The MCU Finally Has A Replacement For HYDRA After Almost A Decade

By the time Thunderbolts* releases in 2025, HYDRA will have been missing from the MCU for an entire decade, but the Phase 5 movie may introduce the perfect replacement for the age-old supervillain organization. HYDRA was a significant threat in the early days of the MCU, with a major role in Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Age of Ultron. While HYDRA's absence from the MCU has been noticeable, Marvel Studios' upcoming Thunderbolts* is expected to debut its best replacement.

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The first teaser trailer for Thunderbolts* includes several teases towards the introduction of a new supervillain group that could be perfect to replace HYDRA. Previous MCU projects, including The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Black Widow and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, have quietly been setting up this group's debut in the background. Thunderbolts* will finally bring it into live-action, introducing another formidable antagonistic organization to the MCU, while also explaining more about Julia Louis-Dreyfus' mysterious Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.

Marvel Killed Off HYDRA In The MCU's Phase 2

HYDRA Was All But Erased By The Avengers In Age Of Ultron

Thunderbolts* is scheduled for release in May 2025, which will mark a decade since HYDRA was an ever-present threat in the MCU's main continuity. Ignoring the separate origin of HYDRA in Marvel Television's Agents of SHIELD, the MCU's HYDRA started as the scientific division of the Nazi SS during World War II, led by Johann Schmidt's Red Skull. Despite being seemingly defeated by Captain America in 1945, HYDRA grew like a parasite within SHIELD for decades, reemerging in the present day, but HYDRA was again torn down by Steve Rogers in 2014.

2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron featured the Avengers' final offensive against HYDRA in Sokovia, which ended with them reacquiring Loki's scepter and apprehending Baron Von Strucker. Since then, HYDRA has been mentioned several times, and even made brief appearances in 2015's Ant-Man and flashbacks in 2016's Captain America: Civil War, but has posed no significant threat whatsoever. This has left a huge void in the MCU that any number of powerful supervillain organizations could fill, but none have yet been up to the task.

Thunderbolts* Answers Who Really Bought Avengers Tower

Avengers Tower Was Sold To A Mystery Buyer In Spider-Man: Homecoming

One of the MCU's most annoying and longest-lasting mysteries has been the identity of the buyer of Avengers Tower. Originally Stark Tower, this unmissable New York City landmark was sold by Tony Stark during 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming, as the Avengers had moved Upstate. The identity of the new owner of the former Avengers Tower has been the subject of huge speculation in the years since Homecoming, with the likes of Wilson Fisk's Kingpin, Kang variant Mister Grypon, Norman Osborn and the Fantastic Four being popular theories.

After seven years, the first teaser trailer for Thunderbolts* seems to finally put this speculation to rest. During some scenes in the trailer, it appears that Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is meeting with the titular Thunderbolts team inside the old Avengers Tower, with the expansive view of New York City in the background. This implies that Valentina bought Avengers Tower back in the MCU's Phase 3, though it seems likely that the MCU's corrupt Director of the CIA wouldn't purchase this monumental building without an ulterior motive.

Who Valentina Allegra De Fontaine Is Really Working For

Valentina Allegra De Fontaine Has Been An Enigma Since The Falcon & The Winter Soldier

Julia Louis-Dreyfus debuted as Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and has since been revealed to be the Director of the CIA, who has several superpowered individuals in her back pocket. Valentina's true motives in the MCU haven't made themselves clear, but Thunderbolts*' teaser trailer may have confirmed that she is one member of a much bigger organization: OXE. The OXE logo can be seen on crates in the facility where Yelena Belova, US Agent, Ghost, Taskmaster and "Bob" find themselves trapped.

OXE is a relatively new organization introduced to Marvel Comics, meaning Marvel Studios may have a lot of wiggle room when it comes to adapting and adjusting the group for live-action. It seems as though "Bob", Lewis Pullman's new MCU character who is all but confirmed to be Sentry, has been held, or perhaps even created, at this OXE facility. This could make OXE the perfect replacement for HYDRA in the MCU's Phase 5, and set up Valentina Allegra de Fontaine as an even more terrifying and sinister villain.

Who Are OXE In Marvel Comics: Origins Explained

OXE Could Be Very Powerful In The MCU

There are two versions of OXE in Marvel Comics, one on Earth-616 and one in the Ultimate Universe of Earth-1610, but both were founded by Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. The Ultimate Universe's OXE Group came first, debuting in 2011's Ultimate Fallout #3, but very little is known about this organization other than that it's the largest holding company in the world. Earth-616's OXE has seen slightly more development following its debut in 2023's Thunderbolts (Vol. 5) #1.

This new version of OXE, interestingly formed by a Valentina Life Model Decoy, initially worked with the Outer Circle to influence global politics and access secrets. However, after the Outer Circle was dissolved, Bucky Barnes approached Valentina with the prospect of using OXE for good, even establishing a new Thunderbolts team. This team included the likes of Yelena Belova, John Walker's US Agent, Alexei Shostakov's Red Guardian and Bucky Barnes, meaning it's not too far-fetched to imagine this iteration of OXE inspiring Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts*, with much the same line-up.