THUNDERBOLTS* Concept Art Offers Alternate Versions of Red Guardian's Suit
New concept art for Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* has surfaced, giving fans a glimpse at a grittier, more tactical take on David Harbour’s Red Guardian.
Shared by concept artist Aleksi Briclot on Instagram, the design veers away from the bold, comic-inspired look we saw in Black Widow and leans into something a bit more covert.
“I went for a darker vibe,” Briclot explained, showcasing a suit that ditches the bright reds for a muted black with subtle crimson accents. Even the signature chest star goes full black, adding to the stealthy tone. It’s a sharp contrast to the bulkier, more traditional version Red Guardian ultimately wears in the film.
Briclot described his approach, saying the goal was “less Santa Claus” and more “Spec Ops.” It’s easy to see how this iteration would’ve suited a darker, more grounded tone for the team-up film—one that feels more Mission: Impossible than Avengers.
While the final costume stuck closer to Harbour’s original look from Black Widow, it’s fun to imagine what might’ve been if the creative team had opted for something a little more shadow ops.