Thunderbolts is perhaps the biggest film in Phase 5, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe first hinted at the titular team all the way back in Phase 2.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe may be dedicating much of Phase 5 to building up Thunderbolts, but one of the franchise’s earlier films hinted at the upcoming team of antiheroes over a decade ago. Beginning with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Phase 5 is an essential piece in the Multiverse Saga, making Marvel Studios’ choice to use Thunderbolts as its finale all the more intriguing. It is, therefore, inevitable that the Thunderbolts will play a massive role in the unfolding future of the MCU, but the team isn’t as new as the franchise makes it seem. In fact, the seeds for the Thunderbolts were laid as early as Phase 2.

The Thunderbolts are a misfit team of Marvel’s greatest antiheroes and reformed villains who will finally make their MCU debut in 2024 as the finale to Phase 5. So far, Marvel Studios has confirmed six members of the team’s debut lineup, including Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Yelena Belova, (Florence Pugh), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), Red Guardian (David Harbour), and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Although little is yet known about the team itself, including why exactly it was formed, Marvel has heavily indicated that its exploits will play a massive role in the future of the MCU, perhaps even beyond the Multiverse Saga.

Iron Man 3 Was The First MCU Movie To Hint At The Thunderbolts

Although the Thunderbolts could replace the Avengers, it was actually one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes who first hinted at the team’s introduction as far back as 2013’s Iron Man 3. The final installment of the Iron Man trilogy included a subplot in which James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) took up the mantle of Iron Patriot. As his new superhero alter-ego, Rhodey embarked on several missions on behalf of the United States government, although a very public incident involving Aldrich Killian led him to adopt the moniker of War Machine once more. Even so, the mere appearance of the Iron Patriot armor portends the coming of the Thunderbolts.

In the comics, Norman Osborn was the leader of the Thunderbolts, eventually adopting the moniker of Iron Patriot when the team replaced the Avengers after the 2008 Secret Invasion storyline. Although other Marvel characters have wielded the Iron Patriot suit, Osborn is perhaps its best-known user, turning his superhero alter-ego into a patriotic symbol that many citizens rallied behind before his true intentions were inevitably revealed. As a result of this storyline, the Iron Patriot has become synonymous not only with Osborn but also with the Thunderbolts and Dark Avengers, making Iron Man 3 much more important in the lead-up to the new team’s Marvel Cinematic Universe debut.

Iron Patriot Was The First Step In The Creation Of The Thunderbolts

Iron Patriot’s introduction was the MCU’s first hint at the Thunderbolts. Ever since Tony Stark created his first Iron Man suit, everyone else, including the United States government, has been hard at work to create superheroes for their own personal use. An early scene in Iron Man 2 confirms this notion, with Tony hacking several government databases to prove that even the United States was attempting to replicate his technology for themselves. Rhodey’s tenure as the War Machine and Iron Patriot temporarily quelled the government’s desperation for its own heroes but also kickstarted a trend that would culminate with the creation of the Thunderbolts in the MCU.

Throughout the Infinity Saga, the United States government has made it clear that it is not in full support of the Avengers. The recently repealed Sokovia Accords stifled the Avengers, attempting to bring Earth’s Mightiest Heroes under the complete control of the world government. Although the Accords themselves failed to generate government-sanctioned superheroes on a permanent basis, they do reveal a repeated interest on the United States’ behalf to have a superhero team of its own, one more willing to follow orders than the Avengers. If the Avengers weren’t willing to change themselves to fit this description, then a new team of superpowered individuals would have to be created instead.

The Iron Patriot was the first government-sanctioned superhero in the modern age of the MCU, but he is far from the last. The United States attempted to choose John Walker as the new Captain America after Steve Rogers retired, knowing that he had a better chance of following orders than Rogers’ appointed successor, Sam Wilson. After Walker brutally murdered a helpless Flag Smasher in public, the government made a show of removing his title and accolades but still made sure that he was recruited to a shadowy secret project in the aftermath. After all, Walker had taken the super-soldier serum and had therefore become far more valuable to them.

The Thunderbolts is the culmination of the United States government’s efforts to create its own superhero team. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever revealed Val, the leader of the Thunderbolts, to be the new director of the CIA. As the “new Nick Fury” of the MCU, Val gives the Thunderbolts legitimacy, implying that the team is fully sanctioned by the government and intended to appease the country’s interests. Iron Patriot may have been the first of many government-issued superheroes, but he would be far from the last, as his career was integral to the inception and creation of the United States’ new replacement for the Avengers.

Why The Government Needs Its Own Superhero Team

The United States government needs its own superhero team after its rocky relationship with the Avengers. From their very first mission, the Avengers proved that they were an unruly group that was more than willing to disobey orders if they deemed it necessary. The Sokovia Accords kept the MCU’s heroes in line for a short period of time, but the Avengers’ heroism in Infinity War and Endgame made it nearly impossible for the government to persecute them for breaking the law. It has become abundantly clear that the government cannot control the Avengers and certainly can’t get rid of them. Instead, they need their own team to replace the Avengers.

As early as 2013, the government has been slowly building up its reserve of heroes and antiheroes who are more willing to obey orders than the Avengers. While Rhodey can no longer be counted among these ranks following his actions in Infinity War, there are plenty of other characters to take his place. The Thunderbolts will differ from the Avengers in that they’re unlikely to disobey orders, making it easier for the government to further its political agenda on a worldwide scale. As the sanctioned Avengers, the Thunderbolts are the government’s best chance at gaining power in an increasingly unpredictable world.

Will Iron Patriot Be A Part Of The Thunderbolts?

Iron Patriot’s connection to the Thunderbolts lends itself to theories that the superhero could return as a member of the team. The comic book inspiration for the MCU’s version of the team suggests that Iron Patriot could very well become the leader of the Thunderbolts, though nothing of the sort has been confirmed by Marvel Studios. Although the MCU is restoring War Machine’s original position as a representative of the United States, it seems unlikely that Rhodey would accept a place on the Thunderbolts. Rhodey’s character arc instead seems to be leading away from superhero activities but leaves the mantle of Iron Patriot open to be filled by someone else.

The Iron Patriot armor has been worn by several popular Marvel characters over the years, including Sharon Carter. Carter’s mysterious phone call at the end of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, in conjunction with her history in the CIA, perfectly aligns her with Val’s Thunderbolts initiative, making her a likely candidate for the new Iron Patriot. However, she is far from the only character who could fill this mantle. Norman Osborn could make his MCU debut as the Iron Patriot, fulfilling his comic book arc and setting up a Dark Reign storyline. If this proves to be the case, Thunderbolts will change the political landscape of the MCU forever.