After notable appearances in “Captain America: Civil War” and the Disney+ series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” Daniel Brühl’s Baron Zemo was almost included in Marvel’s “Thunderbolts.” However, the character, who initially appeared as a major antagonist but evolved into a more sympathetic figure, was ultimately not featured—despite his significant connections to the Thunderbolts in the comics.
According to “Thunderbolts” writer Eric Pearson in an interview with Screenrant, an early draft of the film included Baron Zemo in a villainous role. Pearson mentioned that there was a version of the script where Zemo was orchestrating events from prison, or had swapped places with someone after escaping. These ideas were short-lived, as Zemo’s role was deemed unnecessary to the story’s premise.
Pearson noted that with Yelena at the center of the plot and the introduction of the character Bob, Zemo did not fit into the narrative. Although the creative team considered including him, the stories ultimately did not align, resulting in Zemo’s exclusion from the film.
The film “Thunderbolts” is currently in theaters.
