The upcoming Thunderbolts film already has to deal with the fact that William Hurt's Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, who would have been the ideal leader for Marvel Comics' iconic squad, will not be appearing. Marvel Comics' long-running Thunderbolts, made up largely of repentant supervillains or morally grey heroes, is as prolific and unpredictable as the Avengers, with both leaders and members coming and going throughout the years. General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross founded one version of the Thunderbolts, and thus was a natural choice to command what is essentially the MCU's version of the Suicide Squad.
However, as actor William Hurt died on march 13, 2022 at the age of 71, it's uncertain whether Ross is still one of the MCU characters who could appear in Thunderbolts. Thaddeus Ross is one of the few surviving MCU Phase 1 characters with true Thunderbolts ties. In The Incredible Hulk, General Ross is the villain, but he is also the second person asked about the Avengers Initiative in a post-credits sequence. Ross presents the Sokovia Accords to the Avengers in Captain America: Civil War. Ross was last seen in Avengers: Endgame at Tony Stark's funeral.
Ross is a minor character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, yet he appears in some of the Avengers' most pivotal events. Ross transforms into red Hulk in Marvel Comics, and as a response to the Phoenix War, he establishes the Thunderbolts, a band that includes Venom, Deadpool, Punisher, Elektra, Ghost Rider, The leader, and Mercy. Following Avengers: Endgame, the MCU's Thunderbolts film would be the ideal chance to explore Ross' metamorphosis into red Hulk, continue professor Hulk's maturation, and add some much-anticipated anti-heroes to the franchise.
However, as actor William Hurt died on march 13, 2022 at the age of 71, it's uncertain whether Ross is still one of the MCU characters who could appear in Thunderbolts. Thaddeus Ross is one of the few surviving MCU Phase 1 characters with true Thunderbolts ties. In The Incredible Hulk, General Ross is the villain, but he is also the second person asked about the Avengers Initiative in a post-credits sequence. Ross presents the Sokovia Accords to the Avengers in Captain America: Civil War. Ross was last seen in Avengers: Endgame at Tony Stark's funeral.
Ross is a minor character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, yet he appears in some of the Avengers' most pivotal events. Ross transforms into red Hulk in Marvel Comics, and as a response to the Phoenix War, he establishes the Thunderbolts, a band that includes Venom, Deadpool, Punisher, Elektra, Ghost Rider, The leader, and Mercy. Following Avengers: Endgame, the MCU's Thunderbolts film would be the ideal chance to explore Ross' metamorphosis into red Hulk, continue professor Hulk's maturation, and add some much-anticipated anti-heroes to the franchise.
