Thankfully, Marvel Studios has already revealed that the new major villain in Thunderbolts* will be avoiding a huge mistake that has hurt several villains in the history of the MCU. Marvel is set to debut one of the comics’ most powerful and exciting characters in Thunderbolts*, as Lewis Pullman will be making his first MCU appearance as Marvel’s answer to Superman. While his upcoming character is typically depicted as a superhero in Marvel Comics, he is also one of Marvel’s most terrifying and dangerous villains, and he has the potential to change the MCU forever.

Lewis Pullman was cast in Thunderbolts* after Steven Yeun’s exit from the project in January 2024. Rumors had been circulating for some time that Pullman would be portraying Robert Reynolds, a.k.a. the Sentry, in Thunderbolts*, and recent trailers for the upcoming Phase 5 crossover movie have now confirmed this casting. However, with the Sentry comes the Void, the hero’s dark alter ego. The Void is expected to be the primary antagonist of Thunderbolts*, with the movie’s trailer showing just how intense and haunting he will be, and, luckily, this won’t be the end for the powerful new villain.

Lewis Pullman Has Been Confirmed To Return As The Sentry In Avengers: Doomsday

Lewis Pullman Will Join Most Of Thunderbolts*’ Cast In Avengers: Doomsday

Marvel Studios confirmed the first batch of actors signed on to appear in Avengers: Doomsday during a lengthy chair-laying ceremony on March 26. This saw 27 actors announced to be returning to the MCU for the Russo brothers’ upcoming crossover event, including most of the main cast of Thunderbolts*, except for Taskmaster’s Olga Kurylenko. Joining Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen and Sebastian Stan will be Lewis Pullman, confirming that Robert Reynolds’ Sentry will be coming back after his debut in May 2025.

The upcoming members of the Thunderbolts team, and the Sentry, will be joining forces with the likes of the Avengers, the Fantastic Four and even the X-Men to battle Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. After confirmation that Lewis Pullman will be returning in the Phase 6 movie, theories have emerged suggesting that the formidable Sentry could even become Doctor Doom’s most powerful weapon. It’s exciting to think about what direction Marvel Studios can take Sentry in Doomsday, and his return is already solving one of Marvel’s biggest problems.

I’m Glad The Sentry Won’t Be A One & Done Villain In Thunderbolts*

Thunderbolts* Won’t Be The End Of The Sentry’s MCU Story

Over the 17-year history of the MCU, many of Marvel Comics’ most notable and powerful villains have been reduced to minor and insignificant threats in live-action. Some of the longest-running antagonists in the comics have become one-and-done villains in the MCU, but Lewis Pullman’s Sentry, or rather his darker half, the Void, has been confirmed to be avoiding this hurtful trend by returning in Avengers: Doomsday. Thunderbolts* could set up Robert Reynolds to be one of the MCU’s most prominent heroes and villains simultaneously, bringing the full complexity of the character to life in the MCU.

This unfortunate fate has befallen many legendary villains in the MCU’s history, including the likes of the Red Skull, Iron Monger, Whiplash, Ultron, the Mandarin, Malekith, Dormammu, Killmonger and many more. The list goes on, proving that Marvel Studios has often failed some of its most exciting villains who would otherwise be full of potential and endless possibilities. Lewis Pullman’s Sentry will be avoiding this trend, which creates the opportunity for some of the character’s most memorable Marvel Comics moments to be brought to the screen in many upcoming MCU projects.

Sentry’s Return Sets Up Some Of His Most Iconic Marvel Comics Moments

The Sentry Is One Of Marvel’s Most Interesting Characters

The idea that Lewis Pullman will be sticking around for a long time in the MCU opens the door for several upcoming projects to explore some of his most iconic moments from Marvel Comics. In the years since his debut in 2000’s The Sentry #1, Robert Reynolds has demonstrated some remarkable abilities, using the power of a million exploding suns to become one of Marvel’s most significant characters. Over the last quarter of a century, the Sentry has taken on Heralds of Galactus, battled Loki, fought the entire Avengers team, bested Doctor Strange and even resurrected the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.

Some of the Sentry’s most notable moments, however, have seen him tear heroes and villains apart like nothing, including the likes of the Symbiote, Carnage, and the God, Ares. These scenes might be too dark to be seen in the MCU, but another could easily be adapted to live-action. Robert Reynolds effectively marks the end of Marvel Comics’ World War Hulk event by battling Bruce Banner’s Hulk, leveling the city but reverting the Hulk back to Banner. If something like this this expected to happen after Thunderbolts*, it will be worth keeping Lewis Pullmans’ Sentry around for years to come.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

  Release Date

  
  July 31, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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