In Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man squared off with The Falcon and Bucky Barnes and ultimately managed to take both of them down at Iron Man's behest. We've not seen them cross paths since, but many fans hoped that their shared history with the wall-crawler would be tackled in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
It wasn't (obviously), but with so much of the action playing out in New York City, where was Spidey, anyway?
Inverse asked showrunner Malcolm Spellman whether there were ever any talks about having Peter Parker make a cameo, and it sounds like something the writer seriously considered.
"Of course! Then Kevin Feige tells you, 'No. Stop it,'" he revealed. "Listen, when you first show up to these projects, in your mind you think you’re gonna get to use everybody in the MCU. But Marvel always asks, 'Does this person belong in this story? You cannot just geek out and put all of our characters in your project because you like them. They have to occur organically.' So Spider-Man did not make it."
It's hard to imagine these discussions to include Spider-Man in the Disney+ series ever got much further than the conversation Spellman references above, but there's both a story explanation and a business one for Spidey's absence.
For starters, as the story takes place six months after the events of Avengers: Endgame, it's likely Peter was overseas when the events of this show were playing out and would have been unable to help. It's also likely The Falcon and The Winter Soldier was shot around the same time Disney and Sony Pictures parted ways and decided to no longer share Spider-Man.
Regardless, we're pretty sure Spidey will cross paths with the new Captain America at some point...
Click on the "Next" button below to see which characters
we think should be part of the MCU's Thunderbolts!
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 the fact she hopes to take some revenge on those who failed her by usurping the Avengers, this would be a great place to have her story continue.
8. Ronin
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 are likely to be addressed in the Hawkeye series coming to Disney+, and Echo's introduction has really intrigued fans.
In the comics, she took on that Ronin persona for a time, and as her father was a gangster in the source material, it's feasible that Hawkeye ended up killing him during his mission of revenge.
If that's the way things are heading here, then we're fully expecting Echo to abandon that. However, with no Daredevil to serve as a mentor/love interest, the young vigilante could quite easily be scooped up by General "Thunderbolt" Ross and forced to serve as a member of his 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.).
Now, we know that Tim Roth will reprise the role in Disney+'s She-Hulk, and that could nicely set the stage for him being recruited to the Thunderbolts. We're sure General Ross has some hard feelings about how things played out between them over a decade ago, but if he can bend Abomination to his will and make him a productive member of the team, that might work.
Alternatively, if we're getting a villainous iteration of the Thunderbolts (akin to the Dark Avengers), then Abomination could serve as that team's Hulk...well, unless we're getting Red Hulk, of course!
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 a Thunderbolts movie or TV show, 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?
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 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
While there are still three episodes of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier left, we're really hoping Marvel Studios sticks to Baron Zemo's new, anti-hero persona rather than having him predictably betray Sam and Bucky (that really wouldn't be the most creative use of him when he's so likeable).
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 have pointed to both her, and her old crew (The Grapplers), being part of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, so 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
If the rumours are true, then we'll see Charlie Cox reprise the role of Matt Murdock/Daredevil in Spider-Man: No Way Home. 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.