Unused Thunderbolts* Art Shows Man-Thing Was Considered

Storyboard artist Anthony Lee Winn posted unused concept artwork on Instagram showing Man-Thing alongside the Thunderbolts characters, revealing that the Marvel creature was considered for the team in Thunderbolts*. According to comingsoon.net, the art confirms discussions about including the character, who ultimately did not appear in the finished film.

Director Jake Schreier had seriously considered including Man-Thing in the movie. However, Marvel ultimately left him out of the final cut. The artwork shared by Winn offers a glimpse of what that version might have looked like.

Writer Eric Pearson explained that Man-Thing was difficult to accommodate because the creature is unpredictable. He also noted that Valentina Allegra de Fontaine viewed the creature as an agent or evidence she wanted destroyed, which added a complicating layer to the story.

Pearson added that including Man-Thing would have distracted from Bob's journey of discovering his power. Bob, played by Lewis Pullman, is central to the film's emotional arc, and the writer suggested that the creature's presence would have pulled focus from that storyline.

Thunderbolts* is currently available on Disney+, via digital rental and purchase, and on 4K UHD and Blu-ray. The film is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase Five.

Background

Man-Thing previously appeared in the Marvel special Werewolf by Night. A sequel to that special has not materialized, and the long-rumored Midnight Sons movie has yet to be confirmed.