Thunderbolt Ross could replace Norman Osborn in theMarvel Cinematic Universe ’s Phase 5 , play a key role in a classical Avengers story . Originally played by the late William Hurt , Thaddeus " Thunderbolt " Ross is a definitive enemy of the Hulk who ’s become increasingly important in the MCU.Harrison Ford will be meet Ross in Phase 5 , seem in the upcomingCaptain America : New World Order . The gamey - profile swan decision surely means he ’s set to be a major power player in the MCU going forward .

It ’s sensible to assume Ross will be an resister inCaptain America : New World Order . This is in keeping with Ross ' enactment inThe Incredible Hulk , Captain America : Civil War , and evenBlack Widow . In the first moving-picture show , Ross was responsible for for the super - soldier experiments that created the Hulk ; in the last two , he was the one who oversee the controversial Sokovia Accords . There have been dogged rumor he ’ll have lift to new heights inCaptain America : New World Order , though , becoming president of the United States . This bring up the possibility Marvel is telling a classical account from the comics - the " Dark Reign " epic , in whichSpider - Man foeman Norman Osborn ( the Green Goblin)became one of the most important hoi polloi in the Marvel Universe .

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Gorr at the Altar of Eternity in Thor Love and Thunder

Thunderbolt Ross Isn’t President In Marvel’s Secret Invasion Disney+ Series

It ’s first important to note that Thunderbolt Ross is n’t president of the United States in Phase 4 . Rather , Black Panther : Wakanda Forevercontained several nod to President Ritson , with Dermot Mulroney confirm to be play the fictitious character in the approaching Disney+ TV seriesSecret Invasion . Ritson is sail a very dissimilar geopolitical context , pursue a trade wind deal with New Asgard while take a far more belligerent approach towards Wakanda . placed photos fromSecret Invasionfeatured a newspaper confirm President Ritson would journey to the U.K. to enter in emergency talks " amid unprecedented tenseness . " It ’s reasonable to put on these stress have been inflamed bySkrull sleeper cells , who are conduct a covert intrusion in an discharge reverse straight from the comics .

In spite of several year of excellent build - up , theSecret Invasioncomic Christian Bible event was actually quite underwhelming ; it swiftly devolved into a stock superhero brawl . It ’s best remembered for a major modulation of top executive , with SHIELD Bos Maria Hill disgraced and replaced by the hero of the hour , Norman Osborn . Something like could easily happen in the MCU , with President Ritson ’s presidency bring to an abrupt end - either because he is a Skrull sleeper federal agent himself , or because he is targeted and kill by the Skrulls . The first possibility is a enchanting one , given the Skrulls would naturally want to supersede high - value aim , but theSecret Invasiontrailerhints at the second - with shots of what seems to be a presidential motorcade under blast . Ross could be Ritson ’s surrogate ; a most likely scenario is that Ross is already Ritson ’s frailty - president , explaining his post - Sokovia Accords role and also fitting with some of the more doubtful U.S. government decisions in Phase 4 , typified through the organization called Damage Control .

The MCU’s Phase 5 Could Be Thunderbolt Ross' “Dark Reign”

In the comics , Secret Invasionled to one of the most interesting epoch in Marvel Comics history . The next year ’s worth of cartoon strip were collectively live asDark Reign , with almost every book existing in the fantasm of Norman Osborn and the superhero teams he command , notably theThunderbolts and the Dark Avengers . The same could be true for Thunderbolt Ross and the MCU ’s Phase 5 - an thought that fit amazingly well with the upcoming slate . Secret Invasionis confirmed to release in Spring 2023 , and the new status quo could then be explored on the big screen inCaptain America 4- utterly explaining why that moving-picture show has the deed " New World Order . “Captain America 4could sport characters who are resisting Ross ' presidential term , just as the Avengers resisted Norman Osborn ’s Dark Reign in the comedian .

This tale would involve to be carefully plow , of course . In the comic strip , Norman Osborn was plainly creditworthy for patrol America ’s superhumans ; the MCU version would literally be dealing with the U.S. chairwoman . Thunderbolt Ross would naturally have a democratic mandate , meaning Sam Wilson and his Avengers would be taking a very dangerous decision indeed if they did essay to overthrow or unseat him in some way . The MCU ’s Sokovia Accordswere essentially an attack to found a system of answerableness for the Avengers , and this would once again levy the barbed doubt of what right hand the Avengers have to take one-sided natural process against the sitting chairwoman . The Avengers are tread on serious ground .

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Halle Berry as Catwoman crouching on a fire escape in Catwoman

How Will Thunderbolt Ross' Dark Reign End?

Ross ' ascension would even agree with thebuild - up to " The Kang Dynasty,“confirmed to be the name of the next mainAvengersfilm . This is named after a much - lovedAvengersstory in which the time - traveling baddie Kang the Conqueror took advantage of the Avengers ' part and distraction to launch an blast on Earth . The Avengers were preoccupied with a monolithic number of other threats , and so failed to spot the signs of Kang ’s come . It ’s well-heeled to imagine Ross ' " Dark Reign " serve just this kind of part in the MCU ’s overarching story , ensuring the heroes have too much on their minds and go to organize effectively against a outstanding foe .

Such an spark would serve to support just how dangerous an enemyKang the Conquerorreally is . If this theory is right , Thunderbolt Ross is the main scoundrel of Phase 5 , but phase angle 6 will begin with him being humbled when Kang arrive in military group . The various narration threads ply through Phases 4 and 5 would finally be draw together in front of the Multiverse Saga ’s last routine , ensuring viewing audience really did take Kang badly as theMCU ’s next cock-a-hoop bad .

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Iron Man looking inside Sokovia in Avengers Age of Ultron

Harrison Ford’s General Ross, Skrulls, and the Thunderbolts

phase 6 setup secret invasion

Thunderbolts line up consisting of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Ghost, Red Guardian, Yelena Belova, Winter Soldier, US Agent, and Taskmaster

Kang in front of Marvel character art.

Marvel Cinematic Universe