The ‘Thunderbolts*’ trailer was recently released, offering an official glimpse at the film after leaks and footage from its exclusive debut at the D23 event circulated online. Now, we have a clearer view of the characters and clues hinted at in the trailer.
While ‘Thunderbolts’ will serve as the MCU’s answer to the Suicide Squad, it’s also set to introduce one of Marvel Comics’ most powerful characters—Sentry.
Sentry will be played by Lewis Pullman, and while the actor has already hinted at some of his character’s powers, the trailer further showcased his incredible invincibility.
Though the trailer didn’t reveal much about Sentry, sharp-eyed fans spotted a significant detail suggesting a similarity between Sentry and Homelander from ‘The Boys’—both are manufactured superheroes.
This theory is backed by a specific shot from the trailer, where multiple hairstyle designs for Sentry are visible, implying that his creators are not only refining his powers but also perfecting his appearance for better marketability.
The Sentry is a manufactured superhero. You can see the different hairstyles and logo designs made for him in order to be a marketable figure in the MCU pic.twitter.com/5UawaR1EoC
— Comicodigy (@comicodigy) September 24, 2024
The same images also show various designs for Sentry’s iconic belt buckle, further hinting that every aspect of his appearance is crafted for public relations and marketing purposes.
This marks a notable shift from Robert Reynolds’ comic book origin, where he became a superhero by accident. In the comics, Sentry (Robert Reynolds) gained his powers by ingesting the experimental Golden Sentry Serum, a far more potent version of the serum that created Captain America.
Reynolds, an ordinary man struggling with his own demons, discovered the serum after breaking into the lab of Professor Cornelius. The serum, intended to create an even more powerful super-soldier, granted him the power of “a million exploding suns.”
Though Sentry became almost omnipotent, he also battles his dark alter ego, the Void, and suffers from bouts of insanity. It will be interesting to see how the MCU adapts this complex character and whether his creators will come to regret making him. His unstable mental state is another trait he shares with Homelander.
Additionally, this “manufactured hero” theory aligns with rumors from weeks ago, suggesting the MCU is slowly setting up a World War Hulk event. Different agencies, corporations, and military factions appear to be racing to create their own superheroes, vying to control the superpowered market.
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below!
