Summary

• Thunderbolts* will bring back Hannah John-Kamen's Ghost, despite previous rumors of her departure from the project.
• Ghost has more potential to shine in the MCU with her complex experiences and unique abilities yet to be explored.
• Concerns about Ghost being underutilized in Thunderbolts* are valid, but previous MCU corrections offer some hope for her future redemption.

In 2025, Thunderbolts* will provide a team origin and promises to be an exciting event in the MCU. However, due to the large cast, there is worry that Ghost, already a victim of being sidelined as the antagonist in Ant-Man and the Wasp, will again not have sufficient time to shine in Thunderbolts*.

Appearing beside Marvel's incredible Thunderbolts* cast of celebrated and iconic performers that features Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, it is reasonable to be concerned about room for any other actor to shine. Still, Hannah John-Kamen has proven herself an excellent performer with much to offer following her rise to prominence on the Canadian science-fiction series Killjoys. With a set of powers that are especially effective onscreen, seeing how Ghost is utilized in the team-up feature will be interesting.

Ghost Has Way More Potential Than Ant-Man & The Wasp Ever Let Show

Much Of The Original Character Is Yet To Be Explored

There is much to redeem in Ghost's next appearance, and there is reason for audiences to be concerned. While Ant-Man and the Wasp gave a backstory to Ghost, the character in the comic books is more mysterious. Introduced in Iron Man comics in 1987, the terrifying apparition of Ghost has never revealed his identity, though notably, the character has traditionally been portrayed as male. With the ability to phase in and out of space or turn himself and the objects he touches intangible, Ghost has primarily functioned as an Iron Man villain, appearing in comics and animated series since 1987.

Following gender swaps like Tilda Swinton's The Ancient One in Doctor Strange, Ghost was changed in Ant-Man and the Wasp to a female character and given the alter ego of Ava Starr. While the haunting introduction of this character in the film during a fight scene with The Wasp is effective, this impact does not last as we are quickly shown Ghost's inconsistent phasing and poor health. In quickly doing away with the mystery of the character to show vulnerability, the fear that Ghost inspires is undercut in deference to sympathetic character moments that only partially work.

Ghost Is A Perfect Antihero For The MCU

Complex Experiences Can Create Unique Moral Codes

Played by such an effective performer, Ghost could be an excellent recurring force in the MCU. Ethically, the character is set up to be an excellent member of the Thunderbolts team, as while young, Ava Starr was largely exploited for her powers by S.H.I.E.L.D. This use drained her of quantum power, and it was only through the assistance of Goliath, played by Laurence Fishburne, that she could restore some of her health. For this iteration of Ghost, helping the heroes has been detrimental to her health, and crime has been the only way for her to survive.

The MCU has explored themes about trusting authority and the institutions that power it. This was effectively done in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, where HYDRA took over S.H.I.E.L.D. from the shadows. Captain America: Civil War followed this pattern by introducing divides between heroes based on ideological connections to those institutions. Exploring gray areas in morality and the connection of heroes and villains to them has been paramount to the success of Marvel stories. Seeing these concerns addressed by an antihero like Ghost could be effective for future Marvel stories in this vein.

MCU's Team Track Record Means Ghost May End Up Just Being A Wasted Character All Over Again

It Will Be Difficult For Any Performer To Stand Out In Thunderbolts*

There are too many great stars in Thunderbolts*, which will likely mean that at least some will wind up underserved by the film. Considering the MCU's track record with ensembles, there will always be a focus on some characters, and others will always be left behind. Just as Scarlet Witch was underserved by the MCU for so long before WandaVision, or how Black Widow was a background, ing player relegated to an unsettling romance in Age of Ultron, there appears a pattern of strong female characters being underutilized in the MCU.

While the rumors of John-Kamen not being a part of the film were dismissed, the fact that these rumors circulated speaks to Ghost's likely place in the project. Unless these reports were an outright lie, conversations about removing the character from the film likely occurred. Consequentially, Ghost's role in the film may be small. This would not be reassuring after the character was left underdeveloped in her previous appearance, but it would follow the pattern set by the MCU. Fortunately, if this were to occur, that pattern would yield a redeeming solo film or series for Ghost many years later.

The Thunderbolts have been a Marvel Comics team since 1997. They were named for Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, played in the MCU by the late William Hurt. Harrison Ford will replace Hurt in the role beginning in Captain America: Brave New World.

There is reason to believe that Hannah John-Kamen's Ghost will be underutilized in the Thunderbolts*, but there is some reason to be optimistic. The MCU franchise has gone out of its way in the past to correct or revitalize perceived mistakes or disappointments, such as in revisiting scenes from Thor: The Dark World in Avengers: Endgame. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a growing, evolving, self-aware franchise that only persists by telling great stories built to satisfy audiences. Despite valid concerns about Ghost in Thunderbolts*, it is still worth having some faith that Marvel will not let their audience down.