Marvel Studios will introduce the Thunderbolts in Phase 5, but there are many Thunderbolts members from Marvel Comics that haven’t debuted in the MCU.

Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts project will introduce the titular antihero team to the MCU, but there are many brilliant members of the Thunderbolts from Marvel Comics that haven’t yet made their way to live-action. Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige confirmed the development of Thunderbolts back in 2022, and the Phase 5 project will mark the first major crossover event in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, in lieu of any Avengers movies prior to Phase 6. Comprised of reformed villains and antiheroes from the MCU’s history, Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts team has an impressive line-up, but there are many powerful additions that are missing.

The Thunderbolts first appeared in Marvel Comics back in 1997’s The Incredible Hulk (Vol. 2) #449, originally introduced as a team of supervillains who became heroes after many of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes seemingly died during 1996’s Onslaught event. The first team of Thunderbolts were soon revealed to be Baron Zemo’s Masters of Evil, but the Thunderbolts’ helpful actions convinced many of the team’s members to renounce their leader and become bona fide heroes. Over the years, many different versions of the Thunderbolts team have been introduced, meaning there are dozens of potential future Thunderbolts members for the MCU’s live-action team.

Marvel Studios’ first Thunderbolts line-up includes Bucky Barnes’ Winter Soldier, Yelena Belova’s Black Widow, Alexei Shostakov’s Red Guardian, Ava Starr’s Ghost, John Walker’s US Agent, Antonia Dreykov’s Taskmaster and Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.

10. Norman Osborn Can Lead A Future Thunderbolts Team

Norman Osborn Formed A Thunderbolts Team In Marvel Comics’ Dark Reign

Despite being one of Spider-Man’s most iconic villains in Marvel Comics, Norman Osborn hasn’t yet been introduced to the MCU. Phase 5’s Thunderbolts may be the best place to debut Norman Osborn, however, as he was one of the team’s most notorious leaders during Marvel Comics’ Dark Reign storyline in 2008. After Osborn assumed control of SHIELD, transforming it into HAMMER, he established his own Thunderbolts team. This came at a time when Osborn had kept his Green Goblin persona at bay, but was still seeking power and influence, and achieved this in the wake of the Secret Invasion event.

9. Lady Deathstrike Could Connect The Thunderbolts To The X-Men

Lady Deathstrike Was A Thunderbolts Member During Marvel Comics’ Civil War

Yuriko Oyama’s Lady Deathstrike became a member of Marvel Comics’ Thunderbolts team during 2006’s Civil War storyline, where many villains in the Marvel Universe were given the option to join the Thunderbolts or go to jail. Lady Deathstrike is most prominently a foe of the X-Men, particularly Wolverine, as she too has been enhanced with adamantium. Deathstrike fought against the Secret Avengers, who resisted the Superhuman Registration Act, before being sent to a prison in the Negative Zone. Lady Deathstrike previously appeared in Fox’s X-Men Universe, but it would be great to bring this complex villain into the MCU proper.

Kelly Hu portrayed a mutant version of Lady Deathstrike in 20th Century Fox’s X2 in 2003, introduced as the brainwashed henchman of William Stryker.

8. Atlas Could Be The Thunderbolts’ Version Of Ant-Man

Atlas Was A Member Of The Original Thunderbolts Team In Marvel Comics

Erik Josten’s Atlas was a member of Baron Helmut Zemo’s original Thunderbolts team, who were actually the Masters of Evil in disguise. A former Marine-turned-mercenary, Josten was enhanced with ionic energy similarly to Simon Williams’ Wonder Man, giving him incredible enhanced abilities, as well as the power to alter his size at will. This saw Atlas become the Thunderbolts’ answer to Ant-Man, which could bring some variety and dynamism to the MCU’s live-action Thunderbolts team if he is introduced. The Thunderbolts transformed Atlas from a villain into a hero, so he would be a powerful addition to the MCU’s roster.

7. Abner Jenkins Has Been A Prominent Marvel Comics Villain-Turned-Hero

Abner Jenkins Could Be The Thunderbolts’ Version Of Iron Man

Originally the armored villain Beetle, Abner Jenkins adopted the MACH-1 moniker after joining the original Thunderbolts team. Jenkins fought the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man after his debut in 1964’s Strange Tales #123, yet after his experiences with the Thunderbolts, he turned himself over to the authorities. Over the course of his journey, Abner Jenkins began working at the Raft prison, and joined another Thunderbolts team of reformed criminals trying to earn time off their sentences. This would be a fantastic evolution to see in the MCU, especially since the MCU is now missing major armored heroes such as Iron Man.

6. Hyperion Could Finally Appear As A Thunderbolts Member

Hyperion Was A Thunderbolts Member During Marvel Comics’ Heroic Age

Marcus Milton’s Hyperion has been heavily rumored to be debuting in the MCU during the Multiverse Saga, but there has currently been no sign of him or his superhero team, the Squadron Supreme. With the powerful superhero Sentry set to debut in Thunderbolts, it’s possible that Marvel Comics’ Superman parody, Hyperion, could also appear in the Phase 5 project. The Squadron Supreme was Marvel’s answer to DC’s Justice League, but Hyperion was also featured among Luke Cage’s Thunderbolts team during the Heroic Age storyline in 2010, creating the opportunity for him to appear alongside other heroes in the MCU’s future.

5. Satana Hellstrom Fits In The MCU’s Supernatural Stories

Satana Hellstrom Gave The Thunderbolts A Supernatural Twist

Human-demon hybrid Satana Hellstrom may have dark origins, but she is actually a prominent hero in Marvel Comics, having worked alongside the likes of the Howling Commandos, the Legion of Monsters and the Avengers of the Supernatural. Alongside Hyperion, Satana was also featured as a member of Luke Cage’s Heroic Age Thunderbolts, which sought to do good, rather than hide their evil. Satana Hellstrom was previously adapted into Marvel Television’s 2020 live-action and poorly-received Helstrom series, but Satana could be reinvented for the MCU proper, potentially fitting in perfectly with the likes of Blade, Moon Knight and Werewolf by Night.

4. Meteorite Was A Founding Member Of The Thunderbolts

Meteorite Has Been A Member Of The Thunderbolts & Dark Avengers

Described as one of Marvel Comics’ most notable female heroes, Karla Sofen’s Meteorite would be a brilliant addition to the MCU, not least because of her incredible transformation since debuting in 1975’s Captain America #192. Sofen, originally named Moonstone, was previously a villain who fought the likes of the Hulk, Captain America and Quasar, but she became Meteorite after joining the original Thunderbolts team. This marked the beginning of her redemption, as she later became a member of the Dark Avengers, and assumed the Ms. Marvel moniker, which connects her to powerful heroes such as Kamala Khan and Carol Danvers.​​​​​​​

3. Songbird Has Been Rumored To Appear In The MCU

Songbird Became A True Hero Among Marvel Comics’ Original Thunderbolts Team

Formerly known as the villain Screaming Mimi, Melissa Gold adopted the Songbird moniker when recruited for the original Thunderbolts team. Songbird’s supersonic sound abilities give her a wide array of powers, making her a huge threat to Zemo after several Thunderbolts members turned against their leader. Songbird, in particular, became one of the most reformed members of the team, beginning a romance with Abner Jenkins and continuing to operate in the team as an outlaw superhero for several different incarnations, eventually even running the team herself. This means she could become one of the most prominent superheroes in the MCU.

2. Ghost Rider Would Be A Powerful Addition To The MCU’s Thunderbolts

Ghost Rider Has Been Heavily Rumored To Debut In The MCU

Although not a massively prominent member of the Thunderbolts team – more notably featured among the Midnight Sons – Johnny Blaze’s Ghost Rider did join the Red Hulk’s iteration of the team as part of 2012’s Marvel NOW! relaunch. Ghost Rider joined the Thunderbolts to help take out Mercy, an incredibly unpredictable and dangerous villain, who sought to “help” those who didn’t have the strength to commit suicide. While Ghost Rider may be better suited for the MCU’s rumored Midnight Sons team, the fact he has been heavily speculated to be joining the MCU means he could debut in Thunderbolts.

Many actors have been fan-cast as Ghost Rider in the MCU, including Norman Reedus, Keanu Reeves, Ryan Gosling and Gabriel Luna, who portrayed Robbie Reyes’ Ghost Rider in Marvel Television’s Agents of SHIELD.

1. Thaddeus Ross May Become The Red Hulk In Phase 5

Despite Being His Namesake, Ross Didn’t Lead The Thunderbolts Until 2012

Indeed, General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross has been in the MCU since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, but he currently has no affiliation with the Thunderbolts team, and is yet to transform into his Red Hulk persona. Red Hulk became the leader of the Thunderbolts team during the Marvel NOW! relaunch, bringing together the likes of Ghost Rider, Deadpool, Elektra Natchios and the Punisher. Following William Hurt’s tragic 2022 passing, Harrison Ford will be portraying Thaddeus Ross in Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World, and has been speculated to appear in Thunderbolts, so the MCU’s Red Hulk could finally be introduced.