There have been many different iterations of the Thunderbolts in the Marvel Universe, including a team made up of villains posing as heroes which formed when the Avengers disappeared. Ultimately, they embraced their heroic nature, and the team did a lot of good...well, for a short time, anyway.
We've also had a fully villainous take on the team (comprised of characters like Bullseye and Venom), not to mention one that took inspiration from the DC Universe's Suicide Squad/Task Force X.
Now, with it finally confirmed that the Thunderbolts will assemble in the Marvel Cinematic Universe - with its first members likely to be characters such as U.S. Agent and Yelena Belova - we can't help but wonder which other heroes and villains could end up joining the team's ranks.
So, the question is, who else could be a Thunderbolt in the MCU? We think you'll be surprised by these suggestions, so hit the "Next" button below to check out our top picks for this unique group...
10. Shocker
Shocker has never been one of Spider-Man's greatest villains, but he's certainly been a recurring presence in the wall-crawler's adventures. Two versions of the character were introduced in 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming, with Herman Schultz left defeated and very much alive by the time all was said and done. Could he get another shot by joining the Thunderbolts?
This would be a decent use of the character, and there's precedent in the comic books for Spidey's villains to join the group (Norman Osborn once led the group and Venom was a member).
Seeing Shocker return with an actual costume and improved weaponry could be a lot of fun, and if nothing else, he could be a throwaway member of the team taken out in short order. Plus, it seems fair to say Marvel Studios could do a lot more with the super talented Bokeem Woodbine.
9. Ghost
Ghost was a fun character to spend time with in Ant-Man and The Wasp, but the way things wrapped up for her was a little unsatisfying. She wasn't a true villain, and a throwaway line revealed that Scott Lang was in the Quantum Realm - where he got trapped thanks to the Blip - recovering energy that would help cure her. Was she among those who disappeared, though?
If not, chances are her condition has worsened, and she could blame the Avengers for that. Even if Ghost has been healed, the Thunderbolts feels like a natural next step for Ava Starr.
Ghost has a lot of history with the Thunderbolts in the source material, and whether she joins them because there's no other choice or in the hopes of taking some revenge on those who failed her by usurping the Avengers, this would be a great place to have her story continue.
8. Echo
Clint Barton became Ronin between the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, but later returned to his Hawkeye persona. The consequences of his actions were addressed in the Hawkeye series on Disney+, and it appears that the mantle has been retired in the MCU as a result.
Echo's story will continue, though, and we have no doubt her series will leave the character in a place where she can step out of the shadows, move on from her criminal past, and become a superhero.
Before getting to that point, it's obviously not outside the realm of possibility for someone like Val to manipulate her into joining a team we know isn't quite as good as it looks on the surface. That and the fact that Maya Lopez does have such a dark past could be a strong hint that, before becoming an Avenger, Echo will go from gangster to anti-hero as a member of this Thunderbolts team.
7. Abomination
Following his introduction in 2008's The Incredible Hulk, Abomination just vanished (with only a throwaway mention of him being behind bars coming our way in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.).
After a cameo in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, we know that Tim Roth will reprise the role in She-Hulk, and that could nicely set the stage for him being recruited to the Thunderbolts. Assuming Emil Blonsky is reformed there, then this former villain - who once went toe to toe with The Hulk and could be exactly what Val is looking for in terms of sheer power - would be a great addition.
Following the death of William Hurt, we're guessing this team will be named after his character. That means no Red Hulk, making it even more likely that Abomination will be used.
6. Yellowjacket
Yes, we know Yellowjacket met his rather grisly end in 2015's Ant-Man, but we're not talking about Darren Cross here. Remember that dangling plot thread about Mitchell Carson (who attempted to buy the Yellowjacket armour for HYDRA) making off with some Pym Particles?
That could finally be addressed in this Thunderbolts movie, with a new character taking on this moniker and making good use of Hank Pym's technology and size-changing formula.
Rita DeMara, the second character to go by the Yellowjacket codename, is a strong possibility. She debuted as a supervillainess in the source material and later became a hero. That certainly sounds like a character arc that would fit well into that traditional take on the Thunderbolts, eh? As for Cross, rumour has it he might become M.O.D.O.K. in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania.
5. Luke Cage
Marvel Studios has regained the rights to the characters who appeared on Netflix and leaving Luke Cage on the shelf, well, it's fair to say that would be a major mistake. While his series only really touched on what an impact Harlem's greatest hero can make, a diverse creative team could give Power Man a fresh lick of paint and make him an integral part of this shared world.
We'd be happy to see Mike Colter reprise the role, though it might be best to ignore that bizarre season two twist and just start from scratch with a soft reboot. Alternatively, the fact that he decided to rule over Harlem as its crime lord could be a decision that leads to him being part of the Thunderbolts. In the comics, he even led the team in a bid to help reform a group of criminals.
Either way, there's potential here to make Luke Cage the big (or small) screen hero he deserves to be.
4. Baron Zemo
After how things played out in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, we're really hoping Marvel Studios sticks to Baron Zemo's new, anti-hero persona. He's a likeable character and one with a lot of depth, something that was evident even after Captain America: Civil War.
Regardless of whether Zemo leads his own team of villains posing as heroes - or anti-heroes - we'd love to see the sword-wielding baddie leading his own team of new and improved "Avengers."
Zemo is a character with unlimited potential in the MCU moving forward, and the Thunderbolts would be a good progression for him. Yes, he hates the Avengers and super soldiers, but with an ego as big as the one he has, wouldn't it make perfect sense for the villain to form his own group of do-gooders.
3. Vision
Following the events of WandaVision, everyone is wondering what comes next for "White Vision."
After regaining his memories, the android blasted off into the unknown, not even bothering to check on Wanda Maximoff. Clearly, this is a very different Vision and one who may remember his past (but probably has no emotions thanks to the loss of the Time Stone). So, after being an Avenger, why not have him serve as a Thunderbolt? If he has a harder edge, then it's certainly possible.
We'd love to see what a cold, calculated version of Vision would bring to a team like this one, and it would be great to have a familiar face. Many fans are convinced he'll be part of the Armor Wars series coming to Disney+, so that might be what sets the stage for him joining this team.
2. Songbird
Songbird is a founding member of the original Thunderbolts and was once a villain who went by the name Screaming Mimi. Set photos pointed to both her, and her old crew (The Grapplers), being part of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and while that didn't come to pass, there may already be plans for Melissa Gold.
We're sure a lot of familiar faces from the comics will be in the MCU's take on the team - including Atlas and Moonstone - but if they're only going to choose one, then it should probably be Songbird.
She has a fascinating power set and is a character who would bring a lot to the MCU as a hero or villain. As one of the only true heroes on the Thunderbolts team, her dynamic with Zemo would be fascinating to watch play out (especially if he's actually up to no good when he forms this team).
1. Bullseye
We saw Charlie Cox reprise the role of Matt Murdock/Daredevil in Spider-Man: No Way Home, right after Vincent D'Onofrio played Wilson Fisk again in Hawkeye. That has to be setting the stage for future stories, and Marvel Studios could make awesome use of one of the Man Without Fear's greatest foes in the Thunderbolts team.
When Norman Osborn was in charge of the group, he utilised The Kingpin's former assassin to great effect and eventually had him pose as the new Hawkeye when he created the Dark Avengers.
Something similar could definitely play out here, regardless of whether a big bad like Osborn is pulling the strings or Marvel Studios heads down the Task Force X-style route. After reintroducing us to Bullseye as part of this team, the stage could be set for him to later target Daredevil, reigniting their iconic rivalry.