Marvel's Thunderbolts Super Bowl trailer provided a glimpse of the villain this group of antiheroes will confront. The spot shown on television was a preview of the longer trailer released online . A major threat is causing chaos and Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Val) declares "The Avengers are not coming". So reinforcements are needed.
Val assembles Yelena Belova Bucky Barnes Winter Soldier U.S. Agent John Walker Alexei Shostakov Red Guardian Ava Starr Ghost and Antonia Dreykov Taskmaster to deal with this threat. The identity of this villain was kept somewhat secret in initial marketing. However the new trailer strongly indicates it is Sentry a powerful figure. While the villain's appearance is mostly obscured glimpses and voice strongly suggest Sentry. Actor Lewis Pullman plays a character named Bob and his voice matches the villain's voice in trailer.
Hints throughout the marketing for Thunderbolts strongly imply Bob is Robert Reynolds from Marvel comics also known as Sentry. The shadowy figure wearing a cape further supports this idea. In the trailer Pullman's Bob says "You thought you were gonna be some great saviors? You can't even save yourselves." as he grabs Bucky's vibranium arm and tears it off.
What The Thunderbolts Trailer's Sentry Reveal Means For The MCU
Sentry Presents A Unique Challenge For The Thunderbolts Team
The Thunderbolts trailer confirms Sentry as the primary antagonist. This reveal suggests a significant power imbalance for the team. Sentry in comics possesses powers comparable to Superman including immense strength flight and various energy manipulations. Furthermore Sentry's comic history involves "The Void" a destructive entity linked to him. The trailer's depiction of Sentry as a shadowy and immensely powerful figure hints at the scale of threat the Thunderbolts will face. His effortless defeat of Bucky in the trailer emphasizes his superior strength and danger. This situation creates high stakes for the team of antiheroes who are accustomed to operating in shades of gray not confronting cosmic level threats.
Thunderbolts faces a challenge without conventional heroes like the Avengers. Val's line "The Avengers are not coming" highlights the unique position of this film within the MCU . It positions the Thunderbolts as the first and possibly last line of defense against threats that would usually require Earth's Mightiest Heroes. This raises questions about how this team of morally ambiguous individuals will handle a threat like Sentry and whether they can overcome their internal conflicts to become effective saviors despite their flaws.
Our Take On The Sentry Villain Reveal in Thunderbolts Trailer
Thunderbolts Could Offer A Darker More Intense MCU Story
The Thunderbolts trailer's focus on Sentry as the villain is a promising development. It signals a potentially darker and more intense story for the MCU. Sentry's powers and the associated Void storyline introduce complex themes of power responsibility and inner demons. Unlike typical MCU villains with straightforward motivations Sentry's comic book background suggests a more tragic and nuanced antagonist. If the movie draws from Sentry's comic history it could explore psychological aspects and the burden of immense power. The dysfunctional nature of the Thunderbolts team combined with a powerful and potentially unstable villain like Sentry creates a recipe for dramatic tension and compelling character moments. Thunderbolts could be a refreshing departure from typical MCU narratives offering a story focused on flawed characters grappling with an overwhelming threat in the absence of traditional heroes.
Sources: ew.com, ign.com, hollywoodreporter.com, polygon.com