4 years after it was released, one apparent plot hole in Black Widow has been explained away by a tragic MCU super soldier theory. Black Widow kicked off MCU Phase 4 and the Multiverse Saga, though it did not take place after the Infinity Saga chronologically in the MCU timeline. This was a rather confusing start to the new saga, as it was a prequel starring a character who died in Avengers: Endgame. It did, however, introduce a slew of new characters set to be main players in the Multiverse Saga, including Yelena Belova, Taskmaster, and Alexei Shostakov.

Alexei Shostakov is the Soviet Union’s answer to Captain America, operating under the mantle of Red Guardian in his glory days after receiving an imitation of Erskine’s Super Soldier Serum. To Shostakov, this makes him Captain America’s equal, as he demonstrates a similar set of powers to his red-white-and-blue counterpart. As has been the case for many other super soldier experiments, however, the likelihood is that his serum was not as perfected as Steve’s – which could lead to a tragedy in the upcoming Marvel movie Thunderbolts*.

Black Widow’s Red Guardian Theory Makes His Thunderbolts* Story Way More Tragic

According to a theory posted to Reddit by u/grambocrackah, the Super Soldier Serum given to Red Guardian is killing him slowly. The theory hinges on the plot hole that Shostakov’s incarceration doesn’t make much sense, given that he is seemingly capable of breaking out on a whim with his enhanced physiology. The notion that the prison is too far from civilization to make it viable is contradicted by the fact that a helicopter can seemingly make the trip just outside St. Petersberg on very little fuel. With that in mind, towns would surely litter the countryside surrounding the major city.

This suggests that Shostakov had some kind of incentive to play ball during his incarceration. The notion that he is being kept alive through regular medical intervention is a convincing reason for this, suggesting that Shostakov can see no other recourse for staying alive. This also helps to explain why Shostakov looks more out of shape and disheveled than his super soldier counterpart. His reasons for breaking out are that he wishes to go out in a blaze of glory in his erstwhile guise as a Soviet superhero.

This then leads straight into the story of Thunderbolts*. The antiheroes that comprise the titular team are presumably going to require some incentive to begin working for a clandestine American government agency, which Shostakov may find in the glory of the mission. Alternatively, he may join up with the Thunderbolts as the US Government exchanges his cooperation for the life-saving drug he was afforded in prison. Either way, tragedy may await Red Guardian, setting up the new Black Widow.

Red Guardians MCU Death Could Help Setup The MCU’s Next Black Widow

Yelena Belova is the presumed Black Widow successor to Natasha Romanoff in the wake of her death. Both received the same training, after all, and it’s easy to see Romanoff imparting the mantle onto her adoptive sister were she alive. Yelena has yet to officially refer to herself as the new Black Widow, but her adoptive father’s death will no doubt catalyze the process, beginning the transition into a bona fide superhero with an all-too-familiar tragedy.

It is more likely that Yelena will become the White Widow instead, the heroic mantle adopted by the previously villainous Belova in Marvel Comics. This will help to differentiate Belova from her sister while paying tribute to Romanoff’s legacy as Black Widow all the while. Whatever the case, it remains a concern that Shostakov will not survive the events of Thunderbolts* if there is merit to this convincing theory.

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  Black Widow

  PG-13

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  Black Widow is a film about Natasha Romanoff in her quests between the films Civil War and Infinity War. This is the 24th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first solo film for Black Widow, one of the original six Avengers. The character previously appeared in seven MCU films, including all four Avengers movies. Black Widow was originally scheduled for May 2020 but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

  Release Date

  
  July 9, 2021
  

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  Thunderbolts (2025)

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  Marvel’s Thunderbolts is a superhero movie based on the comic team of the same name. The movie acts as a part of the MCU’s fifth phase of films. The film sees the likes of Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell, the Red Guardian, and more as an unlikely group of heroes and villains brought together to fight for good.

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025