Man-Thing Was Cut From Thunderbolts, Storyboards and Director Confirm

Marvel's upcoming Thunderbolts* had a much stranger lineup in its early planning stages. According to a report from /Film, leaked storyboards show the swamp monster Man-Thing was once considered for the team.

The storyboards, credited to artist Anthony Winn, depict the creature, also known as Dr. Ted Sallis. Director Jake Schreier confirmed the cut in an interview with SFX Magazine, saying he wanted Man-Thing to appear, but Marvel had other plans.

Those plans turned out to be the 2022 Disney+ special Werewolf by Night, which introduced the character. Schreier told the magazine that, in the end, "it all worked out for the best."

The storyboards reveal just how much the Thunderbolts roster changed during development. Earlier rumors from 2019 suggested a team including Ghost, Baron Zemo, Abomination, and The Leader. Only Ghost made it into the final film lineup.

Other cuts included a post-credits scene with Zemo and a larger role for the villain Taskmaster, who was reportedly killed off early in the current version. The final team is mostly pulled from 2021's Black Widow.