Who are the Thunderbolts? Roster of Marvel antiheroes + what movies to watch
Marvel Studios first teased the notion of a Thunderbolts team in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in 2021, and the all-star cast of “Thunderbolts” was introduced at D23 Expo 2022. But who are the Thunderbolts? (Spoiler warning for all MCU projects through March 2025.)
Photos courtesy of Marvel
The Thunderbolts — a team of mostly reformed supervillains —first appeared in 1997 in the Marvel Comic The Incredible Hulk #449; however, it would be another 14 years before the first MCU appearance by a future member of the Thunderbolts: Bucky Barnes in “Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011).
Who are the Thunderbolts?
Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour) – The Russian version of super-soldier Captain America and father figure to Yelena.
Previous MCU Appearance: 2021 – “Black Widow”
Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) – Formally controlled by her father to complete missions for the Red Room, Antonia has photographic reflexes that allow her to mimic her opponents’ fighting styles.
Previous MCU Appearance: 2021 – “Black Widow”
Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) – Ava can phase through objects but is no longer in a constant state of molecular disequilibrium and can control her powers.
Previous MCU Appearance: 2018 – “Ant-Man and the Wasp”
Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) – A super soldier with a cybernetic arm, who, after being presumed killed in action during WWII, reemerged as a brainwashed assassin who was later deprogrammed.
Previous MCU Appearances:
- 2011 – “Captain America: The First Avenger”
- 2014 – “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”
- 2015 – “Ant-Man” (cameo)
- 2016 – “Captain America: Civil War”
- 2018 – “Black Panther” (uncredited cameo)
- 2018 – “Avengers: Infinity War”
- 2019 – “Avengers: Endgame”
- 2021 – “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” (Disney+ miniseries)
- 2025 – “Captain America: Brave New World” (cameo)
John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell) – An enhanced super soldier and former U.S. Army Rangers Captain who the U.S. government chose to become Steve Rogers’ successor as Captain America – until he was dishonorably discharged from the military.
Previous MCU Appearance: 2021 – “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” (Disney+ miniseries)
Robert “Bob” Reynolds/Sentry (Lewis Pullman) – An individual with superpowers who suffers from amnesia. The character first appeared in the Marvel Comic The Sentry #1 (2000), but “Thunderbolts” will be his first appearance in the MCU.
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) – A Contessa and the CIA director who assembles the Thunderbolts – and was the one who bought Avengers Tower (AKA “Watchtower”) from Tony Stark/Iron Man in “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017).
Previous MCU Appearances:
- 2021 – “Black Widow” (post-credit scene)
- 2021 – “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” (Disney+ miniseries)
- 2022 – “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) – Trained as a Black Widow assassin in the Red Room (along with Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow).
Previous MCU Appearances: 2021 – “Black Widow” and “Hawkeye” (Disney+ miniseries)
“Thunderbolts” will premiere in the U.S. on May 2, 2025, as the final film in Phase Five of the MCU. In the movie, the group of antiheroes are caught in a trap by CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine and are forced to undertake a dangerous mission.
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