🧨 Thunderbolts* Turns Into New Avengers: What It Means for the MCU
Marvel surprised fans by cleverly using an asterisk in the title Thunderbolts—a subtle hint that the team’s identity was temporary. By the movie’s climax, the once-dark anti-hero squad led by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is officially rebranded as the "New Avengers." This fresh take sets the stage for major shifts in team dynamics moving forward.
👥 The team includes:
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Yelena Belova (Black Widow)
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Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier)
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John Walker (U.S. Agent)
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Alexei Shostakov (Red Guardian)
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Ava Starr (Ghost)
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Antonia Dreykov (Taskmaster)
This shift symbolizes a government-controlled alternative to Sam Wilson's Avengers—bringing conflict, power struggles, and layered storytelling into the MCU Phase 5 and beyond.
🎬 Thunderbolts* Post-Credit Scenes Explained 🎞️
The film offers two juicy post-credit scenes:
🍽️ Scene One: A comedic commercial featuring Red Guardian on a Wheaties box—a light moment for fans.
🚨 Scene Two: A major game-changer. Set 14 months later, this scene teases an internal dispute between the New Avengers and Sam Wilson's group. In a twist, the Fantastic Four are teased—hinting at their long-awaited arrival and an expanding Marvel roster.
💰 Thunderbolts* Box Office: Off to a Strong Start
With an $11.5 million Thursday night launch, Thunderbolts has secured its place among the top 25 MCU openers. Box office experts forecast a weekend opening between $70M–$75M, indicating strong audience interest despite its darker themes.
🧑🚀 Fantastic Four: First Steps – Everything You Need to Know
Slated for release on July 25, 2025, Fantastic Four: First Steps will formally introduce Marvel’s First Family into the MCU.
🎬 Directed by: Matt Shakman
👨🔬 Cast includes:
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Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic)
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Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm (Invisible Woman)
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Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm (Human Torch)
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Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (The Thing)
🌌 The film will dive into their origin story, scientific adventures, and how they get woven into existing Marvel plots. With multiverse threats looming, expect the Fantastic Four to play a pivotal role in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars.
🔮 What’s Coming Next? Upcoming Marvel Blockbusters
🛡️ Avengers: Doomsday
📅 Release: May 1, 2026
🧩 Details: The Fantastic Four and the New Avengers team up to confront a colossal cosmic threat, possibly Kang or a multiverse-level villain.
🌐 Avengers: Secret Wars
📅 Release: May 7, 2027
🔀 Overview: Expected to be the endgame of the Multiverse Saga, uniting multiple Marvel realities and characters in one explosive crossover.
