Summary
- A diverse cast includes villains and heroes who save NYC from Sentry, culminating in a darker, refreshing Marvel film.
- Taskmaster's brief appearance shockingly ends early due to deceptive marketing, setting a somber tone for Thunderbolts*.
- Thunderbolts* showcases the emotional struggles of each anti-hero and villain, focusing on self-worth, mental health, and defeating Void through care and friendship.
To cap off Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios presents Thunderbolts* as the first crossover film since Avengers: Endgame. Instead of traditional superheroes, it features a ragtag group of ex-villains and anti-heroes who have to work through their differences to save themselves as well as the world from a threat.
Marvel: 9 Best Characters In Thunderbolts*, Ranked
Thunderbolts* presents a diverse cast of heroes, anti-heroes, and villains, from Yelena Belova as the new Black Widow to the debut of Sentry.
Like previous crossovers in the MCU, Thunderbolts combines elements from multiple entries in the franchise, resulting in several surprises under the direction of Jake Schreier. These surprises range from unexpected twists within its own story to resolutions that will have lasting effects on the universe, impacting both earlier and future entries.
9 The Watchtower
Valentina Bought Avengers Tower
- Avengers Tower was last seen in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
For quite some time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fans have been questioning who bought Avengers Tower from Tony Stark, AKA Iron Man, after Spider-Man: Homecoming, with some theorizing Kingpin or this universe’s OsCorp. The truth is somewhat scarier with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine using it as her new home base of operations for her company OXE.
It also becomes a major part of the climax, where Valentina debuts her own superhero with Sentry and the Thunderbolts* have to fight him and protect the people of New York City. It not only feels like a throwback to the first Avengers, but it also shows how pompous and shallow Valentina is, willing to twist anything good and inspiring to her will.
8 Taskmaster’s Fate
Taskmaster Is Not Even A Thunderbolt*
- Antonia Dreykov is an original take on Taskmaster specifically for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Due to the character's controversial introduction in the Black Widow movie, Taskmaster appears for only a few minutes when the main cast first assembles. Olga Kurylenko, who portrays the character, is on-screen for just a few seconds before she is abruptly killed by a gunshot from Ghost, and this occurs within the first act of the film.
Taskmaster being on the posters and even certain trailers is just deceptive marketing, similar to what happened with the Hulk in Avengers: Infinity War. On the one hand, it can be seen as wasted potential for a character that could have been a unique member of the Thunderbolts*. On the other hand, it could also be seen as Marvel Studios getting rid of a disappointing villain, while showing that Thunderbolts* is a darker movie.
7 The Tragedy Of U.S. Agent
John Walker No Longer Has A Family
- John Walker has yet to be officially labeled as the U.S. Agent on screen.
Even though John Walker, the U.S. Agent, showed signs of improvement by the end of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, he is still shown to be problematic to those around him. Thanks to the Void, it is shown through a flashback that losing the role of Captain America and being labeled as a failure by the world made him lash out against his family.
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John was not only neglectful of his son, but he also lashed out against his wife, which led to the couple separating. In a way, it explains why he acts the way that he does in Thunderbolts*, seeming very self-centered at first, but like in his debut, his ego is the hard casing containing what is a flawed but still good person.
6 Not The Typical Marvel Affair
Darker Tones And Subject Matter Make The Movie Stand Out
- Moon Knight, on Disney+, also tackled mental health and trauma.
Like any franchise, some tropes appear in every Marvel movie, from playful banter between characters, big action sequences, and comedic relief. However, director Jake Schreier goes out of his way to make Thunderbolts* feel different from most Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, while still implementing the familiar tropes.
The tone of Thunderbolts* is significantly darker than most films previously seen, resembling a thriller more than a typical superhero movie. The film explores deeper themes, placing a strong emphasis on the emotional struggles of being anti-heroes or villains in this world. It delves into aspects of mental health and self-worth, creating poignant and impactful moments for the audience to reflect on, all without being interrupted by humor.
5 The Sentry Is Earth’s Mightiest Hero
Sentry Is Properly Set Up As The Newest Powerhouse
- Sentry has the power of a thousand exploding suns, rivalling characters like Hulk and Captain Marvel.
Lewis Pullman is introduced to the MCU as Bob Reynolds, a drug addict with a harsh past who was part of an experiment conducted by OXE. Valentina manipulates him to become her personal superhero to control known as the Sentry, and anybody who is not familiar with the character will be surprised by how powerful he is.
With his immense strength, indestructibility, and ability to fly, Sentry can be labeled as a Marvel equivalent to Superman, as none of the Thunderbolts* were able to even scratch him. Even strong super soldiers such as Red Guardian and Winter Soldier were nothing to him, with Valentina labeling Sentry as more powerful than all the Avengers combined.
4 The Void’s Rampage
The Main Villain Is Straight Out Of A Horror Movie
- The Sentry and Void were created by Paul Jenkins, Jae Lee, and Rick Veitch.
Thunderbolts* sticks to a PG-13 rating, but from beginning to end, it is a much darker Marvel superhero film than some unsuspecting younger viewers might be surprised by. This is especially the case when Sentry’s darker personality emerges, known as the Void, and begins consuming New York City with a literal black void, blinking innocent people out of existence.
The Void is the manifestation of Bob Reynolds’ darkness, and as a result, he uses other people’s darkest memories and past sins against them, putting them in rooms to relive them. He does this by simply aiming his hand and blasting them into a shadow on the environment, and one of the more horrific times he does this is when he mercilessly does it to a child that Red Guardian saves from falling rubble.
3 How The Thunderbolts Win
Loving And Caring Is What Defeats The Void
- Thunderbolts* released in theaters at the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month.
While there is a big, spectacular battle in New York City with the Thunderbolts* fighting to protect it from the Void’s attack, and, in a refreshing twist, Marvel heroes are protecting people. However, the Thunderbolts* physically cannot stop Void, so there is a battle for Bob’s mind and heart inside the void that he is creating.
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From stealth-tier to god-tier, the anti-heroes in Marvel's Thunderbolts' run the gamut of MCU heroes, from trained assassins to superpowered newbies.
What is arguably the one thing that is better about the Thunderbolts* than the Avengers is that, by the end, they feel closer to genuine friends and family. They use that to help Bob overcome his traumas and realize that he has worth to the world and his new friends. The theme of self-worth and depreciation is present throughout the film, and it comes full circle when they defeat the Void just by hugging Bob and being there for him.
2 The Title Is A Hint At The Future
The Thunderbolts* Are The New Avengers
- All of the New Avengers are confirmed to be in Avengers: Doomsday.
There is a noticeable asterisk in the Thunderbolts* title, which had fans and audiences curious as it potentially was a hint at something, and it was. Rather than get killed in the climax or go to prison, Valentina spins the Thunderbolts* to her benefit by declaring to the world that they are the New Avengers, founded by her just to save her own skin.
Even as the credits roll, the title Thunderbolts* is replaced with The New Avengers, and there is a montage of articles showing a divisive response to them being the new protectors of Earth. The post-credits scene even showcases them as Avengers fourteen months later with new uniforms, living in the Avengers Tower, and being active superheroes, despite critics mocking them.
1 A Tease Of Something Fantastic
The Fantastic Four Are Coming To The Sacred Timeline
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the first movie in Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The post-credits scene for The New Avengers not only shows the new team as active superheroes, but also teases what comes next in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The surprise appearance of a spaceship from another universe with the number four on it is on its way to Earth, thus teasing The Fantastic Four for their own movie and Avengers: Doomsday.
It has been clear since the start of marketing that The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place in an alternate reality, but fans wondered how they would become MCU characters. The New Avengers shows that they will be traveling from their Earth to Earth-616, which suggests that The Fantastic Four may lose their battle to Galactus, or that they know who Doctor Doom is and are coming to warn the Avengers.
- Release Date
- May 2, 2025
- Runtime
- 127 minutes
- Director
- Jake Schreier
- Writers
- Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo
- Producers
- Kevin Feige
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
Cast
-
Florence PughYelena Belova -
Sebastian StanBucky Barnes
