Marvel Studios’ ‘Thunderbolts*’ is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing projects in the MCU’s Phase 5. Now, its latest trailer might have finally confirmed who the team will be facing.
While the film brings together some of the franchise’s most famous antiheroes, the real danger appears to come from within. All signs point to Lewis Pullman’s character, Bob, being none other than The Sentry.
‘Thunderbolts*’ Trailer Shares A Glimpse Into Sentry’s Descent Into Chaos
As one of Marvel’s most powerful heroes in the comics, Sentry’s incredible abilities come with a devastating side effect (his dark counterpart, The Void). The latest footage strongly suggests that this dangerous entity will be the main antagonist of the ‘Thunderbolts*’.
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Throughout the trailer, an ominous force spreads through New York City, consuming everything in its path. Civilians are seen vanishing into shadows. However, the source of this destruction is never explicitly revealed. Moreover, given Sentry’s history in the comics, this imagery aligns perfectly with the manifestation of The Void.
Moreover, the MCU’s adaptation of Sentry appears to lean heavily into his tragic nature. Originally created through a government experiment to replicate the Super Soldier Serum, Robert Reynolds was granted the “power of a million exploding suns.” However, his unstable mind gave birth to The Void, an entity responsible for mass destruction and death.
In the comics, The Void once slaughtered over a million people in New York alone. What makes this situation even more dire is that the Avengers are nowhere to be found. In a moment from the trailer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina confirms, “The Avengers are not coming.” This leaves the Thunderbolts as the last line of defense against an unstoppable force.
How Can The Thunderbolts Stop Sentry?
The Thunderbolts team consists of highly trained operatives which includes Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Taskmaster, Ghost, and U.S. Agent. However, none of them possess the raw power needed to go toe-to-toe with Sentry. Unlike past MCU villains, Sentry’s abilities make him nearly invincible.
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His molecular manipulation, regeneration, energy absorption, and superhuman strength put him on a level that dwarfs even the Avengers. So, how can the Thunderbolts possibly defeat him? According to the comics, the answer lies in psychological warfare. In Marvel’s source material, The Void was only suppressed when Reynolds’ memories were erased.
So, the MCU could take a similar approach. Another possibility is that Sentry was being held in a high-security facility, only to be released due to unforeseen circumstances. The trailer briefly shows a facility where Bob seems to be introduced. This could serve as his containment unit before things spiral out of control.
