After Thunderbolts*, This MCU Reunion Is Long Overdue

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In the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s upcoming movie, Thunderbolts, a fresh and intriguing ensemble of antiheroes is brought together. However, the conspicuous absence of a certain character suggests that a future gathering might be necessary to reunite some long-separated relatives. Within the Thunderbolts team in this film, we find characters like Yelena Belova (played by Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), and John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell). Yelena and Alexei were previously introduced in 2021’s Black Widow, as the younger sister and father of Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). After reconnecting in Black Widow and Natasha’s death in Avengers: Endgame, Yelena and Alexei meet again after many years apart. Interestingly, Thunderbolts seems to overlook the only other living relative from their family.

In the movie “Thunderbolts”, neither Melina Vostokoff (played by Rachel Weisz) nor any mention of her is made. This suggests that Natasha, Yelena, and Alexei, who had joined forces to defeat General Dreykov’s Red Room in “Black Widow”, have since gone their separate ways. However, the absence of Melina from both Yelena and Alexei seems unusual given their past relationship. Yet, there remains a possibility that they may reunite as a family in future instalments.

Melina Vostokoff’s Absence From Thunderbolts* Means a Family Reunion Needs to Happen

The fact that Melina isn’t present in “Thunderbolts” doesn’t weaken the movie, but it does suggest that a gathering of the Black Widow family (excluding Natasha) is long past due. It’s possible her absence from “Thunderbolts” could be due to the large number of main characters already in the film, three of whom are connected to Black Widow. Additionally, humor fits more naturally with Red Guardian than it would with Melina or any other character in “Thunderbolts.”

Given that “Thunderbolts” shows Yelena and Alexei haven’t spoken since the events of “Black Widow,” it’s hard to tell what Melina has been doing for the past decade. Perhaps they maintained some contact following their reunion, or maybe Natasha’s selfless death caused them to drift apart. Regardless, we don’t know because “Thunderbolts” overlooked a potentially interesting discussion between Yelena and Alexei when they first meet in the film.

In the movie “Thunderbolts,” Yelena’s reconciliation with her long-lost father is incredibly touching, leading us to wonder if a similar reunion between her and Melina might occur down the line. Given the depth given to their characters in “Thunderbolts,” it seems quite probable that they could reunite with their remaining family member in the Marvel Cinematic Universe soon.

Will the MCU Bring Melina Back for a Reunion With Yelena and Alexei?

At the moment, it’s uncertain if or when we’ll see Melina again in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For now, Yelena, Alexei, and other surviving Thunderbolts team members will be part of the story in Avengers: Doomsday. Given the sizeable cast, it seems unlikely that there would be space for another member to join their ranks. However, despite no clear chance to reassemble the Black Widow family in Doomsday, there’s hope on the horizon. Actors Florence Pugh and David Harbour have recently discussed Melina’s absence from the Thunderbolts and hinted at the possibility of her return in future projects.

In response to inquiries from The Hollywood Reporter, Pugh stated that they’re unsure about Melina’s fate. Harbor shared similar sentiments but hinted at some optimism for Black Widow enthusiasts.

Harbour expressed that he’s had discussions with people from Marvel regarding Melina, and believes there’s still a lot of unexplored potential for her character. He hinted at the possibility of Melina reappearing in an intriguing manner, and expressed his hope to see her again in connection with Alexei’s storyline. Her return would certainly introduce an engaging complexity, he added.

The return of Melina could significantly change the course of Alexei and Yelena’s stories within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As the central character in Thunderbolts, Yelena’s journey has grown more complex due to the emphasis on her emotional isolation following Natasha’s death. Having Alexei offer support might rekindle her relationship with Melina, adding even more intrigue to one of the MCU’s most compelling characters.

Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters.

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2025-05-18 04:10