After the superhero team’s debut in Thunderbolts*, there are many more incredible team members from Marvel Comics we’d love to see appear in live-action in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 2025’s Thunderbolts* featured Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes’ Winter Soldier, John Walker’s US Agent, Ava Starr’s Ghost, and Alexei Shostakov’s Red Guardian as the team’s first line-up in the MCU. This group was then rebranded as the New Avengers, opening the door for an honest-to-goodness Thunderbolts team to appear in the MCU, which could include some brilliant team members from the comics.

The Thunderbolts first appeared in Marvel Comics back in 1997’s The Incredible Hulk #449. They were introduced as a group of flamboyant new heroes who replaced the Avengers following their presumed deaths, however, they were later outed as Baron Zemo’s Masters of Evil. While they began as villains, masquerading as heroes actually convinced the Thunderbolts to carry out good deeds and seek redemption, which is exactly what occurred in the MCU’s Thunderbolts*. Marvel Studios’ line-up was brilliant, but it would be great to see some of these iconic Thunderbolts members from Marvel Comics also join the MCU.

7) Flash Thompson’s Agent Venom

Eugene “Flash” Thompson has been a part of the MCU since 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, played by Tony Revolori, but he is yet to assume his Agent Venom moniker. Flash became Agent Venom after bonding with the Venom Symbiote in 2011’s The Amazing Spider-Man #654. Soon after, he became a member of the Red Hulk’s strike team-like Thunderbolts alongside Deadpool, Elektra, and the Punisher, all of whom had conditions that are incurable. It would be great to see Flash Thompson finally become Agent Venom, giving Revolori a more dramatic role, and bringing the Symbiote officially into the MCU.

6) Donnie Gill’s Blizzard

Since Agents of SHIELD is not considered canon to the MCU’s official timeline, it’s possible that Donnie Gill’s Blizzard, who was played by Dylan Minnette in the Marvel Television series, could be reintroduced. Blizzard became a member of Abner Jenkins’ Thunderbolts team, the second iteration, in 2004. Jenkins had been a member of the original group, and decided to form a new team to follow in the first’s footsteps, redeeming villains such as Speed Demon, Radioactive Man, and Nighthawk, alongside Blizzard, into heroes, though Donnie Gill soon turned back to a life of crime.

5) Satana Hellstrom

Human and demon hybrid Satana Hellstrom joined Luke Cage’s Thunderbolts team during the Heroic Age in 2010. She was recruited by Cage and Doctor Strange and joined the team on a time traveling adventure. Since Sydney Lemmon’s debut as Ana in Marvel Television’s Helstrom series wasn’t positively-received, it would be great to see the daughter of Marduk Kurios, the demon who repeatedly poses as Satan, and her brother, Daimon, reinvented for the MCU. Both these magic-wielding antiheroes would be incredible additions to Thunderbolts teams, especially with the MCU focusing more on supernatural characters and stories.

4) Abner Jenkins’ Beetle

Before he formed his own Thunderbolts team, Abner Jenkins was recruited into Baron Zemo’s Masters of Evil and became a founding member of the Thunderbolts. Originally known as the supervillain Beetle, who wore an armor-plated suit that made him strong enough to fight the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man. Jenkins rebranded himself as MACH-1 when he joined the Thunderbolts, and took on different monikers – MACH-2 through X – with each upgrade of his suit. Jenkins is one of the longest-running and most prominent Thunderbolts members, so he deserves a place in the live-action MCU.

3) Karla Sofen’s Meteorite

Alongside Abner Jenkins, Karla Sofen was also a founding member of the Thunderbolts in Marvel Comics. She started her villainous career as Moonstone, who gained her powers by fusing with a Kree-designed “gravity stone.” She became Meteorite in the Thunderbolts team, and then later took on the moniker of Ms. Marvel when she joined the Dark Avengers, so it would be fantastic to see Sofen debut in a possible Captain Marvel 3, teaming up with Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan. Meteorite was regularly the Thunderbolts’ field leader, so she could have a bright future in the MCU.

2) Melissa Gold’s Songbird

Prior to the release of Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts*, rumors began circulating that Geraldine Viswanathan’s “Mel” could, in fact, be the MCU’s iteration of Melissa Gold, aka Songbird, an original member of Marvel Comics’ Thunderbolts team. She wears a bird pendant on a necklace in the 2025 movie, perhaps hinting at her superhero identity. Songbird is one of the most well-known and popular Thunderbolts members, so it would be brilliant to see Viswanathan fully embody this identity in the MCU’s future, showing off her supersonic abilities and becoming a prominent member of the Thunderbolts for years to come.

1) Johnny Blaze’s Ghost Rider

We’re all waiting for Johnny Blaze’s Ghost Rider to make his debut in the MCU, and Thunderbolts* opened the door. Although better known as part of teams such as the Midnight Sons, the Legion of Monsters, and the Defenders, Blaze teamed up with the Thunderbolts from 2014’s Thunderbolts (Vol. 2) #20 onwards, joining forces with the likes of Red Hulk, Deadpool, Elektra, and the Punisher, all of whom have already appeared in the MCU. With Mephisto’s MCU debut speculated to be imminent, it may not be long before Johnny Blaze cuts his deal with the demon and becomes Ghost Rider.

Which characters do you want to see join the MCU’s next Thunderbolts team? Let us know in the comments!

The post 7 Great Thunderbolts Members Still Not in the MCU appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Thunderbolts* featured a group of castoffs from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, along with a new character played by Lewis Pullman. The Top Gun: Maverick star played Bob, a powerful character also known as Sentry and his evil counterpart, the Void. Bob is a complex character to pull off, but Pullman was more than up for the task. The cast and crew of Thunderbolts* were left impressed by Pullman’s performance, and fans of the MCU will get to see them rain praise down on the Sentry actor in a special featurette for Thunderbolts*.

ComicBook has the exclusive preview of a Thunderbolts* featurette that puts the spotlight on Bob, Sentry, and the Void. Lewis Pullman kicks things off by saying that he had never heard of Sentry before he was approached by Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier. “I did a bunch of research before I started this, and it was extra gratifying to start doing a deep dive, and only finding that I felt more and more for [Bob], the more I learned,” Pullman said. Images from Sentry’s appearances in the comics also flash on the screen.

“I think Lewis is absolutely genius,” Florence Pugh says. “I couldn’t quite imagine where Bob was going to go in this, and I think what Lewis has done was really hard work. He really had to fill in a lot of blanks, and he did a masterful job.”

“This is a really hard part, you’re playing three people, essentially, ” Schreier says. He goes on to add how he and Pullman would have weekly meetings to discuss story beats, to decide what beats would be centered on Bob, Sentry, and Void at any given point in the movie’s story.

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“Bob’s introduction is a pretty good one, I think, because you just get out of this massive fight sequence with all these superheroes, and then this weird guy just appears,” Pullman says. “The first act is trying to figure out is [Bob] a part of it, how can he help. A large part of Bob’s history is this repetition of wanting to help and wanting to be of service, but every time he tries, it always makes things worse.

While the movie is titled Thunderbolts*, the MCU movie revealed that the asterisk in the film’s name was just a placeholder. The team of misfits are officially the New Avengers, with Marvel Studios changing its marketing post-release to reflect the plot twist.

Thunderbolts* is available to buy digitally on July 1st, and you can own it on Blu-ray on July 29th.

The post Watch Bob Become Sentry (and the Void) in Exclusive Thunderbolts* BTS Featurette appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The newest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is wrapping up its theatrical run and is now preparing for its highly anticipated home debut. Thunderbolts*, the team-up featuring the film franchise’s iteration of the New Avengers, stands out as one of the most acclaimed MCU films since the Infinity Saga concluded in 2019. The ensemble picture focused more on dealing with issues like depression than solely moving the franchise forward, and fans loved it for its honest approach. Two months after its initial theatrical bow, Jack Schreier’s Thunderbolts* is going to be making the leap to digital platforms, followed by a full physical rollout that includes a fantastic 4K UHD SteelBook and a Walmart exclusive Blu-ray with pop-up packaging. Pre-orders for the entire lineup are available now, and additional details can be found below complete with info on special features.

Disney recently announced that Marvel’s Thunderbolts* is going to be available for purchase or rental on digital platforms like Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home beginning July 1st. Four weeks later, on July 29th, the film will be launch on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD formats. Read on for info on special features.

Marvel Studios Thunderbolts* on 4K UHD Steelbook, Standard 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD

See on Amazon

See at Walmart

The physical editions are going to include a slew of special features, including a full director’s commentary track and multiple deleted scenes. In addition, the 4K version will have two limited releases — a SteelBook that focuses on the New Avengers branding, as well as a “pop up” case that will be sold exclusively at Walmart. Here’s the full list of special features included on the Thunderbolts* Blu-ray release:

Thunderbolts Walmart Exclusive Blu-ray Packaging

See at walmart

• Deleted Scenes – Check out the scenes that didn’t make the final cut.
  • Door is Unliftable
  • Gary Announcement
• Assembling a Team to Remember – Spend a bit of quality time with the cast and crew of Thunderbolts* as they divulge how the film’s fictional team of superpowered mavericks, misfits and antiheroes was assembled.
• Around the World and Back Again – Discover the eclectic locations and astounding production design that helped make Thunderbolts* a rousing reality, including a visit to the sprawling sets in Kuala Lumpur where we join Florence Pugh performing stunts atop one of planet Earth’s tallest buildings and blowing up buildings on the streets.
• All About Bob, Sentry & The Void – Deep dive into the making of three different characters: Bob, Sentry, and The Void – all performed by Lewis Pullman.
• Gag Reel – Enjoy fun outtakes on set with the cast and crew of Thunderbolts*.
• Director’s Audio Commentary – Watch the film with audio commentary by director Jake Schreier.

Will you be grabbing a copy of Thunderbolts*? Let us know in the comments!

The post Marvel’s Thunderbolts Blu-ray Pre-Orders Launch With a 4K Steelbook and Pop-Up Exclusive appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Many characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have proven themselves to be highly-skilled and very impressive fighters. It’s hard to be a superhero in the MCU without having some hand-to-hand combatant skills, especially since some of the most terrifying and sinister villains in the franchise are also very experienced fighters. Many of Marvel’s heroes started out in the military, including the likes of Captain America, The Winter Soldier, Captain Marvel, and War Machine, while others have gone through comprehensive training to improve their fighting styles.

Since 2008’s Iron Man, dozens of superpowered heroes and villains have been adapted from the pages of Marvel Comics into the live-action MCU. Most of them have taken part in scenes involving incredible fight sequences, usually following months of professional training. While some characters use their smarts, intelligence, or brute, unrefined strength to take down their villains, including the likes of Iron Man, Bruce Banner, and Star-Lord, others have delivered some of the best fight sequences in the franchise.

10) Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow

Trained from a young age in the Red Room to be a formidable Black Widow assassin, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) was continually the most skilled, confident, and refined fighter on the MCU’s original Avengers team. Her fighting style is the same as her Black Widow sisters, including Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), who has taken over from her following her death in Avengers: Endgame. Even so, her impressive skills during fights against the likes of Clint Barton, Bucky Barnes, and Proxima Midnight, to name a few, earn her a place among the MCU’s best fighters.

Natasha Romanoff received the same training as the other Black Widows, which means her fighting skills are not unique in the MCU. Rather, the same techniques, tricks, and surprises can be seen during fights with other Black Widows in projects such as Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Hawkeye, and Thunderbolts*, which featured Yelena Belova as a leader of the New Avengers. Because of this, Belova will be able to continue Romanoff’s legacy in the MCU perfectly as the new Black Widow.

9) Clint Barton/Hawkeye

Natasha Romanoff’s best friend during her time in the MCU was Clint Barton’s Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). As an elite SHIELD operative, Barton’s fighting skills are incredible, but these are enhanced by his natural marksmanship talents. Barton has impeccable aim, which means he seldom misses when using projectile weapons, such as arrows. His hand-to-hand combat skills are just as clean and impressive, however, presumably thanks to years of training as a SHIELD agent. Barton could even keep up with Yelena Belova in Hawkeye on Disney+, proving how good he is.

8) Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier

After falling from the train during World War II in Captain America: The First Avenger, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) was taken captive by HYDRA, given a super-soldier serum, and transformed into the cold and calculated Winter Soldier. Quick, unpredictable, and unbarred, the Winter Soldier was one of the most aggressive and brutal fighters in the MCU. Even though Barnes has now turned to a life of heroism as a member of the New Avengers, he is still putting these brilliant fighting skills to work, most recently by battling the Void (Lewis Pullman) to save New York City.

One of the things that helps Bucky Barnes be such a powerful fighter in the MCU is his vibranium arm. Initially made of titanium – this version was destroyed by Iron Man in Captain America: Civil War – Bucky received a vibranium prosthetic arm by T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) after spending some time recovering in Wakanda. Bucky’s vibranium arm proves helpful in many situations as an addition to his super-soldier enhancements, though it’s also often used to make other characters appear stronger when they tear off the arm or use it against Bucky.

7) Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster

Antonia Dreykov (Olga Kurylenko) clearly wasn’t a good enough fighter to go toe-to-toe with Ava Starr’s Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) in Thunderbolts* – although she isn’t featured on this list. Even so, the Taskmaster first seen in 2021’s Black Widow, despite being very different from her Marvel Comics counterpart, was a very skilled and unique soldier who could perfectly mimic the fighting style of others just by watching. This meant she was able to copy Captain America, Hawkeye, and Black Widow’s techniques, making her a formidable opponent, though this ultimately didn’t help save her from a bullet in the head.

6) Steve Rogers/Captain America

Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) was just a skinny kid from Brooklyn before being given the world’s first successful super-soldier serum during World War II, which transformed him into Captain America. Rogers’ military training turned him into a very skilled fighter, however, even before becoming Captain America. Although, the muscles certainly helped. Prior to becoming Captain America, Rogers’ determination during a fight was clear, notably through his catchphrase, “I could do this all day,” and he has since proven his actual physical skill in battles against the Red Skull, Loki, the Winter Soldier, Crossbones, Thanos, and more.

RELATED: This Wild MCU Theory Explains How Chris Evans Can Return As HYDRA’s Captain America

One of the most exciting displays of Captain America’s fighting skills was shown in Avengers: Endgame, which saw Steve Rogers travel back to 2012’s New York on the Time Heist, where he battled his past self. This scene showed how much he’d grown as a fighter, as the styles of his past and former selves were quite different, while he also wasn’t afraid to fight a bit dirty. Sam Wilson’s new Captain America (Anthony Mackie), despite not having super-soldier serum, is also a gifted fighter, meaning Rogers’ legacy is safe in the right hands.

5) Wade Wilson/Deadpool

As a former operative in the Canadian Special Forces, Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) has a background as a skilled and aggressive fighter. He used these skills after leaving the Special Forces to become a respected mercenary working out of Sister Margaret’s School for Wayward Girls, and later to become the mutated antihero Deadpool. Deadpool’s unabashed, no-holds-barred fighting style is made more impressive and entertaining by his comedic and fourth wall-breaking antics, and he has put these skills to the test in fights against Ajax, Cable, Wolverine, and even variants of himself. His regenerative healing factor is also a huge advantage.

4) Matt Murdock/Daredevil

Matt Murdock’s (Charlie Cox) blindness has never held him back, and has in fact enhanced his other senses to incredible levels, allowing him to become the crime-fighting vigilante Daredevil. The son of boxer “Battlin’ Jack” Murdock, Daredevil uses a blend of boxing and martial arts in his fight sequences, which allows him to get the upper hand on villains such as Nobu, Kingpin, Leapfrog, and Bullseye, though he is often messy and unrefined, too, which sometimes leads to mistakes. Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 will provide more opportunities for Matt Murdock to show off his sometimes-brutal fighting skills.

3) Okoye

For most of her career, Okoye (Danai Gurira) was the General of Wakanda’s Dora Milaje, the elite all-female army that protect the Wakandan royals, including T’Challa and Shuri (Letitia Wright). She was a formidable warrior even just as a member of the Dora Milaje, but after 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Okoye is now a Midnight Angel, kitted out with an even more empowered suit. This makes her an even stronger fighter alongside Aneka (Michaela Coel), and one of Wakanda’s most respected figures.

2) Shang-Chi

Bringing the Master of Kung Fu from Marvel Comics to life, Simu Liu engaged in some of the MCU’s best fight sequences yet in 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Shang-Chi is a martial arts expert, especially after learning the ways of his ancestors in Ta Lo and after acquiring the mystical and formidable Ten Rings. Shang-Chi was trained in many different kinds of martial arts by his father, Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung), the Mandarin, so it almost unmatched when it comes to fighting. It’s exciting to see where Shang-Chi will be taken next in the MCU.

1) Robert Reynolds/Sentry

One of the newest characters introduced to the MCU is also one of the strongest. Lewis Pullman’s Robert Reynolds was a deadbeat who signed up to be a test subject in Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and OXE’s experiments with a new super-soldier serum. He was initially thought dead, but soon returned as the superpowered Sentry. Unfortunately, the serum also unlocked his dark alter ego, the Void, who posed a significant threat to the Thunderbolts – who became the New Avengers team – and the whole of New York City.

The Void didn’t just attack the Thunderbolts emotionally, but Reynolds also had the chance to show off some of his incredible new skills. He tore through the future New Avengers team, including super-soldiers Bucky Barnes, US Agent, and Red Guardian, Quantum-empowered Ghost, and Black Widow assassin Yelena Belova, while using barely any of his strength. His telekinesis, superhuman reflexes and durability, and flight abilities make him a keen and unmatched fighter, despite him not having any professional training. Sentry – if he manages to get his Void under control – will surely be a fighter to watch in the MCU’s future.

Who are your favorite fighters in the MCU? Let us know in the comments!

The post 10 Best Fighters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Concept artist John Staub has offered a look at alternative designs for the Sentry (Lewis Pullman) and his darker half, the Void, from Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts*, showcasing some striking visuals that lean heavily into comic book accuracy. Shared via Instagram, the artwork reveals a version of the Void hovering menacingly before a colossal dark cloud, a direct nod to the character’s initial appearances in the original Sentry comic book miniseries. Other explorations included a stark black version of the Sentry’s traditional uniform, presenting a more corrupted hero aesthetic. Ultimately, the film opted for a portrayal where the Void is depicted as an entity of pure darkness, with Pullman’s face obscured by shadow, leaving only two glowing eyes. This choice underscored the Void’s nature as an erasure of Bob Reynolds’ very being rather than just an alternate costume.

In Thunderbolts*, Robert “Bob” Reynolds fractured psyche is exacerbated by Project Sentry experiments, manifesting two immensely powerful personas: the heroic Sentry and the nihilistic Void. The Void serves as the movie’s primary antagonist, seeking to spread his despair through a dark dimension that forces individuals to relive their trauma. The plot hinges on the titular team, a group of reformed antagonists and anti-heroes, confronting this god-level threat. The narrative culminates with the Thunderbolts reaching out to Bob Reynolds, offering him support and human connection. This collective empathy allows Bob to gain a measure of control over the Void, causing the dark mist to dissipate. As a result, the choice to make the Void an all-consuming, featureless darkness powerfully visualized how Bob’s trauma threatened to erase his identity.

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While the post-credits scene of Thunderbolts* shows Bob has been keeping the Void in check by never conjuring the powers of the Sentry, Pullman is part of the extensive cast confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday. That strongly suggests that audiences have not seen the last of Bob Reynolds and his troubled alter egos. Plot details of Avengers: Doomsday are being kept under wraps, but it’s likely the Sentry, and the Void, will return for Marvel Studios’s upcoming crossover movie.

Thunderbolts* Critical Acclaim And Box Office Hurdles

Thunderbolts* garnered significant praise, achieving an impressive 88% critic score and an even stronger 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the highest-rated MCU Phase 5 project on both metrics at the time of its release. This positive reception, however, did not fully translate into blockbuster box office numbers. The movie concluded its theatrical run with approximately $381 million globally against a reported production budget of $180 million. While not an outright flop, this figure falls short of the typical break-even point for a film of this scale (often estimated at 2.5 times the production budget, which would be around $450 million), especially when factoring in marketing and distribution costs.

However, the critical success of Thunderbolts*, particularly the praise for its mature themes, character development, and direction by Jake Schreier, has had positive repercussions beyond the box office numbers. Schreier’s adept handling of the complex ensemble and the film’s emotional depth has given him the director’s chair for Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated X-Men movie. This move mirrors Marvel’s strategy with the Russo brothers, who transitioned from the critically acclaimed Captain America: The Winter Soldier to masterminding the Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame saga. Entrusting Schreier with the introduction of mutants into the MCU, a cornerstone of Marvel’s future plans post-Avengers: Secret Wars, indicates the studio values proven directorial vision capable of delivering both quality storytelling and audience satisfaction, even if the box office returns for Thunderbolts* were not as robust as hoped.

What are your thoughts on these comic-accurate Sentry and Void designs? Do you think the final version in Thunderbolts* was more effective? Let us know in the comments!

The post Marvel’s Thunderbolts* Reveals Wildly Different Sentry and Void Costumes That Are Comic Accurate appeared first on ComicBook.com.

WARNING: There are spoilers ahead for Thunderbolts* and for Captain America: Brave New World! It’s been a big year for Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), who dropped in on audiences back in February to reveal he was running for the U.S. Congress, was elected by May, only to leave that job behind and join the New Avengers. Screenwriter Joanna Calo just discussed Bucky’s short-lived political career in an interview with Marvel.com. Calo co-wrote the script for Thunderbolts* along with Eric Pearson, who is credited for writing the story. She said that it wasn’t hard to imagine people voting for Bucky, even in the chaotic world of the MCU.

“All of these people have spent their lives trying to make the world better, and they’re also trying to come to terms with the bad they have done in the past,” Calo said. ” That is what all of our characters are trying to figure out. I really loved the idea that Bucky is still genuinely trying to figure out how to make the world a better place, but he doesn’t fit in. After the terrible thing happened to him almost a hundred years ago, he really hasn’t fit into life. He’s always been out of time. So, that’s where he finds himself in Congress.”

“People would vote for him!” she went on. “If you saw Bucky Barnes on the ballot, you’d probably vote for him! But he feels like he doesn’t really have the skills, and he feels like it’s not enough. I love that first scene with him where he doesn’t know how to talk to the reporters. He doesn’t have all the moves yet. I thought that was very charming.”

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This was Calo’s first time working on the MCU, though her other credits are impressive enough on their own — she wrote on the acclaimed Netflix original series Beef, and is a co-showrunner on Hulu’s The Bear as well. However, it doesn’t appear that Calo or Pearson are responsible for pushing Bucky into politics, as neither of them contributed to the story or script for Captain America: Brave New World. Even then, we have to assume the five writers credited for that movie were taking notes and directions from Marvel Studios producers in order to tie all these stories together.

Bucky’s brief career in congress has been a bit divisive among fans, despite how little it ultimately impacted the action. Bucky has not run for congress in Marvel Comics, and to some, the idea felt a little out of place in the MCU. To others, it felt a little to close to home, as the idea of celebrities and public figures taking a hand in politics is not too foreign in the real world these days.

Bucky’s charm, altruism, and charisma may have served him well in a political campaign, but it’s easy to imagine the issues raised against him as well. His history as a foreign spy might render him ineligible for office, and would certainly create security concerns among voters and colleagues. Some fans simply wished the MCU had put more of these debates on screen rather than cutting the political story short.

Now, it seems like Bucky’s political career is over already, as he is a full-time member of The New Avengers in the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene. The movie is still playing in many theaters now.

The post The MCU’s Weirdest Plot of 2025 Explained By Marvel Writer appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe X-Men reboot movie officially has as director. The news dropped as a footnote in a larger focus piece on the upcoming Marvel Studios release slate, which now includes four film releases set for the year 2028. That’s going to arguably be the most pivotal year in the history of the MCU, as Avengers: Secret Wars is expected to soft-reboot the entire franchise in late 2027, making 2028, ostensibly, the soft relaunch of a whole new MCU franchise. Phase Seven will be the place where the Marvel movie diaspora finally consolidates into one shared universe, where Sony’s Spider-Man universe and Fox’s former Fantastic Four and X-Men franchises finally co-exist alongside the Avengers universe Marvel Studios built. Every Marvel character is finally playing in the same franchise sandbox.

X-Men is going to be the biggest make-or-break release of that initial Phase Seven release slate – perhaps the final hope for Marvel Studios to score a billion-dollar and/or franchise-starter blockbuster hit. And, as earlier reports speculated, Marvel is trusting none other than Thunderbolts* director Jake Schrier with MCU X-Men movie’s director’s chair.

Is Jake Schreier The Right Director for X-Men?

Jake Schreier really scored his breakout hit directing and executive producing Netflix’s dark horse hit new series, Beef. That show’s method of blending seemingly disparate genres (drama, action, even some select horror-thriller vibes and gore), in order to achieve deep, probing character studies, was something novel and dynamic for viewers to experience. All box office debates aside, Thunderbolts* was also (at the very least) a novel and dynamic MCU character study, which once again showed that Schreier can string together seemingly contradictory genres (superhero fantasy, action, psychological horror, thrillers, drama) and bake them into a weird-but-wonderful viewing experience. “Weird but wonderful” should practically be the tagline for what this MCU X-Men movie hopes to be.

It must be noted that Jake Schreier’s success with both Beef and Thunderbolts wasn’t achieved alone; he’s been on a strong creative stride alongside Joanna Calo, who is the showrunner of FX-Hulu’s Emmy-winning hit The Bear, as well as one of the creative talents involved with Netflix’s BoJack Horseman and HBO Max’s Emmy-winning hit Hacks. There’s no word on whether or not Calo will partner with Schreier on the MCU X-Men movie, but given the strength of virtually all of her character-driven TV series, we have to hope she’s along for this X-Men project.

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The X-Men ’97 animated series was a test run for how a new generation of MCU fans responds to X-Men content. Fans who were raised on Avengers movies and only knew the X-Men from the Fox movies were somewhat surprised by the level of messy drama and socio-political insights that come with X-Men stories. It gave both fans and Marvel Studios a much-needed taste test, which Schreier can now build on. If he can wrangle a bunch of D-list characters and create Thunderbolts*, he can certainly work with Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wovlerine, Gambit, Rogue, and the rest.

As of now, the MCU X-Men Reboot is expected to be released in 2028.

Source: Variety

The post Marvel’s X-Men Reboot Officially Has A Director (and MCU Fans Will Be Happy) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Despite facing backlash throughout Phases 4 and 5, Marvel Studios is doing a good job of building the hype for Avengers: Doomsday. Of course, the big draw of the movie is that Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but not as his original character, Tony Stark. He will bring Victor von Doom to life and torment the heroes who go up against his villain. However, despite most of the original Avengers being gone, Doom won’t have it easy. The Fantastic Four are about to join the fray, and they will have company in the form of Sam Wilson and his allies. Initially, both of those groups are going to have to take a backseat, though, because a new team is in town.

The end of 2025’s Thunderbolts* reveals that the titular team is now the “New Avengers.” Valentina Allegra de Fontaine puts the whole thing together to save her skin, but the anti-heroes take to their new roles pretty quickly. They have operated as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes for over a year by the time the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene rolls around, revealing the Fantastic Four’s ship has entered the planet’s atmosphere. Doomsday is sure to pick up right after that, but information about the movie’s filming location reveals that things are going to get even more complicated for the New Avengers.

BBC News got its hands on some plans Marvel submitted to the council of Berkshire, England. The company wants to build a single house outside Bracknell Forest, which isn’t abnormal for a production as large as Doomsday‘s. What makes the plans noteworthy, though, is that they list a name for the structure, “Annie Reynolds’ House.” Now, there aren’t any notable heroes in the Doomsday cast list with the first name Annie, but Reynolds just so happens to be the last name of the MCU’s strongest character, Sentry.

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The Void May Return to the MCU Sooner Than Anticipated

The reason the public is so quick to embrace the New Avengers is that they save New York City from the Void, Bob Reynolds’ evil alter-ego. Valentina tries to kill Bob after he defies her, which blows up in her face because her attack unleashes the Void. The dark entity begins absorbing everything it can, but Yelena Belova can’t just stand by and watch. She lets the Void take her and realizes that it forces anyone inside to relive their worst memories. Yelena finds Bob in his childhood home, where his dad is abusing him and his mother, Annie. It’s trauma that Bob just can’t move past, but with he help of his new friends, he sends the Void packing and begins the healing process.

To ensure the Void doesn’t get out again, Bob gives up being Sentry and hangs out in Avengers Tower while his friends defend the planet. He seems fine with the arrangement, but if his childhood home returns in Doomsday, that means something isn’t right. The best-case scenario is that Bob visits his mother for a long-overdue conversation. However, Doom probably isn’t going to let powerhouses like Sentry move around freely, so there’s also a chance that he realizes Bob’s potential and takes control of him somehow, forcing his enemies into the Void. In any case, Bob going back home isn’t a good omen because it’s hard to put that genie back into the bottle.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18, 2026.

How would you feel if the Void returned in Avengers: Doomsday? Is there any other reason for Annie Reynolds’ home to be part of the movie? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Avengers: Doomsday Filming Details Include a Location Important to One Hero’s Past appeared first on ComicBook.com.

By now, everyone knows the Thunderbolts are actually the New Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but that was a big secret during the film’s production. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Thunderbolts* star Florence Pugh recalled how the cast and crew shot multiple versions of the movie’s ending scene, where Valentina Allegra de Fontaine publicly introduces the newest iteration of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. One take, which was filmed with extras portraying a crowd of excited onlookers, featured Val giving the team a different name. Then, once the extras were dismissed, the actual version was shot where Val welcomes the New Avengers to the MCU.

“We shot a version where she was like, ‘The New Thunderbolts!'” Pugh said. “And everyone was like, ‘Woo!’ And then we took all of the background [actors] out and shot [Julia Louis-Dreyfus’] line, which was kind of cool.”

The New Avengers ended up being the truth behind the mysterious asterisk in the Thunderbolts* title that fueled fan debates for months. The film’s post-credits scenes deal with the fallout of the characters’ new status, teasing a legal dispute with Sam Wilson (who has assembled his own separate Avengers team). There’s also a montage of news clippings reacting to the revelation, plus a humorous bit where Red Guardian tries to convince someone to buy New Avengers cereal.

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Unsurprisingly, the New Avengers are going to be integral figures in the MCU moving forward. Thunderbolts* stars Pugh, Harbour, Lewis Pullman, Wyatt Russell, Sebastian Stan, and Hannah John-Kamen are all set to reprise their roles in Avengers: Doomsday. The New Avengers are just one superhero team that will be present in the film, which will also sport Sam Wilson’s Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men.

Marvel is always protective of spoilers, which is why the decision was made to shoot multiple versions of the final Thunderbolts* scene. Given the secrecy surrounding the asterisk, the studio didn’t want the twist coming out ahead of time. Curiously, however, Marvel wasted no time publicly embracing the twist after the Thunderbolts* premiere. Only a few days into the movie’s theatrical run, it was rebranded as *The New Avengers with a series of new posters. Disney defended the controversial choice, but some fans felt it would have been better to hold off on the reveal until further down the line.

One crucial detail in the Thunderbolts* ending was Yelena telling Val that the New Avengers “own” her now, a threat to reveal Val’s dark secrets to the world. It’ll be interesting to see if that thread is followed up on in a future MCU project. Louis-Dreyfus was not one of the actors confirmed for the Avengers: Doomsday cast during Marvel’s livestream in March, but there are future casting announcements to come. Perhaps there will be a spot for Val; her dynamic with the New Avengers is exciting and rich, and it would be a shame if it was underserved in the larger Multiverse Saga.

The post Marvel Shot Another Thunderbolts Ending With a Different New Name for the MCU Team appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The ending of Thunderbolts* delivered one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most welcome surprises, but Kevin Feige’s new comments have spurred theories suggesting all may not be as it seems. Thunderbolts* – or The New Avengers – brought back several antiheroes and reformed villains as a brand-new superhero team who protected New York from Robert Reynolds’ dark alter ego, the Void. However, the New Avengers wasn’t the only team introduced in Thunderbolts*, as the movie’s post-credits scene also teased the Fantastic Four. A new theory posits that the version of the Fantastic Four seen in Thunderbolts* is actually from Earth-838.

Earth-838 is the alternate universe that was home to the Illuminati team in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Among the Illuminati members was John Krasinski’s version of Reed Richards’ Mister Fantastic, the leader of the Fantastic Four, though he was ultimately murdered by the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). A new theory shared on Instagram suggests that the Fantastic Four ship seen at the end of Thunderbolts* could be the remaining team members from Earth-838 coming to avenge the death of their leader, not the upcoming iteration of the team from The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

This theory might be supported by Marvel boss Kevin Feige’s new comments in the July 2025 issue of Empire Magazine. “The name of their ship is the Excelsior, and there is a Fantastic Four ship entering the MCU in the tag,” Feige noted in reference to the appearance of the Fantastic Four ship, presumably from First Steps, in Thunderbolts*‘ post-credits scene. However, he then states, “But I’m not sure they’re the same ship,” which has cast doubt on whether this is, indeed, the group’s vessel from First Steps.

While the Excelsior from The Fantastic Four: First Steps and the Fantastic Four ship in Thunderbolts* do look remarkably similar, eagle-eyed viewers might notice that they do have one major difference: First Steps’ Excelsior has three legs coming from the back of the ship, while the vessel in Thunderbolts* has four, hinting as these ships being from different realities. It would make sense for Marvel Studios to revisit Earth-838’s heroes from Multiverse of Madness, as there’s no way they’d simply forgive and forget the Scarlet Witch’s brutal murder of Mister Fantastic, Professor X, Captain Marvel, and Captain Carter.

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There has been speculation since 2022 that the other heroes of Earth-838 would come into the MCU’s main continuity of Earth-616 to seek vengeance. 2026’s upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and its 2027 sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars, would be the perfect place for this to occur, and Thunderbolts*’ post-credits scene may have already set this up. This could bring alternate versions of Magneto, Carol Danvers, the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four into the MCU, explaining some of Doomsday’s already-confirmed cast – while they’ll also be joined by the MCU’s official Fantastic Four team after First Steps‘ July 2025 release.

Are you excited to see the Fantastic Four finally debut in the MCU? Let us know in the comments!

The post Epic MCU Theory Twists Thunderbolts’ Ending & Resolves a Huge 3-Year-Old Multiverse Loose End appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s expansion onto Disney+ has fundamentally changed how fans meet new heroes and villains. No longer confined to two-hour theatrical blocks, the streaming platform allows for deeper character introductions, intricate backstories, and a chance for lesser-known figures from the comics to shine in extended narratives. This shift has not only enriched the MCU’s tapestry but has also rapidly introduced a wave of compelling personalities who have quickly become fan favorites or pivotal players in the overarching saga. As a result, the Disney+ TV shows have proven to be an effective MCU launchpad, giving characters the necessary screen time to establish their motivations, powers, and place within the vast interconnected universe.

From street-level heroes to cosmic entities, some key MCU characters demonstrate the diverse storytelling potential that Disney+ service has unlocked, offering fresh perspectives and exciting new dynamics within the established Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here’s our pick for the best MCU characters introduced on streaming first.

1) Kate Bishop

Making her debut in the Hawkeye series, Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) immediately shot her way into the hearts of viewers. As a highly skilled archer and a longtime admirer of Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), Kate brings a refreshing blend of youthful enthusiasm, determination, and surprising competence. The series masterfully establishes her origin, driven by the events of The Avengers‘ Battle of New York, and showcases her natural talent for combat and investigation, even before fully stepping into the hero life. Steinfeld’s portrayal perfectly captures Kate’s charm, wit, and underlying vulnerability, creating a compelling dynamic with Renner’s seasoned Avenger.

Kate Bishop’s introduction is a prime example of how Disney+ can effectively pass the torch and expand the MCU’s roster of heroes. The extended format of a series allowed ample time to develop her relationship with Clint, explore her family background, and firmly establish her as a capable successor to the Hawkeye mantle. Her presence signals a bright future for the next generation of Avengers, and fans are eagerly anticipating where her journey will take her next within the wider cinematic universe.

2) Moon Knight

The arrival of Moon Knight in his self-titled series brought a distinctly darker and more psychologically complex hero to the MCU. Portrayed with incredible versatility by Oscar Isaac, the character grapples with Dissociative Identity Disorder, primarily manifesting as the mild-mannered gift shop employee Steven Grant and the ruthless mercenary Marc Spector, both serving the Egyptian moon god Khonshu (voiced by F. Murray Abraham). The series delves into themes of mental health, mythology, and moral ambiguity, setting it apart tonally from many other MCU projects. Plus, Isaac’s ability to seamlessly switch between personas, each with unique mannerisms and perspectives, gave fans a standout performance.

Moon Knight demonstrated Disney+’s capacity to explore more mature themes and unconventional hero narratives within the MCU framework. The show’s focus on trauma and the supernatural offered a fresh flavor, with the mystery of Jake Lockley, the third dominant alter, adding another layer of intrigue. Moon Knight’s introduction expanded the mystical and supernatural corners of the MCU, proving that Disney+ is fertile ground for characters who operate outside the traditional superhero mold, bringing with them a unique set of internal conflicts.

3) She-Hulk

Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany) smashed her way onto screens in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, offering a unique blend of superhero action, legal comedy, and fourth-wall-breaking meta-commentary. As a lawyer who accidentally gains Hulk powers, Jennifer navigates the complexities of her new green form while managing her career and personal life. While the series’ reception was divisive, Maslany’s performance is a highlight, effortlessly embodying Jennifer’s wit and occasional exasperation with the absurdities of her situation.

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She-Hulk: Attorney at Law utilized the Disney+ format to experiment with genre, delivering the MCU’s first true half-hour comedy. This approach allowed for a character study that explored themes of identity, sexism, and the challenges of being a female superhero in a public-facing role. Despite controversies, Jennifer Walters’ introduction provided a much-needed dose of humor and self-awareness, showing that the MCU can successfully host characters whose stories are as much about everyday struggles as they are about saving the world.

4) US Agent

John Walker (Wyatt Russell) made a tumultuous entrance in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, initially presented as the government’s chosen successor to Captain America. Walker’s arc is one of the most compelling and complex in the Disney+ era, as he grapples with the immense pressure of the shield, his own insecurities, and the desire to live up to an impossible legacy. Russell delivers a powerful performance, portraying Walker’s descent from a decorated soldier into a morally compromised figure, eventually adopting the moniker “US Agent.”

The Falcon and the Winter provided the narrative space to explore the darker aspects of patriotism and the psychological toll of being a super-soldier without the inherent nobility of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans). John Walker’s journey from a symbol of hope to a flawed anti-hero was a nuanced character study that Disney+ facilitated perfectly. His return in Thunderbolts* promises that Marvel Studios will continue to explore characters who operate in the grey areas of heroism.

5) Sylvie

Loki introduced a host of fascinating characters, but none made quite the immediate impact as Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino). A variant of Loki (Tom Hiddleston) who has been on the run from the Time Variance Authority for her entire life, Sylvie is driven by a fierce desire for revenge against those who pruned her reality. Her cunning, resourcefulness, and emotional depth quickly established her as a formidable and sympathetic figure. In addition, Di Martino’s portrayal captured Sylvie’s hardened exterior and underlying vulnerability, creating a captivating dynamic with Hiddleston’s Loki.

Sylvie’s introduction was pivotal not just for the Loki series but for the entire Multiverse Saga. Her actions directly led to the fracturing of the Sacred Timeline, unleashing cosmic chaos upon the MCU. Disney+ provided the ideal platform to unravel her tragic backstory and showcase her central role in events of universe-altering significance, an arc that couldn’t fit as a side story in a two-hour movie. As such, Sylvie stands as a testament to how these series can introduce characters who immediately become integral to the MCU’s grand narrative.

6) Ms. Marvel

Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) burst onto the scene in Ms. Marvel with an infectious energy and a uniquely vibrant perspective on the MCU. As a Pakistani-American teenager from Jersey City who idolizes Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Kamala’s journey into heroism is filled with charm and relatable coming-of-age struggles. Furthermore, Vellani’s performance is a breakout, perfectly embodying Kamala’s enthusiasm and endearing awkwardness.

Ms. Marvel highlighted Disney+’s ability to introduce a new generation of heroes and bring much-needed representation to the forefront. The series beautifully wove Kamala’s powers into her personal story of self-discovery. Her successful transition to the big screen in The Marvels further solidified her place as a key young hero, showcasing how the Disney+ shows can effectively launch characters into larger MCU adventures.

7) Death

The cosmic entity Death made her striking MCU debut in Agatha All Along, portrayed by the consistently excellent Aubrey Plaza. Initially appearing as the enigmatic Rio Vidal, an old flame of Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) and the original Green Witch, her true nature as the embodiment of death and decay was gradually revealed over the weeks that followed. Plus, Death’s long history with Agatha, including a tragic past involving their son Nicholas Scratch (Cooper Friedman), added a surprising emotional complexity to the character. 

Plaza’s performance masterfully conveyed Death’s ancient power, her profound connection to the natural order, and her complicated feelings for Agatha. Agatha All Along allowed for an exploration of Death’s motivations, particularly her role in maintaining universal balance and her conflict with those who defy it, like Billy Maximoff (Joe Locke). By personifying such a fundamental force, the MCU not only expanded its mystical lore but also introduced a character whose influence could have far-reaching consequences across the universe, all developed within the focused narrative of a character-focused streaming series.

Which Disney+ MCU character has been your favorite new addition so far?

The post 7 Best MCU Characters That First Appeared on Disney+ Shows appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Despite positive reviews, Thunderbolts* is poised to go down as a box office failure, a result that could lead to significant changes for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A new piece in Variety detailing Thunderbolts*’ commercial performance and the potential fallout notes that Thunderbolts* is one of the lowest-grossing MCU installments to date. As of this writing, it has earned just $377.6 million globally. Variety states it needs to earn $425 million in order to break even. Seeing that the film’s box office run is winding down, that seems unlikely to happen, meaning Thunderbolts* is Marvel’s second box office disappointment of the year, after Captain America: Brave New World.

As Marvel looks to rebound, it could consider a couple of strategies. Variety posits the possibility the studio of adapting a “go big or go home” mentality by only moving forward with films headlined by premier characters that are a virtual lock to be a box office success (i.e. Spider-Man, Avengers, X-Men, etc.). It’s also possible Marvel looks to scale back on production costs, as it can be easier for movies with smaller budgets to turn a profit.

Thunderbolts* kicked off the 2025 summer movie season in early May, grossing $74.3 million over its opening weekend. Though word of mouth was strong (88% score on Rotten Tomatoes), the film did not have strong legs at the box office. After only a couple of weeks in theaters, Thunderbolts* was overshadowed by new arrivals like Final Destination Bloodlines, Lilo & Stitch, and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, titles that either exceeded expectations or set new records. For the weekend of June 6th-8th, Thunderbolts* came in 10th on the domestic charts.

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As of this writing, Thunderbolts* ranks ahead of only Captain America: The First Avenger ($370.5 million), The Incredible Hulk ($264.7 million), and The Marvels ($206.1 million) on the MCU’s all-time worldwide charts. Captain America: Brave New World grossed $415.1 million globally during its run earlier this year.

It’s disappointing to see Thunderbolts* end up in the red, especially after many felt it was a fun return to form for the MCU. From a storytelling perspective, it is one of Marvel’s stronger films recently, balancing genre entertainment with heavy themes in a satisfying way. But given its box office performance, Marvel is likely going to have to change things moving forward. Reducing budgets could work, but it’s worth pointing out Thunderbolts* was already cheaper than some of its Multiverse Saga contemporaries ($180 million). Marvel can probably go a bit below that figure, but you can only cut costs so much on a high-profile studio tentpole designed to be a global blockbuster. Those types of movies need to be heavily marketed to raise awareness.

Marvel is already making an effort to dial back its output, scaling back the number of movies and TV shows that are released each year. Even Kevin Feige realized it had become too much like homework to follow the MCU’s sprawling storyline, so he decided to focus on quality over quantity. The rest of the Multiverse Saga’s film slate is set, featuring titles like Avengers: Doomsday, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Avengers: Secret Wars, which should all be sizable box office hits when they open. Perhaps that is the way forward for Marvel, prioritizing features that center on the landmark characters. For those who have enjoyed seeing more obscure characters like Shang-Chi and the Eternals get the spotlight, this would be an unfortunate turn of events, but even some die-hard MCU fans might admit the franchise became too diluted with an overabundance of films and shows. The film industry is a business, and Marvel can’t keep losing money on its movies. Building projects around marquis heroes could ensure those projects turn healthy profits, and lower tier characters could always team up with Spider-Man or Wolverine.

The post Thunderbolts’ Box Office Failure May Lead to Big MCU Changes (& It’s About Time) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Scarlett Johansson finally explained her missing producer credit on Thunderbolts* in a new interview published on Tuesday. The actress had a conversation with David Harbour published by Interview Magazine, and he was quick to praise her for her influence on the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s latest team-up movie. Johansson was named as an executive producer when the film was first announced years ago, but she was not in the credits when they rolled and was not included in the publicity leading up to its release. Even Harbour didn’t seem to understand how that happened, but Johansson explained that it was her choice.

“It’s the opening day of a movie that basically you are the seventh Thunderbolt in. Your character is all over this movie. Have you seen it?” Harbour asked Johansson. When she revealed she hadn’t seen the movie, Harbour replied, “Okay. You are an executive producer on it. Congratulations,” but Johansson corrected him.

“I asked to have my credit removed because I wasn’t involved,” she said. Johansson has been taking on more and more work behind the camera in recent years. After more than a decade in the MCU, she got her first executive producer credit on Black Widow, which introduced Harbour’s character Red Guardian and Florence Pugh’s character Yelena, both of whom starred in Thunderbolts*. However, it sounds like Johansson was reluctant to accept a credit she didn’t feel she had earned.

[RELATED: Scarlett Johansson Wants To Return To Marvel In a New Role (& It’s Perfect)]

Harbour, on the other hand, seemed to feel she deserved it. He joked that she asked to have her producer credit removed because she “hated the movie that much,” before saying, “I think you’d be proud of us.” He and Johansson then discussed her unique place in the MCU and her mixed feelings on her role in hindsight.

“Some of the films that I did for Marvel engaged my character more than others,” Johansson said. “Like in [Captain America: The] Winter Soldier with Chris [Evans], we were really dynamic. In some of the other films, the cast was so enormous and there was so much plot to serve that you start to feel like you’re a device to move it along. And if you’re committed to five and a half months of that, it’s like, ‘Okay. I can’t paint my nails, I can’t get a haircut.'”

“These sound like silly problems, but your identity is wrapped up in this job for a long time, and if you’re not doing engaging work as an actor, you feel a little cagey sometimes,” she concluded.

Still, Johansson has not given up on big franchise work entirely, as she is set to star in Jurassic World: Rebirth premiering on July 2nd. Thunderbolts* is still playing in theaters now.

The post Scarlett Johansson Had Her Name Removed From Thunderbolts* Credits (& Reveals Why) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel Studios had the perfect opportunity to address a three-year-old mystery in Thunderbolts*, the most recent movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the chance was missed. Released in May 2025, Thunderbolts* brought together Yelena Belova, Ava Starr, Alexei Shostakov, John Walker, and Bucky Barnes as a brand-new superhero team, later confirmed to be the New Avengers. Bringing back these classic MCU characters tied up many loose ends, but there was one huge mystery that Marvel failed to address in the Phase 5 crossover movie.

Back in 2022, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special caught up with the titular cosmic team in the gap between 2019’s Avengers: Endgame and 2023’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. While Drax and Mantis tried to get Kevin Bacon as a Christmas present for Peter Quill’s Star-Lord, Nebula gifted Rocket Raccoon something far more intriguing: Bucky Barnes’ vibranium arm. Director James Gunn confirmed this was canon to the MCU, meaning Nebula actually stole Bucky’s arm, which had last been seen in 2021’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. However, Thunderbolts* completely ignored this MCU plot development.

Rocket’s obsession with Bucky Barnes’ arm began during Avengers: Infinity War, where the pair first met on the battlefield in Wakanda. Bucky and Rocket then fought together during the Battle of Earth in Endgame, but it was still surprising to see Rocket actually get the vibranium limb as a Christmas gift in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Nebula, with an “overabundance of Christmas spirit,” as James Gunn put it, removed the arm by force and took it back to Knowhere. An act this aggressive and transformative for Bucky would have surely left its mark, but he hasn’t mentioned it at all.

RELATED: This Captain America & Winter Soldier Reunion Needs to Happen in the MCU

Bucky Barnes’ evolution into a Congressman is somewhat unbelievable enough, but side-stepping his arm being stolen and him somehow acquiring another one makes this storyline rather confusing. Bucky should have addressed the fact that his arm was stolen in Thunderbolts*, especially since some focus was put on his arm, such as it being in the dishwasher or being forcibly removed by Lewis Pullman’s remarkably strong character, The Sentry. Bucky’s arm has been taken off his body several times, besides by Sentry, including by Aya in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and by Nebula (off-screen).

Sebastian Stan is set to return as Bucky Barnes’ Winter Soldier, now a member of the New Avengers, in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday. While the Guardians of the Galaxy haven’t yet been revealed to be coming back, it’s possible Bucky could come face-to-face with Nebula (Karen Gillan) and Rocket (Bradley Cooper) in the MCU’s Phase 6 event films. This could provide the perfect opportunity for Marvel Studios to finally address this plot hole, three years after it was first created in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.

What do you think really happened to Bucky Barnes’ arm? Let us know in the comments!

The post Thunderbolts* Forgot to Explain A Wild MCU Mystery From 3 Years Ago appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new theory reveals the next perfect member of the New Avengers team in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after their debut in Thunderbolts*. That might seem odd, given the team were built on a strong foundation of almost family ties, they will be forced with a gaalxy-shaking threat and a civil war for the Avengers name. So expansion would be logical. And while the hero didn’t join the Thunderbolts, now the New Avengers, in their self-titled Phase 5 movie, a new theory suggests the team will grow in Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars.

Geraldine Viswanathan made her MCU debut in Thunderbolts* as Mel, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) right-hand, and she has become the subject of major theories that suggest she is actually Melissa Gold, Marvel Comics’ Songbird.

Posed on Reddit, this theory is informed by previous speculation about Mel’s true identity. Throughout Thunderbolts*, Mel wears a necklace with a bird pendant, which caused many to ponder about her true nature as the MCU’s Songbird. As Songbird, Viswanathan could have a very bright future in the MCU, especially if this theory comes to fruition and she joins the ranks of the New Avengers in Phase 6. This would not only benefit Mel, however, but would also improve the power-set and expertise of the New Avengers team itself.

Melissa Gold first appeared in Marvel Comics as Screaming Mimi in 1979’s Marvel Two-in-One #54. Back then, she was a villain, but her time as a member of the original Thunderbolts team, which started as Baron Zemo’s Masters of Evil disguised as heroes, ultimately transformed her, and many of her teammates, into legitimate superheroes. Changing her moniker to Songbird, Melissa Gold became a consistent member of various Thunderbolts teams, so it would make sense that she’d make her MCU debut in Thunderbolts*, and perhaps even end up joining the team.

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While this didn’t occur in Thunderbolts*, and there were no signs to Viswanathan’s Mel having any superpowers, it’s possible Marvel Studios could have been laying the foundations for her to become a formidable hero in the MCU’s future. This could prove to be a huge asset to the future New Avengers/Thunderbolts team, as, currently, their collective power-set isn’t all too varied, but Songbird’s inclusion would change that. The New Avengers primarily comprises super-soldiers at the moment, including Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), US Agent (Wyatt Russell), and Red Guardian (David Harbour), but Mel’s involvement can bring more variety to the team.

In Marvel Comics, Songbird has bionically altered and enhanced vocal cords that allow her to emit sonic screams capable of immense destruction, while she can also create solid sound constructs and has perfect pitch. Along with Ghost’s (Hannah John-Kamen) phasing abilities and Sentry’s (Lewis Pullman) wide range of unpredictable powers, these abilities would make Songbird a unique and interesting member of the New Avengers. After Thunderbolts*, there has been a lot of speculation about the team’s line-up changing and developing in the future, and Geraldine Viswanathan’s Mel could make a fantastic addition, should she become the MCU’s Songbird.

Do you want to see Geraldine Viswanathan’s Mel become Songbird and join the New Avengers? Let us know in the comments!

The post Marvel’s New Avengers Team Gains a Powerful New Member According to Shocking Avengers 5 & 6 Theory appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Thunderbolts* concept art reveals an alternate look for Taskmaster, one that’s scarier than what’s seen in the final film. Taking to Instagram, Marvel concept artist Aleksi Briclot shared some drawings he did during the film’s development. In the post caption, he explained his inspiration for this particular design, stating that he drew from Taskmaster’s previous appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and tried to update it in more of a BlackOps style. Briclot wrote about attempting to strike the right balance between “artistic license” and realistic, citing how Taskmaster’s mask would likely be an obvious target for enemies.

“On this one I’ve started from her previous look, tried to keep some elements of hints (shapes, dynamic lines…) and I was going for a darker BlackOps,” Briclot wrote. “Trying to catch the good visual vibe for the movie after reading the script. There is always some artistic licence like the bright skull face (it would act like a target in real life) but for this kind of movie, it’s about finding the right balance between realism and fun and iconic.” Check out his post in the space below:

After making her MCU debut in 2021’s Black Widow, Olga Kurylenko returned to portray Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster in Thunderbolts*. The character dies early in the film; many suspected that would happen given Taskmaster’s conspicuous absence from marketing materials throughout the Thunderbolts* marketing campaign. The twist was done to give the film a sense of stakes, but fans criticized Taskmaster’s unceremonious end, feeling that Marvel had wasted an opportunity to develop and intriguing character.

[RELATED – Kevin Feige Hints at Unexpected Twist to Thunderbolts’ Fantastic Four Post-Credits Scene]

Now that Thunderbolts* has been out in theaters for a while, artists who worked on the film have been sharing their work on social media, highlighting alternate outfits for other characters. As he alludes to in his post caption, Briclot took an interest in BlackOps designs, tapping into the characters’ status as secret operatives working for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Other Thunderbolts* concept art revealed a more comics-accurate look for Sentry.

While there are similarities between Taskmaster’s look in the final film and this concept art, the latter arguably strikes a more sinister mood, with Antonia’s skull-inspired mask standing out amidst an otherwise all-black outfit. It would have been cool to see this costume in action, and the artwork will likely only further fuel the calls to reverse Taskmaster’s demise. Fans who want to see the character return could get their wish. Kurylenko was recently photographed in Bahrain, which is being used as a location for Avengers: Doomsday. This has led some people to theorize Taskmaster will appear in Doomsday.

The odds of the Sacred Timeline’s version of Antonia ever returning are slim, but with the multiverse in play, Kurylenko could portray a Taskmaster variant — perhaps one decked out in the costume Briclot showcases here. Avengers: Doomsday already has a lot on its plate balancing multiple superhero teams and introducing Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, but most viewers would agree Taskmaster is in need of a do-over. If there’s room for her in the story (and Marvel has confirmed there are more Doomsday casting announcements), it would be great to see the filmmakers do the character justice.

The post Thunderbolts Concept Art Gives Taskmaster a Much Scarier Look (Could She Return?) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Despite appearing like a movie with little stakes, Thunderbolts* has a lot going on. Not only does the titular team have to save New York City from The Void’s rampage, but they also have to deal with their own demons. However, the biggest surprise comes toward the end of the movie, when Valentina Allegra de Fontaine announces to the press that she’s finally ready to reveal the New Avengers to the world. While the members of the team are caught off guard, they take to their new roles quickly, finally embracing their heroic sides after years of suppressing them. In fact, they’re so on top of their game that they’re ready when a mysterious ship arrives in Earth’s atmosphere in the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene.

Yelena Belova and Co. learn that the ship isn’t from their universe, so they’re immediately on edge. Adding to their confusion is the logo on the vehicle, a number 4, which doesn’t mean anything to the New Avengers but does to the audience. The post-credits scene seemingly marks the Fantastic Four’s first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige doesn’t want anyone to jump to conclusions.

After the excitement surrounding the post-credits scene died down, frustration grew in its place. Fans believed that Thunderbolts* spoiled the end of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, revealing that Galactus destroyed the Earth that Marvel’s First Family calls home and sent them out into the multiverse to seek help. Feige has another theory, though, one that posits that the ship at the end of Thunderbolts* may not be the same one that appears in First Steps.

While speaking to Empire for its July 2025 magazine issue, Feige was asked for his take on the connection between the two 2025 MCU movies, specifically whether the Excelsior, the ship the Fantastic Four own in First Steps, is already in the Sacred Timeline. “The name of their ship is the Excelsior, and there is a Fantastic Four ship entering the MCU in the tag,” he said. “But I’m not sure they’re the same ship.”

Since Thunderbolts* doesn’t show the occupants of the ship, Feige is able to play coy for the time being. However, by the time First Steps comes out in July, all of his cards will need to be on the table.

[RELATED – Marvel’s New Avengers Spoilers Defended by Disney Exec After Aggressive Thunderbolts* Marketing]

Marvel Studios Can’t Hide the Fantastic Four Forever

While there’s a slim chance that variants of the Fantastic Four are on the ship making a beeline toward Earth in Thunderbolts*, the more likely scenario is that Marvel Studios isn’t ready to show the state the heroes are in just yet. After all, they’re preparing to go up against Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, which is no small feat. There could be major character moments in the movie that affect the titular team deeply. Fortunately, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel because the entire Fantastic Four is set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday.

Without knowing how the events of First Steps play out, it’s difficult to determine just how significant a role the group will have in the MCU’s next team-up movie. It’s safe to assume they’re not going to be standing in the background the whole time, though, as their arch-enemy from the pages of Marvel Comics, Doctor Doom, is going to be Doomsday‘s villain.

First Steps director Matt Shakman claims that Doom is not part of his movie, meaning it may be up to Doomsday to set up the rivalry. But Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier likely thought the Fantastic Four weren’t part of his project at one point. It’s just hard to take anyone working for Marvel Studios at their word these days.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25, 2025.

Do you think the ships in Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps are the same one? What do you think will happen in the MCU’s next movie? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Kevin Feige Hints at Unexpected Twist to Thunderbolts’ Fantastic Four Post-Credits Scene appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Those who saw Thunderbolts* on opening weekend learned the meaning behind the asterisk in the title. The team was actually the New Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It came as a surprise to some, but it was an even bigger surprise when Marvel Studios officially spoiled the twist in new marketing materials that came out shortly after Thunderbolts* opened. It was a controversial decision, but one that Disney has defended. Speaking with Empire for the magazine’s preview coverage of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the studio’s senior vice president of marketing Ryan Stankevich discussed the move, revealing that there were plenty of fans who enjoyed it.

“Discourse is a great part of the Marvel fan experience,” Stankevich said. “For as many people who complained, we saw a large percentage say they thought it was really clever. Some people also complained we didn’t do *The New Avengers with a ‘z’! But we welcome healthy debate.”

There were many theories about the asterisk in the Thunderbolts* title in the months leading up to the film’s release. It took nearly the entire run time for its meaning to be revealed. At the end of the movie, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine publicly introduces the team — consisting of Yelena, Red Guardian, John Walker, Bucky Barnes, Ghost, and Bob — as the New Avengers as a way to save face following the Sentry debacle. In the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene, audiences learn Sam Wilson has formed his own Avengers team and takes issue with the New Avengers running around.

[RELATED – One MCU Character Could Change Everything in the Avengers vs. New Avengers Fight]

The typically secretive Marvel went against the grain just a few days after Thunderbolts* opened. The film was officially rebranded as *The New Avengers on various promotional materials, including posters.

In some ways, running with *The New Avengers fits the outside-the-box methods Marvel used to market Thunderbolts*. Prior to the film’s release, the studio ran a unique campaign that included a trailer riffing on A24’s style and a poster designed as a Wheaties box. However, it’s easy to understand why some fans were upset about this. Not everyone is able to see a film the weekend it comes out, and while people have gotten savvy about dodging spoilers on social media, few expected official Marvel channels to do the spoiling. Early into a movie’s theatrical run, Marvel’s social media accounts usually don’t post anything too revealing in an effort to maintain the film’s surprises. The New Avengers twist is one some viewers wanted to experience for themselves.

That said, Marvel arguably spoiled the events of Thunderbolts* in a far more significant way when the Avengers: Doomsday cast was revealed during a record-breaking livestream event. Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Sebastian Stan, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, and Lewis Pullman were all confirmed for Doomsday, but not their Thunderbolts* co-star Olga Kurylenko. That all but guaranteed Kurylenko’s Taskmaster would die in Thunderbolts*, making the character’s unfortunate demise an unsurprising development. It would have been nice if everyone got to experience the New Avengers reveal unspoiled, but this shouldn’t prevent people from enjoying the film.

The post Marvel’s New Avengers Spoilers Defended by Disney Exec After Aggressive Thunderbolts* Marketing appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Thunderbolts had a rag-tag look at the climax of their movie, but they concept art by Aleksi Briclot shows several characters with a more sleek “black ops” look. Briclot shared the images on Instagram recently, remarking on how the designs changed in production and what remained the same. The biggest differences were in his designs for Red Guardian (David Harbour), who looked much more put-together in Briclot’s drawings. He also shared his original designs for Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan). Along the way, he explained how these drawing influenced the final character designs we saw on screen.

Briclot is credited for working in the art department on Thunderbolts*, and he has worked on other Marvel productions before. He started sharing his art for this movie on the night of the premiere back in April, showing his earliest design for Sentry. He just got back to this team in late May, starting with an early drawing of Ghost. “I’ve started from her previous look and was going for a BlackOp vibe following her dramatic development as well as the tone of the movie, “he explained.

Ghost didn’t look too different from her final form, though it’s hard to say if the cut and patterning of her costume matched with the drawing. However, the differences really showed in Alexei Shostakov, who was pictured with a lot more black muting his red costume. Even the star on his chest was almost obscured in black-on-black coloring and blended into his harnesses.

[RELATED: 10 Best MCU Anti-Heroes, Ranked]

“I was dealing with a darker vibe on this proposal, less red and more dark following the tone of the movie,” Briclot explained. “Less Santa Claus and more Spec Ops. This was exploration!”

Finally, just last week Briclot shared a look at his concept art for Bucky, which was very similar to the character’s final design. He wore motorcycle riding leathers over a t-shirt, though the color was a bit brighter in Briclot’s drawing. “I was going for a dark casual look, avoiding the Black Ops look I’ve used for the other teammates,” he explained. “Part of the brief was that at some point you couldn’t notice him in the crowd, avoiding any super hero look. (Except fog the arm as it seems an important visual signature for him, I know it’s tricky…)”

Briclot’s captions made it clear that these early designs were a starting point for the movie itself, and the they evolved over time. As he pointed out, it made sense for Bucky’s outfit to stand apart from the rest of the team, as he was the last to join. In the end, it also made sense for Alexei’s old costume to look out of place, since he was not going out on secretive missions like the rest of them.

Thunderbolts* is still playing in many theaters around the U.S. There’s no word on when it might be released on PVOD stores or streaming, so fans will want to catch it while they can.

The post Thunderbolts MCU Black Ops Costumes Revealed (Why Aren’t They in the Movie?) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Unlike a lot of projects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thunderbolts* avoids using a mustache-twirling villain hellbent on world domination. The titular team’s biggest challenge is Bob, a chill guy who really doesn’t want to cause any trouble but has a dark alter ego who consumes everyone and everything in his past. Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, now a mainstay of the MCU, tells Bob what he wants to hear and offers him the opportunity to become Earth’s Mightiest Hero. Donning a gold suit and slick hair, Bob adopts the Sentry persona. However, the character almost looked very different in his first MCU appearance.

Concept artist Constantine Sekeris has been sharing the work he did for Thunderbolts* on social media, revealing alternate looks for Ghost and Taskmaster. His most interesting posts, though, feature costumes that Sentry could’ve worn if the production had made a different choice.

The first two looks aren’t too different from what made it to the big screen. Both feature larger logos and the character’s iconic long hair from the comics, but the idea of turning Bob into a hero is present in the designs. The third piece of concept art takes things in a very different direction, using as much black as gold and making Sentry look much more like a villain. Sekeris even appears to be borrowing from Adam Warlock’s MCU design, giving Sentry a gold face to match his costume’s color scheme.

While all the designs are great, it’s obvious why Thunderbolts* went with the one it did. Bob’s ultimate goal was to be a hero, and despite running into a bit of trouble, his new friends got him back on track. Now, he’s ready to take the MCU by storm in his new role.

[RELATED – Deadpool Director Details His X-Men Horror Movie That’s Home Alone Meets Alien]

Sentry Will Have a Major Role in the MCU’s Future

Valentina tricks Bob into thinking she believes he can be a hero to save her own skin in Thunderbolts*. The government is looking into her shady business practices, and the only way out is to provide the world with a new hero. Once Bob wises up, he isn’t able to control himself and gives control to The Void, who goes on a rampage in New York City.

The only reason the entire world isn’t sucked into The Void is that Yelena Belova takes a liking to Bob and risks it all to save him. She enters The Void, which inspires her teammates to do the same, and together, they help Bob begin to work through his trauma. With new friends in his corner, Bob feels confident enough to take back control and frees everyone from The Void.

Unfortunately, the Thunderbolts don’t get to celebrate their victory for long because Valentina avoids their wrath by announcing to the press that they’re the “New Avengers.” Without much choice, the members of the team find themselves on the cover of magazines and cereal boxes. The one silver lining is that Bob gets to take a breather because keeping his Sentry costume in the closet means The Void can’t return.

Bob won’t just chill in Avengers Tower forever, though. He’s going to return in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, where he’s sure to play a major role in the fight against Doctor Doom. As the MCU does, it’s sure to make some tweaks to Sentry’s look, but it’s not going to have to do much because Sekeris’ early designs make it clear that the franchise never had any intention of letting the character down.

Thunderbolts* is in theaters now.

Which of the alternate designs for Sentry is your favorite? Are you happy with the one that ended up in Thunderbolts*? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Thunderbolts* Concept Art Reveals VERY Different Look for The Sentry by Marvel appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Sentry made his grand MCU debut in Thunderbolts, and Lewis Pullman’s turn as the Marvel powerhouse was mostly well-received. There were a few criticisms of the costume, as there are with any translations from comics to the big screen, and now fans have received a look at a more comics-accurate costume from artist John Staub. The artwork was posted by Constantine Sekeris, who was a part of the Marvel Studios Vis Dev team during the development of Thunderbolts, and as you can see in the post below, it looks a bit more comics-accurate than the final suit that appeared in the movie.

This version of the suit was part of early exploration of the Sentry costume, and it will appear in the Thunderbolts art book when it is released. On Instagram Sekeris wrote, “Hello, Family and friends ….posting very early exploration of Sentry which final design was done by the great @johnstaubart from Thunderbolts/New Avengers film when I was working at Marvel Studios Vis Dev ….This project was lead by @andyparkart who was very kind to bring me on his already very talented team of artists from @ryan_meinerding_art @wes_butt @johnstaubart @rodneyimages @jsmarantz @jwsze @jiheleeart ………this character wasn’t easy to concept on for many reason but had a great time exploring options for Andy and the production….take a look at the art book of Thunderbolts when it’s out and u can see all the amazing design work done from everyone involved….more to come …humbly thank u……#marvel #thunderbolts #newavengers #conceptart #sentry #characterdesign #zbrush #keyshot #photoshop”

There are a number of changes between this costume and the final costume, but the two biggest changes are the S symbol on the belt and the longer hair. The lines on the suit have more of a comic style as well, and the collar is also closer to the comics version, with both looking like they were inspired by the New Avengers run that brought the character back into the fold. Personally, I love this Sentry symbol and think it works better than the one seen in the final design.

Granted, this is all subjective, but it’s actually important to point out that the final approved costume design was not too far from this. If you look at the final design post from Staub, the gold of the suit really stands out and pops, and even the more MCU-style lines and accents look great. Again, the belt stands out as my least favorite element, especially the S logo, but the biggest difference is the actual color of the suit.

[RELATED: Thunderbolts*: Sentry’s Creator Talks Work on The Film, Origin of The Character]

If you look at the costume in the film, the subtlety in the color shades is completely different, and even the darkest parts of the suits don’t look gold. They are more of a yellowish color, and that only increases towards the middle of the suit, which looks even less like gold. In this final design, this looks gold across the board, even if the tone slightly changes in different parts of the suit, but that subtlety seems to have been lost a bit in translation to the big screen.

Both suits are great, but the ultimate suit for me would be taking the final design suit and adding the belt and Sentry symbol from the earlier version, as well as the longer hair. That takes this costume to an even higher tier, so perhaps we’ll see something closer to that when Sentry returns down the line.

Which costume do you prefer, and what did you think of Sentry in Thunderbolts? Let us know in the comments, and you can talk all things Marvel with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Thunderbolts Concept Art Reveals Comics-Accurate Sentry (Now We’re Disappointed) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

17 years after Ed Norton’s Hulk debuted in the MCU, the franchise is basically full of Hulks. The not-so classic Banner-Hulk remains active (and will return for Avengers: Doomsday), but now we’ve also met She-Hulk, Tim Roth’s Abomination and of course Thunderbolt Ross made his bow as Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World. And that’s not to mention Banner’s Son Skaar, the weird variants introduced in What If…? or the embarrassment of incel She-Hulk villain HulkKing. 

An yet, for all the gamma-powered muscle walking around the MCU these days, we still don’t really have the Hulk anymore. At least, not the version Marvel fans once knew and loved. Somewhere between Avengers: Age of Ultron and Endgame, Marvel decided the most interesting thing about Bruce Banner was figuring out how to stop being the Hulk altogether. That’s how we ended up with “Smart Hulk,” a solution to a character problem that never should have been solved.

And while Hulk’s solution was useful for Endgame, it also quite pointedly closed the book on one of the MCU’s most interesting character arcs. The conflict between man and monster, between vulnerability and rage, between wanting to be left alone and a burning need to protect and belong… it was all why Hulk was one of the best original Avengers. And now that Banner is now seemingly content as a gentle giant genius, the MCU has a story vacuum where that irresistibly entertaining conflict used to be.

And that’s exactly why Thunderbolts* was such an important release for MCU fans who like their struggle to be personified. Because, when you think about it, Lewis Pullman’s Sentry is basically the perfect replacement for the original Hulk’s character arc.

Sentry Is The Secret Hulk Replacement You’ve Been Waiting For

On paper, Sentry is Superman with serious mental health issues: a man granted the power of “a million exploding suns” whose very existence is a paradox. He’s a god-level superhero in the soft outer casing of an emotionally unstable, tormented, and perpetually terrified human. And then, of course, there’s The Void – the dark, corrupting heart of Bob’s psyche that manifests as an apocalyptic, unstoppable force of destruction every time he loses control. That conflict of vulnerability and monstrous dark power sounds awfully familiar doesn’t it?

There is, of course, a chance that Bruce Banner’s savage side returns in the future of the MCU, and we get to see more of the conflict between his urge for calm, and the bubbling rage bursting out of him, all green and violent. But if that doesn’t happen, Sentry might be exactly what you’ve been waiting for. Bob’s arc, in fact, may even go further than Hulk’s ever did. Because Bob’s personality makes the deadly tug of war with the Void all the more poignant. Both characters are cursed by their split existence, but Bob is both a lot nicer and a lot more personally linked to his fellow heroes already.

And of course, Hulk was always still a hero, and the promise that he’d ever go bad was only ever dangled above us as an audience. We’re haunted by the idea of Savage Hulk after seeing a glimpse of him in Age Of Ultron. That was never enough, and even though Hulk was always monstrous, his emotions and his desire to belong despite fear of himself still feels impressively sympathetic. Far more sympathetic, in fact, than a jolly green dork. We’re confronted with the strange idea that in seeking humanity, Banner actually became more alien.

Though the end of Thunderbolts* suggests Bob has things under control, the threat of The Void’s reappearance is part and parcel of who he is. And that internal war, wrapped in a man who could vaporize entire cities on a bad day, is everything the current MCU has been missing since Hulk got all homely and… safe. Excitingly, Sentry isn’t just Hulk 2.0 (or whatever iteration we’re onto now), he’s a horrific upgrade. And hopefully, his popularity might remind us all – and Marvel – why the real Hulk mattered so much.

The post Marvel Finally Has The Hulk Replacement The MCU Has Missed Since Endgame appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A major strength of the Marvel Cinematic Universe remains its ability to endear heroes, villains, and anti-heroes to fans to the same degree. Among all of the franchise’s characters, anti-heroes arguably follow the most interesting arcs. They are deeply flawed, morally ambiguous, and prone to misdirection, but they persevere, refusing to be defined by the hardships that made them that way. The MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and Thunderbolts* are notably led by anti-heroes, as shared trauma, loss, and misdeeds bring both films’ main characters together in a beautifully written found family dynamic. From MCU Phase 1 to Phase 5, anti-heroes permeate the comic book franchise’s best narratives, bringing a much-needed air of complexity to the superhero genre.

Ranked from worst to best, the following 10 MCU characters are the franchise’s most fascinating anti-heroes.

10) Ghost

Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) stands as one of the coolest and most underrated anti-heroes in the MCU. First appearing as the antagonist of Ant-Man and the Wasp before joining the titular team in Thunderbolts*, Ava has the ability to turn herself invisible and intangible due to absorbing a large amount of quantum energy in the accident that killed her parents as a child. Ava worked as an operative for S.H.I.E.L.D and began to suffer from a lack of quantum energy, leading to her clash with Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), and Hope van Dyne/Wasp (Evangeline Lilly).

Turning from a tragic villain to an unlikely hero in Thunderbolts*, Ava has followed an intriguing arc that will soon continue in Avengers: Doomsday. The character’s traumatic backstory involving the loss of her parents and a lot of pain brought on by her quantum-induced condition set her on an errant professional path, but Ava fits in perfectly with the Thunderbolts/New Avengers. Also, Ava’s unique stealth capabilities and swift combat style make her a valuable asset to her allies.

9) Moon Knight

The masked vigilante Moon Knight (Oscar Isaac), also known as the alters Marc Spector, Steven Grant, and Jake Lockley, became a fan-favorite MCU anti-hero in just one appearance. Disney+’s Moon Knight series delves into the character’s history, violent acts, and experience with dissociative identity disorder as the avatar of the Egyptian god Khonshu (F. Murray Abraham). Moon Knight’s skill with a variety of weapons makes him a thrill to watch in combat sequences. Additionally, the switching between his white armor and dapper Mr. Knight suit nicely represents Marc and Steven’s personalities.

Yet, it’s the character beneath the mask that makes him so interesting. Moon Knight functions as an intricate character study, addressing themes of childhood trauma and mental health. Marc and Steven’s reconciliation with their past and their effort to protect each other in Moon Knight’s story produce some powerful and emotional moments. Isaac delivers an all-time MCU performance in the role, and hopefully, he gets the chance to bring Moon Knight back to the screen in the future.

8) Gamora

The adopted daughter of Thanos (Josh Brolin), Gamora (Zoe Saldaña) joins the titular band of misfits in Guardians of the Galaxy. Prior to her team-up with Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) and friends, Gamora operated as a lethal assassin for Thanos, who had previously wiped out half of her home planet, before betraying him and joining the Guardians. Gamora’s MCU arc was cut short in Avengers: Infinity War when Thanos threw her off of Vormir to obtain the Soul Stone, but she remains a powerful example of an individual discovering her place in the universe following a tragic childhood. Determined and loyal to her found family until the end, Gamora proves that she’s more than a ruthless killer. Even the time-altered version of the character in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 shows the compassion underneath Gamora’s cold-blooded exterior.

7) The Punisher

Former U.S. Marine Frank Castle/The Punisher (Jon Bernthal) returned from war in Iraq and Afghanistan only to watch the slaughter of his family on home soil. Driven by vengeance, Frank became a merciless vigilante who carries out justice as he sees fit. Bernthal’s rendition of the anti-hero first appeared in Netflix’s Daredevil and The Punisher shows before making his MCU debut in Daredevil: Born Again. Although Frank’s violent methods depicted in the aforementioned shows are far from an ideal way to fix the world’s problems, the Punisher’s commitment to standing up for those neglected by the American justice system makes him easy to root for.

Frank has a complicated relationship with Matt Murdock/Daredevil (Charlie Cox) due to their contrasting worldviews, but the two vigilantes harbor respect for one another and exist as fascinating foils in the Marvel universe. An upcoming Marvel Television special will tell the next chapter of the Punisher’s story, and fans should look forward to seeing where Frank’s shaky morals take him next.

6) Bucky Barnes

Bucky Barnes’s (Sebastian Stan) status as an anti-hero stems from his time spent as the Winter Soldier, an elite assassin brainwashed and controlled by HYDRA. A Super Soldier and World War II veteran, Bucky has left his dark days behind, reconnecting with his best friend Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and establishing strong relationships with Sam Wilson/Captain America (Anthony Mackie), his fellow Thunderbolts members, and more. From his debut in Captain America: The First Avenger to his most recent MCU outing in Thunderbolts*, Bucky proves a model of perseverance.

Severely impacted by the violent acts he was forced to commit as the Winter Soldier, Bucky claws his way back to his true self and decides to use his superhuman abilities for good. Beyond the inner workings of his character, Bucky exudes swagger whenever he graces the screen. His highway rampage in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and motorcycle entrance in Thunderbolts* cement him as a formidable combatant that anyone would want on their side.

5) Rocket

Backstories hardly get more tragic than that of Rocket (Bradley Cooper). Prior to forming the Guardians of the Galaxy, the raccoon spent his early days in the High Evolutionary’s (Chukwudi Iwuji) laboratory, where he and his animal friends were subjected to torturous experiments meant to heighten their abilities. Rocket emerged as the lone survivor of his escape attempt, subsequently leading a life of crime with Groot (Vin Diesel) before meeting Quill, Gamora, and the rest of the Guardians.

Rocket’s traumatic history factors into his aversive personality, but his time with the Guardians shows that he has a big heart. A truly lovable MCU character, Rocket is effortlessly funny, cares about his friends, and isn’t afraid of compromising morals to achieve his goals. Rocket may just be the MCU’s coolest criminal, and his arc from an innocent young raccoon to a witty, trustworthy companion and hard-nosed fighter stands out as a fantastic piece of storytelling.

[RELATED: 10 Most Sympathetic Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains]

4) Loki

The MCU’s original version of Loki (Tom Hiddleston) remains a top-tier character in the franchise. Introduced in Thor as the adopted son of Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and brother of Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Loki initially resents and betrays his family and Asgard due to their disfavor of him. Still, the God of Mischief teams up with Thor amid the destruction of their world in Thor: Ragnarok, and Loki met his demise while bravely fighting Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War.

Loki’s MCU story is one filled with humor, heartbreak, triumph, and tragedy. He’s evil, charming, and sympathetic all at once, and Hiddleston’s performance greatly enhances the character’s complexity. Loki is so richly layered that it’s hard to decide whether to root for or against him throughout his MCU appearances. The numerous variants portrayed in the Disney+ series Loki offer a unique and captivating exploration of the anti-hero’s identity, as he fulfills his destiny as the God of Stories.

3) Nebula

Nebula (Karen Gillan), the other adopted daughter of Thanos, was trained and used as a weapon alongside Gamora. The Mad Titan horrifically abused Nebula, forcing her to fight her sister and replacing a part of her with machinery each time she lost. Nebula begins as an antagonist in Guardians of the Galaxy and later embarks on a path of redemption, falling in with the team, rekindling her bond with Gamora, and leaving her life as an assassin behind. Although short-tempered and evidently traumatized by her rough childhood, Nebula learns to lean on her fellow Guardians for support and discovers that she can make a difference in the world.

The anti-hero’s pivotal role in the fight against Thanos in Avengers: Endgame represents the culmination of her journey, as she reckons with the past version of herself and rises up against the father she once feared. This all satisfyingly concludes at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 with Nebula becoming the leader of Knowhere, promising to make it the home she never had. Nebula’s outstanding story arc is elevated by Gillan, whose performance radiates Nebula’s harshness, deep-rooted torment, and desire to overcome her morally gray history, all while seamlessly fitting in with the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy’s humorous tone. It’s hard to identify an MCU character arc as compelling and fulfilling as Nebula’s, as her story beautifully embodies healing and growth after unimaginable suffering.

2) Yelena Belova

When it comes to MCU anti-heroes, Yelena Belova’s (Florence Pugh) arc is almost unrivaled. The younger adopted sister of Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) grew up in America with a makeshift family of Russian spies and, at the age of six, was sent to General Dreykov’s (Ray Winstone) Red Room to be chemically brainwashed and trained as an assassin. Yelena’s new dawn arrives in Black Widow when a fellow widow liberates her using a counteragent. Free to live on her own terms, Yelena reconnects with Natasha and their parents, destroys Dreykov’s Red Room, and sets off to free the remaining mind-controlled assassins across the globe. A dark cloud hangs over Yelena in the wake of Natasha’s death as she leads a solitary life as a gun for hire before converging with the Thunderbolts.

Yelena’s arc in Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Thunderbolts* cements her as the perfect successor to Johansson’s Black Widow, and this time, the MCU gets the character right. Far more than a prolific killer, Yelena is a three-dimensional being whose excitement to live freely devolves into grief, depression, and loneliness. Despite the pain of her past and dissatisfaction with her place in the world, Yelena never abandons her genuine compassion for others, and by the end of Thunderbolts*, she finds a group of similar anti-heroes she can both rely on. Pugh elevates Yelena’s extraordinary character development, impeccably combining humor, anguish, viciousness, and humanity.

1) Wanda Maximoff

The MCU’s best anti-hero arc belongs to Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), otherwise known as the Scarlet Witch. Wanda’s tragic story begins in her childhood when the bombing of her home in Sokovia killed her parents. Since then, she suffers the loss of her twin brother Pietro (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) in Avengers: Age of Ultron and romantic partner Vision (Paul Bettany) in Avengers: Infinity War. Even after creating a false reality in which she and Vision start a family together in WandaVision, Wanda endures heartbreak when she must tear it all down to free the people of Westview. Wanda’s unprocessed trauma and grief factor into her villainous turn in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Often vilified for her immense power, Wanda defies her morally gray history to become an Avenger and fulfill her destiny as the Scarlet Witch. Wanda hasn’t always made the best choices, but she continuously proves redeemable and willing to right her wrongs. Additionally, Olsen is magnetic as Wanda, authentically radiating layers of sorrow, resolve, and fury over the course of her appearances. The MCU wonderfully fleshes out Wanda as an intensely relatable anti-hero who one can’t help but support in spite of her flaws. Ranking among the franchise’s most compelling characters overall, Wanda stands out as the MCU’s most complex and fascinating anti-hero story.

Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters.

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Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova has quickly risen from a newcomer to a formidable face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe over three franchise appearances. A former Red Room assassin and the younger adopted sister of Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Yelena follows an arc that equally emphasizes her lethal combat skills and deep-rooted humanity, harmonizing to forge a fascinating three-dimensional anti-hero. Boasting some of the most hilarious and heart-wrenching scenes in the MCU, Yelena brings so much life to the franchise. The character’s arc plays perfectly to Pugh’s strengths, as the Oscar nominee impressively delivers humor and emotional depth as Yelena.

From reuniting with Natasha and their adoptive parents in Black Widow to pursuing Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) in Hawkeye to forming an unlikely team with fellow anti-heroes in Thunderbolts*, Yelena’s story has generated plenty of standout moments that prove she is one of the new faces of the MCU.

1) Yelena Proudly Shows Natasha Her Vest

After the estranged sisters reunite in Black Widow, Yelena shows her green tactical vest to Natasha, raving about its handy pockets. Natasha initially isn’t impressed by the garment, but eventually admits to Yelena that she likes it. This wholesome exchange illustrates Yelena’s adaptation to living life on her own terms after being freed from the Red Room, as she reveals that the vest is the first piece of clothing she has ever bought herself. Yelena’s vest takes on an even bigger meaning when she gives it to Natasha as a parting gift at the end of Black Widow, adding a heartwarming piece of backstory to the vest Natasha wears at different points in Avengers: infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. A symbol of Yelena’s newfound independence, the vest begins as a delightful joke and ends as a poignant representation of sisterhood.

2) Yelena Mocks Black Widow’s Pose (Twice)

Among Black Widow‘s funniest moments are the two instances when Yelena hilariously mocks Natasha’s superhero pose. While picking up supplies at a gas station in Budapest, Yelena asks Natasha why she always does the “Thing that you do when you whip your hair when you’re fighting, with the arm and the air,” and jokingly imitates the stance. Later, while infiltrating the Red Room, Yelena jumps down from a ceiling duct and ironically lands in Natasha’s pose, shaking in disgust afterward. Yelena’s mockery of her sister for being a “total poser,” is a brilliant comedic moment that pokes fun at Marvel’s longstanding attachment to Natasha’s stylish superhero move — even though it isn’t at all practical. Beyond its obvious humor, Yelena’s replication of the iconic Black Widow pose signals her own evolution into a superhero as she follows in her sister’s footsteps.

3) “It Was Real to Me”

Before tearing down General Dreykov’s (Ray Winstone) Red Room, Yelena, Natasha, and Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour) descend upon Melina Vostokoff’s (Rachel Weisz) homestead outside of St. Petersburg. There, they sit down for a meal together as they reflect on their time posing as an American family in Ohio and the years that have passed since they last saw one another. At one point during the conversation, Natasha bitterly claims their family wasn’t real. Dismayed, Yelena tearfully opens up to the group, delivering the famous line, “It was real to me,” and declaring that their family was all she ever had and loved as a child.

In Black Widow‘s most heart-wrenching scene, Yelena’s unprocessed trauma resurfaces, and she vents her agony before those who didn’t intervene when she was kidnapped and turned into a mind-controlled assassin. A moment of such raw vulnerability rarely occurs in the MCU, and Pugh superbly communicates Yelena’s pain.

4) Yelena Frees Dreykov’s Widows and Destroys the Red Room

Black Widow‘s third act revolves around the family’s mission to take down Dreykov and the Red Room. Once inside, Yelena is tasked with liberating the Widows using an antidote for their chemical mind control. She attaches the vials to a grenade and tosses it in the air, dispersing the counteragent and freeing the Widows. The sequence of events, which ends with Dreykov dead and the Red Room in ruins, serves as the culmination of Yelena’s initial journey as a freed Widow in search of a purpose.

As the catalyst for their family’s reconnection and effort to destroy the Red Room, Yelena cements herself as a determined and compassionate individual. Yelena could have easily gone off on her own after defecting from the Red Room, but her choice to grant the same independence to all of her fellow Widows — at the Red Room and around the world — proves that she’s far greater than a typical trained killer.

5) Yelena Surprises Kate Bishop in Her Apartment

Returning in Hawkeye on a mission to kill Clint, Yelena sneaks into Kate Bishop’s (Hailee Steinfeld) apartment and awaits her arrival with a pot of boxed mac and cheese. Although Kate appears uneasy at the presence of a “bloodthirsty vigilante,” in her home, Yelena keeps her cool and chats about Christmas and the best sights in New York City while eating the mac and cheese. Yelena eventually discloses her identity to Kate and shares that she’s there to kill Clint.

[RELATED: Thunderbolts* Cements Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova as the Better Black Widow]

The conversation quickly turns from charming and funny to fiery and tense. Pugh once again demonstrates her flawless comedic delivery, then seamlessly summons Yelena’s vicious side as the character condemns Clint and the Avengers for Natasha’s death. It’s an excellent illustration of the silliness, conviction, and anguish Yelena exhibits in new life following the Blip and the death of her sister. An acting masterclass and a top-notch piece of character development, this Hawkeye scene is worth watching over and over again.

6) Yelena Fights Clint and Learns the Truth About Natasha’s Death

In Hawkeye‘s finale, Yelena surprise-attacks Clint near the Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree. Yelena asks Clint how Natasha’s death happened, but doesn’t buy Clint’s insistence that the late Black Widow sacrificed herself. Furious, Yelena tells Clint that he “should have fought harder” to save Natasha, and attacks him, only stopping when Clint replicates the two-tone whistles she and Natasha used to exchange. Clint elicits an emotional reaction from his assassin by recounting Natasha’s stories about Yelena and their childhood, and the two tearfully express their love for the fallen hero. The range of emotions Pugh conjures in this sequence is nothing short of remarkable, as Yelena experiences all of the phases of grief during her confrontation with Clint. Yelena’s denial of Clint’s account turns to anger at him for failing to save Natasha, and she breaks down in tears before helping Clint up and leaving the scene.

Pugh’s talent is on full display here, and it acts as a captivating display of heartache, resentment, and acceptance. Moreover, Yelena’s pursuit of Clint powerfully embodies the visceral humanity the MCU has granted Pugh’s character. In Hawkeye, she’s flawed, susceptible to misdirection, and blames the wrong people for her despair, but in the end, Yelena has a genuine heart. Even in her darkest moments, Yelena proves capable of rising above her faults. This uncanny combination of moral grayness resilience immensely factors into Yelena’s status as one of the MCU’s most fascinating characters.

7) Yelena Leaps From a Skyscraper in the Opening Scene of Thunderbolts*

Thunderbolts* produces an all-time great MCU movie opening. Yelena stands at the edge of a skyscraper, narrating in the background, “There’s something wrong with me. An emptiness. I thought it started when my sister died, but now it feels like something bigger. Just a void,” before stepping off the building. Tasked with destroying an O.X.E laboratory, Yelena parachutes down, enters the building, and swiftly eliminates her targets. A breathtaking introduction to the plot of Thunderbolts*, the movie’s opening sequence spotlights Yelena’s depressive state of mind and immersion in her work to keep her sadness at bay. At Pugh’s insistence to perform the stunt, she jumped off of the second-tallest building in the world, the Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The heavy atmosphere, the closeup on Yelena’s vacant expression, and her stunning plummet from the skyscraper are fantastically executed in this scene.

8) Yelena Has a Heart-to-Heart With Alexei

After the Thunderbolts get beat up by the Bob Reynolds/the Sentry (Lewis Pullman), they wander the streets of New York with ill tempers. In one moment, Yelena lashes out at Alexei for not contacting her for an entire year. Through tears, she stresses to her dad that she’s so lonely and that all she does is work, drink, and think about all of the terrible things she’s done. “If you cared, you would have called,” she tells him. “I lost my sister again, but forever, and you disappeared.” Alexei’s foolishness subsides, and he encourages Yelena by reminiscing about how special she was as a child and reminding her that she wanted to be the goalie of her childhood soccer team so she could be the one everyone can rely on if they make a mistake.

Similar to her Black Widow scene, Yelena pours out her emotions and bares her deepest inner turmoil. Thunderbolts* brings the human side of its central anti-heroes to the forefront of the story, and its focus on Yelena’s struggle to find meaning in what she does and lack of a support system strengthens her characterization as a prolific, yet embattled, killer. Pugh delivers yet another MCU highlight in this Thunderbolts* scene, capturing Yelena’s profound sadness and longing for the comfort of a loved one.

9) Yelena Enters the Void

While her fellow Thunderbolts stand around without an answer for the Void’s takeover of Manhattan, Yelena takes it upon herself to do what no one else would. She steps into the Void’s menacing shadow hoping to find and rescue Bob, though unaware of what will happen to her. Yelena traverses a series of rooms containing traumatic memories of her Red Room training, as well as her current self in a depressed, alcohol-addicted state. Eventually, Yelena encounters Bob and offers him the comfort he needs. Yelena’s willingness to take giant risk to save a friend epitomizes her kindness toward those she can relate to. Lost and unhappy at the beginning of Thunderbolts* sees her struggle mirrored in Bob, prompting their strong bond. During the movie’s climactic sequence in the Void, Yelena discovers that she can both help and be helped by those around her.

10) Yelena Initiates the Group Hug That Defeats the Void

Yelena’s Thunderbolts* journey reaches its culmination she and the rest of the team are trapped in the laboratory room of the Void. As Bob repeatedly punches the Void to no avail, Yelena breaks free from her restraints, runs to him, puts her arms around him, and says, “I’m here. You’re not alone.” The other Thunderbolts follow suit, and their group makes the Void disappear. Yelena’s embrace of Bob in a grueling moment is staggeringly beautiful, packing the perfect emotional punch to complete the movie’s mental health-centric message. Ultimately, Thunderbolts* proves that each of its morally-gray characters has a heart, and in Yelena’s case, her relentless killing doesn’t obscure her relatable struggles and need for a support system. In one heartwarming moment, Thunderbolts* establishes Yelena as a force of a human, not just a hero.

Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters.

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Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… Sentry?! Marvel’s answer to Superman made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Thunderbolts*, with Top Gun: Maverick actor Lewis Pullman portraying Bob Reynolds/Sentry and his villainous alter-ego, the Void. (Like his comic counterpart introduced in 2000’s Sentry #1, a secret formula gave Robert “Bob” Reynolds the power of a million exploding suns as the Golden Guardian of Good — with a dark side.)

Unlike DC’s Man of Steel, however, Bob’s super-man Sentry became a supervillain as the shadowy Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) unwittingly unleashed Bob’s Void persona when she sicced her blonde-haired, gold-clad caped crusader on the team of “disposable” do-gooders: Yelena Belova/Black Widow (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), and Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen).

On Instagram, Marvel Studios senior illustrator John Staub shared official concept art of Pullman’s superhero suit as it appears in Thunderbolts*, offering a closer look at the comic-accurate costume’s MCU flourishes (like golden piping and “S”-shaped golden belt buckle).

RELATED: Thunderbolts*: Yelena’s Alternate Black Widow Costumes Reveal an Avengers Callback

In the comics, Sentry harkened back to the classic superheroes of the Silver Age. Created by writer Paul Jenkins and artist Jae Lee as “the greatest hero of them all” and a “Golden Guardian of Good” (in alliterational, hyperbolic Stan Lee style). A Jack Kirby-esque comic-book-within-a-comic, titled Startling Stories featuring The Sentry, revealed the old-school secret origin of “Robby” Reynolds (who, as it turned out, had a modern backstory apropos of 2000s Marvel).

Pullman previously told Men’s Health that the hardest part of playing this golden god was “finding a body type that worked for both Bob and for Sentry.”

“They’re very different people, and they have very different purposes within the story. To make that transition both believable and shocking within a very short amount of time was very challenging,” Pullman said of Bob’s transformation into the Sentry, the sole survivor of Val’s Sentry Project. “But I was lucky to be in the hands of this awesome trainer, Brendan Johnston, who just said, ‘We’re not trying to build a lot of mass.’ We were trying to build definition, and all those small, intricate, sinewy muscles that will pull the light. That was done a lot with boxing, which I hadn’t done much of but that I really loved.”

He continued, “I’ve continued to do it since we wrapped production, because I don’t like cardio. I don’t like feeling like I want to die when I work out, because then I’m not going to get back in the gym. I have to make it fun for myself so that I can continue incentivizing getting my butt out of bed and into the gym. Boxing was a great way to do that, because you forget that you’re exerting yourself as much as you are, and you’re working so many parts of your body. You’re recruiting all these muscles that are normally kind of dormant.”

In another difference from the authentic Superman, Val designed Sentry to resemble what she called a “classic hero.” That meant dyeing Bob’s hair golden blonde and outfitting him with the kind of cape that Thor or Vision wear. This manufactured superhero-by-committee was to be “all-powerful, invincible, stronger than all the Avengers combined into one, and soon to be known as Earth’s mightiest hero.”

“That was a wig. Lane Friedman was our incredible wig master, and she designed it in a way that felt like it was just a little off-putting,” Pullman said. “It’s not supposed to look like our ideal version of a superhero; it’s supposed to be a little off-kilter. It’s supposed to make you think, There’s something wrong here, and I can’t quite put a finger on it. And so there’s something a little creepy about it. It’s not as glorious as Thor’s hair! I felt weird with blond hair—it’s probably not something I would do in my day-to-day life!”

Pullman’s Bob will return in the just-delayed Avengers: Doomsday, dated for December 2026. Marvel’s Thunderbolts*, AKA The New Avengers, is now playing only in theaters.

The post Marvel’s Sentry Looks Like Superman in Thunderbolts* Concept Art appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Avengers are never really on the same page in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. When they first assemble in The Avengers, the heroes have plenty of reasons to dislike one another, and things only get better for a time before they are at each other’s throats again. The group officially calls it quits in Captain America: Civil War, and without a united front to protect Earth in Avengers: Infinity War, almost all is lost. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes know they have to assemble one last time in Avengers: Endgame to make up for their mistakes, but once the battle is over, most of them go their separate ways, leaving a massive void.

Without a group of allies to fall back on, many MCU heroes, such as Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, have had to deal with Avengers-level threats on their own. Only at the end of Captain America: Brave New World does someone get their butt into gear and starting getting a team together. However, Sam Wilson doesn’t get all the pieces in place before Valentina Allegra de Fontaine announces to the world that the New Avengers are here. Now, the two sides are at odds, and another character may be waiting in the shadows to take advantage.

Sam Wilson’s Team and the New Avengers May Have Some Competition in the MCU

The end of Thunderbolts* sees the New Avengers accept their role as Earth’s protectors, and for at least a year, they do a pretty good job. They enter the film’s post-credits scene with new suits and look ready to face the threats ahead of them. However, there’s a nasty case of impostor syndrome going around because, as soon as they get word that Sam is looking to trademark the name “Avengers,” they don’t seem as confident. Bucky is especially upset because his conversations with Sam about the subject aren’t going well, so much so that it doesn’t seem like they’re really friends anymore.

Sam, on the other hand, seems really sure of himself as he looks to get the Avengers back on track. He asks his wingman, Joaquin Torres, to be his first recruit, and while the rest of his team is a mystery at this point, he knows enough heavy hitters to fill out an impressive roster. However, no connection can prepare Sam to face off against another MCU character who believes he has what it takes to lead Earth’s Mightiest Heroes: Ikaris.

The leader of the titular group of ancient beings in Eternals, Ikaris has incredible strength and speed, and he’s a lot more durable than a super-soldier. He also talks a big game, such as when he tells Sprite he believes he can lead the Avengers. The rest of the Eternals laugh at Ikaris when he reveals his goal, but underestimating him is what lands them in trouble. He turns on his allies and tries to help a Celestial to destroy the Earth. While Ikaris sees the errors of his ways and flies into the sun, it seems like something he can survive, and if he’s still out there, he’s a massive threat.

[RELATED – Thunderbolts* Shock Ending Changed The MCU In 3 Major Ways]

The Avengers Could Use an Eternal on Their Side in Doomsday

Whether Ikaris puts his own team together or tries to take control of one of the active ones in Avengers: Doomsday, he’s going to be a challenge. Sam’s team and the New Avengers would likely have to squash their beef to avoid being taken out by the Eternal. If someone gets through to him before he does too much damage, though, he could prove to be an invaluable pickup. After all, Sentry is out of commission at the end of the Thunderbolts*, and Ikaris is one of the few characters in the MCU that can even hold a candle to Bob’s alter-ego. Doctor Doom’s unlikely to stand a chance with that kind of firepower available.

The Avengers do run the risk of rubbing Ikaris the wrong way and sending him running to Doom’s side, but it’s not like they have a ton of options. Steve Rogers and Tony Stark aren’t walking through the front door, which means no one can sit out the fight that’s on the way in the next couple of Avengers movies.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on May 1, 2026.

Do you think Ikaris could become a factor in the Avengers vs. New Avengers conflict? Whose side do you think he could be on? Let us know in the comments below!

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A New Avenger requires a new costume. Official concept art for Marvel’s Thunderbolts* shows alternate designs for the suit worn by Red Room-raised mercenary and assassin Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), who made her debut alongside adoptive sister Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) in 2021’s Black Widow. That film had the Widows trade their black tactical suits for all-white spy wear, a nod to Yelena’s “White Widow” alter-ego from the comics.

Black Widow also had Yelena don a forest green vest —with handy pockets! — that she gave her sister as a parting gift. A blonde-haired Natasha would go on to wear the vest over her black suit in Avengers: Infinity War, retroactively revealed to be a link to her sister.

In the unused designs shared by artist Ji Hye Lee, a senior illustrator at Marvel Studios, Yelena’s wardrobe pays homage to the now-iconic green vest from Infinity War and Black Widow with a collared look that you can see in the gallery below.

RELATED: Thunderbolts* Writer Reveals New Avengers Twist Was Kevin Feige’s Idea

Other designs incorporate the Black Widow symbol belt buckle that appeared on most of Natasha’s suits since her first appearance in 2010’s Iron Man 2, while a fur-collared design appears to be a homage to Natasha’s “Madame” look from her first appearance in Tales of Suspense #52 in 1964.

“I was honored to work with so many amazing artists under the supervision of [Marvel Studios Director of Visual Development Andy Park],” Lee captioned the Instagram post. Lee’s Yelena designs, along with concept art for other characters like Bucky Barnes/the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), and Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), will be included in the Thunderbolts: The Art of the Movie book slated for release on August 26.

By the end of Thunderbolts*, after CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) has rechristened the team of “disposable delinquents” to be the New Avengers, Yelena’s dirty blonde hair has been slicked back, and she has a more official-looking jump suit to go along with her public-facing role as co-leader of the New Avengers.

The team, which includes Bob Reynolds/Sentry (Lewis Pullman), is based out of New York City’s Watchtower (formerly Avengers Tower) and will return in Avengers: Doomsday. The Anthony and Joe Russo-directed superhero ensemble is slated to open in theaters on May 1, 2026.

Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* — starring Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Hannah John-Kamen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer, with Wendell Edward Pierce — is now playing only in theaters.

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WARNING: There are Thunderbolts* spoilers ahead! A new preview image from The Fantastic Four: First Steps released on Wednesday shows Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) in space, perhaps answering a question left hanging at the end of Thunderbolts*. The photo — published by Fandango — shows the two in spacesuits with the Fantastic Four logo on them, and a larger emblem on the wall behind them. This likely means the team is heading to space after they have their powers and are established as superheroes. This could be the very same ship that we saw heading towards Earth-616 in the post-credit scene, and hopefully, it has the Fantastic Four on board.

It’s no surprise to see Reed, Johnny, Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) in space. The group’s origin story is an experimental space flight where they were bombarded with cosmic rays, leaving them each with unique superpowers. However, we know that First Steps is not an origin story movie, and the team would not have its logo at the time of their origins anyway. Whatever this scene is, it takes place after the Fantastic Four are established as a team.

This confirms that the Fantastic Four already have the resources to return to space at the time of this story. From there, it’s reasonable to speculate that they may be in the very spaceship we see in the post-credits scene of Thunderbolts*. Hopefully, this means it’s the Fantastic Four themselves heading towards the MCU’s primary earth setting, though it could still be their ship with someone else on board — perhaps Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.).

[RELATED: I Think the MCU Needs Its Veteran Directors To Bring the Franchise Back]

The set-up at the end of Thunderbolts* seems to be intentionally mysterious. We’re told explicitly that the scene takes place 14 months after Val declares the team the “New Avengers,” but we’re also told that they’re still at odds with Sam Wilson’s team. We then see a satellite image of a ship heading towards earth with the Fantastic Four logo painted on the side. The Avengers are not sure whether to regard it as a threat, and they’re watching closely. They have confirmation that the ship came from an alternate dimension, not just elsewhere in space.

First Steps takes place in a separate timeline from the rest of the MCU, and there are plenty of ways it could crossover into the main reality of Earth-616. The logo is a good hint that the Fantastic Four developed the interdimensional travel themselves, but it’s not clear why, nor why they’re targeting Earth-616. It’s also possible that the team developed this technology only to have it stolen by Doom, who might have some nefarious reason of his own to shift timelines.

It’s a mystery that’s likely to go unsolved until The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25th. Thunderbolts* is still playing in theaters around the U.S.

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Time for another group hug. Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* is heading back inside the Void, the setting of the movie’s climactic third act and the battle between Bob Reynolds’ (Lewis Pullman) light and dark sides. When shadowy CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) has the mentally ill meth addict step out as the Sentry — the “Golden Guardian of Good” and the sole surviving test subject of Project Sentry — Bob handily defeats the titular group of “disposable delinquents” accidentally assembled by Val.

As Bob’s alter-ego, the villainous Void, turns New York’s citizens into shadows, the so-called Thunderbolts — Yelena Belova/Black Widow (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), and Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) — band together outside the Watchtower (formerly Avengers Tower). They’re not alone anymore.

RELATED: Thunderbolts* / *The New Avengers: Alternate Fantastic Four Post-Credits Scene Revealed

When Yelena follows Bob inside the Void, she finds herself in a maze of her most shameful memories, including her role in the death of her childhood friend Anya (Alexa Swinton). As she helps Bob process his traumatic memories, Bucky, Alexei, Ava, and John follow them into the Void, confront their own pasts, and overcome Bob’s dark side with a therapeutic group hug.

“You can’t stop it. You can’t contain it all by yourself. Nobody can,” Yelena tells Bob. “We have to let it out. We have to spend time together. And even if it doesn’t make the void go away, I promise you it will feel lighter.”

“It’s an interesting thing to try and explain the Void,” Pullman says in a new behind-the-scenes video. “It’s this thing that Bob doesn’t have control over, and once he loses control over it, it becomes this all-powerful, kind of wormhole-esque thing. And when you get taken into it, it’s essentially an interwebed series of endless rooms, of places that you’ve experienced the most shame or grief in your life.”

Adds production designer Grace Yun, “We wanted the spaces to feel realistic. So when you first see it, you’re not quite sure if it’s a flashback or you’re trapped in a memory, and later on you discover it’s the Void spaces. It’s a deliberate design to make it feel boxed in, as if they’re trapped. Each character is trapped in their trauma memory.”

Pullman likened the Void spaces to an amalgamation of Michel Gondry’s psychological drama Eternal Sunshine and the Spotless Mind and the surreal, Charlie Kaufman-directed psycho-drama Synecdoche, New York, with director Jake Schreier citing another influence in 1999’s Being John Malkovich.

Schreier wanted to “do something different, like [filmmakers] Spike Jonze and Jonathan Glazer.” Referencing Glazer’s 2002 “Odyssey” commercial for Levi’s jeans (which you can watch above), Schreier took inspiration from “them bursting through walls, and there’s explosions as they do that, and then the sequence from Being John Malkovich of going into John Malkovich’s subconscious.”

Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* — AKA *The New Avengers — is now playing only in theaters.

The post New Thunderbolts* Spoiler Video Reveals How Marvel Made That Wild Final Sequence appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Thunderbolts* assembles an exciting new team of antiheroes, but one notable absence prompts the need for a future reunion of estranged family members. In Thunderbolts*, established morally gray characters Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), and John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell) converge amid the discovery of an immensely powerful being known as the Sentry (Lewis Pullman). Two of the Thunderbolts, Yelena and Alexei, were introduced in 2021’s Black Widow as the adoptive younger sister and father of Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). Following their reconnection in Black Widow and Natasha’s death in Avengers: Endgame, Yelena and Alexei once again reunite after years without contact. Noticeably, Thunderbolts* omits the only other living member of their family.

Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz), the adoptive mother of Natasha and Yelena and former arranged partner of Alexei, neither appears, nor is mentioned, in Thunderbolts*. One can infer that the trio had gone their separate ways after regrouping to take down General Dreykov’s (Ray Winstone) Red Room in Black Widow, as Alexei is shown living a disheveled life by himself at the start of Thunderbolts*. Even though Melina’s involvement in Thunderbolts* was never an absolute necessity, the lack of any acknowledgement of her from Yelena and Alexei seems like a misstep. But, there’s still hope that a long-awaited family reunion could materialize in the future.

[RELATED – Marvel’s Thunderbolts* Asterisk Explained: What’s the Team’s Real Name?]

Melina Vostokoff’s Absence From Thunderbolts* Means a Family Reunion Needs to Happen

Melina’s absence from Thunderbolts* doesn’t hurt the movie, but it does indicate that a Black Widow family reunion (sans Natasha, of course) is long overdue. Melina’s nonappearance could arguably stem from the already high number of main characters in Thunderbolts*, with three of them already originating from Black Widow. Plus, the MCU’s quintessential need for comedic relief flows much more easily through Red Guardian than it would Melina or any Thunderbolts* character. Given Thunderbolts*‘ revelation that Yelena and Alexei hadn’t spoken in the years since the events of Black Widow, it’s difficult to guess what Melina has been up to over the last decade or so. Perhaps Alexei and Melina shared some contact in the aftermath of their reconnection, or maybe, Natasha’s sacrificial death drove them apart. Either way, it’s impossible to know because Thunderbolts* completely neglects what could have been an intriguing point of conversation between Yelena and Alexei when they first meet in the film.

The resuscitation of Yelena’s bond with her estranged father in Thunderbolts* is beautifully heartwarming, but it also calls into question whether a similar development between her and Melina might also be in store at some point. So, after further fleshing out Yelena and Alexei’s arcs in Thunderbolts*, it would make a ton of sense for them to reunite with their only other living family member in the MCU’s near future.

Will the MCU Bring Melina Back for a Reunion With Yelena and Alexei?

As of now, it’s not known if or when Melina will return in the MCU. Yelena, Alexei, and the rest of the surviving Thunderbolts team members will take part in Avengers: Doomsday‘s story, though it’s hard to imagine there’s room for an addition to their ranks among Doomsday‘s enormous cast. Despite the lack of a clear opportunity to reunite the MCU’s Black Widow family, there is reason for optimism, as Pugh and Harbour recently addressed Melina’s Thunderbolts* absence and the possibility of her return in the future.

“We don’t know what happened to Melina,” Pugh told The Hollywood Reporter. Harbour echoed the same sentiment, but offered a glimmer of hope for Black Widow fans.

“I’ve talked to [Marvel] people about Melina, and I think there’s still very much potential for Melina,” Harbour said. “I do think that there’s potential for Melina’s reemergence in some kind of interesting way, and I would love to have her back in Alexei’s life. She would add such an interesting complexity.”

It’s true that the direction of Alexei and Yelena’s MCU stories would take an interesting turn with the reintroduction of Melina into their lives. As the de facto lead character of Thunderbolts*, Yelena’s arc has taken on a greater emotional depth, as the movie emphasizes the loneliness and emptiness she feels in the wake of losing Natasha. After gaining some support from Alexei, a revival of her relationship with her mother figure would add another fascinating layer to one of the MCU’s best characters.

Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters.

The post After Thunderbolts*, This MCU Reunion Is Long Overdue appeared first on ComicBook.com.

There are countless stories of actors missing out on superhero roles. Sometimes, a big star passes on a part because it’s not right for them, such as Amanda Seyfried turning down the chance to play Gamora in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But more times than not, a lesser-known actor just can’t get over the hump. Asa Butterfield certainly fits into that category, as he was up for Peter Parker in Captain America: Civil War. Fortunately, Butterfield went on to have a great career, and there are several other instances of actors losing out on a comic book role and still finding success elsewhere.

However, losing out on a major part in the MCU hasn’t discouraged every actor from getting back on the horse (or, in this case, putting on a different suit). For example, Sebastian Stan auditioned to play a hero in the franchise’s early days, and while he didn’t get the job, it led him to the role of a lifetime.

Sebastian Stan Was Nearly the Hero Instead of the Sidekick in Captain America: The First Avenger

In the late 2000s, following the success of Iron Man and the positive reception to its post-credits scene, Marvel Studios was looking to build the rest of its Avengers roster. Of course, Robert Downey Jr. was already on board, but the rest of the team still needed to be cast. The powers that be eventually settled on relatively unknown actor Chris Hemsworth for the role of Thor, leaving Captain America as the big boots to fill. Marvel considered several future stars, including Chris Pratt and John Krasinski. Stan also found himself in the mix, but he was told he wasn’t right for the part, and it eventually went to Fantastic Four star Chris Evans.

While getting so close to a role as big as Captain America probably stung, Stan didn’t let failure deter him. Marvel offered him the role of Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers’ childhood friend who becomes his sidekick during World War II, and he ran with it, delivering a great performance in The First Avenger before returning as the titular villain in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. However, while Marvel is surely happy with its decision, there’s a chance that Stan would’ve taken Cap to new heights.

[RELATED – Thunderbolts* Nearly Included Zemo and Goliath — With Red Hulk as the Villain (Exclusive)]

Would Sebastian Stan Have Been a Better Captain America in the Long Run?

After landing the Captain America role, Evans quickly proved that he was up for the task, becoming one of the faces of the MCU alongside Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Hemsworth’s Thor. However, by playing Monday morning quarterback, it’s easy to see that Stan had the potential to lead his own franchise as well. The actor earned an Oscar nomination for his turn as Donald Trump in The Apprentice and appeared in several critically acclaimed movies that show off his range, playing a psychotic boyfriend in I, Tonya and a brave astronaut in The Martian. Evans also has some impressive projects on his résumé, including Bong Joon Ho’s Snowpiercer, but he’s seen more as an action star than an Oscar-caliber actor. That doesn’t mean the two actors ended up in the wrong places, though.

If Stan had landed the role and The First Avenger went off without a hitch, he probably would’ve done a good job and helped make Captain America a household name. However, one aspect of the movie would’ve suffered: Bucky. Stan fits the Bucky role so well that he’s stuck around for well over a decade, being one of only two actors to appear in every MCU phase. It’s unlikely that anyone else would’ve turned Bucky into such a success story, and Stan may not have benefited that much from the arrangement, either, as Cap called it quits and gave up his shield to Sam Wilson at the end of Avengers: Endgame. While Stan may have enjoyed being one of the faces of the MCU for a short time, his settling for the sidekick role was the best decision he ever made, as both he and the MCU are still benefiting from it to this day.

Did you know that Sebastian Stan auditioned to play Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger? How would he have changed Cap’s role in the franchise? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Sebastian Stan’s Marvel Role Was Almost Very Different (Would It Have Been Better?) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel Studios is making some big moves on the small screen, pivoting towards a “less is more” approach that aims to produce fewer series but with a stronger emphasis on multi-season narratives. This shift also means changing how we’ll see some of the MCU’s heaviest hitters. Brad Winderbaum, Marvel’s Head of Streaming, Television and Animation, clarified that while major Avengers characters won’t be headlining their own shows moving forward, the door remains wide open for them to make significant appearances in other characters’ series. This strategic adjustment looks to ease audience “homework” fatigue while still allowing for exciting crossovers and a deeply interconnected universe, focusing on character-driven stories that can hold on their own.

The Avengers have certainly made their presence felt on Disney+ already. We saw Hulk, played by Mark Ruffalo, play a pivotal role in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and Don Cheadle’s War Machine was central to the intrigue of Secret Invasion. Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) even got their own titular series with WandaVision and Hawkeye, respectively. And with Thunderbolts* rebranding the team as the New Avengers, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) have cemented their status, retroactively making their substantial roles in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Hawkeye even more integral to the broader Avengers narrative. Still, with this new framework for TV, there’s a whole roster of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes who could lend their star power and unique abilities to the expanding television corner of the MCU.

Here are five Avengers we’d be thrilled to see pop up in MCU TV shows.

1) Spider-Man

Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, with his intrinsic ties to New York City, presents a compelling candidate for integration into the MCU’s street-level television narratives. The MCU’s increasing development of grounded storytelling, notably with the ongoing Daredevil: Born Again series starring Charlie Cox, creates a logical context for a potential crossover. Even a brief team-up could effectively explore the dynamic between Spider-Man’s characteristic youthful energy and Daredevil’s more hardened approach to justice, thereby enriching this specific corner of the MCU.

The primary hurdle for such an appearance is the complex rights agreement between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures regarding the live-action Spider-Man. While Marvel Studios can develop animated series like Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, integrating Holland’s iteration into a Disney+ live-action series would require Sony’s legal approval. Still, if Sony allowed, a one or two-episode arc in Daredevil: Born Again, or a similar NYC-based show, it could be a perfect way to leverage Spider-Man’s immense popularity and street-level relatability, providing a thrilling treat for fans.

2) Red Guardian

With the New Avengers, including David Harbour’s Alexei Shostakov, now officially operating from their New York City headquarters following the events of Thunderbolts*, the stage is set for some of these team members to get entangled in local issues. Red Guardian, with his booming personality, tragicomic backstory, and scene-stealing sense of humor, is an ideal candidate for a memorable cameo appearance in one of the MCU’s New York-set television series. His particular brand of misguided bravado and surprising heart could inject a unique energy into virtually any street-level storyline.

[RELATED: Marvel Fan Finds Surprising Trend About MCU Movie Ratings (But Fantastic Four Might Break It)]

The Red Guardian, perhaps on a day off or a minor mission, blundering into a situation being handled by characters like Daredevil, offers the perfect setup for a uniquely entertaining interaction. His appearance does not need to be central to the season’s overarching plot, but would provide a self-contained comedic and action-packed sequence. Such a cameo aligns perfectly with Marvel’s new TV strategy, allowing an Avenger to make a significant impact without the need for a dedicated series, further weaving the New Avengers into the fabric of the MCU and giving fans more of a beloved character.

3) Thor

Chris Hemsworth’s Thor remains one of the MCU’s premier powerhouses, a factor that naturally makes any appearance expensive for Marvel Studios. Following Thor: Love and Thunder, the God of Thunder embarked on a more personal journey, embracing cosmic fatherhood with Love (India Rose Hemsworth) and operating in a relatively isolated corner of the universe. This current path contrasts with his deep-seated integration throughout the Infinity Saga and presents a Thor who, while confirmed for the universe-shaking Avengers: Doomsday, has been somewhat decoupled from the central narrative threads of the Multiverse Saga.

A brief TV appearance offers an excellent avenue to bridge this gap and reintegrate Thor more visibly into the active MCU moving forward. Whether it’s a compelling cameo in a cosmic-centric Disney+ series or even a justified drop-in on an Earth-based show, such a spot would powerfully reinforce his enduring presence and importance to the MCU. It would also be something of a redemption for Hemsworth, whose Thor character was once shamelessly spliced into an episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

4) Falcon (Joaquin Torres)

Danny Ramirez’s Joaquin Torres officially took flight as the new Falcon in Captain America: Brave New World, and he’s quickly become a fan-favorite addition to the MCU. However, despite strong showings in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as Sam Wilson’s (Anthony Mackie) ally and his recent cinematic debut as a winged Avenger, Torres has primarily served in a supporting capacity. Giving him opportunities to appear in other MCU television series could be a fantastic way to build out his character, offer him more chances to shine independently of Sam, and strengthen the connective tissue between the Avengers and the TV landscape.

Sam Wilson had his own standout moments in other heroes’ projects that helped solidify his place, like that memorable clash with Ant-Man (Paul Rudd). Joaquin Torres deserves similar opportunities to spread his wings, offering his perspective as a newer hero and showcasing his skills as the new Falcon.

5) Rocket Raccoon

As one of the galaxy’s most brilliant minds and now the leader of the current iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper) is a key player on the cosmic side of the MCU. He’s also an honorary Avenger, having fought alongside Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and played a crucial role in keeping hope alive during the Blip, operating under the command of Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson). This established connection to the Avengers makes him an excellent candidate for weaving cosmic threads into the MCU television shows.

Given Marvel’s new TV strategy, a full Rocket-centric series is off the table. Still, a guest spot where his skills are needed, consulting on alien tech for S.W.O.R.D., for instance, would reinforce his MCU importance. Such a cameo would underline his connection to Earth’s heroes while reminding fans of the vast galaxy beyond and the vital role the Guardians, and specifically Rocket, play within it.

Which Avenger, not headlining their own show, would you most like to see make an appearance on an MCU Disney+ series? Let us know in the comments!

The post 5 Avengers Characters We Would Love to See on MCU TV Shows appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The ending of Thunderbolts* sets up an epic Avengers conflict in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, though this rivalry would be best explored in its own movie. Comprised of notorious MCU anti-heroes Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), and newcomer Bob Reynolds/the Sentry (Lewis Pullman), the Thunderbolts are publicly introduced as the New Avengers by CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) in the film’s closing moments. Thunderbolts*‘s post-credits scene reveals that Sam Wilson/Captain America (Anthony Mackie) has filed to copyright the Avengers’ name, foreshadowing what’s to come in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday.

This intriguing conflict between the Thunderbolts/New Avengers and Sam’s yet-to-be-assembled Avengers could easily serve as the main plot of a movie, but Avengers: Doomsday seemingly has other plans. In addition to the Thunderbolts, Sam, and several Avengers like Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) , and Shuri/Black Panther (Letitia Wright), the movie’s cast features numerous Fox X-Men, the MCU’s Fantastic Four, and of course, Doomsday‘s villain, Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.). As a result of the upcoming film’s enormous cast and high-stakes storyline incorporating the multiverse, it appears unlikely that the Thunderbolts and Avengers’ dispute will get the attention it deserves.

[RELATED: The MCU Is Making This Major Mistake With Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars]

Thunderbolts vs. Avengers Is a Great, But Avengers: Doomsday Doesn’t Have Room for It.

Following Thunderbolts*, the MCU has the opportunity to do something exciting and different with the Thunderbolts and Avengers. The question of which team serves as the real Avengers needs to be fleshed-out thoroughly, and much about the conflict could act as a springboard for engrossing character examinations. Yelena’s place among the New Avengers in the context of her sister’s legacy as one of the Avengers’ original members makes for an superb continuation to her arc, while Walker’s position as a discarded Captain America now belonging to a team and Bucky’s switch from the Avengers to the Thunderbolts are also interesting.

Furthermore, the Thunderbolts and Avengers exhibit such different qualities in their backstories and identities. The Thunderbolts came together under improbable circumstances, converging in a death trap and bonding over their shared hardships. To one another, the Thunderbolts are the support they never wanted, but desperately needed. On the other hand, the Avengers have always functioned as a collective aimed at defending the universe from major threats. The compatibility of their personalities matters little because they are professionals doing a job before anything else. Put simply, the Avengers exist out of necessity rather than out of a genuine desire to work together.

As Doomsday approaches, the Avengers have been on a hiatus in the MCU for years now, and this unexpected replacement team presents an identity crisis for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. The deaths of Tony Stark/Iron Man (Downey Jr.), Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans), and Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) have left the Avengers in need of new leadership. As Sam takes up the mantle as the head of the team, he must also put together a group of heroes that can defeat any enemy, whether from Earth-616 or another reality. Thus, contending with both the logistics of building a formidable squad and the emergence of a government-led team of rogue agents presents a significant dilemma for Sam and the Avengers.

Avengers: Doomsday will undoubtedly address this clash of superhero squads, but it’s hard to imagine the movie will explore such a fascinating and exciting conflict with adequate depth. It’s plausible that the Thunderbolts vs. Avengers will serve as an exposition point in Doomsday as Sam assembles his team, only to hastily wrap itself up to make room for Doctor Doom, the Fantastic Four, X-Men, and whatever or whoever else the multiverse throws into the mix.

The MCU Famously Explored a Conflict Between Superhero Teams Before

Although it’s too late for the MCU to remedy its disjointed buildup to Avengers: Doomsday, a Thunderbolts vs. Avengers movie ahead of the franchise’s next big event could have been the missing piece. A lower-stakes Avengers film could have functioned similarly to Captain America: Civil War by pitting two camps with contrasting identities against one another. The aforementioned MCU Phase 3 title garnered tons of praise, and the Thunderbolts and Avengers’ vastly different dynamic compared to Iron Man and Steve Rogers’ ideological camps in Captain America: Civil War would make the storylines far from identical.

The MCU should have prefaced Avengers: Doomsday with a smaller team-up movie that could fully take advantage of Thunderbolts*‘s fantastic ending twist. A Thunderbolts and Avengers-focused movie would additionally provide some much-needed development for the main heroes before the multiverse and next big bad come into play. Whether MCU fans like it or not, Avengers: Doomsday will see the Thunderbolts and Sam Wilson-helmed Avengers make their next appearance, and one can only the MCU does this amazing conflict justice.

Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters. Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on May 1, 2026.

The post The MCU’s Thunderbolts vs. Avengers Conflict Is So Good, It Deserves Its Own Movie appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s fair to say that the Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn’t brought its A-game lately. The Multiverse Saga has been a mixed bag for Marvel Studios, and through no fault of its own, it had to swap Big Bads before one of the most ambitious comic book movies ever, Avengers: Doomsday, went into production. So, the MCU needs a win sooner rather than later, and it’s putting a lot of the pressure on a group of screw-ups, the Thunderbolts. And to the surprise of nearly everyone, they pull it off, shining in a heartfelt superhero movie with a lot to say about pushing forward during the rough times.

Pretty early on in Thunderbolts*, it becomes clear that one of the core themes is found family. No one chooses how they come into the world, but they do decide how they live in it and who they go on their journey with. Finding purpose in saving one another pushes the Thunderbolts to band together and stop Sentry from destroying New York in a climax that resembles one of the MCU’s most controversial.

WARNING: Spoilers below for Thunderbolts*

The Thunderbolts Save Each Other When Things Get Tough

Thunderbolts* isn’t the first movie about bad guys teaming, so there are familiar moments. Initially, Yelena, Walker, and Ghost can’t stand each other, and once they escape Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s trap, they plan never to cross paths again. However, with the help of their new ally Bob, they start to open up little by little and learn they have a lot in common. Yelena especially takes a liking to Bob after they bond over feeling like they’re going nowhere in life and are all alone. So, when Bob lands himself in some trouble, Yelena and the rest waste little time coming to his aid.

When the newly formed Thunderbolts arrive in New York to save Bob from Valentina, they hit a bit of a roadblock in the form of Sentry, Bob’s new hero alter-ego. Valentina got inside Bob’s head, and he believes he’s above his former allies. The team loses confidence pretty quickly, but once Yelena sees Bob embrace the darkness, she risks her life to save him by going inside The Void. While the rest of the group doesn’t understand at first, they eventually follow Yelena inside and unite to bring Bob back. It takes a lot of work as the group travels through Bob’s worst memories, and it looks like all is lost when Bob loses control and starts attacking his dark side. Fortunately, the rest of the team reassures him that he’s not alone, and everyone embraces in an emotional scene. But while it tugs at the heartstrings, it’s not all that different from another MCU ending that caught its fair share of flak.

[RELATED – Comics Starter Pack: A Beginner’s Guide to the MCU’s Thunderbolts*]

Thunderbolts* Takes Guardians of the Galaxy‘s Ending to the Next Level

There are very few problems with James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy movie, but one that sticks out is the ending to the first movie. After getting the best of Ronan the Accuser and crashing his ship, Star-Lord challenges him to a dance-off as the rest of the team prepares a weapon to knock the Power Stone out of his hammer. The gamble pays off, with Star-Lord being able to grab the Infinity Stone. He’s unable to contain the gem alone, however, so all of the Guardians join hands and use their newfound power to kill Ronan. It’s a bit of an anticlimactic ending for a villain in league with Thanos, and there have been plenty of conversations online since the movie’s release about how it falls a little flat.

The powers that be at Marvel Studios have clearly had their ears to the ground in the last decade because, while Thunderbolts* travels into similar territory, the build-up to The Void’s defeat feels stronger. Embracing unites the Thunderbolts as a team and allows everyone to start the healing process. And they come out the other side not only as the New Avengers, but as new people.

Thunderbolts* is in theaters now.

Did you see the parallels between the ending of Guardians of the Galaxy and Thunderbolts*? Which conclusion do you think works better? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Thunderbolts* Actually Improves on One of the MCU’s Most Controversial Endings appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s future is sure looking a lot like its past. The Fantastic Four: First Steps, for instance, is helmed by WandaVision’s helmer Matt Shakman, and only after it was supposed to be directed by Jon Watts, the man responsible for helming the three Tom Holland Spider-Man movies. Anthony and Joe Russo are back for the next two Avengers installments, while Shang-Chi filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton is helming Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Meanwhile, rumors are swirling that Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier is helming the MCU’s X-Men reboot.

Even on the television side of things, Moon Knight and Loki season two directors Aaron Benson and Justin Moorhead are now directors of various season one and two episodes of Daredevil: Born Again, and Cretton is a key figure behind Wonder Man. The MCU is pretty much just relying on a handful of names to realize its projects now (particularly on the big screen), as the studio tries to recapture its former glory. While not an ideal creative approach, this just might be exactly the course correction the MCU needs.

The MCU’s Weird History With Directors

The original Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase One movies hired veterans of filmmaking, like Jon Favreau, Kenneth Branagh, and Joe Johnston, to helm various titles. Even Joss Whedon, who only had one feature-length directorial effort to his name before The Avengers, had at least worked in Hollywood for decades. Phases Two and (especially) Three began a trend of embracing smaller indie directors fresh on the scene who could helm big blockbusters. Jon Watts, Taika Waititi, and Ryan Coogler all came from this approach, while Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck (Captain Marvel) were indie veterans. While the MCU’s default directors were Sundance darlings, the studio often resorted to a small collection of screenwriters to get scripts done.

Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers, Patrick Burleigh, Megan McDonnell, and especially Eric Pearson were all longtime fixtures as MCU screenwriters across the first five Phases. Heck, many of them were veterans of the Marvel Studios screenwriter program! They were the perfect go-to people to execute titles that, starting with Phase Four, always featured “A Kevin Feige Production” in the end credits but not “A Jon Watts Film”, “A Jake Schreier Film,” or “A Nia DaCosta Film.” The MCU’s director choices externally reflected “authorship”, but it was clear that Fiege was running the ship and had go-to writers to help realize those visions.

[RELATED: These Are The Only MCU Movies That Lost Money In Their Theatrical Runs]

All of that to say, perhaps it’s best that the MCU finally put down the facade and finally have its choice in directors mirror the franchise’s recurring screenwriters. The scripts for the MCU have always operated more like TV show scripts or the screenplays that would’ve filtered through MGM’s Golden Age. Now the MCU has a reliable stable of directors it can turn to in churning out new projects. Feige likely loves the idea of putting behind him the endless struggles of Julius Onah’s Captain America: Brave New World, Peyton Reed’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, or even Sam Raimi’s tormented return to blockbuster cinema, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – just as he quickly tired of trying to juggle the creative whims of veteran filmmakers like Joe Johnston (The First Avenger), Kenneth Branagh (Thor), and even MCU icons like Jon Favreau (Iron Man) and Joss Whedon (The Avengers).

Young Fresh Voices May Now Have Fewer Opportunities To Get Sucked Into The MCU

Ryan Coogler was just a few months shy of 30 when he got hired for Black Panther. Jon Watts just turned 34 when he got the Spider-Man: Homecoming gig. Chloe Zhao was 36 when she was hired for Eternals. By contrast, Shawn Levy was 56 when Deadpool & Wolverine hit theaters, Matt Shakman will turn 50 a few years after First Steps hit theaters, and both of the Russo Brothers are well into their 50s as they gear up to helm Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. The MCU now resorting to recurring directorial talent means that the studio is no longer angling to get fresh-faced Sundance darlings. The franchise is now turning to a small pool of superhero blockbuster veterans to get its projects, especially movies, done right.

For cinema writ large, that decision could be a massive boon. Recent outstandingly talented indie cinema auteurs like A.V. Rockwell, Rich Peppiatt, Shuchi Talati, and countless others may no longer be on the radar of Feige and company. That’ll leave these artists time and resources to create exciting original cinematic visions, rather than getting stuck directing three Iron Fist movies. Look at how much fervent creativity Boden and Fleck channeled into their post-Captain Marvel project Freaky Tales, or how infinitely better Nia DaCosta’s debut feature, Little Woods, is compared to The Marvels. Freaky Tales and Woods are the kind of smaller, original productions indie directors need to be encouraged to create, rather than every one of these artists making the Colin Trevorrow leap from Safety Not Guaranteed to Jurassic World.

Feige and the rest of Marvel Studios’ brass turning to a smaller, pre-determined group of directors to handle its film and TV operations could allow more cinematic artists to follow their own path, rather than getting caught up in the Disney machine. And hey, if Marvel Studios improves its recent cinematic track record by relying on proven talent, that’s just a nice bonus. Though it doesn’t suggest tremendously versatile works are in the MCU’s future, a new emphasis on recurring veteran directors (particularly for films) does seem to be a smart move for both franchise and the greater landscape of cinema.

Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters, The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25th.

The post I Think the MCU Needs Its Veteran Directors To Bring the Franchise Back appeared first on ComicBook.com.

My Hero Academia is no stranger to superhero shout outs, and the latest episode of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes gave Marvel another fun cameo with a Winter Soldier Easter Egg. Ever since My Hero Academia began its run with Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine over a decade ago, series creator Kohei Horikoshi has never been shy about all of the influences that Marvel superheroes had on the series. This even led to official crossovers with heroes like Spider-Man following its finale, and fans have spotted even more connections between the two worlds over the years through manga and anime releases.

This connection with Western superhero comics even extends to My Hero Academia‘s spinoff projects like My Hero Academia: Vigilantes. The new anime series has been airing its new episodes through the Spring 2025 anime schedule, and with it fans have gotten to see a whole new side of the hero world. This even includes some fun new Easter Eggs and shout outs to more superheroes, and the latest even brings in a Yakuza member inspired by the Thunderbolts* film standout, Bucky Barnes the Winter Soldier.

My Hero Academia Introduces Its Own Winter Soldier

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Episode 6 begins with an introduction to how the Yakuza world operates within the hero society. While fans have gotten to see this side of the crime world in the original My Hero Academia series, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes takes place years before the events of the main series. This means that the Yakuza world seen here is just starting to grow and change with all of the Quirks making the world that much more dangerous. It’s meant that those who are in the Yakuza ranks are getting deadlier thanks to their powers as well, and it’s getting to be a problem.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes addresses this with a deadly new vigilante who turns out to be Hero Killer Stain before he officially becomes the villain we see later. He kicks off the episode by killing a group of Yakuza, and one of them not only has black around his eyes but then one of his arms is coated with a metal. This makes him look at lot like Marvel’s own Winter Soldier, and while he’s not named, it’s fun and quick shout out to the Marvel Cinematic Universe nonetheless.

RELATED: Thunderbolts* Director Reveals Scrapped Scene Would Confirm a Surprising Survivor

What’s Next for the Winter Soldier in the MCU?

The Winter Soldier’s been through quite a lot in the Marvel Cinematic Universe ever since he was first introduced to the feature films. Bucky Barnes went from being Steve Rogers’ best friend during the World War II era, and was thought dead for many years. It turned out that he was reprogrammed and turned into a deadly assassin known as the Winter Soldier. But after being saved by Steve, Bucky regained his mind back and was able to turn everything back around and is now one of the pillars of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Bucky was a central figure of Marvel’s newest cinematic entry as well, Thunderbolts*. Releasing in theaters earlier this month, this film saw a bunch of scattered characters from across the MCU and put them together into a makeshift team that would allow them to become the heroes they never thought they would be. It ended up being a direct lead into the events of Avengers: Doomsday, and it won’t be long before we find out what’s next for Bucky and the rest of this new team. And considering how well it’s done with fans so far, we’re going to see a lot more of them soon.

The post My Hero Academia Introduces Its Own Winter Soldier With MCU Easter Egg appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel fans left wondering about the fate of a scene-stealing guinea pig featured in Thunderbolts* now have confirmation of its survival, thanks to director Jake Schreier. In a recent interview with Collider, Schreier revealed a planned post-credits scene, ultimately cut from the film, which showed the resilient rodent alive during the film’s chaotic climax. The guinea pig, rescued by Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) early in the movie from a lab targeted for destruction, became an unexpected fan-favorite, and its complete disappearance from the narrative after the opening sequence left many viewers asking questions about its fate. Schreier’s comments clear up that particular mystery and provide insight into the creative team’s ideas for capping off the Marvel Studios team-up film, before the Russo Brothers offered the final post-credits scene linking Thunderbolts* to Avengers: Doomsday.

“We had a whole different credit sequence that we were working on,” Schreier revealed. “We were doing a guinea pig going through a bunch of Void rooms because people do ask about the guinea pig.” This scrapped concept offers a fun alternative to the significant, universe-expanding tease that ultimately closed out the film, sending the guinea pig on a dangerous journey inside the twisted pocket dimensions conjured by the Void entity (Lewis Pullman, in which prisoners are forced to relive their most traumatic memories.

[RELATED: Thunderbolts* Is a Hit (But Will It Make Enough Money?)]

Instead of more guinea pig screen time, Thunderbolts‘ post-credits scene pivots hard towards the MCU’s future. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo and filmed on the Doomsday set itself, the tag jumps forward roughly 14 months after the main film’s events. Inside the Watchtower (the former Avengers Tower), the newly christened New Avengers discuss their ongoing friction with Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), who’s also assembling his own team of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Their discussion is interrupted by an alert signaling an “extra-dimensional ship” entering Earth’s atmosphere, revealed moments later, via satellite feed, to be the vessel belonging to the Fantastic Four, complete with their iconic logo. This scene directly tees up both The Fantastic Four: First Steps and the massive multiversal conflict anticipated in Avengers: Doomsday.

Thunderbolts* Strikes Gold with Critics and Audiences

Beyond the specific teases for the MCU’s future, Thunderbolts* secured a strong critical reception, earning an impressive 88% “Certified Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes. Audience reactions have proven even more glowing, reflected in a 95% audience score on the same platform and further cemented by a solid “A-” CinemaScore. Achieving this level of acclaim is a considerable win for Marvel Studios, particularly for a project centered on a team largely composed of characters previously seen in supporting roles.

Positive word-of-mouth is translating directly into encouraging financial returns. Thunderbolts* kicked off its run with a healthy $74 million domestic opening weekend, adding another $33 million to the haul the following week. This represents a drop of only around 55%, a significantly better hold than the 68% decline faced by Captain America: Brave New World. While its $272 million global box office is still insufficient to turn a profit, Thunderbolts* staying power might still make it a success.

Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters. The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives on July 25th, 2025, followed by Avengers: Doomsday on May 1st, 2026.

Would you like the scrapped guinea pig post-credits scene to be released somehow? Let us know in the comments!

The post Thunderbolts* Director Reveals Scrapped Scene Would Confirm a Surprising Survivor appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Thunderbolts*, a film technically about a band of heroes with a mission to save NYC, deals with a lot of dark, depressing themes. As it delves deeper into the main characters’ pasts, we see signs of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. Instead of taking a dramatic and grim approach to it, the film turns mental health struggles into a metaphor. It allows the audience to relate and understand the characters’ struggles without taking away from the sheer entertainment value of witnessing OP characters clash onscreen. Other movies take a similar approach, delving into their characters’ struggles without becoming dark and gritty. Some movies, like Disney-Pixar’s Inside Out series, have made it their entire brand.

The five films listed below take such serious themes and turn them into fun, heartfelt stories, just like Marvel did with Thunderbolts New Avengers:

1) Evil Dead  (2013)

This film is often said to have one of the best onscreen depictions of addiction, and with good reason. In this 2013 remake of the cult classic, Director Fede Álvarez uses addiction as a plot device to propel the story forward, but he does so in a way that highlights the struggles of ones afflicted by it. The story begins when Mia (Jane Levy) requests her brother and friends to follow her to a dodgy cabin in the woods so she can deal with the effects of withdrawal and quit heroin once and for all. She gets possessed by a demon, but people think she is only showing signs of withdrawal. Álvarez expertly uses the metaphor of demonic possession to depict how addiction destroys the lives of the addict and those around them, and he does it in a gnarly way that keeps us on the very edge of our seats till the credits roll. 

2) Forrest Gump 

On the surface, Forrest Gump is a story of a man who longs to meet his first and only love. In reality, it is one of the first mainstream films that portrays the many nuances of neurodivergence. Gump, played by none other than Tom Hanks, has autism. It is not explicitly stated in the film, but instead skillfully portrayed onscreen. As such, director Robert Zemeckis could have easily turned this into a dramatic and dialogue-heavy story about a neurodivergent man who is a little sad, slightly pitiable, yet endlessly dauntless. Instead, Zemeckis made a simple story of Gump’s long search for love. The film portrays Gump as different, yes, but it doesn’t do it in a way that inspires pity. Instead, it informs. The audience learns about what it means to be different, but not broken. 

RELATED: New Evil Dead Spinoff Title Revealed (And We Have Questions)

3) Turning Red

This film had many parents turning red and clutching pearls; for others, it has been a conversation-starter. After all, it is a culturally loaded take on adolescent angst, awkwardness, and first encounters with one’s sexuality. Mei is a 13-year-old not unlike every other 13-year-old. She is clumsy, confused, and coming of age, and that comes with… certain implications. The film takes these heavy topics and turns them all into an enjoyable telling about the women in Mei’s family who turn into humongous red pandas every time they feel ‘powerful emotions.’ Unlike her mom, Mei doesn’t want to get rid of her panda, but learns to accept it. Instead of taking the “conceal, don’t feel” approach recommended by her elders, she accepts her panda, i.e., her feelings, sexuality, and femininity. The film explores the tension between Mei and her mom, a tension that every parent of a tween has felt at some point. It starts conversations and addresses the hush around the implications of puberty, especially in Asian households. 

4) The Incredibles

The Incredibles does many things incredibly well, and portraying identity and existential crises is just one of them. Released in 2004, the animated film is about the super lives of retired superheroes. In a world that refuses to accept those with superpowers, Mr. Incredible, aka Bob, has hung up his cape and opted to spend his days at a cubicle he barely fits in. He spends his days listlessly, constantly looking back to his glory days. It’s why he gets caught up in the trap that “Syndrome” sets for him.

Dissatisfied with his professional and family life, Bob decides to have an “affair” with superheroism, showing all the classic signs of a mid-life crisis turned affair. He is chirpier, investing in luxurious cars and gifts, and trying to get fitter. Meanwhile, Violet, his adolescent daughter, is dealing with her own issues. Her introversion and tendency to literally disappear to avoid her shifting surroundings are a metaphor for an adolescent’s struggle to come to terms with change. Dash longs to escape a closeted life of hiding who he is as a super-speedster… The Incredibles’ greatest heroic feat is fitting an entire mess of family life into a film that is still so much fun.

5) The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 

Directed by and starring Ben Stiller, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty transcends genres to share a story of loneliness, longing, and, ultimately, self-acceptance. And it does it all by sending Stiller’s character on a near-epic, definitely absurd, series of adventures. Walter Mitty is a guy so ordinary that he is relegated to the edges of society, becoming the butt of his colleague’s jokes and pranks. In his head, though, Mitty is an explorer, a dauntless adventurer, someone who climbs mountains, tackles sharks, and sweeps the woman he likes off her feet. The story truly begins when Mitty loses an important photograph and embarks on a journey that changes the course of his life. He actually climbs mountains, wrestles sharks, and even impresses his crush, all while being himself. The film is self-reflexive, reminding us of our own value, even and especially when we forget to see it. 

All of these films are available on streaming and digital.

The post 5 Films That Turn Serious Personal Struggles Into Fun, Heartfelt Stories (Like Thunderbolts*) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

What the Marvel Cinematic Universe had going for it in its early days was that it never lost momentum. There were only a handful of characters with solo movies, so when it came time for them to return for a team-up project, the audience didn’t feel like they missed out on much. Things got a little more complicated in Phases 2 and 3, with the MCU having to juggle a lot more storylines. Fortunately, Marvel Studios brought its A game for Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, giving every character a moment to shine before it was time to wrap things up. However, times have changed, and the build-up to Avengers: Doomsday doesn’t feel the same.

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Thunderbolts*

Seemingly out of nowhere, though, Thunderbolts* does a bunch of the heavy lifting, pushing a new team to the forefront just in time for them to face off against Doctor Doom. But in reality, the MCU is just making up for lost time, and when push comes to shove, some of the characters it’s going to lean on in the next major Marvel event movie are going to feel underbaked.

Keeping Up With Characters Is No Longer the MCU’s Strong Suit

It didn’t take long for Phase 4 of the MCU to show its cards. Using well-placed teases, it became clear that Kang was stepping into the role of the Big Bad, and heroes like Spider-Man and Captain America would be there to stop them. Of course, for reasons beyond their control, the powers that be at Marvel Studios had to pivot, swapping Kang out for Doctor Doom after going back to the drawing board. It pushed things back quite a bit, which unfortunately had unintended but inevitable consequences.

The character who suffered the most because of the reshuffle was Shang-Chi. After a successful solo movie in 2021, it felt like Simu Liu’s hero was well on his way to becoming one of the faces of the MCU. Director of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Daniel Destin Cretton, getting the Avengers: Kang Dynasty job added fuel to the fire, but he made the jump to Spider-Man 4 after the Russo brothers returned to helm Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. It left Shang-Chi’s status up in the air, and while he was confirmed for the Doomsday cast, it will come out nearly five years after his first appearance. The old MCU would’ve never let that happen; after all, Doctor Strange, who had to wait nearly six years between solo movies, made his fair share of cameos in between. It speaks to the new MCU, a franchise that’s all about what a character’s done for it lately.

[RELATED: 3 Things That Don’t Make Sense About the Avengers: Doomsday Cast]

The MCU Can’t Afford to Have the New Avengers and Fantastic Four Take a Back Seat

The post-credits scene of Thunderbolts* makes it abundantly clear who really matters going into Avengers: Doomsday. The New Avengers have been active for a little over a year, and they’re about to come face to face with the Fantastic Four, who made the jump from their universe to the Sacred Timeline. Marvel Studios is betting on these two groups because their movies release right before Doomsday, and if they’re both successful, that’s all anyone will remember. The logic is sound, even if it’s not all that fair.

What the MCU will have to do if Doomsday and Secret Wars go off without a hitch is do right by the heroes that have been patient, such as Shang-Chi and even Ant-Man, whose third movie was hijacked by a Kang storyline that ultimately amounted to nothing. They have been paying their dues, and while the new direction of the franchise may not prioritize them, they deserve another shot at glory. It may take the MCU committing to having multiple overarching storylines running at the same time to get the job done, but that’s better than the franchise getting a reputation for ignoring success stories because of its own screw-ups.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on May 1, 2026.

Are you disappointed that some MCU heroes have fallen to the wayside ahead of Avengers: Doomsday? How do you think Marvel Studios can make things right? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Thunderbolts’ Set-Up For Avengers: Doomsday Is Good, But It Still Highlights A Major MCU Flaw appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Thunderbolts* introduced a powerful villain in the form of Sentry (Lewis Pullman), a character whose abilities are connected to his emotional state. Besides having the strength to hold his own against the entire Thunderbolts team with ease, Sentry can take his victims to The Void. This extension of Bob allows people to confront their worst nightmares, and the only way to escape is to push through and conquer their greatest fears. The movie established that it would be hard to fight someone as powerful as Sentry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

However, there is someone who might be able to take on Sentry and live to tell the tale. Thanos (Josh Brolin) traumatized the entire universe when he made half of the population disappear. For five years, billions of people from across the universe missed their loved ones thanks to the villains’ disgusting plan. Thanos proved that he was the biggest threat in the franchise. But could the Mad Titan defeat Sentry without any help? There are several factors that must be considered before answering this question. The potential battle between the two characters would be remembered for a very long time if it actually happened.

The Infinity Gauntlet

In order to win in Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos needed to gather the six Infinity Stones that could manipulate reality. The premise of the entire movie saw the Avengers trying to stop the villain from getting the Stones. The team’s failure led to half of the universe’s population disappearing for five years. If Thanos had the Infinity Gauntlet at full capacity when fighting against Sentry, there is an argument to be made regarding a victory for the Mad Titan. The Stones can define what is real and what isn’t. While Sentry is one of the most powerful beings in the entire MCU, there’s not much to do against reality itself. Previous battles depicted in the franchise support this theory.

The Avengers weren’t going to let anyone kill billions of people at once. Avengers: Infinity War took place during Phase Three of the MCU. This means that a second generation of heroes was already in the field, including Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), and Vision (Paul Bettany). The entire Guardians of the Galaxy team and Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) wanted to stop Thanos and his allies. That still wasn’t enough. Sentry is very powerful, but if the Mad Titan has control of the Infinity Stones during their fight, there won’t be much for Bob to do.

RELATED: [ When Will Marvel’s Thunderbolts* Stream on Disney+? ]

The Void

Sentry changed the game in Thunderbolts* when he came back from the dead as The Void. The darker side of Bob took over, plunging New York City into complete darkness. People were also forced to face their greatest fears thanks to Sentry’s powers. Could Thanos survive against the darkness of The Void? It’s likely. The villain of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame was nothing but firm in his goals. He killed his own daughter to fulfill his quest of exterminating half of all life in the universe. Even if Thanos had to live through that moment again thanks to The Void, chances are that he won’t care that much about it. The Mad Titan would return to the fight in no time.

The only people who might have a problem with The Void would be Thanos’ Black Order. Cull Obsidian (Terry Notary), Ebony Maw (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor), Proxima Midnight (Carrie Coon) and Corvus Glaive (Michael James Shaw) have demons of their own. The team would be vulnerable against The Void and wherever he sends his victims. But Thanos himself? He would escape from The Void faster than anyone else. If John Walker (Wyatt Russell) could get out of there, the most dangerous enemy of the Avengers certainly can. It’s time to answer the question of whether Thanos could defeat Sentry on his own.

Thanos’ Chances Against Sentry

Thanos, on his own, could not defeat Sentry from Thunderbolts*. There are a few ways in which the Mad Titan could take on Bob, but it would require the antagonist to get some help. A version of Thanos with a fully armed Infinity Gauntlet could definitely take on Sentry. Even if Thanos couldn’t get his hands on the magical device, he would stand a chance against Bob if he could count on the support of the Black Order and his army. Sentry is indeed very resourceful, but the army seen in Avengers: Endgame is nothing to mess around with. If Thanos truly wanted to take Bob out of the picture, he would need all the help he could get from across the galaxy. The villain defeated the MCU’s original Avengers, but projects that deal with alternate dimensions, such as What If…? and Loki, demonstrated that he isn’t successful in every timeline. Thanos has been vulnerable to powerful threats.

This leaves Sentry in a very interesting position for the future of the MCU. If an argument can be made for someone to take on Thanos, that character would be putting the rest of the MCU on notice. Marvel Studios confirmed that Lewis Pullman will reprise his role as Bob in next summer’s Avengers: Doomsday. Robert Downey Jr. will return to the franchise as the evil Doctor Doom. But how will this antagonist from Latveria move forward against someone as powerful as Sentry? This is taking into account how Doom will face several heroes at the same time when he makes his debut in the franchise. If it would be hard for Thanos to defeat Sentry, Doctor Doom has to be careful with his strategy to fight against Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Thunderbolts* is currently playing in theaters.

The post Could Marvel’s The Sentry Beat Thanos With No Help? appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For 17 years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has provoked cheers, laughter, and tears from audiences through its exhilarating and heartwarming superhero movies. This combination of necessary elements isn’t always balanced, though, as some films take on a greater level of sadness than others. Interestingly the MCU’s first two phases don’t lean into depressing stories too much, but Phases 3, 4, and 5 are defined by heartbreak just as much as joy and humor. Ramping up the sadness hasn’t brought needless misery to movie theaters, instead, the MCU’s myriad of complex characters has provided a compelling springboard for thorough examinations of grief, trauma, and other forms of heartache. The MCU’s most devastating and emotional moments continue to move fans, and a select few movies have delivered the most effective gut punches.

Listed in order of release, these seven MCU movies are the saddest the franchise has ever released.

1) Captain America: The First Avenger

Although more lighthearted than most movies set during World War II, 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger still highlights the severe nature of the deadliest conflict in human history. In the film, HYDRA functions as Nazi Germany’s scientific sector, and despite its fictional elements, the organization and its leader Johann Schmidt/Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) evoke the sinister nature of the real-life fascist regime. The First Avenger‘s ending packs a strong emotional punch, as Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) sacrifices himself by crashing a plane into a block of ice, leaving his love interest Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) and best friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) behind. Even though Steve survives the event, it’s sad to know that he missed so much over the decades while frozen.

2) Avengers: Infinity War

2018’s Avengers: Infinity War delivers one of the most memorable movie endings of all time. In an astonishing turn of events, the Avengers lose to Thanos (Josh Brolin), who acquires all of the Infinity Stones and eliminates half of all life in the universe with a single snap of his gauntlet. The movie’s devastating final sequence depicts numerous renowned heroes, from Spider-Man (Tom Holland) to Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) disintegrate in front of their allies, leaving the audience shaken to their core. Believe it or not, Infinity War‘s gut-wrenching moments aren’t limited to the end either. Before Thanos’ snap, Wanda breaks her own heart when she destroys Vision’s (Paul Bettany) Mind Stone, killing him, in an attempt to stop the Mad Titan. Not to mention the deaths of Gamora and Loki even earlier in the film.

3) Avengers: Endgame

The despair brought on by Infinity War‘s conclusion paved the way for the saga’s emphatic culmination in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, but the movie’s poignant sense of finality produces its own tear-jerking moments. Around Endgame‘s midway point, Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) sacrifices her life by leaping off of Vormir after an intense fight with Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner). Natasha’s painful end precedes Tony Stark/Iron Man’s sacrificial death, caused by snapping his fingers while in possession of the Infinity Stones. The losses of Iron Man and Black Widow inject an air of sadness into Avengers’ triumph, but their deaths illustrate that victory comes at a cost. Furthermore, Steve’s decision to travel back in time and spend his entire life with Peggy marks the closure of his MCU story. A moving farewell to several iconic MCU heroes, Endgame made so many fans cry.

[RELATED: The 7 Funniest MCU Movies, Ranked]

4) Black Widow

The themes at the heart of 2021’s Black Widow cement the film among the MCU’s grimmest stories. Black Widow‘s harrowing opening credits sequence sets the tone, depicting dozens of young girls being kidnapped and taken to General Dreykov’s (Ray Winstone) Red Room to be brainwashed and trained as assassins. The trauma inflicted upon a survivor of such torment manifests itself through Natasha’s adopted sister Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), who, after a fellow Widow liberates her, resolves to free the others while struggling to process the life that was taken from her. Black Widow mirrors the ever-relevant global oppression of women and girls, while the main characters’ reflection on their past mistakes and hardships makes for some powerful and emotional scenes. Plenty of funny and heartwarming moments help to brighten Black Widow‘s narrative, but it remains uniquely dark tale in the MCU.

5) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever could easily be considered the MCU’s most somber movie due to real-life circumstances. The franchise decided to retire the character of T’Challa following the passing of Chadwick Boseman in 2020, and Wakanda Forever‘s opening sequence depicts Shuri learning of her brother’s off-screen death. Thus, a heavy atmosphere takes over the movie as Wakanda navigates a future without its King and protector. That’s why Shuri’s assumption of the Black Panther mantle feels so meaningful, as it symbolizes the passing of the torch from both T’Challa and Boseman. Elsewhere, Wakanda Forever details the tragic backstory of Namor, whose people were forced to live underwater when colonizers ravaged their homes. Queen Ramonda’s death during Talokan’s flood of Wakanda and Okoye’s loss of her Dora Milaje rank also figure among the movie’s most devastating moments. In spite of all the sadness, Wakanda Forever serves as a powerful representation of joy and resilience in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

6) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

The MCU’s most lovable found family embarked on its final journey together in 2023’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Much sadder than its predecessor’s the third Guardians installment fixates on the group’s race to save Rocket’s (Bradley Cooper) life when his kill switch is activated. This prompts a series of flashbacks depicting Rocket’s youth spent in the High Evolutionary’s (Chukwudi Iwuji) lab, where he was subjected to tortuous experiments. The most heart-wrenching part of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 occurs when young Rocket watches his animal friends Lylla, Floor, and Teefs die while trying to escape the facility. The subject of animal abuse is extremely distressing, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 harrowingly chronicles Rocket’s past.

7) Thunderbolts*

Thunderbolts* addresses the topics of depression and mental health struggles head on. Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian, John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), and Bob Reynolds/the Sentry (Lewis Pullman) have all endured their fair share of trauma, loneliness, and loss, making them a perfect team of anti-heroes. Although Thunderbolts* balances its serious themes with a hefty amount of humor, the film delivers a number of heartbreaking moments. In the Void, Yelena and the others are immersed into their most painful memories, while Bob’s experience with drug addiction and feelings of alienation establishes him as an amazing example of perseverance. At one point, Yelena tearfully vents her despair to Alexei, and it’s easily one of the MCU’s most viscerally emotional scenes. Alone, the Thunderbolts are miserable and misguided, but together, they’re unstoppable.

Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters.

The post The 7 Saddest MCU Movies appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A meticulous Marvel fan has unearthed a fascinating trend in the reception of recent Marvel Cinematic Universe films, suggesting a methodical alternating pattern of critical and audience duds followed by beloved hits. Reddit user WithArsenicSauce recently posted a detailed analysis on the popular /r/marvelstudios subreddit, compiling and averaging scores from four major review aggregate metrics: Rotten Tomatoes (both critic and audience scores), IMDb, and Letterboxd. By converting these varied ratings into a standardized 0-100 score and then calculating an average for each film, the user’s data reveals a distinct “one bomb, one hit” cycle that has seemingly been in effect since the release of 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder. The question now is whether the highly anticipated Fantastic Four: First Steps will continue or decisively break this peculiar pattern.

According to WithArsenicSauce’s compilation, Thor: Love and Thunder kicked off this cycle with a middling average score of 58 out of 100. This was immediately followed by Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which garnered a significantly stronger average of 76, marking it as a “hit” in this sequence. The trend continued with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania dipping back down to an average of 54, only for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 to soar with an impressive 82. Subsequently, The Marvels saw a lower average of 57, which was then contrasted by the widely anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine achieving a robust 78. Most recently in this observed pattern, Captain America: Brave New World received an average of 55, followed by Thunderbolts*, which landed an average score of 81. This consistent yo-yo effect — low score, high score, low score, high score — paints a picture of an almost predictable wave in how these films are being received overall.

[RELATED: Thunderbolts* Is a Hit (But Will It Make Enough Money?)]

Rotten Tomatoes provides a percentage score from critics and a separate percentage score from audiences, both taken into account by WithArsenicSauce. IMDb uses a user-based rating out of 10 stars, and Letterboxd uses a 5-star system predominantly driven by its user community. Converting these into a unified 0-100 scale and averaging them aims to provide a more holistic view of each film’s overall reception across different segments of viewers and critics, instead of valuing only one source of feedback. While not an official studio metric, this fan-driven analysis offers a visual representation of the MCU’s fluctuating appeal in its post-Endgame era, addressing fans’ concerns about the continuity of the MCU.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Could Break the MCU’s Reception Curse

With Thunderbolts* seemingly locking in as a “hit” in the fan-observed alternating pattern with an average score of 81, the sequence would predict that the next MCU theatrical release, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, is due for a more lukewarm or even negative reception. However, many factors surrounding Marvel’s First Family suggest this highly anticipated film could be the one to shatter the curse. For starters, set for a prime summer release on July 25, 2025, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the official MCU introduction of some of the most iconic characters in Marvel Comics history, a debut eagerly awaited since Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox’s assets. Then, the film is tasked with kicking off Phase Six of the MCU, setting the stage for epic crossovers like Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. So, it’s fair to assume Marvel Studios has been more careful while overseeing the production of The Fantastic Four: First Steps to avoid a failure that could damage the brand even further.

It’s also worth noting that Marvel Studios has assembled a compelling team for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The core cast features Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing. Adding to the anticipation, the film is confirmed to feature formidable cosmic villains, with Ralph Ineson cast as Galactus and Julia Garner portraying Shalla-Bal, a version of the Silver Surfer. Behind the camera, Matt Shakman, lauded for his Emmy-winning work on Marvel Studios’ critically acclaimed Disney+ series WandaVision, is directing. Shakman’s involvement alone has raised expectations for a unique and thoughtful approach to the material, increasing the odds that First Steps will bring back the Marvel wonder lacking from many recent projects.

Thunderbolts* is now available in theaters. The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25th.

What do you make of this alternating reception pattern for recent MCU movies? And do you think Fantastic Four: First Steps will break the trend? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post Marvel Fan Finds Surprising Trend About MCU Movie Ratings (But Fantastic Four Might Break It) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A recently surfaced set photo from Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* has offered a welcome, if somewhat bittersweet, confirmation for fans regarding Olga Kurylenko’s return as the enigmatic Taskmaster. Stunt artist Aurelia Agel, who is credited as Kurylenko’s stunt double on the film, shared an image on Instagram featuring both of them side-by-side in the distinctive Taskmaster combat gear.

This behind-the-scenes glimpse is particularly telling because it confirms Kurylenko was physically present on set to portray Antonia Dreykov. Given that the character is masked for the vast majority of her action-centric Thunderbolts* screen time and her role is minimal before her early demise, the studio’s decision to have Kurylenko on set, rather than relying solely on her stunt double and CGI for the few unmasked moments, signals a respectful handling of the actress and Taskmaster’s final bow in the MCU.

Olga Kurylenko first embodied Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster in 2021’s Black Widow, where the character’s true identity and nature significantly departed from the well-known comic book source material. In the MCU, Taskmaster was revealed as General Dreykov’s (Ray Winstone) daughter, Antonia, horrifically injured in an explosion caused by Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and subsequently turned into a mind-controlled super-soldier for the Red Room, equipped with photographic reflexes allowing her to mimic any fighting style.

This interpretation was met with mixed reactions from fans. While some appreciated the personal connection to Natasha’s past, many lamented the loss of the comic Taskmaster’s distinct personality and agency, with the MCU version being largely silent and presented as a near-automaton. Black Widow concluded with Antonia being freed from her father’s chemical subjugation by Natasha and the other Widows, presumably setting her on a new path.

[RELATED: Is Marvel’s The Sentry Really Stronger Than All the Avengers Combined?]

In Thunderbolts*, we learn that Taskmaster worked as a black-ops agent for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) in the years before the movie’s main events. Valentina’s plan to destroy all evidence of her illegal activities, which included sending her assassins to kill each other, results in Taskmaster’s death. As co-writer Eric Pearson and director Jake Schreier revealed, Taskmaster’s death at the hands of Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) was a relatively late addition to the script.

This decision was made to raise the stakes for the newly formed team and instill a sense of genuine peril, signaling to the audience that no character was safe. As Pearson explained, in his earlier drafts, Taskmaster had a more substantial subplot and survived the film, even forming a bond with Ghost. Despite this significantly reduced and ultimately fatal role for Antonia, the set photo confirms Olga Kurylenko was on hand to film these final moments, allowing her a proper MCU farewell.

Thunderbolts* Keeps Fighting at the Box Office

Despite the MCU’s recent struggles, Thunderbolts* showed commendable staying power in its second weekend of release. The film launched with a domestic opening weekend of $74 million and followed that up with a strong second-weekend domestic take of approximately $33 million. After ten days in cinemas worldwide, Thunderbolts* had amassed a global box office total of around $272 million. The second-weekend domestic dip of around 55% is also a key indicator of audience retention, as it represents a significantly better hold than the steep 68% drop of Captain America: Brave New World. It also far outpaces the more severe second-weekend declines seen by films like 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (which fell close to 70%) and The Marvels (which saw a precipitous 78% drop). While not matching the elite under-50% holds of some of the MCU’s biggest hits like Black Panther (around -45%) or Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (around -48%), Thunderbolts*‘s performance aligns it with well-received films such as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (around -54%).

Thunderbolts* encouraging box office trajectory is largely attributed to the enthusiastic reception the movie has received from both critics and general audiences. The film secured an impressive 88% “Certified Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes, and audience scores have been even more glowing in the 95% range, complemented by an “A-” CinemaScore. For a film centered on a team of anti-heroes and lesser-known characters stepping into the spotlight, these results already make Thunderbolts* a hit for Marvel Studios.

Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters.

What are your thoughts on Taskmaster’s MCU journey and Olga Kurylenko’s portrayal? Join the discussion in the comments!

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Thunderbolts* introduced a new team of heroes who will do their best to protect the Earth from upcoming threats. The latest Marvel Cinematic Universe movie also began to pave the way for the future of the franchise. While audiences were happy to see unexpected characters delivering a very solid movie, the post-credits sequence from Thunderbolts* turned out to be somewhat confusing. Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and the rest of her team witness a foreign ship making its way to the planet, and the scanners reveal that the aircraft belong to the Fantastic Four. It could be easy to predict that Marvel’s First Family will lose during the events of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which is why they’re headed to the main timeline. But what if that wasn’t the case?

The Fantastic Four: First Steps hasn’t been released yet. Fans can’t know for sure the exact reason why the team is headed towards the Earth that the Avengers have protected for years. Instead of losing against Galactus (Ralph Ineson), there could be plenty of reasons as to why the Fantastic Four could be desperate to make contact with the heroes of this universe, and it all comes down to what’s about to happen in the MCU.

1) A Warning Regarding Doom

Marvel Studios shocked the world when they announced that Robert Downey Jr. will appears as Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Even if viewers know who Doctor Doom is in the comic books and who will be portraying him on the big screen, Marvel hasn’t revealed where this villain will hail from originally. We could assume that Downey’s Doctor Doom originates from the Earth in The Fantastic Four: First Steps and that the team led by Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) could have some experience with the villain by the time the credits roll on their movie.

Should this pan out, it wouldn’t be the first time heroes from the MCU travel long distances to warn their peers about upcoming threats. In Avengers: Infinity War, Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) was sent by Heimdall (Idris Elba) to warn Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) about the arrival of Thanos (Josh Brolin), and the same thing could happen between the Avengers and the Fantastic Four.

The Fantastic Four don’t have to lose against Galactus in order to warn other timelines about the arrival of Doctor Doom either. A possible outcome could be the team defeating Galactus before confronting Robert Downey Jr.’s villain, creating the need for them to travel to a different universe while seeking help.

2) A Heroic Sacrifice

Facing off the latest version of Galactus won’t be an easy task for the Fantastic Four. In the comics, the villain is able to consume entire planets to satisfy his hunger. This will almost certainly be the larger conflict of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, a hungry abomination making his way to the Fantastic Four’s home in order to consume it all. The team won’t have a lot of time to come up with a plan and one course of action will be to gather as much information about Galactus as possible before time runs out.

The trailers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps hinted at this conflict with the introduction of the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), who made her way to Earth to declare the planet as “marked for death.” What if fighting against Galactus isn’t the only price the Fantastic Four have to pay? Perhaps the team could be forced out of their universe as a sacrifice. The last resort to save their people could be related to the group escaping towards the main MCU timeline. If this scenario happens to take place, the people of the Fantastic Four’s timeline is saved while the team itself travels closer to the events of Avengers: Doomsday.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps will reveal the fate of Marvel’s First Family, but the tease of their arrival in the MCU at the end of Thunderbolts may not be as spoilery as some fans believe.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps premieres in theaters on July 25.

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\WARNING: There are Thunderbolts* spoilers ahead! Thunderbolts* gave us a few hints about what’s next for the MCU, but it raised a lot of new questions in the process. It’s still unclear where all the characters will fall in the conflicts to come, especially when Bob Reynolds’ darker personas, Sentry and The Void, take over. In a new interview with Men’s Health, actor Lewis Pullman shared what he could about his character’s future, and it sounds like nothing is off the table. His immense power could be on the side of evil when Avengers: Doomsday arrives. Hopefully, his friends the New Avengers can keep him on the straight and narrow.

“It’s a great question. I’m really excited to find out,” Pullman said when asked about Bob’s future. “The Thunderbolts don’t want to let him out of their sight, because they realize that if he’s caught in the wrong hands, or if he’s not being supported enough by the right people, he might be dangerous. But they also want to keep him close in case they can figure out a way to use him. He’s a very good asset.”

“It’s a hard situation they’re in,” Pullman continued. “With all the other characters that are going to be in Avengers: Doomsday, there will be so many opportunities to figure out how each might come into play — and how Bob might come into play with any of them.”

[RELATED: Every MCU Phase 5 Post-Credits Scene Ranked (Including Thunderbolts*)]

The place of the New Avengers — or, the Thunderbolts — within the MCU is a little hard to judge right now, and there’s not much room for more setup before Doomsday. Fans are already hard at work debating whether Sentry could stand up to characters like Thor, for example, who is expected to appear in the movie. However, last time we saw Bob, he couldn’t access the powers of Sentry or The Void even by trying.

There are only a few titles left to set the stage for Doomsday, the biggest being The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which hits theaters on July 25th. On the TV side, there’s also Ironheart premiering on June 24th on Disney+, as well as Wonder Man expected in December. It’s hard to say how much either of those could really change the setup for a crossover, though. Ironheart filmed back in 2022, and Wonder Man will have its hands full introducing an all-new hero.

Thunderbolts* is still playing in theaters now. Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to premiere on May 1, 2026.

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe didn’t invent post-credits scenes. Decades before Nick Fury broke into Tony Stark’s home in 2008’s Iron Man, movies like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Airplane featured content in the credits for moviegoers willing to stick around. However, Marvel Studios has turned tags into an art form, using them to finish off running gags or tease upcoming projects and characters. Post-credits scenes have become as important as the movies themselves at this point. But, with the MCU losing a bit of steam in recent years after a few lackluster films and shows, the expectations for post-credits scenes have dwindled.

Phase 5 of the MCU has heated things up, though, and the juice from the movies is transferring over to the post-credits scenes. So, with Thunderbolts* featuring another wild tag at the end of the credits, it’s time to see how all of Phase 5’s post-credits scenes stack up against one another.

6. Captain America: Brave New World

Unlike most MCU movies, Captain America: Brave New World only features one post-credits scene. Sam Wilson visits Samuel Sterns in The Raft, and the villain warns him about an impending conflict between different worlds. The Leader’s obviously teasing Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, but his speech is too generic to land a decent spot on this ranking.

5. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

If Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania‘s mid-credits scene, which features various versions of Kang arguing about nonsense, was the only reward for sitting through the movie, it would be dead last. However, the early look at Loki Season 2 at the end of the credits that reveals another Kang variant, Victory Timely, does a great job setting up the threat of Phase 5’s initial Big Bad.

4. The Marvels

The most surprising of the bunch, The Marvels‘ sole post-credits scene sees Monica Rambeau wake up in another universe after sacrificing herself to save Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel. She meets a variant of her mother, Maria, as well as an iconic member of the X-Men, Beast. The Marvels‘ tag goes for shock value over everything, which works to its benefit in some ways, but it’ll be hard to justify if it doesn’t come back around in one of the upcoming Avengers movies.

[RELATED – 7 Other MCU Characters That Would Make A Great Team (Like the Thunderbolts)]

3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Both of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘s credits scenes aim to reveal the new status of members of the original team. The first sees the new Guardians bonding over music and even features a callback to the first movie, while the second features Peter Quill adjusting to life on Earth with his grandpa. The comedy and emotion of both scenes work really well and act as a nice reset after the poignant events of Vol. 3.

2. Deadpool & Wolverine

The fun of Deadpool & Wolverine‘s post-credits scene is that it’s a long time coming. Chris Evans returns early in the movie, and while his role is a mystery at first, his potty mouth makes it clear that he’s not playing Captain America but another Marvel hero. While Johnny Storm doesn’t last long in the movie, he returns in the post-credits scene to reveal what he really thinks of Cassandra Nova. His profanity-filled tirade is one of the funniest parts of Deadpool & Wolverine and makes up for all the times that Evans’ Captain America had to keep it kid-friendly.

1. Thunderbolts*

Being a movie all about C-list Marvel characters, it’s hard to expect much from Thunderbolts* post-credits scenes. Those expectations drop even further after the mid-credits scene features Red Guardian trying to convince a woman in a grocery store to buy cereal with his face on it. However, the post-credits scene turns things up to 11, revealing the rift between the New Avengers and Sam Wilson’s team and introducing the Fantastic Four to the Sacred Timeline. The final moments of Thunderbolts* answer a lot of questions and set the stage for the MCU’s next couple of projects in a big way.

Thunderbolts* is in theaters now.

Which MCU Phase 5 post-credits scene is your favorite? How would you rank all of them after seeing Thunderbolts*? Let us know in the comments below!

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Unlike Marvel Comics, which can feature countless different teams that are all important in their own way, the Avengers are the only group in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that gets preferential treatment. Sure, the Guardians of the Galaxy have a lot going for them, but even they become honorary members of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes during the climax of Avengers: Endgame. That’s why it’s so strange that, after years of talking about it, the MCU is only just now getting around to reforming the Avengers. Regardless, Sam Wilson reveals at the end of Captain America: Brave New World that he’s ready to build a team, making his wingman, Joaquin Torres, his first recruit.

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Thunderbolts*

Unfortunately, Sam takes his sweet time building his vision board for his version of the Avengers, allowing Valentina Allegra de Fontaine to swoop in and announce that the Thunderbolts are now the “New Avengers.” Captain America doesn’t appreciate that the rug is pulled out from under him, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still put together a formidable lineup in Avengers: Doomsday.

Which MCU Heroes Are Shoo-Ins for Sam Wilson’s Avengers?

The easiest way to figure out which characters Sam will reach out to is to cross-reference the heroes he knows best with the confirmed cast of Avengers: Doomsday. The two names that stand out right off the bat are Ant-Man and Thor because, during Sam’s time as Falcon, he fought alongside them on multiple occasions. However, what ensures they won’t ignore Sam’s call is their respect for the Captain America title. In Captain America: Civil War, Ant-Man constantly loses his composure around Steve Rogers, and Thor knows the original Cap is one of the few beings in existence worthy of wielding his hammer, Mjolnir. Sam is every bit as honorable as Steve, so if he thinks it’s time to get the band back together, Thor and Ant-Man will come without a second thought.

While Thor and Ant-Man make Sam’s team pretty tough on paper, he’s going to need a few more heroes to round it out. Thankfully, two other characters set to return in Doomsday have enough connections to Captain America that it makes sense to save them a seat at the table: Shang-Chi and Shuri. The current Black Panther helps Sam with the tech he wears out in the field, while the owner of the Ten Rings has at least one original Avenger on speed dial. Shuri and Shang-Chi may not have as much experience as Sam’s other potential recruits, but they’re just as useful on the battlefield.

[RELATED – Thunderbolts* Has the Most Predictable MCU Death Ever (But It Still Had a Twist)]

Which MCU Heroes Could Be Surprise Additions to Sam Wilson’s Avengers?

With additional Doomsday casting announcements on the way, there are sure to be more heroes in the movie that fit Sam’s criteria. Some of the notable names include Captain Marvel, Hulk, Hawkeye, Doctor Strange, and Spider-Man. However, those characters have run around with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes before, and with the MCU wanting to keep things fresh, the powers that be may opt to go in a different direction. While that doesn’t leave a lot of obvious options, after five phases, the MCU has no shortage of heroes.

The next place to look is characters that have connections to former Avengers. Bruce Banner just so happens to have a cousin who turns green and can lift heavy things, and while it’s been a minute since She-Hulk flexed her muscles, the threat of annihilation could be the push she needs to quit her day job and try out crime-fighting full-time. Carol Danvers also has an ally who can help Sam’s team get over the top, Monica Rambeau, who is currently stuck in another universe but is always ready for a fight. And then there’s G’iah, the Skrull who holds the power of several Avengers. Her whereabouts are unknown after the events of Secret Invasion, but Nicky Fury would be smart to give Sam her phone number, as there are very few characters in the MCU who can hold their own against her.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on May 1, 2026.

Do you think Ant-Man, Thor, Shang-Chi, and Black Panther will be part of Sam Wilson’s Avengers team in Avengers: Doomsday? Who else would you like to see make the cut? Let us know in the comments below!

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Even before Thunderbolts* hit theaters, Marvel Studios used the movie’s trailers to tease the emergence of the Sentry (Lewis Pullman), who was said to be stronger than all the Avengers combined. That’s a bold claim considering that the Avengers roster features some major powerhouses such as Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). With Thunderbolts* finally available, we get the full context on why Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is trying to hype people about the Sentry, and given her track record of lies and deception, it’s easy to dismiss her statement. However, the Thunderbolts* also show the Sentry’s powers are on a whole new level, and maybe he could be considered the strongest Avenger in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

WARNING: Spoilers below for Thunderbolts*

In Thunderbolts*, Robert “Bob” Reynolds becomes the Sentry after being the sole survivor of devious human experiments conducted under Valentina’s direction. Since the Avengers have disbanded, Valentina is trying to craft a superhero who can follow her commands and protect the U.S.’s international interests. At the end of Thunderbolts*, Valentina tries to stage a televised confrontation between the Sentry and the titular misfits, as a public demonstration of her hero’s incredible powers. Things go awry once Sentry dismisses Valentina’s orders and the Void takes over, forcing the Thunderbolts to band together against a god-like being. Still, the first encounter between Bob and his former friends underlines why the Sentry is so dangerous.

[RELATED: Is Wilson Fisk the New York City Mayor in Thunderbolts*?]

First of all, the Sentry is seemingly invulnerable, as bullets ricochet from his skin and punches from super-soldiers have absolutely no effect. He’s also super-strong, capable of throwing people around like rag dolls. That already puts the Sentry on a similar level to Thor and Hulk. However, the Sentry also possesses super-human speed, moving so fast that he seemingly teleports from one place to another in a fraction of a second. Then, there’s the fact that the MCU’s Sentry has mighty telekinetic abilities, being able to stop bullets with a simple thought or move large objects at will. So, in addition to raw powers, the Sentry has a vast array of abilities he can explore to his advantage, turning the environment into a weapon he can bend to his will. 

If that’s still not enough, the Sentry’s Void persona can instantly teleport people to a shadow dimension where they are trapped in their most traumatic memories, forever frozen in time inside a nightmare. By the looks of it, Valentina is correct, and the Sentry is more destructive than the MCU Avengers. But that’s precisely the point, considering the character’s comic book history.

The Sentry Being Overpowered Is What Makes Him So Interesting

The whole idea behind the Sentry is that he is so powerful that he could single-handedly solve any issues Marvel heroes usually face. However, Bob’s damaged psyche also unleashes the Void as the ultimate threat to all life. So, Bob is constantly pulled down by his trauma, as his fractured mind prevents him from being the Golden Guardian of Good he could be, if the Void didn’t cause as much damage as the Sentry prevents.

The MCU takes several liberties with its version of the Sentry/Void, but it retains the character’s core principle. Like in the comics, Bob is one of the most powerful beings in the universe, and his presence on a battlefield could change the tides of any conflict. Since channeling the Sentry’s powers also risks unleashing the Void, Bob has to remain under constant surveillance, vastly limiting himself. So, while theoretically stronger than all Avengers combined, the Sentry is still a last resort weapon in the New Avengers’ arsenal.

Thunderbolts* is now available in theaters.

Do you think Bob will brawl against some OG Avengers in Avengers: Doomsday? Share your theories in the comments!

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is full of redemption stories: Tony Stark leaves his life as a careless weapons manufacturer behind and becomes Iron Man, while Black Widow makes up for the red in her ledger by becoming an Avenger. However, for some MCU characters, turning over a new leaf takes more than just a movie or two. A great example is Bucky Barnes, who starts out as a sidekick to Captain America in World War II but becomes a weapon for Hydra after falling off a train and nearly losing his life. Bucky spends years trying to make up for what he did as the Winter Soldier, and he successfully turns over a new leaf by the start of Thunderbolts*.

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Thunderbolts*.

Now a congressman, Bucky uses his Winter Soldier skills to investigate Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. He ends up crossing paths with the Thunderbolts and joins them on their mission to save Bob. But by the end of the movie, Bucky finds himself in a very different spot and in need of an identity makeover.

Bucky Has Outgrown the Winter Soldier Title in the MCU

At the end of Thunderbolts*, Valentina saves her skin by introducing the characters trying to bring her down as the “New Avengers” to the press. The story takes on a life of its own from there, with the former Thunderbolts ending up on magazine covers and cereal boxes. None of them are used to it, and the pressure starts to weigh on them in the post-credits scene. Sam Wilson wants to start his own Avengers team, and Bucky’s team is getting in his way. The New Avengers mention that the Internet doesn’t see them as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, which probably has something to do with their pasts. Each member of the team has a complicated and dark backstory, and without taking steps to prove that they’re reformed, the public has no choice but to be skeptical.

One issue that’s sure to complicate matters is code names. Thunderbolts* doesn’t touch on what the different heroes call themselves now, but, at least for Bucky, it really matters. The Winter Soldier took the lives of countless people, and going by just “Bucky” doesn’t instill a lot of confidence. Fortunately, Marvel Comics has the perfect code name for Bucky that speaks to exactly the kind of man he is now.

RELATED: Thunderbolts* Has Another Fantastic Four Easter Egg You Probably Missed

Bucky Once Went by a More Heroic Name in Marvel Comics

Bucky gets a major credibility boost in Marvel Comics when he becomes Captain America. He takes over after Steve Rogers’s supposed death and even leads an Avengers team. That doesn’t last forever, though, with Rogers returning to pick the shield back up before handing it off to Sam Wilson. Bucky goes back to being the Winter Soldier and operates in the shadows once again. Eventually, he sets his sights on the Outer Circle, a cabal made up of evildoers. To infiltrate their ranks, Bucky kills one of their members, the Revolution, and takes his title. He succeeds in his mission and gets his hands on a lot of intel, but Bucky doesn’t give up the name, using it when he returns to the field to lead a new team of Thunderbolts.

While the Revolution name has sinister origins, the MCU can co-opt it and make it fit Bucky’s new role as an Avenger. No longer is he a soldier working in the shadows; he’s one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, fighting on the frontlines to ensure that government officials like Valentina don’t have too much influence or abuse the power they do have. Sure, it will take some work to make the switch feel organic, but it’ll be worth it, especially since Bucky’s set to play a major role in the next two Avengers films. With the threat of Doom on the horizon, the New Avengers will need all the support they can get, and Bucky’s not likely to get much as the Winter Soldier.

Thunderbolts* is in theaters now.

Do you think that Bucky needs a new code name in the MCU? Do you think “Revolution” is a good fit? Let us know in the comments below!

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Warning: This article contains Thunderbolts* spoilers

Marvel’s Thunderbolts have arrived in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, giving fans another team to root for as the march toward Avengers: Doomsday continues. But their big arrival doesn’t mean they’re the only group on the block on the big screen. The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy are still kicking around, and the company is on the verge of bringing mutants into the MCU. That means the X-Men are coming, with Fox’s big-screen version of the team debuting in Avengers: Doomsday. With a new crop of actors set to take over as the MCU’s X-Men in the rumored Mutant Saga post-Secret Wars, our neurons start to fire off in our heads like kids in a candy store.

Considering Thunderbolts*‘ new title that the team receives by the end of the movie, and Kevin Feige’s insistence that the X-Men will be an “important part” of the MCU’s future, it’s only reasonable to think they’re on a collision course. Many are also speculating that Doomsday could be a low-key Avengers vs. X-Men movie, with some of the announced actors seemingly confirming as much. So will these future X-Men be at odds with teams like the Avengers and Thunderbolts? And who would win the showdown?

Who Are the Teams?

The big-screen Thunderbolts are different than the iterations we’ve seen in comics. Valentina Allegra de Fontaine has been recruiting the team since Black Widow, though her motivations are far from heroic. Despite her attempt to have them killed to start the film, Val’s Thunderbolts survive and become an unlikely team. Included are super-soldier trio Bucky, U.S. Agent, and Red Guardian, Black Widow Yelena Belova, and Ghost. The Sentry joins later, though the team has to defeat his alter ego before the membership is official. Despite overwhelming odds, the Thunderbolts are victorious. The team defeats The Void, adding the equivalent of the Hulk to their ranks. But would that be enough to take down the X-Men?

Pulling from the mutant team’s history, the X-Men team likely to take center stage in the MCU is the classic Blue and Gold versions. These teams influenced the X-Men animated series and experienced many of the team’s biggest storylines. We’re talking Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Gambit, Storm, Rogue, Beast, and Bishop, all fixtures of the X-Men comics, and hopefully perfect fixtures in the MCU as well.

Strength/Powers

Seeing as the Thunderbolts have the Sentry in their ranks, he would take the lead against the mutant team while also becoming the biggest target. Jean Grey, Rogue, and Storm would be enough to handle Bob on their own, using his mental illness against him while battering him with extreme weather and sapping his powers to use against him. Removing the Sentry from the board puts the Thunderbolts at a severe disadvantage, but they’re not out.

Wolverine and Beast could give the likes of Bucky, Red Guardian, and U.S. Agent a lot of trouble, while Cyclops and Bishop team to take out Ghost, the only super-powered “hero” remaining on the Thunderbolts. Scott Summers and Yelena could match each other due to their training, but Cyclops would prevail thanks to his veteran experience and the use of his optic blasts.

Teamwork / Leadership

A big reason why the X-Men can handle the Thunderbolts easily in the MCU lies in their teamwork and leadership. The team’s always training in the Danger Room and maintain an established hierarchy between the Blue and Gold teams, creating advantages the Thunderbolts sorely lack. Yelena and Bucky are solid leaders for the team, but she’s thrust into the role and the former Winter Soldier has always been more about taking orders. Yelena does prove herself with her strategy against the Sentry, but its hard to compare to the mutants’ leadership.

[RELATED – 5 Perfect X-Men Villains For The MCU’s Reboot]

Fans of the X-Men won’t deny that Scott Summers and Ororo Munroe are two of Marvel’s most confident and effective leaders. Both have been front row to see mutantkind’s status as an enemy to mankind grow, but they never give in. If they aren’t strong leaders for the X-Men and other mutants, they could doom them all to death. The Thunderbolts would likely just replace members if they’re killed, especially if Val is doing the choosing.

Heroics and Public Perception

Still, you can’t deny the heroics on display with both teams. The Thunderbolts take the edge here by having the public on their side. That’s a big motivation for Val changing the team’s name by the end of the movie, setting them up as the New Avengers in a press event following the defeat of The Void. She is saving her own hide, but also establishing new heroes.

The X-Men are equally as heroic, but their deeds typically get buried under piles of hate and mud being slung in their direction. Being hated and feared by humanity is kind of the X-Men’s trademark throughout their existence. While the team has defeated countless villains and joined forces with the Avengers over the years, the perception that they’re “muties” is hard to shake. It’ll be doubly hard in the MCU, where the Avengers are beloved and the mutants will just be interlopers from another dimension. Interlopers who are beating up the MCU’s latest superteam and being painted as invading threats by onlookers.

Who Wins?

Having the public on their side is the greatest power on display for the Thunderbolts. While the original Avengers are still kicking around in the MCU, their ranks haven’t been revealed just yet. So if the Thunderbolts are truly the New Avengers, you’d have to assume they are somewhat beloved by the time the X-Men roll around.

While the mighty mutants have the Thunderbolts beaten on paper, the war for public opinion could be their downfall. A group of superpowered beings thrashing Earth’s newest replacement for the Avengers can’t sit well. It’s an extra layer of strategy that Cyclops would be able to recognize but not execute.

While the X-Men would overpower the Thunderbolts, their use of powers against the MCU’s heroes and the reaction to it make the X-Men the eventual losers of the fight. At the very least, the mutants are unable to win due to public opinion and it becomes a stalemate. It’s your classic case of asymmetrical warfare and stubbornness, melded together in one superhero showdown.

Thunderbolts* is currently making a splash in theaters, while Avengers: Doomsday will be released on May 1, 2026. If you need more to fill the time, all previous MCU projects and original X-Men films are available to stream on Disney+.

Do you agree with our take on the showdown between the MCU Thunderbolts* and the X-Men? Did we miss the mark entirely? Let us know in the comments.

The post Could the MCU Thunderbolts Beat the X-Men in A Fight? appeared first on ComicBook.com.