Marvel Studios has introduced quite a few characters to the MCU in big and small-screen projects over the years that we haven't seen since, but two supporting players from previous movies are now rumored to return for Thunderbolts.
According to Production Weekly (who has shared accurate scoops in the past, but have also been known to be wrong), both Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz) and Bill Foster (Laurence Fishburne) will appear in the upcoming team-up movie.
Foster was introduced in Ant-Man and the Wasp in a fairly minor role, and was last seen staying by Ava Starr/Ghost's side when she went on the run. Vostokoff, meanwhile, was the "wife" of Red Guardian and "mother" of Yelena Belova in Black Widow, so it does make sense that these characters would be involved in some capacity.
Will we see Foster assume the mantle of Goliath and Vostokoff suit-up as Iron Maiden as they have in the comic books? Given everything else going on in this movie we'd say it's unlikely, but you never know.
We have heard that filming is currently scheduled to begin in March, and casting is also underway for "a high-tech militia group that the Thunderbolts are going to fight in the film."
Though other characters might well be added, the Thunderbolts roster consists of Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), and Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko).
Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julie Louis Dreyfus) will put the team together, and rumor has it that she may also be partially responsible for Sentry's creation.
Lewis Pullman reportedly has the current offer to replace Steven Yeun as Sentry, but hasn't officially signed on for the role, so there may well be other actors in the mix.
Harrison Ford will replace the late William Hurt as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, who may wind up transforming into the Red Hulk. Ayo Edebiri (The Bear, Bottoms) has reportedly been cast as a character named Erin, who is Allegra de Fontaine's assistant. Erin is said to be "exceptional at her job, even surprising Val with how good she is at getting things done."
Jake Schreier (Robot and Frank, Dave) is set to direct, with Black Widow scribe Eric Pearson penning the script.
What do you make of this latest rumor? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section down below.