Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts arrives in movie theatres on May 2. Ahead of the film's release, several trailers have been released to tease fans with what to expect and in this final trailer, we see a shadowy figure, looming over New York City, known as The Void. With Earth's Mightiest Heroes, The Avengers, away – the citizens of Earth must rely on a motley crew of anti-heroes to save the day.
The Thunderbolts, a newly formed team of villains and stand-in superheroes consisting of Florence Pugh (Black Widow); Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier); David Harbour (Red Guardian); Wyatt Russell (U.S. Agent); Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost); and Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster) must stop the sinister intent of The Void. Our anti-heroes are likely manipulated or coerced by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent and one-time Hydra double agent, portrayed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) to defend Earth's citizens.
What is The Void?
The Void is portrayed by Lewis Pullman and is the dark alter ego of Sentry – Marvel’s version of Superman. Pullman’s character (Robert "Bob" Reynolds) gained his powers by taking a government super-soldier formula known as the Golden Sentry Serum. The serum was more powerful than the serum that Captain America took, which gave Sentry Superman-like powers in addition to Photokinesis, Telepathy, Energy Manipulation, and the addition of a dark psyche that manifests itself in The Void.
With no text from Marvel Comics to date, to confirm or deny, there has been some fan theories that the serum was infused with an alien consciousness that is manifested in The Void. Although an interesting premise that could foster fascinating Marvel storylines, I suspect this theory will not play out in Thunderbolts*.
The Void is a malevolent entity capable of massive destruction on a cosmic level as well as powers of Regeneration, Telepathy, Shapeshifting, and more. The dichotomy of The Void’s villainy and Sentry’s heroics certainly should be ripe for some compelling storytelling in the MCU. In an interview with Extra TV on the red carpet at the L.A. premiere of Thunderbolts, Pullman said this about his role as Reynolds (The Void/Sentry):
“…I really relate to him in a lot of ways and he’s... very full of heart and full of um a lot of different complexities. You know, there’s he’s sort of a physicalization of many of the different shades of our own personalities that maybe we... don’t get to see personified. In this it’s great thematically to get to explore that…”
How could the MCU handle The Void
With Omega-level mutants and cosmic-level beings with almost limitless power all in play as we head into the MCU's future, there could be a power imbalance dynamic to be solved by Marvel Studios. To level the power imbalance, it would certainly not be feasible to always pit these super powered heroes against juggernaut villains the likes of: Molecule Man; Galactus; Mephisto, Chaos King; Null or the Shadow King. As of this writing, only Galactus (in the upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps) will be introduced in the MCU. Yet it's my theory we may see Molecule Man, in Avengers: Secret Wars, with his molecular level multiverse manipulating powers as an antagonist to tangle with the equally cosmic powered Marvel heroes.
Given Marvel Studios’ recent confirmation of the cast of Avengers: Doomsday featured Lewis Pullman’s name, the character of Sentry will likely play a big role in the movie. Reynolds as The Void in Thunderbolts, will most likely manifest his so-called Angel of Death-like powers but could that directly impact the events of Doomsday too? If so, Bob's' unstable psyche that unleashes The Void could be an uncontrollable albatross for the MCU. This is similar to the uncontrolled power of the Dark Phoenix that caused the X-Men movies (X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men: Dark Phoenix) to significantly water down her powers. When you consider that in Marvel comics, Dark Phoenix destroyed an ENTIRE populated solar system by observing the energy of its sun causing it to go supernova, it's clear that the movies struggled to capture that. Will the MCU have similar struggles with The Void?
The Void could be a similar entity, void of humanity and ethics that represents chaos and destruction - the opposite of his alter ego of Sentry who represents light, order, and heroics. In the Marvel Comics, The Void killed over a million people in Manhattan, and he destroyed Asgard in Broxton, Oklahoma. The Void's powers are as mysterious as they are lethal. With The Void joining the MCU, Marvel creators have a challenge on their hands with how to tame this dark cosmic-level entity with shadowy energy projections that can obliterate almost anything or anyone.
As The Void’s likely sole weakness is his psychic connection to Sentry, there may be a way to control his dark intentions. However, in Marvel Comics, it was Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic Four with Doctor Doom's help, who erased Sentry's memory, which nullified The Void. Understandably, a Mr. Fantastic/Dr. Doom team-up in Thunderbolts* is highly unlikely given the upcoming MCU releases. Certainly, an end credit cameo is not out of the question.
With that said, I suspect that Marvel creators will find a way for Sentry to control The Void, so that his the latter's incalculable destructive force may be used for good or at least just not for evil. In the interim I look forward to seeing the contrast of The Void and Sentry and how their opposing powers and personas impact storytelling in the MCU.