David Bridges
The 2022 Disney D23 Expo revealed the lineup for the upcoming Thunderbolts movie. While many fans expressed excitement for the comic book team’s first live-action crew, some fans took to Twitter to express surprise that some expected characters were missing, like key MCU characters like Abomination and General Thunderbolt Ross.
While much remains unknown about the movie, it seems speculation on certain characters led to disappointment among some fans. The Thunderbolts lineup constantly evolves in the comics, though, and the same is likely to be true in the MCU, so there still could be a chance that many fan favorites make their way into the movie or future installments.
9 General Thunderbolt Ross
A major figure from Marvel Comics that some fans expected to be in the movie is General Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross. Ross not only shares a name in common with the team but also has strong ties to them in the comics. He joined a new iteration in 2012, focused on missions that involved cases and figures from his long military career.
Ross joined as the Red Hulk, among the strongest Hulk versions in comics, and that character may yet appear in the MCU. The recent death of actor William Hurt complicated Thunderbolt Ross’ status in the franchise, leaving open the question of how the MCU will proceed with the character.
8 Hawkeye
Hawkeye also shares strong ties to the Thunderbolts. Comic book fans know Hawkeye as a stalwart Avenger but for a key period in the 1990s, he led the Thunderbolts away from their original supervillain status toward their current complicated role as antiheroes. He also leads the current version in the comics, which includes America Chavez and others.
Hawkeye’s MCU journey appeared to arrive at least at a natural ending point with his streaming series, though the door remains open for him to return in the future, especially if his live-action journey mirrors the comic book one.
7 The Punisher
Some fans felt the upcoming Thunderbolts movie presented a good opportunity to reintroduce Frank Berenthal as The Punisher. Berenthal played Frank Castle in the Netflix suite of Marvel shows and like Daredevil, likely appears in the MCU at some point. The Punisher does have ties to the Thunderbolts in the comics, joining the team’s sixth incarnation.
The MCU may seek to establish The Punisher on his own before connecting him to a team, though he certainly fits the bill of the live-action squad as a former soldier with a complicated past.
6 Elektra
Elektra seemed another Netflix character some fans hoped to see in the lineup. Elektra, among the best martial artists in the Marvel Universe, last appeared in The Defenders Netflix series. She joined the sixth Thunderbolts team along with The Punisher, Deadpool, Ghost Rider, and others.
Elektra likely numbers among the most uncertain Netflix characters when it comes to appearing in the MCU. The upcoming Daredevil: Born Again MCU series appears to be disconnected from the Netflix one, and with the canonicity of that show in doubt, Elektra could be one aspect the MCU decides to do over.
5 Ghost Rider
Some fans hoped Ghost Rider appeared in the lineup as he brought a very different power set to the mix. The supernatural character’s history with the team certainly made it possible, and Ghost Rider has been the subject of much speculation when it comes to the MCU. Ghost Rider appeared in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., also opening a door to his MCU crossover.
Ghost Rider, at least for the moment, seems another character the MCU wishes to establish on their own. With many supernatural characters appearing in live-action at the moment and more on the way, fans can expect him to appear at some point.
4 Deadpool
Deadpool’s absence from the roster makes sense as he likely makes his MCU debut in Deadpool 3. That doesn’t take the sting out of it for some fans, who not only wanted to see the popular character on the team, but also the fireworks between him and Yelena Belova.
The two characters entered an unlikely romance in Thunderbolts #129-131 when Yelena led the Thunderbolts on a mission to kill Deadpool. She ultimately helped him recover from the wounds the team inflicted on him.
3 Bullseye
Bullseye, among the most powerful Daredevil villains in Marvel Comics, served on two different Thunderbolts teams. He joined the vast army of supervillains conscripted into service during the Civil War storyline, and also the much smaller contingent that was organized immediately afterward.
With Daredevil in the MCU, Bullseye makes an appearance sooner or later. He potentially joins the Thunderbolts in the future depending on the team’s fate coming out of their first solo movie.
2 Abomination
Comic book fans know Abomination served on the tenth Thunderbolts squad. This version hunted down superheroes after Kingpin becomes mayor of New York City and outlaws them. Abomination seemed likely for the Thunderbolts given his return in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law and his similarity to other MCU members.
His future in the MCU depends on the streaming series, currently ongoing, and he could yet join the Thunderbolts in the movie. The complete squad likely remains undefined at the moment to avoid spoilers.
1 Baron Zemo
Baron Zemo organized the Thunderbolts in the comics, so many fans expected him to be in the MCU version. With Zemo playing such a prominent role in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, he seemed primed to be involved, but so far, the announced lineup doesn’t include him. Like Abomination, that potentially changes in the future.
Zemo last appeared in the custody of the Dora Milaje. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever features a war between Wakanda and the Talocans that could see Zemo escape. Zemo formed the Thunderbolts in Marvel Comics when he and the Masters of Evil masqueraded as superheroes to capitalize on the Avengers’ seeming demise. This led to perhaps the greatest twist ending in Marvel Comics history on the final page of Thunderbolts #1.
