Rumor: Thunderbolts Movie Making A Big Change To Marvel Comics Canon

The Thunderbolts movie is set to introduce the storied antihero team from Marvel comics to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time, and a recent report suggests that the theatrical release has already set itself apart by changing part of the canon.

The Thunderbolts have a long history in Marvel comics, with the original antihero team being members of the supervillain team in disguise under the auspice of Baron Zemo. Following a reboot in 2012’s Marvel NOW! the team would be relaunched as a strike force for Thunderbolt Ross, with this being the most recent iteration in a long line of reworks. With the team’s rich and storied history, there’s much for fans to expect from the MCU’s Thunderbolts lore.

While Thunderbolts movie plot details have been under wraps and news surrounding the film has been muted, one thing that fans might not have seen coming was the film’s take on the team’s name. While Zemo’s links to the Red Skull’s Nazis and the cool factor explain the first Thunderbolts team name and Thunderbolt Ross’ reasons for picking it up are pretty obvious, social media account CanWeGetSomeToast has stated that the upcoming MCU team will change this up by having the name stem from Yelena Belova’s childhood soccer team. While the name has never been a focus of any iteration, this is a clear-cut MCU original and could be considered a change to the canon.

Even while fans pondered what the final Thunderbolts roster would be, it was pretty clear that Yelena would be taking on the most prominent role in the team, at least from a framing perspective. This change to the canon seems geared towards reflecting that position as the comic did with Ross and Zemo. As the team member with the most fan affection attached and prominence in the MCU, this is only natural and could be a solid first step in really amplifying Florence Pugh’s character to the next level. This upgrade would likewise reflect well on the rest of the team and potentially be the catalyst for making this band of odd bedfellows a team on par with the original Avengers. Or the entire thing could be one comical throwaway scene consistent with the MCU’s long-suffered humor. It is too early to tell for sure.

While there’s a lot of potential with the new team, Marvel’s Thunderbolts needs to avoid being a Suicide Squad ripoff at all costs, as fans have seen that done not once but twice. While there’s a lot of difference between the two theatrical iterations of the DC property, it won’t do for Thunderbolts to rehash the vibe of either one. Only time will tell how well the film does at carving out its own identity and success.

Thunderbolts is set for theatrical release on May 2, 2025

Source: CanWeGetSomeToast/Instagram