Who are the Thunderbolts*?
According to @Homeofmcu on Twitter, there is a potential plot leak for the upcoming Thunderbolts which is set to release July 26th, 2024. This film is rumored to act as a sequel to Black Widow (Black Widow 2) per Marvel’s concept artist Andy Park but marketed as Thunderbolts. With this statement from Park, it is rumored that Scarlett Johansson is working on a “secret project” with Kevin Feige. Might this be the “secret project”? May she be in talks to be an executive producer? Given that this is acting as a sequel to her solo film. It would make sense.
In addition, Feige said in regard to the Thunderbolts: “You know, one thing in the Captain America film is that there currently is a world without the Avengers. Sam Wilson finds himself as Cap at a time where there’s not an organization of Avengers. But just because there’s not an organization of the Avengers doesn’t mean there’s not a group of superheroes in the MCU. Not a group, perhaps, as lofty as The Avengers but there’s a group and they’re called the Thunderbolts. The Thunderbolts are finally coming through the screen and they are a ragtag bunch.” Now remember, take this with a grain of salt. Now before we go over the potential plot leak, who are the Thunderbolts?
Brief History
According to the comics and multiple resources. Marvel's Thunderbolts team were created as part of Baron Zemo's master plan for global domination. When several major members of the Avengers died in the 1996 Onslaught event, Baron Zemo united members of the Masters of Evil to do the unexpected: protect the world. The famous criminals took on new costumes and personas to gain the public's trust. However, some members began to genuinely enjoy their new heroic lives, which led to a divide between the team's true villains and reformed former bad guys. There has been comparisons of The Thunderbolts and DC’s Suicide Squad, and basically this is Marvel’s version of the hero/villian team. With a brief history of the team, who is on the team? In the comics, there have been different variations, but as for the live-action version, who is on the team?
The Lineup
Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova(White Widow or Black Widow) who is expected to lead the group, teamed up with Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes(Winter Soldier, or White Wolf), Ava Star’s Ghost(Hannah John-Kamen), Olga Kurylenko’s Taskmaster (Antonia Dreykov), Wyatt Russel’s John Walker(U.S. Agent), David Harbour’s Alexi Shostakov(The Red Guardian), and Julia Louis-Dreyfus's Valentina Allegra de Fontaine(reportedly, Madame Hydra) It is rumored and unconfirmed as of now but, Baron Zemo, and The Abomination might join the team. With Zemo being against the serum, and being the leader in the comics, it is right to assume, that he might be added in the film. In addition to Robert Reynold’s Sentry (rumored villain). Who is Sentry?
Who is Sentry?
According to multiple sources. Sentry, AKA Robert Reynolds, is a powerful being. One day Reynolds, a meth addict, broke into the laboratory of an unnamed professor. It was there that he discovered the Golden Sentry Serum. Consuming the compound, Robert Reynolds gained the power of a million exploding suns. Despite his incredible strength and abilities, he suffers from chronic mental illness, causing him to shift into his Void personality, which uses his vast array of power to wreak destruction. The arrival of the Void, a shadowy monster that exploited its enemy's greatest fears, ended the Sentry's charmed life. In reality, the Void was Reynolds' own repressed persona, powered by the Sentry's own powers. The General had captured Reynolds and brought him to mutant illusionist Mastermind, who implanted a "mental virus" in the Sentry's mind. This virus created delusions that if the Sentry used his powers, a devil would appear, intent on destroying the world(links below). The character is also married to Linda, the love of his life.
Among those it is also rumored that Harrison Ford’s General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (Red Hulk) who was announced to take over the role, after the passing of William Hurt. Ford will be appearing in Captain America 4. It’s hard not to see “Thunderbolt” Ross appear in the film. With all these rumors, and a potential plot leak. What might the story actually look like?
SPOILERS AHEAD?
Now that you know who the Thunderbolts are, Sentry let's dive in. According to @homeofmcu on Twitter there is a potential PLOT leak. Like I said before, take with a grain of salt. Also, note this may not be the entirety of the story.
“In the movie, Sentry aka Doctor Robert Reynolds, uses the Tiamut DNA to synthesize and mutate with the space and mind stone power that was harnessed by S.H.I.E.L.D. in previous years and creates the world's most powerful serum, but the government didn’t give permission to use it on human beings. So, Robert Reynolds injected himself to show the serum's effects, but he turned into a demonic entity called the Void and killed many S.W.O.R.D. scientists in the facility. But later becomes normal,and then Val captured him and manipulated him to join her Thunderbolts because he knew what the island was. Tiamut, and the Thunderbolts went to the island to obtain more Tiamut DNA to make more Sentry serum for their soldiers, but the Absorbing Man absorbed the whole cosmic power of Tiamut and became a pure cosmic energy being. He attacked the Thunderbolts and the American army, but Sentry stopped him. However, the Absorbing Man absorbed his powers, and eventually Sentry transformed into the Void and killed the Absorbing Man and many members of his team. He was not in control, so his wife came and stopped him after she understood his mistake. He resurrected every dead person and opened a portal and went inside, disappearing into a mysterious dimension."
Theories
A lot to unpack here. It is also rumored that Val creates her own version of the Gold Serum in the film and gives it to Sentry and helps him straighten out his life, and in return he joins the Thunderbolts. Giving him the opportunity to have a better life and become a hero perhaps. But, according to this leak, he gives himself the serum to prove that it is safe. When the injection goes wrong, it turns him into this massively powerful being. My theory is, that after a while with his newfound power The Void pays a visit to Robert, causing him to go crazy on a mission and he turns on the Thunderbolts attacking them.
The search for power, and making the ultimate soldier, leading to destruction at the hands of Sentry on behalf unknowingly of Val. Maybe Val has an alternative motive for this. Maybe distracting the team from her going after Vibranim? But how does a team of assassins and super soldiers defeat an immensely powerful man?
What I always found funny is how many people created their super serum, but a lot of the injections go astray, leading to different results. Only successful ones in my mind are Bucky Barnes and Steve Rodgers.
With other rumors and in conjunction with my theories, I think that Yelena finds out the truth behind their mission to the island after they are attacked by Sentry. After the events in 2021 Hawkeye, which likely added on to her distrust of Val. She recruits Bucky, Taskmaster, and Alexie. To help her stop Val, and save Robert.
My theory is that Ghost feels conflicted as she has only known SHIELD, but I think she will realize Yelena is the correct side and help her. I can also see Bucky, paying Zemo a visit to let him know what’s going on and asking for help. As, Zemo doesn’t like the idea of another super soldier serum being out in the world. With Zemo’s resources, I can see the team led by Yelena taking on Val and saving Robert(in a sense).
For John Walker, I see him feeling no conflict, as he is already negatively affected by the serum, and wants more after hearing about the immense power it gave Sentry. I am sure Val can influence him to help her. Perhaps, she pays Ross a visit and is influenced that the team went AWOL, and he takes the serum turning into the Red Hulk? With this I can see him recruiting Abomination to help, as their characters were close in the 2008 film.
With this potential leak, Reynolds' wife (Linda) comes to visit him, and perhaps opens his eyes to what he has done. Knowing that he is not okay he opens up a portal and goes where? Maybe he goes into another universe, maybe he goes into a dimension where The Watcher is? Maybe this leads to big implications moving forward? I think the newest casting of Ayo Edebiri who has been cast in a secret role in Thunderbolts. Might actually play his wife, I think. I think she might have a big role in the film.
Bottom Line
One big question for me is why is Bucky Barnes on the team? According to Sebastian Stan who helms the role, the film will answer that. Obviously, but with him being the most reformed and stable of the group I worry that he might be turned back into the Winter Soldier, after the positive changes we saw for his character in the Falcon and The Winter Soldier series. I have been seeing many pictures circulating of his longer hair. Is Stan growing it for the role? What will his role in the Thunderbolts be?
Will Harrison Ford appear in the film? Will the plot leak turn out to be true? Will my theories lead anywhere? Who will helm the role as Robert Reynolds? Perhaps Ryan Gosling? Who is among many who has been rumored for the role. Just look at this fan art. I think he could be a great fit.
So, many theories, and so much still unknown, leaving for many possibilities; but one thing for sure, is this potential plot leak can lead to an exceptional story.
For this film, I want to see an immensely powerful Sentry going up against The Thunderbolts, and s stellar casting. But I also don’t want to see any of my favorites get killed in the crossfire. Regardless, there is sure to be a trail of destruction. This film is my Joker, and I am incredibly excited to see the story on the silver screen, and to see what the director and Kevin Feige bring to the table.
Let me leave you with this, what impact do you think this film will leave in the MCU moving forward? Do you think they will take the place of the Avengers?