Multiple Marvel Comics heroes and villains are candidates for Ayo Edebiri's mystery character in Thunderbolts. Known for her series regular role in Hulu's The Bear show, Edebiri has been cast in the Phase 5 movie. For now, the identity of her character is open to speculation.
Thunderbolts already has a stacked cast of MCU fan favorites, but there's obviously plenty of room for extra additions. Marvel's initial cast announcement only included returning characters and didn't hint at who the villain would be. Any new character the movie adds to the MCU may not be delved into until later. Apparently, one of these new faces will be portrayed by Edebiri. As for what that will be, that remains to be seen. Of course, the prospect of her playing someone completely new shouldn't be ruled out, but at the same time, there's no shortage of characters in Marvel's library she could be playing instead. Here are five of the most plausible choices for Edebiri's MCU character in Thunderbolts.
5 Moonstone
One of the most notable female villains in Marvel Comics still missing from the MCU, Karla Sofen a.k.a. Moonstone is a prominent member of the Thunderbolts. Originally introduced as an evil scientist in the employ of Doctor Faustus in Captain America comics, Karla eventually got her hands on a Kree artifact and used is to become the super-powered Moonstone. Known for her manipulative and cold-blooded personality, Moonstone battled the Avengers for years before briefly reforming and serving as a member of Hawkeye's Thunderbolts team. In later years, she impersonated Carol Danvers by using her Ms. Marvel identity and has since evolved into a major Captain Marvel villain.
Due to her deep Captain Marvel connections, Moonstone is a character who could easily appear first in The Marvels as a character for Carol, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan to fight. If not, Thunderbolts can introduce her through Ayo Adeberi and potentially set her up as a future rival to Brie Larson's character in Captain Marvel 3. If she were to be on the MCU's first Thunderbolts lineup before a possible fight with Carol Danvers, her inclusion would add a great deal of muscle to a group that's currently lacking in raw power. Alternatively, Moonstone could work as the villain of the movie.
4 Songbird
Songbird is a character many expected to see on the official lineup before the cast was announced. If Marvel intends to fill out the roster with any characters whose stories aren't rooted in previous MCU installments, Songbird would be the most likely option for this role. After all, she's a staple of Thunderbolts comics and a mainstay of the team. Distinguished by her pink and white hair, Songbird got her start as Screaming Mimi, an Avengers villain armed with a potent, sonic scream power. Her popularity surged after Marvel reinvented the Screaming Mini as Songbird and began depicting her as more of an anti-hero than a true villain. If included, Songbird would add some diversity to the film in of the skills and abilities the heroes bring to the table in Thunderbolts.
3 Black Mamba
Marvel's decision to incorporate characters like Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine and Red Guardian proves that the studio is willing to look beyond Thunderbolts comics when putting together its cast for the movie. One Marvel character with no link to the Thunderbolts who would make a lot of sense for the story is Tanya Sealy. Beginning in the 1980s, Tanya was utilized as a member of the Serpent Society, a snake-themed team of Captain America villains. As Black Mamba, she could channel a black form energy called Darkforce. Darkforce played roles in Cloak & Dagger, but has yet to appear in the MCU proper.
Bringing in Ayo Edebiri as Black Mamba would be a solid choice for Marvel's Thunderbolts movie. Black Mamba's morally ambiguous nature made her a character whom readers never knew what side she was really on. She was technically a villain, yet she had a tendency to betray her allies on a whim and help Captain America. Her actions showed she had the potential for good, though she never went as far as to become a full-fledged superhero. This element of her character could lend itself well to a live-action Thunderbolts story and add some mystery to her motivations.
2 Yellowjacket II
Ghost may not be Thunderbolts' only Ant-Man connection. A second link to his corner of the MCU - and one that could tie in with Ghost's Thunderbolts story - could come in the form of Rita DeMara. After debuting in Avengers comics as an assistant to Hank Pym, Rita stole some of his equipment and became the second incarnation of the Yellowjacket. The early portion of her arc saw her use Hank's tech for her criminal activities, but later developments sent her down a better path. The comic version went to outer space and ed Vance Astro's Guardians of the Galaxy team, whereas an MCU interpretation of the character could the Thunderbolts instead.
Not unlike the situation with Black Mamba, the second Yellowjacket was never a Thunderbolt, but her status as a villain-turned-hero makes her a natural fit for a movie built around characters with similar backstories. If Edebiri plays Rita DeMara, she could make for an interesting addition to the Thunderbolts lineup while also helping Marvel continue Hank Pym's legacy in the MCU beyond Ant-Man and the Wasp.
1 Dallas Riordan
Although a relatively unknown superhero in Marvel Comics, the second character to carry the Citizen V mantle is one of the strongest candidates for Adebiri's role in Thunderbolts. Featured almost exclusively in Thunderbolts comics, Dallas Riordan came onto the scene as New York City mayor's office's official liaison to the Thunderbolts team. In her earliest stories, she was portrayed as a seemingly normal woman who worked with the Thunderbolts behind-the-scenes. Later on, Marvel made significant changes to Dallas' character by turning her into Citizen V, thus allowing her to act as a proper superhero and an active Thunderbolt member in the Marvel Universe. Before Dallas, the Citizen V identity had belonged only to Baron Zemo.
A non-powered character like Dallas would give Thunderbolts a relatable protagonist that can act as a window into the stories of these characters and offer a fresh new perspective on them. Edebiri's performance in The Bear shows how her comedic chops could be used to make the MCU's take on Dallas Riordan a likable addition to the Thunderbolts cast.
