Fans are wondering if Thunderbolts* cast member Geraldine Viswanathan is playing Songbird, aka Melissa Gold, in the movie. This speculation arises from the Miracle Workers actress being cast in the mysterious role of Mel. Mel is a shortened version of the name Melissa, which, in Marvel Comics, is the real name of Songbird.
So, is Geraldine Viswanathan playing Songbird/Melissa Gold in Thunderbolts* as part of the film’s cast? Read on to find out.
Is Geraldine Viswanathan playing Songbird in Thunderbolts*?
It is currently unconfirmed whether or not Geraldine Viswanathan is playing Songbird in Thunderbolts*.
However, Viswanathan’s character is named Mel, a shortened version of Melissa. In the comics, Melissa Gold, known as the supervillain Screaming Mimi and later as the antihero Songbird, is commonly referred to by her first name, Melissa. Thus, it is possible that Marvel Studios might be introducing Songbird to the MCU. They are likely keeping it as a surprise for the eventual movie release.
In Marvel Comics, Songbird was created by Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Macchio, and John Byrne. She first appeared in Marvel Two-In-One #54, published in August 1979. Melissa Gold, who possesses supersonic sound abilities, was originally a career criminal and supervillain under the alias of Screaming Mimi.
As Screaming Mimi, she was a member of the villainous teams the Grapplers and the Masters of Evil. However, she later reformed and became part of the first incarnation of the Thunderbolts team. As a member of the Thunderbolts, she took on the alias Songbird, and her most notable feature is her long, white, and pink-streaked hair.
As a member of the Thunderbolts, Songbird played a significant role in many major comic book storylines involving the team, most notably the 2006-07 Civil War event that pitted Steve Rogers’ Captain America against Iron Man and their respective superhero teams. Additionally, Songbird has been a member of the Mighty Avengers.
Thunderbolts* is expected to release on May 2, 2025. The cast includes many actors reprising roles from previous MCU films, such as Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, and Florence Pugh.
