Now thatCaptain America: Brave New Worldhas hit theaters,MCUfans can begin speculating on what will happen in the nextMarvelfilm, the team-up adventureThunderbolts*. With a tone similar to that of the DC Comics teamThe Suicide Squad, the film will follow a ragtag group of antiheroes banding together to execute dangerous missions for the US government.
Because of the nature of the set-up and the mayhem promised, excited movie-goers are left wonderingnot only which buthow manyheroes will die. With not much information to go on, it’s impossible to say for sure if anyone dies, but based on what we’ve seen from trailers, a few theories are beginning to form. To prepare for the film,here’s a ranking of the characters inThunderbolts*based on how likely they’re going to visit that big superhero HQ in the sky.
Thunderbolts*
8Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
Played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Intelligent, ruthless, and just a little flamboyant, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is the one calling the shots for the newly formed team. The acting director of the CIA, Valentina, or Val, has long shown an interest in the superpowered beings that exist in the MCU. While her motives are unclear, Val is not one to be trusted, as she usually has some scheme at the heart of her actions.
Marvel has taken their time setting up Valentina’s role within the heroes and villains of the MCU, so it’s more than likely her time is ramping up and not slowing down.Louis-Dreyfus brings recognizable star powerto the franchisein the same waySamuel L. Jacksondid as Nick Fury, making her valuable at a time when the future of the MCU is uncertain. If the hopes are to have a new series in theThunderbolts*, then it would make sense forValentina to remain a key player moving forward.
7Bucky Barnes
Played by Sebastian Stan
It’s been a rocky road for James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes (Sebastian Stan). It took some time, but he’s managed to shake off the evils he committed as a brainwashed HYDRA assassin under the name Winter Soldier to become a politician making an impact on law in Congress. It’s doubtful Bucky will join theThunderbolts*voluntarily, but he has the leadership skills and on-the-field training to keep his team in one piece.
WithAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warsscheduled for 2026 and 2027, respectively, it would be premature to remove Bucky from the battlefield before then. If Bucky were to die, and it’s always a possibility considering how long his tenure has been with the MCU, it’s going to be at the hands of someone like Doctor Doom and not an obscure character introduced inThunderbolts*. With the franchise still feeling the void of the originalCaptain AmericaandIron Mandeparting,keeping characters audiences have an attachment to is a wise moveat this moment.
6Yelena Belova
Played by Florence Pugh
The adopted sister to Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), has quickly made a name for herself as a skilled adversary in the MCU. Like her sister, Yelena is a victim/graduate of the Red Room, where she was trained to be an emotionless killer as a Widow. As Yelena still grapples with the loss of her sister, a new surrogate family might be the thing she needs.
Pugh is a strong actress who balances stoic badassery and humor in a way that makes Yelena Belova the ideal MCU hero. Ignoring for a moment the fact that Marvel needs marquee female characters in their roster (and they do), Yelena is able to give fans the fulljourney of a Black Widow who transforms from a cold-blooded assassin to a selfless hero. Unless Pugh doesn’t want to continue with the franchise,there’s no upside to ending her character’s run yet.
5John Walker/U.S. Agent
Played by Wyatt Russell
Once handpicked to be the new Captain America, John Walker (Wyatt Russell) quickly found that he did not have the temperament to live up to the mantle. After killing a surrendering foreign national, Walker was publicly disgraced and dishonorably discharged from duty. He still has a shot at redemption, though, because Val has taken an interest in Walker, giving him a new suit and the title of the U.S. Agent.
Narrative-wise, if there werea character likely for a hero’s death, it would be a John Walker looking for redemption after a public shaming. The real question becomes: does Marvel think there’s more to do with the character of John after hisThunderboltsappearance? If there’s consideration of making sequels, which, when looking at Marvel’s track record, is likely if the film is successful,the smart decision is to keep Russell attached. As a performer, he’s able to bring a frightening intensity to his roles but can also be reliable comic relief if that happens to be missing by the end ofThunderbolts.
4Bob/The Sentry
Played by Lewis Pullman
The biggest wildcard of the bunch is Bob, otherwise known as The Sentry (Lewis Pullman). In the comics, The Sentry is an incredibly powerful hero who is alsohis own arch-nemesis, The Void. It’s too early to say how his story will be interpreted in the live-action version, butif trailers are to be believed, it’s strongly implied The Void might be the obstacle the otherThunderbolts*must face.
The Sentry is going to be a less familiar character to casual fans who watch the MCU productions but don’t read the comics, so there might be the thought he’s expendable. The glass-half-full version of The Sentry could be an opportunity to build up an underutilized character who isn’t weighed down by fan expectations from the comics. If The Void is indeed the enemy to beat, then his chances of survival as slim sincethe MCU loves to kill its villains. Again, depending on theThunderbolts*interpretation of The Sentry,he might prove difficult to kill, but in the world of comic book movies, anything is possible.
3Ava Starr/Ghost
Played by Hannah John-Kamen
More a victim than a villain, Ava Starr, AKA the Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), was exposed to a massive amount of quantum energy when her father’s experiment exploded, killing both her parents. Living in a state of molecular displacement, Ava was used by S.H.I.E.L.D. as a field operative due to her ability to phase through matter. After Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) was rescued from the Quantum Realm, she helped in stabilizing Ava and easing her pain.
Ghost didn’t make a memorable splash in her debut as a villain inAnt-Man and the Wasp, but her placement as a team member inThunderbolts*might bethe rehabilitation the character needs. Ghost isn’t heavily featured in the marketing, but that could be more tied into a focus on more marketable characters and less due to an early exit. Still, as a character MCU fans have less of an attachment to,her death would be a manageable loss to raise the stakesof the third act.
2Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian
Played by David Harbour
Alexei Shostakov, or the Red Guardian(David Harbour), will proudly tell anyone that he was the Soviet Union’s first official super soldier. Alexei has close personal ties to Yelena, posing as her father in a spy mission when both she and Natasha were very young. Even though Alexei is not Yelena’s real dad, he thinks of her as a daughter and enjoys her company. While he was once a sworn enemy of the U.S., he has since refocused his loyalties to those he loves.
Some of the funniest lines from the trailers are from the Red Guardian boisterously having a great time while his teammates look displeased with their situation. His placement as the comedic relief, along with his paternal role to Yelena, stronglysuggests the Marvel undertaker is measuring his coffin. If he survives, Harbour will continue to be a welcome presence, buthis potential death in sacrifice to save Yelenawould further bolster her path to being a hero.
1Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster
Played by Olga Kurylenko
As a child, Antonia Dreykov (Olga Kurylenko) was nearly killed in an assassination attempt meant for her father, the overseer of the Red Room. In her weakened state, Antonia had a chip implanted that made her susceptible to mind control and gave her the unique ability to perfectly mimic the fighting style of her opponent upon watching it. After an encounter with Natasha Romanoff inBlack Widow,Antonia regained control of her mind and has since been off the grid.
If the idea of theThunderbolts*is to emulate the tone ofSuicide Squad, thenthere’s bound to be one character who dies early onto demonstrate to the audience the threat of death is real. The lack of presence in trailers and marketing would lead eagle-eyed fans to believe Taskmaster will be the one to prove that point. While the evidence is damning, it wouldn’t be the first timeMarvel doctored trailersto throw movie-goers off the scent. Maybe Taskmaster ends up in some Hulkbuster armor, and it’s been edited out to save the surprise. Or, more than likely,Taskmaster is very dead.
