Not all heroes wear capes — some wear scars. In the ever-evolving Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Thunderbolts emerge not as symbols of virtue, but as testaments to redemption. They are assassins, super-soldiers, and former enemies of the state — people burdened by their pasts but now fighting for something greater than themselves. Unlike the Avengers,
this team isn’t about perfection. It’s about second chances. Assembled by the enigmatic Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, the Thunderbolts take on the missions no one else will, walking the thin line between heroism and vengeance. Let’s dive into the detailed backstories of each member and explore how they’re now playing the role of unlikely heroes.
Here is a detailed breakdown of each main Thunderbolts character’s backstory in the MCU version (as appearing in Thunderbolts, releasing in 2025), based on existing Marvel films and series:
Meet the Thunderbolts: Every Member and Their Superpowers
🔴 1. Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh)
Backstory:
- Introduced in Black Widow (2021).
- A former Red Room-trained assassin and the adoptive sister of Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow).
- Spent her youth in a fake undercover family while in Ohio, USA.
- Grew up in Russia, trained in brutal combat and espionage.
- After the Red Room’s fall, she freed fellow Widows from mind control.
- Recruited by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine after Natasha’s death.
- Tried to kill Clint Barton (Hawkeye), believing he caused Natasha’s death (Hawkeye series).
- She is emotionally vulnerable but deadly efficient.
🟣 2. Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan)
Backstory:
- Best friend of Steve Rogers (Captain America).
- Brainwashed by HYDRA after WWII and turned into the Winter Soldier, an elite assassin.
- Had a metal arm and was cryogenically frozen between missions.
- Responsible for numerous political assassinations (including Tony Stark’s parents).
- Deprogrammed by Wakandans and healed mentally.
- Tried to make amends in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
- Has a dark past, but fights for redemption.
- Acts as a moral center in the Thunderbolts.
🔵 3. John Walker / U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell)
Backstory:
- Decorated soldier, chosen by the U.S. government to replace Steve Rogers as Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
- Struggled under pressure, eventually took the super-soldier serum.
- Publicly executed a Flag Smasher in front of the world, leading to his dismissal.
- Given a second chance by Valentina as U.S. Agent — a darker, government-controlled Cap.
- Has anger issues but wants to do good, often crossing moral lines.
🟢 4. Red Guardian / Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour)
Backstory:
- The Soviet Union’s version of Captain America.
- Super-soldier with enhanced strength but far less refined.
- Served as the fake father to Yelena and Natasha during their American cover mission.
- Boastful, comedic, and seeks glory — but also wants redemption.
- Spent years in prison after the fall of the USSR and has a strained relationship with his “daughters.”
⚫ 5. Ghost / Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kamen)
Backstory:
- Introduced in Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018).
- Exposed to quantum energy as a child in a failed experiment; gained phasing abilities.
- Suffers from constant pain due to quantum instability.
- Raised and used by S.H.I.E.L.D. as a weapon.
- Tried to find a cure with her mentor Bill Foster; eventually spared by Scott and Hope.
- Her powers are unstable, and she’s likely being controlled or offered help by Valentina.
- A wildcard, often on the edge of trustworthiness.
🟠 6. Taskmaster / Antonia Dreykov (Olga Kurylenko)
Backstory:
- Appeared in Black Widow (2021).
- Daughter of General Dreykov, leader of the Red Room.
- Thought dead after Natasha’s attempt to assassinate Dreykov.
- Was secretly kept alive and turned into the Taskmaster, a brainwashed weapon.
- Has photographic reflexes—can mimic any fighting style she sees.
- Freed from mind control at the end of Black Widow.
- Still traumatized and recovering her identity and emotions.
⚪ 7. Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) – Team Organizer
Backstory:
- First seen recruiting John Walker in TFATWS and Yelena in Black Widow.
- A mysterious government agent—possibly with links to the CIA or a secretive new U.S. agency.
- Pulling the strings behind the scenes, forming a black-ops team of morally gray superheroes.
- Plays a role similar to Nick Fury, but with a more manipulative and morally flexible agenda.
Despite their broken pasts and checkered histories, each member of the Thunderbolts stands as a symbol of redemption, resilience, and reluctant heroism. They aren’t shining icons like the Avengers—but that’s what makes them real. Their scars tell stories, and their struggles make them relatable. Whether it’s Yelena’s search for truth, Bucky’s fight for forgiveness, or Ghost’s quest for peace, these flawed figures now walk a path that, while dark at times, leads toward the light. In a world that often blurs the lines between right and wrong, the Thunderbolts remind us that anyone—no matter how lost—can choose to be a hero.
