Thunderbolts Could Set Up A Major World War Hulk Battle
Marvel Studios have been teasing a potential World War Hulk project, which could see another addition thanks to one gossiped character for Phase 5’s Thunderbolts. After Bruce Banner became Smart Hulk in Avengers: Endgame, many started to wonder whether the angry Hulk would return, but several teases in recent MCU projects have been indicating the development of a World War Hulk adaptation. The introduction of an MCU Illuminati team in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and the debuts of Sakaar and Hulk’s son, Skaar, in Thor: Ragnarok and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, respectively, have both been huge steps forward in hinting at World War Hulk.
As well as hints at a World War Hulk project, Marvel Studios has slowly been laying the foundations for the first team-up of the Thunderbolts in the MCU. The Phase 5 project will bring past villains and antiheroes from previous MCU projects, including Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, and Ghost, in a battle against an as yet undisclosed foe, though one Marvel Comics character has been creating a buzz as the possible adversary for the team’s first adventure. This legendary character could be a massive step forward in Marvel Studios’ teasing of a World War Hulk film, as he plays a huge part in the final moments of the epic comic run.
Sentry Is Rumored To Debut In Thunderbolts
Sentry art from a Marvel comic.
The Sentry is a remarkable character who debuted in Marvel Comics Marvel Knights miniseries. The powerful hero is imbued with the power of a million exploding suns. This story features Bob Reynolds, an average, middle-aged man that remembers one day when he used to be a superhero. He also suddenly realizes that his archenemy, the Void, is returning to wreak havoc, leading him on a journey to meet other iconic heroes and try and figure out why nobody remembers the Sentry. While this heroic character could seem like an odd choice as the Thunderbolt villain, he has an incredible secret that could make him the perfect fit.
It soon becomes clear that the Sentry and the Void are two halves of the same person, meaning Reynolds has the terrifying ability to switch between being a powerful hero and being a destructive villain. This would make him the perfect character to be pitted against the Thunderbolts in the MCU since each member of the team walks the fine line between hero and villain. Not only does Sentry’s debut in Thunderbolts make sense for that project, but it can also work to set up some major Marvel stories going forward, including World War Hulk.
Marvel Studios Have Been Hinting At World War Hulk
Marvel Studios has been dropping major hints for a potential World War Hulk project. Phase 3’s Thor: Ragnarok laid a lot of the groundwork for World War Hulk, especially in the introduction of Sakaar and the debuts of Korg and Miek, two characters who are involved in Marvel Comics’ Hulk’s “Warbound” team. Sakaar is where the Hulk finds himself banished by the Illuminati in Marvel Comics. While his storyline is slightly different in the MCU, having landed there after Avengers: Age of Ultron, this is still a hugely significant location.
Phase 4 fleshed out the Smart Hulk persona further, and while this might seem counterproductive for the raging Hulk that needs to be seen for World War Hulk, the Hulk who attacks Earth has a lot of intelligence, which means this is a good sign for the MCU. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law not only brought the Hulk back to Sakaar for a secret mission but also debuted the Hulk’s son, Skaar, who plays an important role in the World War Hulk event. It’s surely only a matter of time until an MCU World War Hulk project is announced, and Thunderbolts could actively help to put these wheels in motion.
Sentry Plays An Important Role In The World War Hulk Story
Hulk vs Sentry in a Marvel comic.
Sentry’s MCU introduction in Thunderbolts can set up one of World War Hulk’s most epic scenes since he and the Hulk battle in the final moments of the storyline. The Sentry’s incredible power makes him one of the few heroes strong enough to take on the super-powerful Hulk, leading to an epic battle between Bob Reynolds and Bruce Banner that levels New York City and leaves Banner back in his human form. While it’s the combined efforts of the Sentry and the Avengers that eventually bring down the Hulk, it’s this battle that marks the end of his rampage across the planet.
Seeing this battle play out in the live-action MCU would be the perfect end to a World War Hulk crossover project. The risk of a rampaging Hulk would certainly be an Avengers team-wide threat and would get almost every MCU hero involved in taking down the former hero, so ending the project in a cinematic battle between two supremely powerful characters would be the icing on the cake. By including Sentry in Thunderbolts, Marvel Studios will be one step closer to bringing that much-anticipated World War Hulk project to life.