Warning: This article contains spoilers for Thunderbolts*.Several MCU characters return for Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts*, putting a darker spin on an Avengers-style superhero team. Thunderbolts* was officially announced as part of the MCU timeline in July 2022, with Beef’s Jake Schreier set to direct, while Thor: Ragnarok and Black Widow writer Eric Pearson was attached to the script, though he would later be replaced by Beef‘s Lee Sung Jin. At 2022’s D23 Expo, after several Phase 4 projects teased the debut of the Thunderbolts, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige unveiled the principal cast for the film, marking the return of several MCU actors who had previously portrayed morally questionable characters.

Thunderbolts* acts as a sequel to projects such as The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Black Widow, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Captain America: New World Order, bringing together several antiheroes and reformed villains who otherwise wouldn’t have met. Released on May 2, 2025, Thunderbolts* boasts an impressive cast on top of being a great movie. It also is the next stepping stone for the MCU as it heads towards the grand finale of the Multiverse Saga.

Sebastian Stan as James “Bucky” Barnes / The Winter Soldier

Born August 13, 1982

Active Since: 2003

Actor: Working since the early-2000s, Sebastian Stan has had roles in TV shows like Gossip Girl and Once Upon a Time, while leading Political Animals. On the film side, he has starred in I, Tonya, A Different Man, Fresh, and The Apprentice, where he was nominated for Best Actor at the Academy Awards.

Character: Sebastian Stan debuted as Bucky Barnes in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger as the childhood friend of Steve Rogers, who fought alongside Captain America as a member of the Howling Commandos. After apparently falling to his death, Bucky was taken captive by Hydra and turned into the Winter Soldier, a super soldier and lethal ᴀssᴀssin, though he was eventually broken free of this conditioning after the events of Captain America: Civil War. He has grown tremendously throughout the MCU and Thunderbolts* sees him continue his growth.

Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova / Black Widow

Born January 3, 1996

Active Since: 2014

Actor: Florence Pugh has quickly made a name for herself since she began her acting career in 2014. Some of her most notable roles include Lady Macbeth, Midsommar, Little Women, Fighting With My Family, We Live In Time, and Oppenheimer. Though she hasn’t done a ton of TV, she reprised her role as Yelena Belova in Hawkeye.

Character: In Black Widow, it was revealed that Yelena Belova was the surrogate sister of Natasha Romanoff, who eventually must come to terms with her sister’s death in Avengers: Endgame. Yelena is one of the highlights of Thunderbolts* as the film dives into her feelings of loneliness and tries to figure out what she wants from her life. She is also one of the most prominent members of the Thunderbolts.

Wyatt Russell as John Walker / US Agent

Born July 10, 1986

Active Since: 1987

Actor: Son of acting legends Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, Wyatt Russell has proven his talent as an actor throughout the course of his career. His very first role was as a baby in Overboard, but he began picking up more roles in the 2010s, with projects like 22 Jump Street and Black Mirror to his name. He also plays a prominent role in the TV series, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.

Character: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier debuted Wyatt Russell as John Walker, the man who ᴀssumed the Captain America moniker in the wake of Steve Rogers’ retirement and Sam Wilson’s refusal to accept the role. While Walker seemed like the perfect candidate to become Captain America, his temper, ego, and pride led to him becoming a twisted version of the patriotic hero. He was eventually recruited by Valentina and became US Agent. He plays a major role in Thunderbolts* as he tries to figure out what his life will look like post-Captain America.

David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian

Born April 10, 1975

Active Since: 1994

Actor: Though he has been active since the 90s, David Harbour’s popularity grew considerably from his role as Jim Hopper in Netflix’s Stranger Things. Still, he has had roles in Brokeback Mountain, Revolutionary Road, Black Mᴀss, End of Watch, Suicide Squad, and more over the course of his impressive career.

Character: Alexei Shostakov is the surrogate father of Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova, and Russia’s answer to Captain America within the MCU. Alexei was given a version of the super-soldier serum during the Cold War and fought for years in the Soviet military. After his ally, General Dreykov, had him incarcerated, Alexei sought revenge, helping his daughters to eliminate the Red Room in Black Widow. His relationship with Yelena is explored even more in Thunderbolts* and Alexei provides a lot of the best moments of humor throughout the film, a product of David Harbour’s incredible charm.

Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr / Ghost

Born September 7, 1989

Active Since: 2011

Actor: Hannah John-Kamen has built an impressive resume throughout her career with projects like Black Mirror, Killjoys, Brave New World, and The Stranger to her name. She appeared in a handful of episodes of Game of Thrones and had a recurring role in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Outside of TV, some of her notable movie roles include Ready Player One and Ant-Man & the Wasp.

Character: Originally thought to be a one-and-done villain for Ant-Man and the Wasp, Ava Starr, a.k.a. Ghost, makes her MCU return in Thunderbolts*. Hannah John-Kamen debuted as the villain in the MCU’s Phase 3, revealed to have gained the ability to make herself intangible and generate huge amounts of power after a quantum accident that orphaned her as a child. She struggled to control her powers before, but has become much stronger and more stable in Thunderbolts* as the movie explores a brand-new side of the character.

Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov / Taskmaster

Born November 14, 1979

Active Since: 1995

Actor: In the late 2000s, Olga Kurylenko rose to prominence with roles in films like Quantum of Solace and Hitman, where she first began making a name for herself. She has since gone on to star in films like To The Wonder, Oblivion, and The Death of Stalin. She also starred in the Netflix spy series, Treason.

Character: After being presumably killed by Natasha Romanoff to guarantee her defection to SHIELD, Antonia Dreykov is transformed into the Taskmaster. A chip installed in her body allowed her father to control her every move while also gifting her with uncanny mimicking techniques that allowed her to perfectly copy the fighting styles of anyone she watched, including members of the Avengers. Freed at the end of Black Widow, Antonia works together alongside other members of the Thunderbolts, but meets a tragic fate early on.

Lewis Pullman as Bob / Sentry / The Void

Born January 29, 1993

Active Since: 2017

Actor: Son of Bill Pullman, Lewis Pullman is also a fantastic actor, with some major movies in his filmography, including Top Gun: Maverick, Bad Times at the El Royale, Salem’s Lot, and The Strangers: Prey At Night. His TV roles are limited, but he starred in Outer Range and was a significant part of the cast for Catch-22 and Lessons in Chemistry.

Character: It was only a matter of time until Bob showed up in the MCU, A.K.A. Sentry, A.K.A. The Void throughout Thunderbolts*. Sentry is one of the strongest characters in Marvel Comics, so his addition to the MCU instantly changes the power dynamics heading into Avengers: Doomsday and beyond. As The Void, he acted as the antagonist to the other members of the Thunderbolts in the film.

Thunderbolts Supporting Cast & Characters

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Contessa Valentina Allegra De Fontaine: Julia Louis-Dreyfus debuted as the mysterious Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (“Val”) in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, recruiting John Walker for an unknown purpose. Since then, she has appeared in both Black Widow and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as they built her up. She is the one who ends up bringing together the Thunderbolts during the movie, and she was the one who bought Avengers Tower.

Geraldine Viswanathan as Mel: While her role isn’t the biggest in Thunderbolts*, Geraldine Viswanathan joins the MCU as Mel, Valentina’s ᴀssistant and her right-hand woman over the course of the movie. Prior to Thunderbolts*, Geraldine Viswanathan had major roles in Blockers, Hala, and Bad Education.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  Avengers: Doomsday

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  May 1, 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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