Was Baron Zemo ever supposed to appear in Thunderbolts? Director Jake Schreier reveals if the iconic villain ever made the cut for the team’s roster.
When Thunderbolts was first announced, fans were confused about the initial lineup. Multiple super soldiers, but absolutely zero comic mainstays like Baron Zemo or Red Hulk. Many thought this was Marvel playing coy about the line-up of the villain team. However, now days from release with the film getting a new director, it seems as though absolutely nothing has changed about the roster.
Some fans believe that this may be caused by the director change, with Jake Schreier cutting out cameos from MCU mainstays like Baron Zemo. Schreier himself was asked if the villain had ever been considered in previous drafts of the film. However, according to him, the character was never in a draft for Thunderbolts that he wrote or read.
“There was no version that I was presented with where that was ever true, from the first draft that I read,” Schreier told Dexerto. “There are like a few character shifts since then, but not so much, and Baron Zemo was not in there. I know some corners of the internet are not so happy about that.”
Why Is Thunderbolts So Different?
The exclusions of characters like Baron Zemo is reflective of what many call their chief issue with Thunderbolts: it strays way too far from the comics. It more feels like an original team of characters from the MCU than a true adaptation of the original work. And while director Jake Schreier understands these concerns, he hopes fans see the meaning beneath the surface.
“It’s funny because I know there’s other corners of the internet that wish that this was more that first run of Thunderbolts where it’s, you know, villains masquerading as heroes. And I think our movie is meant, in some ways, to kind of honor that idea, but coming at it from a different angle.”
Of course, despite these concerns, opinion seems to be shifting on Thunderbolts. The project has become one of the least anticipated in Marvel’s canon to potentially earning its budget back in its opening weekend. Most of that likely comes from the vision of Jake Schreier, who is known for crafting masterful dramas like Beef and Paper Towns.
Thunderbolts is currently set to hit theaters on May 2, 2025. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!
