Summary
Alongside several returning characters in 2025’sThunderbolts*, I think I’ve worked out which new antihero Marvel Studios might be about to bring into theMCU. A live-action movie focused on the Thunderbolts team from Marvel Comics was first announced in June 2022, and themain cast of Marvel Studios’Thunderbolts*was confirmed that September. The line-up includes six returning antiheroes and reformed villains from the MCU’s past, seemingly led by the enigmatic Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, but I don’t think this will be the complete team.
I suspect that the MCU’s Thunderbolts team will be formed in an attempt to manage the emergence of the powerful Sentry, who is expected to be played by Lewis Pullman. However, while theSentry’s debut in the MCUis incredibly exciting, having the potential to change the power structure of the franchise forever, I don’t think he’ll be the only new superpowered character joiningThunderbolts*.One Marvel interview at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con has only reinforced my belief in this idea, as Geraldine Viswanathan’s mysterious character might have been revealed.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier(2021)
Ant-Man and the Wasp(2018)
Geraldine Viswanathan’s Thunderbolts* Character Is Named “Mel”
BlockersandMiracle Workers’Geraldine Viswanathan joined the cast ofThunderboltsin January, taking over from Ayo Edebiri who departed due to scheduling conflicts. Until now, Viswanathan’sThunderboltscharacter had been a mystery, though she had been rumored to be Valentina’s assistant. The cast ofThunderbolts*were interviewed at SDCC byMarvel Entertainment, however, and this interview listed Viswanathan’s character as “Mel”.In the same way that I think Lewis Pullman’s “Bob” is Robert Reynolds' Sentry, I would love for Viswanathan’s “Mel” to be Marvel Comics' Melissa Gold.
Who Is Melissa Gold? Marvel Comics History Explained
Introduced to Marvel Comics in 1979’sMarvel Two-in-One #54, Melissa Gold originally operated as the supervillain Screaming Mimi. A troubled runaway from a difficult household, Gold, going by “Mimi”, eventually found herself incarcerated, leading her to join the female wrestling team, the Grapplers, upon her release. Not making enough money, the Grapplers carried out a covert operation for the Roxxon Oil Company, and were gifted apparatus to help in this pursuit.For Mimi, this was a device that converted her voice into high-frequency sonic waves.
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The Grapplers eventually approached the Power Broker to give them actual superpowers. Mimi opted to have her sonic device implanted into her throat, allowing her to alter her voice into sonic waves naturally.This ability got her on the radar of Baron Helmut Zemo, who recruited Mimi for his Masters of Evil. After the Avengers were presumed dead during the battle against Onslaught, theMasters of Evil became the first Thunderbolts team, posing as heroes to replace Earth’s Mightiest. This transition saw Screaming Mimi become Songbird.
Masquerading as heroes changed the Thunderbolts members' perspectives, and they soon started to actually become heroes in their own right, moving away from their villainous pasts. Songbird remained on the team through various iterations, and even led her ownThunderbolts line-up.She battled Skrulls, Norman Osborn and his Thunderbolts team, and Lemuel Dorcas, and has more recently become a member of the Avengers. I would love for Melissa Gold’s rich history as Screaming Mimi and Songbird to be detailed in the live-action MCU.
Why Melissa Gold’s Songbird Would Be A Great Addition To Thunderbolts*
It would be great to see her paid homage to in Marvel Studios’Thunderbolts*.
I was a bit surprised when Marvel Studios revealed the cast forThunderbolts*back in 2022, as not a single member of the original team in Marvel Comics was featured in the line-up. Most of them haven’t even been introduced to the MCU, but this would have been the perfect opportunity forDaniel Brühl’s Zemo to returnafter his recent stint inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier.I would love for Marvel to include at least one member of Marvel Comics' Thunderbolts in the MCU’s roster, and Melissa Gold’s Songbird is the perfect candidate.
Songbird is one of the longest-running members of the Thunderbolts, having been featured in 4 out of the 12 incarnations of the group. This has made her one of the team’s most iconic members, so it would be great to see her paid homage to in Marvel Studios’Thunderbolts*. If this involves her actually having a large role in the movie, and perhaps even setting up Geraldine Viswanathan to appear in future MCU projects, I would be incredibly happy. For now, we only know Viswanathan as “Mel”, but Songbird has a much better ring to it.
Thunderbolts*
Cast
Thunderbolts follows seven disillusioned individuals who find themselves trapped in a perilous situation. Tasked with a daunting mission, they must face the most shadowy aspects of their histories in order to survive and achieve their goals.
