The Avengers aren’t coming, so it is time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) newest group of heroes – or, somewhat, anti-heroes and reformed villains – to tackle the mantle of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
Introducing the Thunderbolts*, a crack staff of emotionally broken misfits who’ll take middle stage within the closing Marvel Phase 5 movie. Right now, it is referred to as Marvel’s Thunderbolts* film, however everyone knows there is a secret which means behind that mysterious asterisk…
But I digress. Ahead of the following MCU flick’s arrival in theaters on May 1 (UK) and May 2 (internationally), I’ve compiled a information to the characters you may see, which actors are taking part in them, and the place you might need seen its forged members earlier than.
No main spoilers observe for Thunderbolts*, however there are spoilers for quite a lot of different MCU tasks. So, if you have not watched each single Marvel movie or TV present up to now, proceed with warning.
Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova
Appearing in her third Marvel manufacturing after 2021’s Black Widow and 2022’s Hawkeye, Pugh reprises her function as Yelena Belova, aka the sister of deceased Avenger and former Black Widow Natasha Romanoff.
Another traumatized product of the murderer’s guild generally known as the Red Room, Belova has been working as a black-ops agent for CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (extra on her later) since Romanoff’s loss of life. However, as we have discovered since Thunderbolts* first trailer was launched in August 2024, Belova is scuffling with emotions of loneliness and disillusionment heading into this flick.
An actor whose star has risen quickly since her breakout function within the 2019 people horror Midsommar, Pugh has appeared in lots of acclaimed and money-spinning movies lately. Oppenheimer, Don’t Worry Darling, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, We Live in Time, Dune Part Two, The Wonder, and Little Women are simply a few of the different movies you have seemingly seen or heard her in.
Pugh’s time in Marvel’s cinematic juggernaut will not finish right here, both. Indeed, she was a part of March’s unique 27-strong forged reveal for Avengers: Doomsday, so you may see her once more in May 2026.
Sebastian Stan as James ‘Bucky’ Barnes / The Winter Soldier
An MCU character who wants no introduction. The long-time pal – and occasional adversary – of Steve Rogers, aka the primary Captain America, James ‘Bucky’ Barnes is an immediately recognizable face to many Marvel followers. Stan will reprise his function of Barnes / The Winter Soldier for the tenth (!) time in Thunderbolts*.
We final noticed Bucky making a quick cameo in Captain America: Brave New World, when he knowledgeable Sam Wilson / Cap 2.0 that he was operating for Congress. Thunderbolts* will decide up this narrative thread however, because the movie’s varied trailers and TV spots have teased, Barnes will quickly notice he is not lower out to be a congressman. Expect him to be the one which rallies the troops, and persuade Belova and firm to work collectively.
Outside of the MCU, Stan has not too long ago appeared in acclaimed exhibits like Hulu’s Pam and Tommy, in addition to delivering award-worthy performances in not too long ago launched new films The Apprentice and A Different Man.
Like Pugh, Stan was introduced as a part of Avengers: Doomsday‘s preliminary forged, so he is one other character who’ll survive this film’s occasions.
David Harbour as Alexei Shoshtakov / Red Guardian
After exploding into the mainstream on the ripe age of 41 in season 1 of Stranger Things, aka among the best Netflix exhibits, in 2016, Harbour has turn into one of the vital beloved actors amongst film and TV followers of a sure age.
Like Pugh, he made his MCU debut in Black Widow, and also will make his third look in a Marvel undertaking with Thunderbolts*. Moonlighting as a limo driver, the wistful Shoshtakov will be a part of the titular staff in a bid to not solely reconnect along with his daughter in Belova, however relive his glory days as Red Guardian, aka Russia’s reply to Captain America.
One of Netflix’s largest TV hits however, Harbour has additionally starred in DC Universe (DCU) TV sequence Creature Commandos on Max and The Newsroom on HBO amongst different tasks. He’s additionally appeared in movies together with Violent Night, Hellboy, We Have a Ghost, Gran Turismo, and Extraction.
Following Thunderbolts*, Harbour will as soon as once more play Jim Hopper in Stranger Things season 5, aka the principle sequence’ closing chapter. After that, he’ll seem within the second Marvel Phase 6 film – that being Avengers 5.
Wyatt Russell as John Walker / US Agent
Returning for his second live-action MCU outing – the primary got here in 2021’s Falcon and the Winter Soldier (FATWS) – Russell reprises his function as John Walker / US Agent.
At the top of the second-ever MCU TV present to launch on Disney+, Walker, who had been chosen to exchange Rogers because the shield-wielding superhero, was recruited by de Fontaine as one other of her covert operatives. Like Belova, within the years since, he is performed varied missions for de Fontaine, which act as a respite from his previous and present-day troubles.
Last seen in Prime Video comedy flick You’re Cordially Invited, Russell additionally appeared in season 1 of Apple TV+’s Godzilla program Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, 22 Jump Street, Night Swim, Lodge 49, and Under the Banner of Heaven.
Want to know once you’ll see Walker subsequent? Like Pugh, Stan, and Harbour, Russell is a part of Doomsday‘s ensemble. For extra particulars on who else is becoming a member of that group, learn my devoted hub on Avengers: Doomsday.
Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr / Ghost
Another returning face, John-Kamen makes her sophomore MCU look as Ghost, who was the antagonist of 2019’s Ant-Man and the Wasp.
In what’s turning into a operating theme for a lot of of those characters, she was employed by de Fontaine to hold out harmful, clandestine missions. Lewis Pullman’s Bob apart (extra on him in a second), Ghost has essentially the most distinctive powerset amongst this movie’s character roster along with her phasing capability, which permits her to go by strong objects, being significantly helpful for stealth-oriented duties.
Following her breakthrough function in a TV present Killjoys, a few of John-Kamen’s different performing credit embody Game of Thrones, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Tomb Raider, Ready Player One, and Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City.
Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov / Taskmaster
Another MCU debutant who first appeared in Black Widow, Kurylenko’s Dreykov will seem as one other de Fontaine-employed contract killer on this movie.
With Taskmaster being conspicuous by her absence in current trailers and TV spots for Thunderbolts*, Marvel followers are anxious that Dreykov will not characteristic as closely on this superhero film as they’d like. Will she make it out alive? You’ll have to attend and see.
Kurylenko is probably greatest recognized for starring reverse Daniel Craig in 2008 James Bond film Quantum of Solace. However, she’s had a busy profession since then, with notable roles in Netflix’s Treason and Extraction 2, in addition to big-screen options like Oblivion, Sentinelle, and The Death of Stalin.
Lewis Pullman as Bob Reynolds / Sentry
The first new face (from a Marvel manufacturing perspective) to look on this information, Pullman was chosen to play Bob Reynolds / Sentry after Marvel’s first alternative, Steven Yeun, dropped out of Thunderbolts* resulting from scheduling conflicts.
For those that aren’t Marvel Comics devotees, I will not spoil the massive twist about this character. If you are not valuable about spoiling issues for your self earlier than the movie releases, although, my article overlaying the official trailer for Thunderbolts*, plus one other Thunderbolts* teaser that shines a light-weight on the film’s villain, present extra particulars about Reynolds.
Best recognized for showing in TV sequence together with Apple’s Lessons in Chemistry and Amazon TV Original Outer Range, Pullman has additionally appeared on the silver display screen in Top Gun: Maverick, Warner Bros’ Salem’s Lot remake, and Bad Times on the El Royale.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
After making her debut as de Fontaine in a shock cameo capability in FATWS‘ closing episode, Julia Louis-Dreyfus has had equally small roles in Black Widow and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Now, she enjoys her largest function but in a Marvel manufacturing, with the CIA’s duplicitous chief not solely being inadvertently accountable of the titular group’s formation, but in addition – how can I put this in non-spoiler phrases – having tentative ties to Pullman’s Reynolds. View her as a secondary antagonist of kinds for this movie, then.
Most well-known for showing in in style US comedy exhibits like Seinfeld and Veep, Louis-Dreyfus is an immediately recognizable (to not point out multi-award-winning) actor who’s featured in a lot of movies and different TV sequence. From A Bug’s Life and You Hurt My Feelings, to Saturday Night Live and Curb Your Enthusiasm, you may have seen her someplace previous to her MCU appearances.
Geraldine Viswanathan as Mel
Viswanathan, who signed on to exchange The Bear‘s Ayo Edebiri, one other unique Thunderbolts* rent who departed over scheduling conflicts, will play Mel, de Fontaine’s assistant. The odd rumor has circulated on-line, although, that there could also be extra to Mel than meets the attention…
Like Russell, Viswanathan’s final function got here in You’re Cordially Invited. The Australian star has portrayed characters in different properties, too, equivalent to Drive-Away Dolls, Bad Education, and Miracle Workers.
Chris Bauer as Holt
As confirmed in certainly one of quite a few new Thunderbolts* photographs on Disney’s press website, Bauer will play a personality named Holt. I think he’ll have a bit-part function to play in proceedings and, primarily based on the above {photograph}, he’ll be a CIA or particular ops agent who works underneath de Fontaine.
An actor broadly recognized for his small-screen performances, Bauer has starred in profitable packages together with True Blood, Third Watch, The Wire, Survivor’s Remorse, The Deuce, and Heels.
There are different actors confirmed to look in Thunderbolts*, equivalent to Wendell Pierce, who’ll reportedly play certainly one of Bucky’s fellow members of Congress. Rumors are circulating on-line about different stars who might present up within the movie, too, however I will not add to this record till Marvel confirms which characters the likes of Pierce are taking part in, or until the comedian titan formally reveals whether or not different MCU heroes will present up.
With lower than every week to go (on the time of publication) till the film is launched, we’ll know if extra folks must be added to this information quickly sufficient.
