The MCU finally has a replacement for HYDRA after almost a decade

Until then thunderbolts* Releasing in 2025, HYDRA will have been missing from the MCU for an entire decade, but the Phase 5 movie could represent 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. Although HYDRA's absence from the MCU has been noted, Marvel Studios' upcoming thunderbolts* Is expected to debut its best replacement.

The first teaser trailer for thunderbolts* Includes several teases to the introduction of a new supervillain group that could be perfect to replace HYDRA. Previous MCU projects, incl The Pole and the Winter Soldier, Black Widow And Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverhave quietly set up the 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 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 has been an ever-present threat in the MCU's main continuity. Ignoring HYDRA's particular origin in Marvel Television Agents of Shield, The MCU's HYDRA started out 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 as a parasite within SHIELD for decades, reemerging in the present day, but HYDRA was once again torn down by Steve Rogers in 2014.

2015s Avengers: Age of Ultron featured the Avengers' final offensive against HYDRA in Sokovia, which ended with them retrieving Loki's scepter and capturing Baron Von Stroker. Since then, HYDRA has been mentioned several times, and even made brief appearances in the 2015s Ant man and flashbacks in 2016 Captain America: Civil WarBut did not pose any significant threat. This left a huge void in the MCU that any number of powerful supervillain organizations could fill, but no one was up to the task yet.

Thunderbolts * Answers Who Really Bought Avengers Tower

Avengers Tower is sold to a mystery buyer in Spider-Man: Homecoming

One of the most annoying and longest mysteries of the MCU was the identity of the buyer of Avengers Tower. Originally Stark Tower, this unmissable landmark in New York City was sold by Tony Stark during 2017 Spider-Man: HomecomingAs the Avengers moved upstate. The identity of the new owner of the former Avengers Tower has been the subject of huge speculation in the years since Come homeWith 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 several scenes in the trailer, it appears that Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is meeting with the titular Thunderbolts team in the old Avengers TowerWith the expansive view of New York City in the background. This implies that Valentina bought Avengers Tower back in the MCU's Phase 3, although it seems likely that the MCU's corrupt director of the CIA wouldn't buy the monumental building without an ulterior motive.

What Valentina Allegra de Fontaine was really working for

Valentina Allgra de Fontaine has been an enigma since The Falcon and The Winter Soldier

Julia Louis-Dreyfus debuted as Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in The Falcon and the Winter SoldierAnd has since been revealed as the director of the CIA, who has some super-powered individuals in her back pocket. Valentina's true motives in the MCU have not become clear, however 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 it. Agent, Ghost, Taskmaster and "Bob" find themselves trapped.

OXE is a relatively new organization introduced to Marvel ComicsMeaning Marvel Studios could have a lot of wiggle room when it comes to adapting and adjusting the group for live-action. It seems like "Bob", Lewis Pullman's new MCU character who is all but confirmed to be Sentry, is being held, or perhaps even created, in 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 evil 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 was first, debuting in 2011 Ultimate Fallout #3But very little is known about this organization except that it is the largest holding company in the world. Earth-616's OXE saw a bit more development after his debut in 2023's Thunderbolts (Vol. 5) #1.

The new version of​​​​​​​​​​OXE, interestingly produced by a Valentina life model decoy, initially worked with the Outer Circle to influence global politics and access secrets. However, after the outer circle is dissolved, Bucky Barnes approaches Valentina with the prospect of using OXE for good, even founding a new Thunderbolts team. The team included the likes of Yelena Belova, John Walker's US it. Agent, Alexei Shostakov's Red Guardian and Bucky Barnes, meaning it's not too far-fetched to imagine the iteration of OXE inspiring Marvel Studios. thunderbolts*With much the same line-up.