The
Marvel Cinematic Universe
is back, and while it’s not like it ever really went away, the scores on the doors are praising Jake Schreier’s
Thunderbolts*
As one of the top Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films in recent times, it surpasses being merely the MCU’s response to the “Suicide Squad.” This motley crew of anti-heroes not only elevates their status but also solidifies their importance for the franchise’s upcoming narrative. The major twist involving actors like Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan further adds to this development.
Avengers: Doomsday
might have protected them with some Vibranium-level plot armor, which didn’t diminish the enjoyment.
Thunderbolts*
.
We were not particularly shocked to find out that
Olga Kurylenko’s Taskmaster
remained the only victim of
Thunderbolts*
, however, going ahead, there are queries regarding what lies in store for the Thunderbolts? The film’s enigmatic title has been disclosed as a temporary stand-in for ‘The New Avengers,’ yet as the
second post-credit scene
explained, that puts the former Thunderbolts at odds with the supposed New Avengers lineup of Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson. It’s clear that the Thunderbolts will continue in some form, and whether as the New Avengers or going back to their original team name, one character you might’ve missed can help us get closer to the Thunderbolts from the comics.
Songbird can Finally Sing
Even before
Thunderbolts*
Upon release, there was significant buzz around Geraldine Viswanathan’s character Mel. Playing as the underappreciated sidekick to Valentina Allegra de Fontaine portrayed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bucky Barnes, played by Stan, aimed to sway Mel away from Val and ensure that the mysterious leader of O.X.E. faces consequences for her actions.
Despite being a relatively minor part of the ensemble, eagle-eyed viewers noticed how Mel seemed to be wearing a songbird necklace in the trailers, throwing fuel on the fire that she’s actually Mel Gold. In the comics, Mel Gold was a supervillain known as Screaming Mimi, who was recruited by Helmut Zemo to join the Thunderbolts and took on the moniker of Songbird. Introduced in 1979’s
Marvel Two-In-One
#54, Melissa fled from her alcoholic father and found encouragement to join an all-women wrestling squad called the Grapplers.
We don’t get any of that backstory for the MCU’s ‘Mel’, but comic book Gold was sent on a mission by Roxxon Oil and given special apparatus that converted her voice into a high-frequency sonic blast similar to the X-Men’s Banshee. Having worked with Zemo as part of the Masters of Evil, Gold ditched her Screaming Mimi persona and joined the Thunderbolts alongside the OG roster. Despite there being no indication that Mel has any powers like Songbird in the comics, Val and O.X.E. tinkering away on
Bob Reynolds (Lewis Pullman)
For the Sentry Project, it implies that Mel could readily acquire her powers through this method. While some criticized the MCU for not presenting a more comics-true Thunderbolts team, similar to how James Gunn thrived with the second version of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Schreier’s Thunderbolts cast appears fitting once the end credits have played.
Still, the inclusion of Viswanathan as Songbird (if it is her) brings us closer to a potential Thunderbolts revamp that honors Zemo’s version. First arriving in the aftermath of the “Onslaught” and the “Heroes Reborn” events, the final pages of 1997’s
Thunderbolts
#1 revealed that the supposedly heroic team was actually a rebranded Masters of Evil that was comprised of Zemo, Fixer, Beetle Goliath, Moonstone, and Screaming Mimi.
Under the guise of ‘Citizen V’, Zemo led the team as it attempted to replace the fractured Avengers and gain access to their security clearances. The MCU’s Thunderbolts becoming the New Avengers could’ve played out this way, but aside from them being reformed during
Thunderbolts*
, the team will probably face the possibility of
Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom
to deal with.
As for the future of the Thunderbolts, many of the team members are yet to arrive in the MCU. Daniel Brühl’s Zemo has been MIA since
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
, but introducing Melissa Gold into the equation, the Thunderbolts might operate covertly. We can easily foresee an anticipated MCU twist where Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross escapes from the Raft and becomes part of the group. Indeed, Ross’ alter ego as the Red Hulk featured in the updated version of the team remains accurate.
Marvel NOW!
In the case of the Thunderbolts, much like how the MCU gradually introduced the initial Avengers across multiple standalone films, abruptly incorporating numerous unfamiliar characters alongside Zemo wouldn’t have seemed fitting. Some critics shared this view.
Thunderbolts*
mostly serving as a receptacle for characters from Captain America and Black Widow movies, this actually benefited the film positively.
The issue is, Viswanathan’s Mel hasn’t been officially named Mel Gold yet… at least not as of January 2025.
ScreenRant
coyly asked whether Viswanathan considered herself to be a ‘songbird’, with the star responding: “Never in my life have I heard something like that. Yeah. Oh, look what you’ve done. Now, I’m all nervous. In this film, in
You’re Cordially Invited
, I sing. I sing a song, but I’m not a bird. That’s right.”
Things have only amped up on the aftermath of
Thunderbolts*
, with
Buzzfeed
interviewing
Viswanathan and her giving the typical stock Marvel media training response when she told the outlet: “I really can’t say, or else I’ll be sniped, but all I can say is that… Hey! I would love to. I’m available, and this experience has been such a dream and I would love to do it again, if I could.”
Ayo Edebiri was originally cast to play Mel in
Thunderbolts*
before she was replaced by Viswanathan, and while she’s remaining tight-lipped on her presumed future as Songbird, we expect to see a lot more of her. Even though Viswanathan isn’t listed on the groaning
Avengers: Doomsday
cast list
, the reality being that nearly all of the
Thunderbolts*
Cast is part of the ensemble cast (aside from you, Taskmaster), which suggests that Mel is probably included. The conclusion is clear.
Thunderbolts*
neatly segues into
The Fantastic Four: Initial Moves
, which is set to propel the MCU into
Doomsday
Let’s hope Viswanathan possesses a strong set of lungs, as Songbird is a beloved character from the comics who appears poised to take flight within the MCU.
This article was initially published on Efwebeas
The way Thunderbolts’ Songbird teaser draws us nearer to a comics-true group is intriguing.
.