Thunderbolts* Director Originally Wanted Man-Thing on the MCU Team

Marvel’s upcoming movie Thunderbolts is just around the corner, and director Jake Schreier has shared something interesting — he originally wanted Man-Thing to be part of the team.

In an interview, Schreier revealed, “I think there was a point during pitching when I really wanted Man-Thing to be on the team.” He was talking about the early stages of planning the movie, when different characters were being considered for the lineup.

But Marvel Studios had different plans for the swamp creature. Instead of joining the Thunderbolts team, Man-Thing made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in 2022’s Werewolf by Night Halloween special. Schreier said that change “worked out for the best,” suggesting he’s happy with how things turned out in the end.

Man-Thing is a strange and powerful creature in Marvel Comics, known for his connection to the supernatural and his ability to burn people with fear. While he didn’t make it into Thunderbolts*, he’s already left a strong impression on fans through Werewolf by Night.

Schreier also spoke about the tone and theme of Thunderbolts. He explained that the movie isn’t just about villains turning into heroes, but more about characters who live in the grey area between good and bad.

“It was about looking through the MCU and not just finding bad guys who could be good,” he said, “but characters that exist more on that morally grey plane or who were potentially destined for something else but then something went awry. Or maybe they’re just misunderstood, someone like John Walker, where he was literally Captain America.”

John Walker, played by Wyatt Russell, is a great example. He once held the Captain America title but made some serious mistakes, making him a complicated and interesting character.

Schreier added, “Maybe there is something that is worth caring about. I think all of them have kind of lost touch with that idea. At first through sheer necessity, because of the situation that they’re thrown into together, but then later more out of inspiration, as a group could they become something bigger than each of themselves could be on their own?”

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