Boom. The Russells are officially Marvel royalty.
With Thunderbolts* hitting theaters, Wyatt Russell (the morally messy John Walker/U.S. Agent) and his father, Kurt Russell (the planet-sized ego, Ego), just became the third father-son duo to star in the MCU. But here's the kicker: they're the first to do it in separate films—no shared screen, just shared superhero DNA.
The Russell Legacy: A Marvel First
Most nepo babies fade into the background. Not the Russells.
- Kurt chewed scenery as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2's villain, a literal living planet with daddy issues.
- Wyatt stole the shield (and our sympathy) as Falcon and the Winter Soldier's flawed Captain America successor.
Unlike other MCU father-son pairs—like the Fishburnes (Ant-Man and the Wasp) and the Kanis (Black Panther)—the Russells didn't play the same character. They brought two wildly different energies: one a cosmic tyrant, the other a PTSD-riddled soldier. And that's what makes them Marvel's most dynamic family act.
The Other MCU Father-Son Teams (And Why They Don't Compare)
- Laurence & Langston Fishburne (Ant-Man and the Wasp)
- Played older/younger versions of Bill Foster. Solid, but predictable.
- John & Atandwa Kani (Black Panther)
- Both embodied T'Chaka. Iconic, but same role.
The Russells? Different movies, different vibes, same universe. It's like if Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker showed up in separate Star Wars spinoffs—except, you know, with less lightsabers and more super-soldier serum.
What's Next for the Russells?
Wyatt's already confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday, meaning his MCU future is brighter than Ego's glowing core. Could we see Kurt return as a Variant? A flashback? A What If…? episode where Ego adopts John Walker? (Marvel, call me.)
One thing's clear: The Russells aren't just in the MCU—they're rewriting its family tree.
So, who's next? Will Chris Hemsworth's kids take over Asgard? Discuss below.
Bill Skarsgard and Stellan Skarsgard