The worst-performing Marvel Cinematic Universe project may have jeopardized Yelena Belova’s development before her appearance in Thunderbolts*. The MCU timeline has spent years building up its next generation of heroes, but not every adaptation choice has been a home run. One of the MCU’s most promising newer characters – Yelena Belova, played by Florence Pugh – might never reach her full potential. And the blame might lie squarely with one of the MCU’s most critically maligned shows.
Introduced in Black Widow (2021), Yelena Belova quickly became a fan favorite. Florence Pugh brought charm, humor, and a grounded sense of strength to the character, offering a distinct contrast to Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff. Yelena’s role was expanded in Hawkeye (2021), where she stole nearly every scene she was in. Next, Yelena is part of the Thunderbolts* cast, a film centered on morally gray antiheroes. But while her potential remains high, the creative choices within the broader MCU may have already boxed her into a corner.
Marvel’s Comics Opened An Opportunity For Yelena To Get A Major Power Upgrade
The New Avengers #1
In Marvel Comics, Yelena’s story briefly took a wild but compelling turn. In The New Avengers Annual #1 (2006), she reappears with a major power boost after being transformed into a Super-Adaptoid by A.I.M. This wasn’t just some throwaway enhancement – Yelena could temporarily mimic the abilities of any nearby super-powered individual.
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Imagine a Black Widow with the strength of Thor or the speed of Quicksilver, even if only for a few minutes. It was a dramatic evolution for a character who started as a spy, and it opened the door to a whole new combat dynamic. Sadly, her time with these powers was short-lived, as she died not long after. Still, the Super-Adaptoid Yelena hinted at an exciting future if Marvel ever wanted to revisit that direction in live-action.
MCU’s Secret Invasion Makes Yelena’s Marvel Comic Power Upgrade Impossible
Secret Invasion Explored Similar Power Upgrades
Enter Secret Invasion (2023), a Disney+ series that struggled with both critics and fans. The show’s finale introduced an overpowered character named G’iah – played by Emilia Clarke – who received “The Harvest,” a collection of DNA from dozens of MCU heroes and villains. The result was that G’iah became a one-woman Avengers team, essentially combining the powers of Hulk, Captain Marvel, Ghost, Drax, and more into a single being.
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This is effectively the Super-Adaptoid gimmick. The uniqueness of a power-mimicking character has already been taken – and taken to an absurd extreme. Giving Yelena a similar upgrade now would seem like a rehash of Secret Invasion‘s least-beloved twist. It’s a frustrating loss for those who saw Yelena’s MCU future as a blank canvas. While it’s still possible Thunderbolts* could find a workaround or twist, the moment for Yelena to truly shine with a unique and visually engaging power set has arguably passed. And the worst part is that it was lost to one of Marvel’s most disappointing outings.
Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
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May 2, 2025
- Runtime
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126 Minutes
- Director
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Jake Schreier
- Writers
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Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo