Marvel Studios at SDCC 2022 has confirmed that the film Love at first sight will be the last film of the MCU’s Phase 5. Although no casting has been announced, its director was revealed to be Jake Schreier with Black WidowEric Pearson is writing the screenplay.
Thunderbolts are Marvel’s answer to DC’s Suicide Squad. It is a team of a group of villains or anti-heroes who are sent on government-sanctioned missions. There have already been a few breadcrumbs scattered across the MCU for potential members of this team.
Love at first sight in comics
They first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #449 (1997) in the Marvel comics. They were created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley. When Earth’s Prominent Superheroes Die, Baron Zemo Secretly Renames His Villain Group masters of evil like the Thunderbolts. Zemo knew that by posing as superheroes, the group could gain public trust and build a position of power that rivaled the status of the Avengers. Over time, Thunderbolts functioned as a righteous group when led by Hawkeye, Luke Cage, and the Winter Soldier.
Now let’s look at potential Thunderbolts members in MCU.
Thunderbolt Ross (aka Red Hulk) / Valentina
Played by the late William Hurt, the character of Thunderbolt Ross was last seen in Black Widow. He played the new Secretary of State. However, due to his demise, Marvel Studios will likely recast the character. The Disney+ show She-Hulk was to feature Ross multiple times, with his eventual transformation into the Red Hulk. However, MCU gradually introduced an effective replacement character, Fontaine’s Valentina Allegra. Perhaps she will play an important role in bringing the group together. She could be the new leader of MCU’s Thunderbolts.
Baron Zemo (aka Zemo)
The man who tried to separate the Avengers – Baron Zemo (played brilliantly by Daniel Bruhl). Zemo was last seen on the Disney+ show The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (TFATWS). He was happy to work alongside Bucky and Sam, but he always had his best interests at heart. He would be an interesting addition to the Thunderbolts as he would undoubtedly spend the whole movie thinking about a way to escape. However, his cunning ways and charismatic portrayal will surely be a treat to watch.
John Walker (aka US Agent)
Renamed new Captain America by the US government, John Walker struggled to hold the torch. After losing several fights, he injected himself with super soldier serum and even used the shield to decapitate an enemy in front of a crowd of onlookers (TFATWS). At one point, he even helped Sam and Bucky bring down a terrorist group (Flag Smashers) to undo the damage he caused. However, at the end of the series, he received a new costume from Valentina and was renamed “US Agent”. Walker is still desperate to repair his tattered reputation, so the next series will see Walker and Bucky working alongside, led by Valentina.
Emil Blonsky (aka Abomination)
Now that Tim Roth’s Abomination is officially part of the MCU. He’s the likeliest candidate for Marvel’s Thunderbolts and their response to the Red Hulk’s absence from the team. He will appear alongside Mark Ruffalo and Tatiana Maslany in the upcoming Disney+ series, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law. Blonsky will likely get a clean grade from the government and be drafted into the Thunderbolts team by Valentina.
Yelena Belova (aka Black Widow II)
Younger sister of the late Natasha Romanoff, Yelena (played by Florence Pugh) stole the show in her portrayal of the character of Black Widow. She was then approached by Valentina in the film’s post-credit scene to kill Hawkeye. As shown in Hawkeye’s finale, she is still unsure about her partnership with Valentina. Conflicted, she will likely seek the truth while in the Thunderbolts and also have the chance to become a hero like her sister.
Bucky Barnes (aka Winter Soldier)
Last seen in TFATWS, Bucky (played by Sebastian Stan) was insecure about his life. Although the series finale saw Bucky come to terms with who he is, he never quite found his place in the world. Maybe he’ll finally find out that he belongs to the Thunderbolts. He has enough experience to establish himself as a leader within the group, and the work he does would further help him forgive himself for everything he has done under Hydra’s control.
Ava Starr (aka The Phantom)
Since its appearance in 2018 The ant Man and the wasp left her future ambiguous, and she hasn’t been heard from since that film. She was also a team member in the comics. She has the power to appear and disappear in and out of phases following a quantum accident. Her fate has since remained unknown, though we’re guessing she’s been trying to find a way to use her powers for good, which just might make her perfect for the Thunderbolts.
Anotonia Dreykov (aka Taskmaster)
First introduced to the MCU in Black Widow, Antonia could be part of Thunderbolts. Although the character has been gender-swapped in the MCU, Taskmaster’s Mirror Combat power will be an ideal addition to the group. Marvel Insider Daniel Richtmann recently claimed that Olga Kurylenko was set to take her back Black Widow role of Antonia Dreykov aka Taskmaster in Love at first sight. As always, these leaks are unconfirmed and should be viewed with a skeptical eye.
Whichever team is in the MCU iteration, the film is sure to be a great showdown with Phase 5 before descending into the madness now known as Kang.
Marvel’s Thunderbolts will be released worldwide on July 26, 2024.