Movies

Thunderbolts* Just Proved the Best Yelena Hero Name Theory Is Actually True

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After viewing Thunderbolts*, a theory about Yelena’s potential hero name in the MCU seems even more plausible to me now. Introduced into the MCU timeline in 2021 through Black Widow, Yelena is one of the fresher faces within the franchise. Yet, she quickly resonated with fans due to her compelling characterization and emotional bond with Natasha.

Following her appearance in “Hawkeye” during the same year as “Black Widow”, Yelena was absent from our screens for several years, sparking numerous theories about her future role within the MCU. Some speculated she might assume Natasha’s mantle and use the Black Widow name, much like Romanoff did before. The upcoming film “Thunderbolts” signals Belova’s return and suggests that she may indeed embrace a heroic role more directly. However, it also leaves room for an alternative theory about Yelena’s hero name to unfold in the MCU franchise.

Yelena Is The MCU’s Obvious Black Widow Successor, But Her Backstory Explains Exactly Why She Wouldn’t Want The Hero Mantle

Yelena’s Associations With The Black Widow Mantle Raise Big Questions About Her Taking It On

In essence, Yelena Belova is Natasha Romanoff’s sister figure and was also trained in the Red Room, making her a fitting candidate to carry on the Black Widow hero title within the MCU. Given her storyline revolves around dealing with her past actions and mourning Natasha’s death in “Avengers: Endgame,” assuming this role symbolically represents Yelena moving forward from her past. Moreover, it aligns with her character development as one of The New Avengers, as hinted at the end of Thunderbolts.

Although Yelena has been trained and is recognized as the Black Widow by figures like Hawkeye due to her training, she doesn’t appear to embrace the title herself in the comic series *Thunderbolts*. Instead, it seems that she prefers not to be referred to as the new holder of the Black Widow hero title, possibly because she wants to establish her own identity distinct from Natasha.

In the 2021 film “Black Widow,” the brutal and inhumane training that transformed Yelena and Natasha into spies and assassins since childhood was already exposed, but it’s the unique ordeals Yelena faced and their profound effects on her that are emphasized in “Thunderbolts.” The movie depicts Yelena’s initial test for the Red Room, where she guides another child named Anya into a forest to be executed, and offers a glimpse of Yelena outperforming her peers in assembling a gun, which results in her being compelled to watch as her fellow children are punished for not finishing first.

Given that Yelena is compelled to re-live her most agonizing traumas due to The Void’s powers during this sequence, it’s evident that she’s still grappling with the unimaginable atrocities of her Black Widow training. Consequently, it seems rather improbable for Yelena to embrace the same title that she and Natasha earned through experiences that continue to terrify Yelena as a heroine moniker, despite her apparent role as Natasha’s successor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Thunderbolts* Makes Another Hero Title Seem More Possible For Yelena

Yelena Becoming The White Widow Makes More Sense After Thunderbolts*

Before the release of “Thunderbolts,” there were numerous theories circulating about Yelena not assuming the Black Widow role in the MCU, despite her strong connections to the mantle. Instead, it was proposed that she might adopt the comic book name “White Widow” instead, which would take her on a different path while staying true to the source material and Yelena’s broader character development.

In a more straightforward manner, this idea seems to fit Yelena’s character arc in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) more accurately. Although Yelena has been known as both the Black Widow and White Widow in the comics, her portrayal as the White Widow seems to reflect her journey towards self-definition instead of being solely defined by her past experiences in the Red Room, which appears to be a key aspect of her character development in the MCU.

As Yelena joins The New Avengers, it’s natural that she might consider selecting a hero name. Choosing the White Widow moniker signifies her recognition of her past while also paying tribute to Natasha’s heroic tale without being bound to her Black Widow past quite as strongly. In the MCU, the White Widow title could symbolize Yelena’s desire to be different from her days as a Black Widow, acknowledging her history and training but also signifying a shift in identity.

Thunderbolts* Also Shows That Yelena Doesn’t Need A Hero Title

Yelena Could Remain Without An Official Hero Name

From a die-hard Marvel Cinematic Universe fan perspective, it appears that the theory about Yelena becoming the White Widow fits rather snugly within the current framework of the MCU and her comic book background. However, the upcoming *Thunderbolts* movie seems to suggest that Yelena isn’t in dire need of a heroic alias just yet, implying that donning the White Widow mantle might be a development further down her narrative path if it indeed unfolds as speculated.

Interestingly enough, Bucky is currently part of The New Avengers without an official superhero tag – he’s evolved beyond being the Winter Soldier, as seen in *The Falcon & The Winter Soldier* series. This seems to diminish the urgency for Yelena to assume a heroic title herself, at least for now.

In the limelight due to the Thunderbolts* series, and with Yelena being part of the cast in Avengers: Doomsday, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has positioned her story in a way that suggests it could be logical for her to become the White Widow for multiple reasons. However, given the strong emphasis Thunderbolts* places on Yelena’s personal journey rather than her superhero exploits – which has been well-received by audiences as a significant factor in the movie’s critical acclaim – it doesn’t seem there’s an urgent need to develop this narrative at present.

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2025-05-10 17:02

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