Eagle-eyed viewers have spotted a small detail in a new preview for Marvel Studios’Thunderboltsthat might support the theory that a classic Thunderbolts member and an iconic Marvel Comics villain-turned-hero will be debuting in theMCU.Thunderboltsis only two weeks away from hitting theaters, and recent trailers and teasers have raised anticipation for the Phase 5 crossover that will bring together reformed villains and antiheroes from the MCU’s history. As well as bringing back several MCU veterans, however,Thunderbolts*impressive castalso includes some exciting new additions.
While it was fairly easy to surmise the identity ofLewis Pullman’s newThunderboltscharacter - with theTop Gun: Maverickstar set to debut as Robert Reynolds' Sentry - working out other new cast members' characters has been more difficult. This includes new characters played by Wendell Pierce, Chris Bauer andGeraldine Viswanathan, who replaced Ayo Edebiri following her departure from the movie in January 2024. During an interview at last year’s SDCC,Viswanathan revealed herThunderboltscharacter to be named “Mel”, which spurred major theories that might have just been supported.
Geraldine Viswanathan’s “Mel” Wears A Bird Necklace In New Thunderbolts* Footage
“Mel” Is Valentina’s Right-Hand-Man In Thunderbolts*
With the release ofThunderboltscoming up imminently, Marvel Studios has upped the movie’s marketing, releasing new previews and teasers almost daily. On April 12, a new teaser released byMarvel Studiosincluded new footage of Geraldine Viswanathan’sThunderboltscharacter, which has caused a new wave of speculation about who she might be playing. TheMiracle Workersstar can be seen on the phone, perhaps with Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, to whom she is a right-hand-man, butit’s Viswanathan’s choice of accessory that has caught viewers' eyes.
Viswanathan’s “Mel” can be seen wearing a necklace with a bird-shaped pendant in this new preview forThunderbolts*. Despite bearing a resemblance to the mockingbird emblem fromThe Hunger Gamesfranchise,this necklace could also be hinting at what Marvel Comics character Geraldine Viswanathan might be about to bring to life inThunderbolts*, and it could be game-changing for the MCU. “Mel” could indeed by harking back to the Thunderbolts team’s Marvel Comics history in the Phase 5 movie, and could be teasing a bright future for her new character in the MCU.
Mel’s Necklace Supports Theories She Is The MCU’s Songbird
Geraldine Viswanathan’s “Mel” Could Be Melissa Gold, A.K.A. Songbird
The fact thatGeraldine Viswanathan wears a bird pendant inThunderbolts*has spurred new theories suggesting she could be playing the MCU’s Songbird, a.k.a. Melissa Gold. This theory first emerged after she revealed her character to be named “Mel,” short for Melissa Gold, similarly to how Lewis Pullman’s “Bob” is a shortened version of Robert Reynolds. Originally known as Screaming Mimi, the cybernetically enhanced villain-turned-hero debuted in Marvel Comics in 1979’sMarvel Two-in-One #54and was later featured as an original member of the Thunderbolts team.
Marvel Comics' first Thunderbolts team actually comprised Baron Helmut Zemo’s Masters of Evil disguised as heroes to fill the void left by the Avengers following their presumed deaths.Pretending to act out heroic deeds, however, actually convinced most of the Thunderbolts' members to leave their criminal pasts and become heroes, so Melissa Gold’s Screaming Mimi transformed into the hero Songbird, with sonic-blast and sound-constructing abilities. Over the years, Songbird has been a centralmember of many Thunderbolts line-ups, so it would be fantastic to see her debut in the MCU’sThunderbolts*movie.
Why Songbird’s Debut In Thunderbolts* Would Be So Great For The MCU
Songbird’s Debut Would Solidify The Thunderbolts' MCU Future
While the exact nature of Geraldine Viswanathan’s MCU role still hasn’t been confirmed, andit’s very possible she could be Melissa Gold in name only, it would still be incredible to see her become the MCU’s Songbird somewhere down the line. In Marvel Comics, Gold was affiliated briefly with SHIELD, but never with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine as Viswanathan’s “Mel” is inThunderbolts*, so Marvel Studios could take the character in a very different direction. However, Melissa Gold’s debut could also hint at Thunderbolts teams to come, solidifying the team’s MCU future.
The first line-up of Thunderbolts in the MCU caused a stir when announced back in 2022, as there are several iconicmembers from Marvel Comics and possible members in the MCUthat have seemingly been ignored. However,if Songbird debuts inThunderbolts*, future iterations could be teased, which may include the likes of the Red Hulk, the Abomination, Zemo and more. Viswanathan has a lot of energy as a performer, so it would be brilliant to see her get comic-accurate powers as Songbird inThunderbolts*, and we don’t have to wait long to see if this comes to fruition.
