Eric Pearson, co-writer of Marvel’s upcoming Thunderbolts film alongside Joanna Calo, recently revealed in an interview that Baron Zemo and Kang the Conqueror were among the characters considered for early drafts of the movie’s post-credits scene.
Here’s the full detailed breakdown:
The Conceptual Phase and Rejected Ideas
As is common in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the early script drafts of Thunderbolts went through multiple revisions, and during this process, the creative team explored several ideas for possible cameo appearances or teases, especially for the post-credits scene — a staple of Marvel films used to build excitement for future projects.
Among those early concepts:
- Baron Zemo, a recurring villain in the MCU known for his mastermind tactics in Captain America: Civil War and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
- Kang the Conqueror, the time-traveling villain central to the Multiverse Saga, featured prominently in Loki and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Why Zemo and Kang Were Considered
- Baron Zemo: Given his anti-hero tone and connection to many Thunderbolts members, Zemo would have been a natural fit. In the comics, Zemo actually leads the original Thunderbolts team, so his inclusion would have deep comic roots.
- Kang the Conqueror: As Marvel continues to shape the narrative for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and the overall multiverse threat, Kang’s appearance would have helped tie the Thunderbolts into the broader MCU storyline.
Why These Ideas Were Rejected
While these ideas were explored creatively, they were ultimately scrapped during development. The reasons include:
- Tone management: The writers may have felt that including such major characters could overshadow the core Thunderbolts story.
- Timeline complications: Kang’s storyline is intricate and heavily tied into the multiverse saga, and it may have clashed with Thunderbolts’ more grounded tone.
- Pacing and cohesion: Marvel Studios often carefully times character appearances to maintain a narrative balance across films.
What This Tells Us
This detail from Eric Pearson suggests that Marvel is:
- Actively weaving connections between seemingly standalone projects and larger MCU arcs.
- Willing to explore bold concepts, even if they are later dropped.
- Committed to making sure character introductions or cameos feel earned, not forced.
