE isn’t just another car chase movie – it’s a tale of redemption, loyalty and the thin borders separating good from evil.