Summary
- Thaddeus Ross may join the Thunderbolts team within the MCU movie, hinted by an asterisk next to the title.
- The Thunderbolts’ street-level characters might have Red Hulk’s strength to defeat the powerful Sentry and the Void.
- The connection between Thaddeus Ross and the Thunderbolts team within the comics suggests his potential involvement within the MCU film.
The following Marvel Cinematic Universe movie that superhero fans must sit up for is Thunderbolts*. The film will see the approaching together of a team of MCU antiheroes — Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, David Harbour’s Red Guardian, Wyatt Russell’s U.S. Agent, Olga Kurylenko’s Taskmaster, and Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost — to combat the immense threat of Lewis Pullman’s Sentry and his malevolent and destructive alter-ego the Void. Curiously, there’s an asterisk within the movie’s title, which tends to point to a footnote. That footnote might be a key role for an MCU character not officially listed among the many film’s solid.
The character in query is Thaddeus Ross. Having previously been played by the late William Hurt, Harrison Ford stepped into the character’s imposing shoes in 2025’s Captain America: Brave Latest World. His nickname is, in fact, “Thunderbolt,” which immediately brings a possible connection to the team of the identical to mind — and the very fact he’s now the Red Hulk makes that potential connection much more interesting. There’s loads of reason to imagine that the curious asterisk within the Thunderbolts* movie title could hint at Ross’ involvement. That is undoubtedly an exciting prospect within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
While he is not officially named on the solid list for the movie, there’s been talk of Harrison Ford’s possible involvement in Thunderbolts* for years. As of the climax of Captain America: Brave Latest World, Ross is imprisoned within the MCU’s high-security superhuman prison, the Raft, but seeing as he was incarcerated voluntarily (and provided that Red Hulk potentially has the strength to smash his way out), there’s a very good probability his predicament could change soon. With that in mind, and given other aspects, it’s highly plausible that he’ll have a giant part to play within the upcoming movie.
There’s A Precedent For Ross’ Involvement With The Thunderbolts In Marvel’s Comics
Thaddeus Ross has been in command of the Thunderbolts and fought for them as a member in his Red Hulk guise.
It would not be an MCU-specific concept for Thaddeus Ross and his Red Hulk alter-ego to be involved with the Thunderbolt. The characters each have comic book precedents for being a part of the Marvel comic book team. In 2012’s Thunderbolts (Vol. 2) #1, written by Daniel Way and illustrated by Steve Dillon, which debuted as a part of the Marvel NOW! relaunch, Ross takes on the team’s leadership role and fights alongside them because the Red Hulk.
It’s price noting that Ross’ team within the comics was very different from the one that can appear in Thunderbolts* — it included Deadpool, Elektra, Punisher, and the Flash Thompson version of Venom, for instance — however it still provides a connection between him and the MCU team of the identical name. Should anything occur to Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine within the movie, Harrison Ford’s Ross should undoubtedly be a viable contender to take over from her because the team’s leader.
The Thunderbolts Cannot Be Expected To Defeat Sentry/The Void Without A Big Hitter
The Thunderbolts are all street-level characters, and Sentry/The Void is a world threat.
In most (but not all) superhero movies, the eponymous character or character prevails. Due to this fact, the Thunderbolts are expected to defeat the Sentry and his evil alter-ego, the Void, of their film. Nevertheless, it’s not easy to assume how that is possible, provided that he’s an immeasurably powerful character, and they seem to be a bunch of street-levelers who shouldn’t have the opportunity to accomplish that much as scratch him.
That is why it is sensible to have Red Hulk join the team. Not only does he have the strength to go toe-to-toe with the Sentry or the Void in a straight-up fight, however the comic book version of Red Hulk also possesses the flexibility to empty power from his opponents, potentially providing the MCU Thunderbolts with a practical approach to defeating him. It might elevate the thrill of the climactic battle between the Thunderbolts and their powerful adversary tenfold.
That is Quite Literally His Nickname That There’s An Asterisk Next To
Hints don’t really get way more explicit and obvious than this.
The proven fact that Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross’ nickname is kind of literally the title of this movie, combined with the proven fact that his alter-ego the Red Hulk has just been introduced within the previous film and the very fact there’s an asterisk within the title suggesting a secret goes to be revealed about it, undoubtedly points to the chance that he’ll appear within the film.
Factoring in the entire above information, would anybody be overly surprised to see Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus Ross appearing in Thunderbolts*, unleashing the Red Hulk to help the team of their fight against the Sentry and the Void? Suffice it to say, probably not.
MCU fans will discover soon if Thaddeus Ross and his Red Hulk alter-ego will play an element in Thunderbolts*. The film hits theaters on May 2, 2025.
