Marvel Studios may have only released one film this year, but its immense popularity more than makes up for the lack of MCU programming. This summer, Deadpool and Wolverine have dominated the box office, together grossing over $1.3 billion, marking a significant comeback for the studio that only Marvel could orchestrate.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is set to unveil much more content in 2025, which will include highly anticipated titles like Captain America: Brave New World and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The latter is especially notable as it will unite some of the franchise’s most cherished characters to form a new team, distinctly different from anything we’ve seen before. This is not your typical Avengers lineup; it’s the Thunderbolts.
If you, like many others, were uncertain about what to expect from the new film, Marvel Studios has released the first trailer, and it has certainly piqued interest.
1. Pugh and Sebastian Stan lead the Thunderbolts in Marvel’s new trailer
Regardless of opinions, Thunderbolts is shaping up to be one of the most awaited films of the coming year. The teaser indicates that the film will be filled with action and centered around some of the MCU’s most beloved supporting characters.
Yelena Belova appears to be at the center of the storyline, grappling with her identity following the tragic loss of her sister, Natasha Romanoff, famously known as Black Widow. She believed that throwing herself into work would be the remedy, but as she confides in her father figure, Alexei Shostakov, a.k.a. Red Guardian (David Harbour), it hasn’t proven effective.
This predicament also places her in jeopardy as she faces off against John Walker, a.k.a. US Agent (Wyatt Russell), Ava Starr, a.k.a. Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Antonia Dreykov, a.k.a. Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), and Bob, a.k.a. Sentry (Lewis Pullman).
With their usefulness to their previous handler now diminished, they pose a significant risk. Consequently, this assembly of assassins, warriors, and operatives comes together with a unified goal: survival.
They will receive assistance from Alexei, who acts as a covert getaway driver, helping them evade the agency that is determined to eliminate them. However, as John Walker bluntly states, their getaway vehicle is definitely not bulletproof!
The wildcard in this scenario is Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), who appears to revert to his Winter Soldier persona, tracking down the Thunderbolts in a sequence reminiscent of the Terminator franchise, culminating in the destruction of their vehicle.
Interestingly, it seems that the person who directs Bucky after them is none other than Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, the superior of Yelena and John.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus has represented this character in three films: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Black Widow, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In her earlier appearances, she recruited John Walker and entrusted Yelena with the task of killing Hawkeye, though she never completed that directive.
Could she be pulling a similar tactic to DC’s Amanda Waller, deciding that she no longer requires these operatives? And if so, is she the one who unleashed Bucky upon them?
It’s fascinating to consider how this will unfold, especially since Bucky is eventually seen aligning with the Thunderbolts as they confront Valentina in an office setting.
About Thunderbolts*
Thunderbolts is an upcoming American superhero film inspired by the Marvel Comics team of the same name. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it will serve as the 36th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This film boasts an ensemble cast featuring David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, Olga Kurylenko, and Florence Pugh. The plot follows a group of antiheroes engaged in government-sanctioned missions.
Marvel Studios began hinting at assembling a Thunderbolts team within the MCU as early as 2021. The film was officially announced in June 2022, with Schreier and Pearson attached as part of the development team. The primary cast was disclosed that September, followed by further casting announcements into early 2023. Lee came on board to rewrite the script by March 2023, collaborating with Schreier, a veteran from the Netflix series Beef (2023). Production faced delays due to the Hollywood labor strikes in 2023, necessitating the replacement of some actors in early 2024, when Calo joined the project. Filming occurred from February to June 2024 at Trilith Studios and Atlanta Metro Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, with some scenes shot in Utah.
Thunderbolts is scheduled for release in the United States on May 2, 2025, marking the conclusion of Phase Five of the MCU.
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