The Thunderbolts* trailer has done many things positive to increase the hype for the May 2025-release. Starring Marvel’s own versions of reformed supervillains, Thunderbolts* will be led by the likes of Bucky Barnes and John Walker, who was introduced in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
However, from the latest trailer, one particular scene is bound to irk fans, considering it may as well be construed as an insult to Steve Rogers/Captain America, portrayed excellently in the MCU by Chris Evans. The scene, featuring a fight between Yelena Belova and John Walker . raised eyebrows for its portrayal of U.S. Agent’s abilities—or lack thereof.
Yelena Belova has no right to hold her own against U.S. Agent
In a moment that undermines the Super Soldier Serum’s (SSS) long-established power, the U.S. Agent is shown struggling to hold his own against Yelena, a skilled but non-enhanced assassin. This can easily be seen as an insult to the legacy of Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, and misrepresents the power of the serum that made him a hero.
Yelena Belova, portrayed by Florence Pugh, has rapidly become a fan-favorite character in the MCU. But it’s important to note that Yelena is neither a super soldier, nor does she have any enhanced abilities. Yelena is a highly trained Black Widow operative, with expert combat skills and tactical knowledge, but she is still a human operating within her natural limits.
In the Thunderbolts* trailer, we see Yelena holding her own against John Walker, who has been injected with the Super Soldier Serum. Given the serum’s ability to elevate a person to “peak human physical condition,” it’s difficult to believe that someone like Yelena, who lacks enhancements, could defeat or even match U.S. Agent in a direct confrontation.
The sheer brute strength, endurance, and agility granted by the serum should have ensured Walker’s victory, making the scene feel like a deliberate disservice to the legacy of the serum—and by extension, to Steve Rogers.
Of course, the scene may as well be a non-starter, and the actual movie might prove this notion wrong.
The Super Soldier Serum has a longstanding legacy in MCU
The Super Soldier Serum has long been a symbol of physical superiority in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Characters who have received the serum—such as Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, and John Walker—are shown to have strength, agility, and resilience far beyond that of an average human. Steve Rogers, in particular, is revered for his incredible physical prowess, which allowed him to take on formidable opponents like Thanos and triumph in battles that seemed impossible.
However, this new portrayal of U.S. Agent struggling against Yelena disrupts that narrative. The fact that Walker, who has the same serum flowing through his veins as Rogers, cannot easily overpower an unenhanced human feels like a betrayal of the very essence of the Serum.
Of course, the trailer may as well be hiding a range of details. Yelena, last seen in The Black Widow, may as well have undergone a journey of her own, which may have resulted in her becoming more powerful than how fans remember. That, may as well explain exactly why she was able to hold her own against John Walker.
Thunderbolts* will release in theaters on May 2, 2025.
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