Thunderbolts: Red Hulk’s Surprising Role Revealed by Asterisk in Movie Title

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Summary

  • Thaddeus Ross may join the Thunderbolts team in the MCU movie, hinted by an asterisk next to the title.
  • The Thunderbolts’ street-level characters may need Red Hulk’s strength to defeat the powerful Sentry and the Void.
  • The connection between Thaddeus Ross and the Thunderbolts team in the comics suggests his potential involvement in the MCU film.

The upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film that superhero enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating is the Thunderbolts. This movie brings together a group of antiheroes from the MCU, including Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent, Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster, and Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost. They unite to face the formidable threat of Lewis Pullman’s Sentry and his sinister persona, the Void. Interestingly, there seems to be an asterisk in the title of the movie, which may hint at a significant part for another MCU character who isn’t currently listed as part of the film’s cast.

In the story, Thaddeus Ross is the character we’re discussing. Previously portrayed by the late William Hurt, Harrison Ford took on the role in the 2025 film “Captain America: Brave New World”. Known as ‘Thunderbolt’, this name suggests a possible link to the similarly named team, and given that he’s now the Red Hulk, this link becomes even more intriguing. The asterisk (*) in the title of the upcoming movie “Thunderbolts” might be hinting at Ross’ participation. This certainly adds an exciting layer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Although Harrison Ford isn’t specifically mentioned on the cast roster for the film, there has been ongoing speculation about his potential role in Thunderbolts for quite some time. At the end of Captain America: Brave New World, Ross is locked up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s maximum-security superhuman prison, The Raft. However, since he willingly accepted imprisonment (and considering Red Hulk might have enough power to break out), it seems likely that his situation could shift soon. Taking all this into account, it’s quite possible that he will play a significant role in the upcoming movie.

There’s A Precedent For Ross’ Involvement With The Thunderbolts In Marvel’s Comics

Thaddeus Ross has been in charge of the Thunderbolts and fought for them as a member in his Red Hulk guise.

It’s not unexpected for Thaddeus Ross and his Red Hulk persona to be connected with the Thunderbolts, given their shared history in Marvel comics. Both characters have appeared together within the Marvel comic book team before. In the 2012 volume 2 issue #1 of Thunderbolts, written by Daniel Way and illustrated by Steve Dillon, Ross assumed leadership of the team and actively fought alongside them as the Red Hulk. This storyline was introduced during the Marvel NOW! relaunch.

It’s important to mention that Ross’ comic book team is significantly distinct from the one we’ll see in Thunderbolts, with characters like Deadpool, Elektra, Punisher, and Flash Thompson’s Venom included. However, it offers a link between him and the MCU’s Thunderbolts squad. If Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine meets an end in the film, Harrison Ford’s Ross would likely be a strong candidate to succeed her as the team leader.

The Thunderbolts Can’t Be Expected To Defeat Sentry/The Void Without A Big Hitter

The Thunderbolts are all street-level characters, and Sentry/The Void is a global threat.

In many superhero films, the title hero usually emerges victorious. So, it’s anticipated that the Thunderbolts will conquer Sentry and his villainous persona, the Void, in their movie. However, it seems challenging to envision how they could defeat him, considering he possesses immense power, while the Thunderbolts are ordinary individuals who shouldn’t have the capability to even touch him.

It’s logical for Red Hulk to be part of the team, given his capabilities. In a direct confrontation, he can match Sentry or Void in strength. Moreover, the comic book version of Red Hulk has an added advantage: he can siphon power from opponents. This could offer the MCU Thunderbolts a practical way to overcome him. Including Red Hulk would significantly amplify the thrill of the final showdown between the Thunderbolts and their formidable opponent.

That’s Quite Literally His Nickname That There’s An Asterisk Next To

Hints don’t really get much more explicit and obvious than this.

The connection between Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross’ nickname being the movie title itself, the recent introduction of his alter-ego the Red Hulk in the last film, and the asterisk in the title hinting at a secret revelation about it, strongly suggests that he might make an appearance in this film.

Considering everything mentioned earlier, it’s unlikely anyone would be shocked if Harrison Ford’s character Thaddeus Ross appeared in Thunderbolts, using the Red Hulk’s powers to aid the team in battling the Sentry and the Void. In fact, this scenario seems quite plausible.

Movie enthusiasts who are fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe can anticipate whether character Thaddeus Ross and his Red Hulk persona will appear in the upcoming film, Thunderbolts. The movie is scheduled to be released in theaters on May 2, 2025.

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2025-02-23 18:55