Todd Stashwick Thinks ‘VisionQuest’ Villain Paladin Belongs With the Thunderbolts

Every new Marvel series brings fresh faces into the MCU, and ‘VisionQuest’ has given fans a surprisingly compelling antagonist in Paladin. Played by Todd Stashwick, the bounty hunter has been one of the Disney+ series’ standout additions, bringing an edge that has quickly made him a fan favorite.

Stashwick is no stranger to genre TV. He played Captain Liam Shaw in ‘Star Trek: Picard’ and Theodore Deacon across all 4 seasons of ’12 Monkeys’, both shows run by Terry Matalas. ‘VisionQuest’ reunites the actor with Matalas, who created the series and directed some of its episodes.

Now Stashwick has made it clear where he’d like his character to go next. In a recent interview, he said he’d love to see Paladin join the Thunderbolts, joking that the hired gun would fit right in with the MCU’s group of misfits and miscreants.

It’s an idea that makes plenty of sense for a mercenary whose loyalty usually goes to whoever is paying. The Thunderbolts have built their identity around flawed operatives with complicated pasts, which suits a morally gray bounty hunter.

The suggestion also has deep roots in Marvel’s comics. During the ‘Dark Reign’ era, Norman Osborn recruited Paladin into a secret Thunderbolts strike team that included Yelena Belova and Ghost, 2 characters who are also part of the MCU’s version of the team.

The new trailer for ‘VISIONQUEST’ has been released. Releasing October 14 on Disney+ https://t.co/56jVK517wK

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 1, 2026

Paladin made his comic book debut in ‘Daredevil’ #150, created by Jim Shooter and Carmine Infantino. He was originally hired to hunt the Purple Man, clashed with Daredevil, and later teamed up with the hero, while resenting him for costing him a lucrative contract.

Over the years, he has worked with Spider-Man and the Wasp, romanced Janet Van Dyne under the alias Paul Denning, and served in various Heroes for Hire lineups alongside Misty Knight. His real name has never been revealed, adding to his mystique.

He is a skilled fighter and marksman with enhanced strength, speed, and endurance. His signature weapon is a stun gun keyed to his bio-signature, so no one else can use it. The series has given the character a fresh twist. Paladin is a bounty hunter hired by a mysterious client to track down Paul Bettany’s White Vision, and he reports to a handler played by Diane Morgan.

He follows a strict code against civilian casualties, yet he has the resources to hack Vision’s mind and wound him with adamantium rounds. The show also revealed that Paladin is a codename passed down through a long line of bounty hunters, along with the knowledge and resources that come with it.

Critics have noticed the upgrade. Den of Geek praised Stashwick for giving the character more personality and edge than his comic counterpart, turning one of Marvel’s more forgettable villains into something genuinely cool.

Not super. Not heroes. Not giving up. Watch the new trailer for Marvel Studios’ #Thunderbolts* only in theaters May 2. https://t.co/yMub4oWU9B

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) February 9, 2025

The MCU’s Thunderbolts are already part of Marvel’s biggest plans. Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell’s John Walker, Lewis Pullman’s Sentry, David Harbour’s Red Guardian and Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost are all confirmed to return in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’.

Bringing Paladin into that mix would create a natural crossover between ‘VisionQuest’ and the wider MCU. Marvel hasn’t announced any plans for the character beyond the series, so Stashwick’s wish remains just that for now.

With only 2 episodes left in the season, fans will soon find out what happens to Paladin. His fate in the finale will decide whether he has a future in the franchise at all. Still, Stashwick’s enthusiasm is clear, and his performance has won over plenty of viewers. If Marvel is looking for another rogue to add to its team of antiheroes, a mercenary who has already served with them in the comics could be an easy choice.

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