"Thunderbolts*" is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated works in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film will bring together a group of beloved characters on the same team, most of whom have had conflicts and conflicts in the past. Now, they will be forced to work together toward a common goal. Instead of focusing on heroes who always stand up for what is right,
is one of the first MCU films to focus on a beloved anti-hero, a unique feature that makes it even more compelling.
Although the film's release date is approaching, fans know very little about the specific plot of "The Thunderbolts*". However, what is known alone is enough to lead one to believe that it could be one of the best entries in the Marvel franchise in recent years.
Now let's analyze this high-profile movie in detail.
What is "Thunder Squad*" about?
The biggest difference between "Thunder Squad*" and other MCU works is that it focuses more on former villains rather than heroes. This group of former enemies of countless heroes (as well as some with perhaps shady pasts) are brought together to work toward a common goal - it's just that no one knows yet what that goal is.
They were summoned by specialized agencies, and the operation was led by Countess Valentina de Fonteyn. She has proven herself to be connected to Yelena and John Walker, and plays an important role in the U.S. government.
It’s not surprising that she would form this team, and the audience is looking forward to seeing how she can control this complex situation.
While the nature of their mission and the reason for their selection remains a mystery, Thunder Force* will undoubtedly be one of the most interesting entries in the MCU. Usually, when a group of heroes join forces, it's because they are heroes.
But when a group of villains/anti-heroes are brought together, especially by the United States government (always a complicated presence in the context of the MCU), it's certainly a chaotic start. Careful observation of the members of this team makes people feel that things are not that simple.
This movie is expected to become one of the most realistic works in the MCU, focusing more on the characters themselves rather than some apocalyptic crisis. This could mean the MCU will return to its earlier roots, giving fans the kind of story they feel the series has been missing in recent years.
Comic version of the Thunderbolts
In the comics, the Thunderbolts were originally created to prove that villains could reform and do good things in public. After all, they are sent on a mission by the government, and whether they want it or not, their success proves that even the most hardened criminals have a future away from violence.
Interestingly, the Thunderbolts were not originally created by Tadesse "Thunder" Ross, although they appear to be named after him. Instead, they were founded by Baron Helmut Zemo, however, Zemo wasn't even scheduled to appear in the film.
He founded the group in hopes of winning public support to gain more power around the world. Of course, this plan ultimately failed because the original heroes actually reformed, not just pretended to be.
Eventually, the other Thunderbolts drove Zemo away. This gave them the opportunity to prove to the public that they had indeed left their evil past behind, which they did with great enthusiasm. As the Thunderbolts continue to appear in the comics, their roster is constantly changing. The version of the team presented in
mcu combines elements from different time periods in the comics, which makes sense since movies often draw inspiration from comic stories throughout the series without paying much attention to how they were originally connected.Who are the members of the
team?
The members of Team Thunder include:
Yelena Belova (by Florence Pere )
Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David ·Harbour)
Antonia Dreykov/Agent (Olga Kurylenko)
Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah Jon-Kamen)
Bucky Barnes (Seba Christian Stan)
John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell)
The cast of "The Thunderbolts*" comes from all corners of the MCU. While some of these characters have crossed paths in their respective works, none of them have crossed paths with characters from other series, which would certainly make their interactions particularly interesting. Each has their own unique skills, making them the perfect team for dangerous missions.
Yelena has the same Red Room training as her sister, and viewers have seen how unstoppable she is in combat. Alexei, the Red Room's answer to Captain America, may have some similar powers.
John Walker has already demonstrated his ability and unwavering commitment to the mission in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Bucky Barnes is one of the most beloved characters in the series, and he's been on a journey of self-discovery throughout the storyline, and it will be interesting to see how he fares in his new missions.
Ava Starr's fate is up in the air after Ant-Man and the Wasp, and seeing her return will hopefully give audiences some answers. Thunderbolts* also has the opportunity to address some of the complaints fans have had about the agent characters.
When will it be released?
Ever since the news was first revealed, fans have been waiting for the moment Thunderbolts* finally hits theaters. The filming of the film was repeatedly delayed due to strikes in the summer of 2023, pushing back the original release date of July 26, 2024. Fans endured a long wait, wondering when they would finally see the film.
At the beginning of 2024, the new release date was finally confirmed. Now, "The Thunderbolts*" is scheduled to be released in theaters on May 2, 2025. It will be the final work of the 5th phase of MCU, and I hope it can end this phase with a brilliant ending.
What does the asterisk in the title mean?
One of the biggest questions fans have about "The Thunderbolts*" is the meaning of the asterisk in the title. This asterisk was added recently, revealed by Florence Pugh. Fans immediately began speculating about its meaning, but Marvel declined to provide any further information. About a month after the decision was made public, Kevin Feige said when asked that this would be understood once the film is released. He never mentioned the issue again.
Most likely, this could mean the Thunderbolts' name will change by the end of the movie. Many believe this is just a temporary name for the team and that they will eventually adopt a new, more recognizable name - like Dark Avengers.
In the comics, Dark Avengers involves a group of villains (most of whom were originally members of the Thunder Squad) hiding their identities by posing as members of the Avengers. Many of the Thunder Squad members have ties to existing Avengers, such as Captain America or Black Widow, making this theory even more believable.
Fans are unlikely to get any clues as to what this means before the movie is released, and it will be interesting to see what ultimately happens.
The Thunderbolts would later appear again in Avengers: Secret Wars. Not much is known about the film's plot, other than knowing that Doctor Doom will continue to be the main villain - suggesting that Avengers: Endgame could end in a similar fashion to Infinity War, with the heroes ostensibly defeated , leaving the survivors to decide how to pick up the pieces and move on.
The Thunderbolts may play a big role in this team-up, as they're willing to get their hands dirty in ways that some of their more heroic members aren't.
"The Thunderbolts*" and "Avengers: Endgame" are scheduled to be released on May 2, 2025 and May 1, 2026 respectively, while "Avengers: Secret Wars" is scheduled for May 2027 Released on July 7th. These three movies will undoubtedly pave the way for the future of MCU and bring new directions and possibilities to this huge movie universe.
