While Marvel Studios has a lot of teams in play, the franchise hasn''t yet discussed the concept of a group incorporating a roster of darker and more villainous characters before. This might play someday with the Thunderbolts, Marvels classic group of antagonists from the comics, and speculation has suggested that they will play in Phase 4 or later.
The Thunderbolts, in the most straightforward sense, is similar to DCs Suicide Squad - a team of reformed villains teamed up to do something for the greater benefit. Warner Bros. has already released two Suicide Squad movies from David Ayer and James Gunn, and fans have wondered when the concept will be transferred to the Marvels side of the business.
Well, as it turns out, the day for the Thunderbolts'' arrival may be coming sooner rather than later.
Marvel''''s Own Villain Team-Up Film
Justin Kroll of Deadline reported that Marvel Studios has hired Jake Schreier as the director of an upcoming Thunderbolts film set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Co-writerEric Pearson is set to create the villain-focused script.
Schreier''s greatest work to date came as the director of the film adaptation of Paper Towns with Cara Delevigne, Suicide Squad, although this would be the first true blockbuster film to date.
Pearson is credited for his work on over a dozen MCU projects, including as a writer for four Marvel Studios One-Shots and Thor: Ragnarok. He also served as an executive story editor for the Agent Carter TV series that ran on ABC from 2015 to 2016.
While there is no talent on Twitter, Kroll revealed that Marvel is introducing this film to its own version of Suicide Squad. Characters like Florence Pugh''s Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell''s US agent, and Daniel Bruhl''s Zemo might be in line for roles in the plot:
"The film is technically still in development, therefore no talent have closed deals yet but Marvel considers this as their version of SUICIDE SQUAD, and some players you may expect include Yelena, Taskmaster, US Agent, and Zemo among others."
Although the search for a new Fantastic Four director has been published recently, even though discussions for the role are only in the early stages, Marvel has been under the radar with its work on Thunderbolts. Schreier''s pitch to the studio in recent weeks reportedly "blew away" executives, which ultimately led him to the job.
The new film is expected to premiere in Summer 2023, and sources said Marvel is already in touch with some of the most current Marvel characters to make sure they''re available to shoot in that window.
Thunderbolts Becoming a Reality in the MCU
The Thunderbolts would finally arrive at some of Marvel Studios'' recent plot choices in a series.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus had first played Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but she uncovered something dark in the works with Wyatt Russell''s eventual US agent. She returned in the post-credits scene of Black Widow with Florence Pugh''s Yelena Belova, which eventually led to Vincent D''Onofrio''s revelation in Hawkeye.
The Thunderbolts have shunned for most of the last few years. What you will now know is who will be on the team of villains and when it will come together.
The most challenging task will be understanding how to fill the shoes of Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, played by William Hurtunless Marvel does not want the role to be recast (an unlikely decision). Val might certainly be in line to take a leadership position with a similar company in a "Amanda Waller from the Suicide Squad," which then leaves the mystery of who will be on the roster.
In this one of the scenarios the Marvel Studios has ever seen, Marvel is taking some bold steps. Despite Schreier''s absence of anything similar to this type of story, he should be well-equipped to add a new element to the ongoing narrative.
