In a recent teaser for Thunderbolts*, several fan-favorite characters from the MCU made appearances, leaving fans curious about the mysterious character named Bob. Bob was seen in a room with some of the film’s main characters, sparking speculation about his role in the story. Thunderbolts, which is set to be a sequel to Black Widow, has been highly anticipated by fans since it was announced at Disney’s D23 expo in 2022. The film will focus on a team of Marvel antiheroes, and there have been rumors about Sentry making his debut in the movie, with his apparent appearance in the teaser adding fuel to the speculation.
Who Is Bob in the Thunderbolts* Trailer?
In the new Thunderbolts teaser, several significant in-universe revelations were unveiled, with one particularly standing out – the introduction of a new character. The teaser shows Yelena, John Walker, Ghost, and Taskmaster being sent to an undisclosed location. After demonstrating their skills in a scuffle, they realize that there is someone else in the room with them – a man in hospital scrubs who introduces himself as Bob. Although Bob’s role in the trailer is minor, he is portrayed by Lewis Pullman from Top Gun: Maverick.
In the trailer, Yelena hints that there may be more to Bob than meets the eye by commenting that “everyone [there] has done bad things.” Another scene in the trailer shows Bob standing outside surrounded by law enforcement or the military.
The state of his attire is crucial to observe—riddled with bullet holes, tattered in various manners—yet remarkably, he remains entirely unscathed. Far more telling is the moment that follows, when enforcement agents or military personnel seemingly unleash a hail of bullets upon Bob, and, to the observer’s astonishment, not a single shot leaves so much as a trace on him.
Though Bob’s presence in the trailer is fleeting, his significance is far-reaching. His role, while subtle in the few glimpses provided, hints at his forthcoming ascent as one of the most formidable figures within the MCU’s expansive universe.
The name “Bob” serves as an unassuming moniker for Robert Reynolds, a being capable of morphing into the unstoppable force known as Sentry—an entity bearing resemblance to the archetype of Superman. His strength, drawn from a serum that mirrors the effects of the super soldier formula, elevates him to an awe-inspiring status, foreshadowing the impact his character will undoubtedly have.
There have been rumors that Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ character Val will use a serum on Bob to create Sentry. In the comics, when Bob transforms into Sentry, he becomes a nearly unstoppable force, but he is not evil. However, he does have an alter ego called the Void, which embodies evil and is separate from his Sentry personality. It’s possible that Bob was sent to the same location as the other characters because of his actions as the Void, or because, if the rumors are true, Val created him to oppose the Thunderbolts.
How Sentry's Thunderbolts* Character Connects to the Comics
In the Thunderbolts trailer, Bob appears confused and disoriented, not knowing where he is or how he got there. He is also puzzled by the others’ claim that someone sent them. This could be attributed to Bob’s mental state when he transforms into Sentry or the Void, as depicted in the comics.
In the source material, the character initially didn’t realize that he was both a powerful hero and a devastating villain due to his split personality. At various points, he had his memories wiped to keep the Void at bay. Additionally, with the help of Doctor Strange and Reed Richards, he had the entire world forget who he was, similar to Peter Parker’s actions in Spider-Man: No Way Home. However, his memories eventually began returning, leading to Sentry and the Void being at war with each other. This cycle of the Void being defeated and coming back continued until Sentry was eventually thrown into the sun, resulting in the death of both him and the Void.
In the upcoming Thunderbolts movie, it’s possible that Bob’s confusion in the trailer hints at a storyline where his memories are wiped, similar to the comics. This could lead to his inability to control his alternate personalities, Sentry and the Void, being displayed in the film. If this turns out to be true, it would lend more credibility to past rumors about a Sentry solo project being in development. Thunderbolts is set to be released in theaters on May 2, 2025.
