Marvel Studios is replacing the Avengers's team-up movie in the MCU Phase 5 with Thunderbolts, but the premiere superhero team of the MCU could still make an appearance if Marvel Comics' Civil War II storyline is adapted. Kevin Feige revealed at SDCC 2022 that the only Avengers films in the MCU's Multiverse Saga would be Phase 6's The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars. However, he also revealed that Thunderbolts would conclude Phase 5, introducing a new team to the MCU, and one new theory suggests that they may be pitted against the more established superhero team.

Adapted from Marvel Comics' Thunderbolts, a team comprised of former villains and antiheroes, the MCU's version of the Thunderbolts team will include Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, Ghost, US Agent, Taskmaster, Bucky Barnes, and Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Valentina was revealed to be the Director of the CIA in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, implying that her Thunderbolts team would be funded by the United States government, whereas the Avengers were a private organization. While not much is known about Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts project, one theory suggests that the film may adapt Marvel Comics' seminal Civil War II crossover event from 2016.

Captain America 4 May Introduce A New Avengers Team

Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson became the MCU's new Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which will lead directly into his first solo project as the leading hero, 2024's Captain America: Brave New World. As Captain America, many have speculated that Sam Wilson could lead the MCU's New Avengers team, potentially even bringing together several new heroes to form the team in Brave New World. While nothing has been confirmed by Marvel Studios, Wilson bringing together a new Avengers team in the MCU's Phase 5 could help to set up a suspected storyline for 2024's Thunderbolts, thanks to the involvement of one crucial character in both projects.

General Thaddeus Ross is set to become the President of the United States in Captain America: Brave New World, now portrayed by Harrison Ford after William Hurt's passing in 2022. Ford is expected to appear as Ross in both Brave New World and Thunderbolts, which informs a new theory posed by Reddit user homodemiks. The theory notes that Sam Wilson could form the New Avengers in Captain America: Brave New World, but then butt heads with the new President Ross. Ross has always feared the danger posed by the superpowered Avengers, so their defying him in Brave New World may lead to him sanctioning the formation of the Thunderbolts.

Thunderbolts Vs. The Avengers Could Happen In The MCU’s Phase 5

The Reddit theory suggests that President Ross could form the Thunderbolts team to battle the New Avengers in a loose adaptation of Marvel Comics' Civil War II storyline. The idea of the film adapting such a pivotal storyline as Civil War II would certainly negate fears that the Thunderbolts team will be a throwaway group or their existence won't be fully justified. There has also been speculation that a follow-up to 2016's Captain America: Civil War will be taking place before Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, and Thunderbolts may be the perfect place for this to unfold.

Most of the characters being featured in the Thunderbolts' first line-up have already gone toe-to-toe with members of the Avengers in previous MCU projects. Yelena battled Clint Barton in Hawkeye, Ghost battled Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne in Ant-Man and the Wasp, and US Agent was an antagonist to Sam Wilson himself in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, so it would be great to see these vendettas revisited. Pitting the Thunderbolts against a new team of Avengers in Phase 5 would not only mark a strong introduction for the new teams but may also provide the best chance to adapt one of Marvel Comics' most pivotal crossover events.

Marvel Comics Civil War II Will Need To Be Significantly Changed For The MCU

It's impossible for Marvel Studios to produce a comic-accurate adaptation of Civil War II, as the 2016 storyline saw Iron Man and Captain Marvel battle when a precognitive Inhuman, Ulysses Cain, emerges. When Ulysses' visions prompt War Machine and She-Hulk to try and battle Thanos, the former is killed, and the latter wounded, leading to Iron Man vowing that nobody will use Ulysses' ability again. This leads to a series of battles between Iron Man, Captain Marvel, and their respective allies, spurred on by Ulysses' visions. Eventually, Ulysses transforms into a cosmic entity, while Captain Marvel seemingly kills Iron Man and prepares herself to lead Earth's heroes in the future.

Marvel Studios did introduce Inhumans to the MCU with Black Bolt's appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but they are far from being established enough to take part in Civil War II. Beyond that, Iron Man's sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame means he also cannot take part in this storyline, so Marvel Studios will need to adapt the story to better fit the current state of the MCU. Reimagining Civil War II to feature a battle between the Avengers and the Thunderbolts spanning Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts makes the most sense, as this would provide a powerful debut for each of these new MCU teams.