Warning: This post contains SPOILERS for She-Hulk episode 2!

Marvel continues its Thunderbolts movie setup thanks to She-Hulk: Attorney At Law exploring Abomination's parole. After years of speculation that the Marvel Cinematic Universe could assemble a team of supervillains and anti-heroes, the movement towards the Thunderbolts really started to take form in Phase 4. Prior hopes of such a team continued to be squashed by Marvel killing its best villains, but the MCU has made a point not to make this mistake again as the Multiverse Saga begins. Abomination's return in She-Hulk was always thought to be a good sign of his potential involvement, which looks all the more likely now.

The MCU has not so quietly been building up a potential Thunderbolts team in Phase 4. Just as many projects have introduced likely Young Avengers members, the rising number of anti-heroes and Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine recruiting U.S. Agent and Yelena Belova directly pointed to Thunderbolts. Marvel Studios officially confirmed that this was their intention at San Diego Comic-Con 2022. The Multiverse Saga slate included announcing a Thunderbolts movie for a 2024 release date directed by Jake Schreier and written by Black Widow's Eric Pearson. The confirmation reignited various debates about how the Thunderbolts will work in the MCU, while it also made Marvel's efforts to set up the team more noteworthy.

Related: Is The MCU Setting Up A Planet Hulk Movie?!

U.S. Agent and Yelena Belova will not be the only ones involved in Valentina's Thunderbolts team. Abomination joins other MCU villains like Baron Zemo, Ghost, and Taskmaster as possible Thunderbolts members. She-Hulk's use of Abomination and how it pushes his story forward could fit perfectly with the MCU's Thunderbolts setup. And by exploring Emil Blonsky's life, Marvel might also be teasing how they will make audiences care about these villains while still making them a danger to the MCU.

Abomination's Parole Sets Up His Thunderbolts Role

Abomination Human Emil Blonsky In She-Hulk SR

The MCU is not wasting time using She-Hulk to set up Abomination's role in the Thunderbolts movie. Emil Blonsky has spent the last decade in prison under the watch of the US Army, SHIELD, and Damage Control, but he is still up for parole in She-Hulk. This is due to his reported good behavior while incarcerated. Abomination's parole has yet to be granted in She-Hulk, but with a talented lawyer like Jennifer Walters on his side (and using some marketing footage), it seems likely. Without knowing the conditions that could grant Blonsky his freedom, a role with the Thunderbolts may be tied to Abomination's parole.

There has long been a debate about how the MCU will adapt the Thunderbolts concept. While the original comics had the villains pose as heroes under new names, that trick might not work for a movie or in the MCU setting. Instead, the Thunderbolts movie could revolve around a government-controlled team of super-powered individuals (similar to DC's Suicide Squad). This approach could mean Abomination's parole will be granted under the stipulation that he will sign up to be part of the Thunderbolts. She-Hulk is sure to remind viewers that Blonsky already acted on behalf of the US government in The Incredible Hulk, so he could agree to do the same for Thunderbolts if it means he will not return to prison. Then again, Abomination's parole alone being granted opens the door for him to possibly join the Thunderbolts of his own free will - perhaps even to help make amends for his past actions.

Marvel Is Already Making The Thunderbolts Sympathetic

Thunderbolts movie US agent Yelena Abomination

It is also notable that the rationale for Abomination's parole could be Marvel's way of making the Thunderbolts a sympathetic group. Emil Blonsky emotionally explains to Jennifer in She-Hulk episode 2 that he thought he was the hero during The Incredible Hulk. He rightfully points out that he was under direct orders from the government to go after Hulk, even though he left out the part that it was his decision alone to become Abomination. Still, the emotional manipulation of Abomination's life worked. Viewers will likely feel sympathy for him ahead of a potential Thunderbolts return. Based on this example, it is easy to see how the MCU could make Abomination's Thunderbolts teammates just as sympathetic. John Walker was pumped full of super soldier serum and rushed into action, while Yelena Belova, Taskmaster, and Ghost all have backstories involving being used as a weapon. If Marvel applies a similarly sympathetic framing to the Thunderbolts movie roster as Abomination gets in She-Hulk episode 2, audiences will have an easier time rooting for them - depending on their mission.

Related: Weird MCU Theory Reveals How Captain America Can Lead The Thunderbolts

MCU's Thunderbolts Team Could Hunt The Avengers

Who will lead Thunderbolts?

The big potential Thunderbolts twist set up by Abomination's parole attempt is that the villain team could be tasked with hunting the Avengers. The US government has long attempted to control superheroes, with attempts made to control Iron Man's suits, oversee the Avengers' missions, and form the Sokovia Accords. She-Hulk: Attorney At Law reminding audiences that Blonsky is also technically part of this history could be teasing the Thunderbolts as the legal version of the Avengers. With Damage Control potentially in control of the team, the Thunderbolts could sign the Sokovia Accords. This would then frame the Avengers as "villains" to the public for refusing to follow the law, making them the potential villain of a Thunderbolts movie.

New episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law release on Thursdays on Disney+.

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