Did The MCU Plan The Thunderbolts As The New Avengers From The Start?

A compelling theory posited by some Thunderbolts fans contends that the New Avengers were intentionally orchestrated and that Valentina was actually the mastermind behind this team from the outset. In the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) production, an unconventional band of antiheroes is featured, with several of them having previously portrayed villains in their individual series. Interestingly, the film concludes with these characters uniting to protect New York City from a potential danger, echoing the manner in which the original Avengers united during their initial assembly.

In the final act of Thunderbolts, it transpires that the team is officially labeled as the New Avengers, a move intended to fill the void left by the original Avengers who disbanded post-Avengers: Endgame. This labeling was orchestrated by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, and it appeared to be her desperate measure as the group neared revealing her true intentions. However, there’s a popular theory circulating that Valentina had this plan in motion since the beginning of the movie, and there is significant evidence that might support this notion.

Thunderbolts* Sees Valentina Go From Trying To Kill Most Of The Main Characters To Making Them A Superhero Team

Valentina Has A Quick Change Of Heart

At the beginning of the movie, most Thunderbolts members are under Valentina’s supervision. Later on, she devises a scheme to eliminate them and their ties to her questionable activities by sending them to her OXE base. However, the base is equipped with a self-destruct timer meant to incinerate everyone along with any incriminating evidence. Unfortunately for Valentina, the team manages to cooperate just enough to escape before the destruction. It’s possible that Valentina intended this outcome from the start.

After their escape from her bunker, Valentina’s intention becomes to eliminate the Thunderbolts before they can retaliate against her. When she manages to transform Bob into his full Sentry form, she secretly wishes this powerful being would wipe out the group. This sudden change in attitude is quite striking, considering that at the end of the film, Valentina publicly commends the characters for their heroic acts and formally acknowledges them as a superhero team. It’s possible that this shift in allegiance occurred spontaneously as a means of self-protection, but given her aggressive stance towards the Thunderbolts throughout most of the movie, it’s surprising how quickly she conceded.

Thunderbolts* Does Leave Hints That Support The Theory Valentina Always Intended For The Team To Become The New Avengers

There Were More Effective Strategies If Valentina Wanted The Thunderbolts Dead

If Valentina had wanted to eliminate the Thunderbolts, it seems there could have been a more streamlined approach. Sending them all into a bunker together might not have been the optimal strategy, considering the unpredictability that arises when people collaborate. Given Valentina’s meticulous nature, she probably would have anticipated an escape attempt. After all, she brought these individuals on board because of their unique talents, and instead of instantly obliterating the bunker, she provided them with a timeframe to work within.

Valentina unveils the New Avengers team as a proactive measure to prevent clashes with the Thunderbolts. Despite appearing slightly taken aback that the team had somehow extricated themselves from the Void, she seemed less shocked by the overall outcome. Her announcement of the New Avengers suggests she’d been preparing for this moment, even having a pre-written press statement ready. Valentina’s intention with Sentry was to establish an alternative Avengers squad, so it wouldn’t be unexpected if her contingency plans involved assembling a new team of superheroes.

The Thunderbolts* Theory Would Also Explain Why Valentina Seems To First Recruit Yelena & John Walker

These Two Characters Were Already Seen As Avengers Replacements

Valentina made her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in “The Falcon & The Winter Soldier,” where she sought to enlist John Walker following his downfall. Later, in the post-credits scene of “Black Widow,” she approached a grieving Yelena and provided her with information about who might have been behind her sister’s death. This suggests that John and Yelena could be the initial two individuals Valentina recruited, and they are the only ones shown being recruited on screen. Given the roles these characters play in the MCU, this aligns perfectly with the New Avengers theory.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the U.S. government appointed John as the new Captain America, while Yelena assumed the Black Widow role in tribute to her sister. This suggests that Valentina may have had ulterior motives from the beginning, particularly when she pitted Yelena against Hawkeye, an original Avenger. Given Valentina’s tendency to stay one step ahead and the questionable aspects of some of her strategies during Thunderbolts, it’s plausible that these Avengers replacements were part of her scheme all along.

2025-05-24 21:01