Various MCU enemies could Baron Zemo’s team of villains, the Thunderbolts, after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. In the comic books, Helmut Zemo is the founder of the Thunderbolts, as well as the leader of the 1980s incarnation of the Masters of Evil. Similar to his comic book counterpart, the MCU’s take on the classic Captain America villain could put together a group of super-powered criminals at some point in the future.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier ended with Baron Zemo (Daniel Brühl) being put behind bars, but this doesn’t mean his MCU story is over. After all, his impending imprisonment didn’t seem to change his attitude or disappoint him in the least. That could be because Zemo remains confident in his resources and abilities, and that his situation will soon change. If he does obtain his freedom, he could seek out like-minded allies and form a villain team, with the most likely option being the Thunderbolts. In the comics, he brought together Radioactive Man, Moonstone, Beetle, and a few more, and used them to fool the public into thinking that they were heroes. But in the end, his plan worked too well. They embraced their new heroic roles and turned their backs on Zemo.
If and when the MCU’s Zemo goes on the loose again, he could go a similar path. This direction was made possible when it was revealed that he possesses a great degree of wealth and the financial resources necessary for funding a team. As for who might be on his list of potential recruits, the MCU has no shortage of formidable villains he could turn to. Here are some of the characters who might become a part of Baron Zemo’s Thunderbolts lineup.
Batroc
Batroc the Leaper presumably died to a gunshot wound from Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier finale, but his death hasn’t been outright confirmed. If the MCU still has some use for him, it wouldn’t be difficult to engineer his return. As an experienced martial artist skilled enough in close combat to beat Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, the mercenary would be a solid choice for Zemo's Thunderbolts.
Scorpion
Scorpion gear, which was teased in Homecoming.
Swordsman
A key member of the Thunderbolts in Marvel Comics is Andreas von Strucker aka the Swordsman. This particular version of the sword-wielding villain isn’t around in the MCU, but the original character is confirmed to be on his way to Phase 4 and could be a good fit for the group. As his name implies, Swordsman is one of the most skilled sword-fighters in the Marvel Universe. In the comic books, he was also Hawkeye’s mentor, a supervillain, and an Avenger. In Disney+’s Zemo’s Thunderbolts team. But of course, that would all depend on how his character is utilized and if he survives the events of the series. If Swordsman is still alive after the show ends, Marvel could find a new place for him in the MCU by moving him to a Thunderbolts project.
Abomination
Abomination (Tim Roth) has been off the radar since his first film appearance in 2008’s recreation of the super soldier serum. Baron Zemo has made no secret of how he feels about super soldiers, so it’s quite possible that he might on recruiting Emil Blonsky. That being said, Zemo might put his reservations aside and go after him anyway, especially if he’s in need of the muscle.
Ghost
Ghost, who happens to be a longtime Thunderbolt in Marvel Comics, could be linked to the MCU’s interpretation of the team. Hannah John-Kamen’s character has been the subject of numerous Thunderbolts theories in the past, and whether or not she would actually work could be determined by what Zemo plans to do with them. Ant-Man and the Wasp made it clear that Ghost isn’t evil, so there is a limit to what she may be willing to do. But if Zemo’s Thunderbolts are more like anti-heroes than real villains, she could be convinced to up and use her phasing abilities to assist them in their missions.
Loki
Perhaps one of the most interesting candidates for the team would be Tom Hiddleston’s Loki. The main version is dead, but there’s a variant of him from a divergent timeline loose in the timestream somewhere. If his time travel exploits end after his Disney+ show, Marvel could strand him on present-day Earth and give him a group of fellow villains to fight alongside in the future. Loki may not be much of a team player, but that could be part of the fun. With his magical expertise, he’d certainly bring a lot to the table. That alone may be the reason why Baron Zemo would consider seeking him out.
Taskmaster
As a mercenary whose super power allows him to copy any move or skill he sees, Taskmaster would be a perfect addition to any villain team in the MCU. Reportedly, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s Val (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) was supposed to debut in Dark Avengers or for some other nefarious purpose, he could be recruited by Zemo for the Thunderbolts instead.
