Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is known for bringing in people with questionable pasts or extraordinary talents into her orbit. The upcoming Thunderbolts movie will have a bunch of anti-heroes. But an overlooked champion—mentioned in an earlier MCU movie and left out of the original Thunderbolts roster—might still have prospects within this corner of the universe.
The Lingering Mystery of Songbird
Fans with a good memory of the early days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe on Disney+ might remember the character Melissa Joan Gold, or more commonly known as. Melodious Avian. She first appeared in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as a notable member of the Power Broker’s Flag Smashers with sonic-based abilities from an experimental version of the Super Soldier Serum. As many people from her homeland were dying or imprisoned, the fate of Songbird was left hanging. The last we saw of her was when she was captured; but Valentina’s track record of recruiting people with extraordinary abilities made it immediate speculation that she would be joining the Thunderbolts.
But the Thunderbolts casting announcement didn’t include Songbird and many thought her MCU journey had come to an abrupt end. However, fresh rumors and whispers within the industry suggest that Marvel Studios might not have written her off completely. Sources say they’re still considering appearances for Songbird, either in future phases of the MCU or possibly in a future Thunderbolts team. Her unique abilities and ties to the Super Soldier Serum storyline present a lot of possibilities for future storylines.
Could She Join a Future Iteration of the Team?
It’s unlikely Songbird will pop up in the initial Thunderbolts lineup but she’s already established in the MCU so she’s a good candidate for future development. The Thunderbolts are a team of morally ambiguous characters so it’s easy to add new members as the team’s missions and goals change. Valentina has a whole network of potential recruits and with Songbird’s abilities and her legal status in limbo she’s a good recruit for phase 2.
Plus digging deeper into Songbird could allow the MCU to explore the long term and far reaching consequences and effects of the Super Soldier Serum – a theme that’s been woven throughout the franchise. Her being a character who got her powers through shady means is a nice contrast to characters like Captain America and John Walker (the US Agent) who are both members of the Thunderbolts.
Although she was left out of the initial Thunderbolts lineup it’s still fun to imagine Songbird back in the MCU. Valentina’s plan is complex and long game – she doesn’t use all her resources at once. Stay tuned – the calls of Songbird may yet ring out in the future of the MCU.
