According to a new MCU theory, Marvel Studios’ upcoming Thunderbolts* movie has the perfect opportunity to explain one of Phase 4’s most controversial twists. Set to address several previous MCU projects by marking the return of several antiheroes and reformed villains, Thunderbolts* is expected to wrap up some annoying loose ends. This could include the movie answering mysteries from 2021’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, as the likes of Bucky Barnes, John Walker and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine will be returning from the series, so some huge revelations could be on the way.

Thunderbolts* impressive cast unites Bucky Barnes and John Walker’s US Agent with Ant-Man and the Wasp’s Ghost and Black Widow’s Yelena Belova, Red Guardian and Taskmaster as a brand-new superpowered team. While these six morally-gray characters might step into superhero roles in Thunderbolts*, the Phase 5 movie could also develop some of the MCU’s newest and most mysterious villains. A new MCU theory suggests that Thunderbolts* could bring back a villain from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, helping to better explain one of Marvel’s most controversial twists.

Sharon Carter Was On The Phone To Valentina In The Falcon & The Winter Soldier: MCU Theory Explained

Sharon Carter’s Villainous Storyline In The Falcon & The Winter Soldier Was Controversial

At the end of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Emily VanCamp’s Sharon Carter was pardoned by the United States government and reinstated to her position in the CIA. Carter, the great-niece of Peggy Carter, was transformed into a villain in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, revealed to be the enigmatic Power Broker, the notorious ruler of Madripoor’s criminal underworld. Sharon Carter’s pardon granted her access to United States secrets that she could exploit and sell, and her mysterious cliffhanger ending has now been explained in a shocking new theory shared by Comicodigy.

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After being pardoned, Sharon Carter spoke on the phone to a mysterious person who was urged to prepare buyers for high-level secrets, prototype weapons and other things granted by her new government position. This MCU theory suggests that the person on the other end of the phone could have been Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. It’s unclear why Carter would be speaking to Valentina about setting up buyers for government secrets, given that Valentina is the Director of the CIA, but the pair could still be in cahoots in Thunderbolts*.

Captain America: Brave New World Missed An Opportunity To Explain Sharon Carter’s Controversial Villain Twist

Sharon Carter’s Story Should Have Continued In Captain America: Brave New World

As a direct sequel to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, catching up with Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson in his theatrical debut as Captain America, Captain America: Brave New World presented the perfect opportunity for Sharon Carter’s story to continue. It would have made complete sense for Sharon Carter’s cliffhanger ending to be addressed in Brave New World, given her prominence in the United States government and her prior relationship with Sam Wilson. Instead, however, Sharon Carter’s evolution into the Power Broker still hasn’t been explored in live-action.

What If…? season 3 introduced a variant of Sharon Carter in an Emergence-destroyed world who appeared to also be filling the Power Broker role. This could have set the stage for Captain America: Brave New World to bring the live-action Power Broker back to the MCU, but she wasn’t included alongside other notable villains, such as the Leader, the Red Hulk and the Serpent Society. This was a mᴀssive missed opportunity, but Sharon Carter’s omission from Brave New World opens the door for Thunderbolts* to address her mystery instead.

Why Thunderbolts* Is The Perfect Place For Sharon Carter’s Power Broker To Return To The MCU

Thunderbolts* Will Address Many Previous MCU Storylines

While it would have been great to see Sharon Carter return alongside Sam Wilson’s Captain America in Brave New World, since this didn’t happen, it would now make sense for Carter to reunite with Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts*, which could see her join forces with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine – who is her boss as the CIA’s Director. Sharon Carter’s Power Broker would indeed fit perfectly into Thunderbolts*’ storyline, as Valentina and OXE have seemingly created their own super-soldier in the form of the Sentry, and this may have been made possible by Sharon Carter herself.

The Power Broker funded Wilfred Nagel’s research in Madripoor to create a super-soldier serum that was used by Karli Morgenthau and the Flag Smashers, and a version of this serum could have been given to Valentina by Sharon Carter. Carter can provide resources and intel to Valentina, and she can return the favor, allowing Carter to expand her influence as the Power Broker. Thunderbolts* has the best opportunity to give Sharon Carter’s controversial villain twist more meaning, weight and depth, finally explaining one of the MCU Phase 4’s most annoying loose ends.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

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  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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  MCU Spider-Man 4

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  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

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  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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