10 Thunderbolts* characters who could wreck the MCU (in a good way)

Directed by Jake Schreier, Thunderbolts*, is a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) superhero movie based on the team featured in the Marvel Comics. Starring Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and others, this action-packed movie released on April 22, 2025 and is receiving positive reviews from critics and viewers for its realistic characters with a morally grey past, their redemptive arc, and the empathetic depiction of mental health. The movie focuses on a group of antiheroes who must work together to save one another and realize their inner potential. While the movie is about misfits and villains, the movie focuses on their redemptive arc and therefore gives them the opportunity to become important members of the MCU. Here are 10 characters, who could be a part of the MCU in a good way.

Disclaimer: This entire article is based on the writer's opinion. Readers' discretion is advised.

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Yelena, Red Guardian, and other characters in Thunderbolts*, who could be a part of the MCU

1. Mel

Portrayed by Geraldine Viswanathan, Mel, is an important character in Thunderbolts*. She is Valentina’s assistant but has her own ambitions in life. While her origin story is not fully explained till now, her character packs a punch. Mel is someone who still has faith in the goodness of the world and wants to do the right thing. She even hesitates when Valentina’s impeachment trial is going on. When Bucky realizes this, he knows that she is in the wrong space and should join him instead and help in defeating Valentina. When the Battle of New York occurred, Mel was still young. She, therefore, still looks up to heroes like the Avengers. While her backstory is not fully explained, Geraldine still embodies the character well and gives Mel a layered and complex feel. Even when Mel saves Valentina, one cannot fault her, as she is full of goodness. Even as a supporting character, Mel can bring a great change in the MCU.

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2. Bucky Barnes

Bucky is a complex and well-developed character in Thunderbolts* and has the capacity to make a lot of good changes in the MCU. Played by Sebastian Stan, who brings emotions and gravitas to the role, Bucky is seen in the beginning in Captain America: The First Avenger and is the best friend of Steve. However, a tragic incident lands him in Hydra captivity, where he is ruthlessly experimented upon and made to do evil things with no control over himself, but with all the recollection of it. As the former Winter Soldier, Bucky is traumatized by his past, and when Steve frees him from Hydra, he still needs a lot of therapy to make amends and become a hero again. In the movie, Bucky tries to be a congressman and fix the system from within, but he is disillusioned by the corruption within and once again takes the outer route to expose Valentina. He is important because he enlists others like Yelena, John, Ava, and more to be their guide and take down Valentina. As one of the most mature characters, he could certainly improve the MCU from within.

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3. Congressman Gary

Played by Wendell Pierce, Gary has a supporting but intrinsic role in Thunderbolts*. He is the one person who opposes Valentina and plays a role in her impeachment trial, as she is the director of the CIA and involved in the unlawful Sentry project. He is one of the few characters in the movie, like Bucky, who comes from the sphere of politics but also wants to do good. Gary also meets Bucky, who is also in the House of Representatives and is important to the plot of the movie, as he is an obstacle to Valentina. Pierce delivers a stellar performance even in a minimal role, and while his character, Gary, might not be combat-savvy like Taskmaster, he can play an important role in the MCU and bring about a change.

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4. Ava Starr

Also known as the Ghost and played by Hannah John-Kamen in Thunderbolts*, she is another character who has a painful backstory. Ghost is introduced in Ant-Man and The Wasp and said to have lost both her parents in a quantum accident that also rendered her intangible and gave her painful powers. Even though she joined SHIELD as a stealth operative, who also gave her a suit that stopped her from deteriorating, she found out that SHIELD had made a false promise to cure her. Ghost, therefore, uses Hank Pym’s quantum chamber to stabilize herself, and in Thunderbolts*, she is seen as a hired gun for Valentina. But she faces betrayal again when she realizes that the latter only sent her to die. While Hannah gives a spirited performance as Ghost, the character is profound and layered, and could bring a fresh boost of energy to the MCU. She also has some unique powers that bring forth some of the movie’s best fight scenes and could make her an asset to the MCU.

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5. Antonia Dreykov

Also known as the Taskmaster, this character is underutilized in the movie and removed early on, even though it has a tragic backstory and sophisticated powers that could make her an interesting part of the MCU. Played by Olga Kurylenko, Taskmaster is the daughter of General Dreykov, who oversees the Red Room, and Taskmaster is injured when Black Widow and Hawkeye try to kill her father in Budapest. However, Dreykov saves Antonia by implanting technology into her mind and making her the Taskmaster, who can mimic the fighting technique of any combat partner. Taskmaster has to then tragically do his bidding, and it is when Natasha frees herself from the Red Room control that she has any autonomy. In Thunderbolts*, the Taskmaster makes her first appearance after Black Widow, and she has a small role in cleaning up Valentina’s loose ends. While she spares Yelena, she is shot down by Ava.

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6. Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine

Played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Valentina is the axis around which the entire plot of Thunderbolts* revolves. The character has made an appearance in some of the MCU movies like Black Widow, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and others, and her character is always darkly entertaining. She is a government official who recruits extraordinary individuals, but for her own selfish gain and power. Valentina betrays and lies to everyone and makes them believe that allying with her is the best thing. By being involved in the Sentry project, she tries to cover all her tracks and even lets her operatives die. She tries to take credit for creating the Thunderbolts and Bob. As the movie has a strong focus on mental health, even Valentina’s childhood trauma is portrayed, revealing that she does have some empathy as she saw her father being killed in front of her. If Valentina turns over to the good side, therefore, she could become an important part of the MCU. Actress Julia does a stellar job at portraying the evil and wickedness of the character and also her moral complexity.

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7. John Walker

Another character in the Thunderbolts*, who has a troubled yet rich backstory and a redemptive arc, John Walker, or the US Agent, is an interesting character. He is seen in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and is initially seen as the replacement for Steve Rogers as Captain America because of his military record. However, when he publicly and brutally kills an unarmed combatant, he is dismissed. His downturn begins from there as he is disgraced, his wife has left him, and he has lost custody of his son. However, he has since taken up mercenary work and still tries to be arrogant and feel superior to himself. Played by Wyatt Russell, the actor does a superb job of portraying his character’s complex emotions of arrogance and failings. US Agent begins in the movie as an arrogant character, but he does come through for his team in the end and could therefore begin his redemptive journey and become an important member of the MCU. A well-fleshed character, he and Alexei also symbolize those fallen heroes who have become failed fathers and are now trying to find themselves again.

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8. Alexei Shostakov

Also known as Red Guardian and played excellently by David Harbour, Alexei is also known as the Red Guardian and is a bubbly character, but he also has regrets from his past. While serving Russia, he made some errors, and in Thunderbolts* that aspect is not fully addressed, but not ignored either. In Black Widow, the Red Guardian is remorseful over the fact that he let his adoptive daughters Yelena and Natasha become Dreykov’s pawns. He, therefore, has deep grief in the present movie and has a turbulent relationship with his daughter, Yelena. While he tries to bring some comic relief by embarrassing his daughter and trying to be right for her, he has the perfect combination of regret and likability, which can make him a solid entry in the MCU. Harbour is known for playing fatherly roles well and he aces this one as well.

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9. Bob Reynolds

Played by Lewis Pullman and also known as the Sentry or The Void, this is one of the most important characters in Thunderbolts*. Sentry is someone who is hinted to have schizophrenia, and even though he is a nice and awkward guy, he has high-concept powers that make his character complicated. However, the movie does a brilliant job of portraying his complexity, and actor Pullman also pulls off a daring role with elan. When Valentina sends her operative to kill each other, they mistakenly release Bob, whom Yelena feels protective of. However, Valentina tries to lure him by making him think that he can become the next Avengers. Due to his mental health and unstable yet strong powers, he develops an alter ego called The Void, who traps people into reliving their trauma. However, Yelena is able to break free of The Void and release Bob from his own prison. Finally, Bob is able to work on his inner darkness and save everyone. He could therefore be the next big character in the MCU.

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10. Yelena Belova

As the younger sister of Natasha, Yelena in Thunderbolts*, is still struggling to cope with her sister’s death and has a fiery personality that makes her the protagonist in Thunderbolts*. Even though she is a mercenary for Valentina, she also has a dark past, but she is willing to do much more in life. The central conflict of the character in the movie is the void she feels within as she searches for meaning. Played by Florence Pugh, the actress gives a striking performance as the energetic and lively Yelena and embodies her character. Even though she believes in burying her emotions, she finally overcomes her personal struggles over the course of the movie and comes out as a brave character who could bring about a positive change in the MCU. She has a caring and helpful nature, as she helps Bob, gets into danger for him, and motivates other characters and becomes their leader. As a character who represents inner strength, Yelena is a standout feature of the movie.