Breaking down 'The Void': Everything you need to know the latest villain from Marvel Studios’ 'Thunderbolts*'

The latest trailer of Thunderbolts* has unveiled Marvel’s newest superhero team combo and has sent fans into a frenzy, setting social media ablaze. Fans thought peak villainism had been reached when villains like Thanos and Kang entered the multiverse, but the new gritty and action-packed trailer of Thunderbolts* has unleashed an even more formidable and ominous entity - The Void. His menacing and unnerving presence was teased in the trailer, staring down eerily at the Big Apple, and has got fans buzzing with speculation and theories. 

Poised to be perhaps amongst MCU’s most daunting and terrifying villains yet, here’s all we know about The Void to help you prep for the upcoming Thunderbolts*. 

How The Void came into existence

Robert Reynolds (Lewis Pullman) suffered from schizophrenia and anxiety in high school. It all started when he stole an experimental version of the Super-Soldier Serum (the serum that gave Captain America his powers) from his science professor. Oblivious to the serum’s potency, Reynolds drank it, just chasing a high and unknowingly unlocking superhuman powers. Because of his psychiatric problems, Robert manifested a malevolent persona called the Void. However, he subconsciously manifested a heroic persona to combat it, called Sentry. In Thunderbolts*, the Void emerges when Sentry loses control.

What makes The Void the strongest MCU villain?

As if Sentry’s physical powers like superhuman strength, speed, flight, and psonics weren’t enough, the Void also brings a terrifying edge of physical dominance, being able to infest and control the minds of his enemies. Besides this, he also possesses powers of matter manipulation, regeneration, immortality, resurrection, and invulnerability amongst a versatile array of other powers that make him the apex villain of the MCU. 

The Thunderbolts are Outmatched

Unlike other MCU villains, the Void isn’t just evil but a manifestation of pure instability and chaos that manifested as a result of a psychological battle with mental illness. Considering that the Thunderbolts* are a group of misfits with twisted pasts and morally grey characters, doubt arises whether they have what it takes to defeat the Void or even contain him. This sets up high stakes and builds up anticipation in the audience to see how the Thunderbolts*, who are a temporary replacement for the Avengers, tackle the menacing entity. 

Future of The Void in the MCU

Marvel Studios has officially announced the Avengers: Doomsday cast, which includes Lewis Pullman, who plays both Sentry and his dark alter ego, Void, in Thunderbolts*. Though his character has currently been listed as Sentry, fans are speculating that Void may make an appearance too, depending on the events that unfold in Thunderbolts*.

Thunderbolts* features a crew of an irreverent team-up featuring depressed assassin Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) alongside the MCU’s least anticipated band of misfits. The film also returns to the screen Marvel Cinematic Universe characters Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), in addition to some exciting new faces. Jake Schreier directed Thunderbolts, with Kevin Feige producing it. Louis D’Esposito, Brian Chapek, Jason Tamez, and Scarlett Johansson served as executive producers.