SDCC ’24: Official Marvel Recap Video May Have Just Revealed a ‘Thunderbolts*’ Spoiler

Originally posted on Murphy's Multiverse
By Charles Murphy | Last updated Jul 30, 2024 2:19 PM ET

Long known for a ridiculous level of secrecy surrounding their upcoming projects, Marvel Studios has taken some steps in a different direction over the last year. The studio has utilized social media to reveal the return of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, provide the first look at the cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps and share a behind-the-scenes video from the set of Thunderbolts* all of which seem leaps and bounds away from the “Marvel sniper” protocols of old. While there are still plenty of secrets kept and more than enough old school denials by the studio and actors in their employ, it’s certainly been a fun turnaround for the studio. However, following last weekend’s Hall H panel at SDCC ’24, the studio may have given away a casting secret they’d previously seemed pretty intent on keeping.

In video released through Marvel Entertainment’s official YouTube account, the identity of Geraldine Viswanathan‘s Thunderbolts* character was revealed and while it could be a bit of misdirection, it could also be a pretty big reveal.

While talking with co-stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who will reprise her role as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, and Lewis Pullman, who will bring Robert Reynolds, aka The Sentry, to the MCU, Viswanathan’s character was revealed to be “Mel.” And while that could simply mean she’s a fan of the Spice Girls, it’s also possible the actress will be portraying Melissa Gold, one of the original Thunderbolts from the pages of Marvel Comics.

First appearing in 1979’s Marvel Two-in-One #54, Melissa Gold had an interesting history as a member of the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation before teaming with Baron Zemo on the Masters of Evil. She remained with the group when, in the absence of Earth’s mightiest, they posed as a new group of heroes known as the Thunderbolts. Over the years, different enhancements to Gold’s vocal cords have given her to ability to emit both a sonic scream and create “solid sound.” In recent years, the character has appeared as a more reformed and less villainous character.

An irreverent team-up featuring depressed assassin Yelena Belova alongside the MCU’s least anticipated band of misfits.
-Official longline for Thunderbolts*

Should Viswanthan indeed be playing Melissa Gold, it would indicate a change from earlier drafts of the script that reportedly contained neither Gold nor any other members of the original comic book team. Of course, there are plenty of other options for the character and even if she is playing Melissa Gold, there’s no guarantee she’ll share much in common with her comic book counterpart. With 10 months until Thunderbolts* hits theaters, there will definitely be plenty of theories, speculation and bullshit about the true identity of the character to keep fans fed.