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Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima began sharing his thoughts on the movies he's seen on social media a while ago, and his posts always get a lot of attention.

The visionary video game designer has come out in defence of widely panned films such as Joker: Folie à Deux, and posted telling one-sentence verdicts on the movies he wasn't so keen on ("Saw The Marvels; Saw Madame Web in the theater").

Kojima has now weighed in with his thoughts on Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts*.

"I watched Thunderbolts*. It’s not about eliminating a powerful “external enemy” to save the “world.” It’s about embracing lonely “individuals” and rescuing the “audience” from their own “inner enemies.” A truly “kind-hearted” MCU film. Jake Schreier’s sense of humor strikes a perfect balance. And above all, Florence Pugh was phenomenal. You could say it’s her film. Lewis Pullman’s...

What happens when a soldier who was built by science meets the one forged by war? And most importantly, what if the one you least expected turns out to be the stronger force between the two? The Marvel Cinematic Universe is no stranger to evolution, and characters like Steve Rogers and John Walker have truly come far.

The antihero ensemble in Thunderbolts* is led by John, who takes center stage in a mission that spirals into chaos and betrayal. Longtime fans might continue to champion Chris Evans’ Cap, but the new super soldier might be a tad bit stronger than the Og.

John Walker vs. Steve Rogers: A tale of two heroes Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger | Credits: Marvel Studios

We were first introduced to John Walker in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, where people were quite skeptical about the character. He was a decorated soldier with real-world experience,...

MCU Characters Who’s Held Captain America’s Shield! ( Photo Credit – X )

Captain America’s vibranium shield is one of the most iconic objects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a symbol of strength, justice, and the burden of leadership. Forged from Wakandan vibranium, its unbreakable design isn’t just a practical tool of defense or offense, but a mantle passed down. While Steve Rogers will forever be synonymous with the shield, he isn’t the only one to hold or wield it.

Over the course of the MCU’s history, several characters, heroes, allies, and temporary successors have handled the shield, whether in moments of desperation, tribute, or conflict. But among them, only a few have carried the full weight of the shield’s legacy. For some, it was a brief encounter in battle. For others, a transformation of identity.

Steve Rogers

Steve Rogers didn’t just carry the shield,...

Warning: This article contains Spoilers for Thunderbolts*.John Walker actor Wyatt Russell reveals his Thunderbolts* character originally didn't say Captain America's iconic line in Jake Schreier's MCU movie. Soon after the Thunderbolts realize they have to work together to escape Val's vault, Walker takes a more aggressive approach than his fellow anti-heroes and breaks the generator that powers the vault's defense system. Walker drops a line that could be interpreted as a Thunderbolts* easter egg, as he warns his teammates saying, "on your left" — the line that kicked off Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson's close friendship in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

During an interview with EW, Thunderbolts*star Wyatt Russell reveals John Walker's "on your left" line wasn't originally in the movie. Instead, director Jake Schreier added the line in post-production, allegedly as "just something to fill a void" when John Walker takes the lead.

Thunderbolts* is Marvel Studios' best-reviewed movie since 2021's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Spider-Man: No Way Home. If its 94% "Popcornmeter" score on Rotten Tomatoes is any indication, fans also love it.

Unfortunately, Captain America: Brave New World may have washed away any goodwill created by Deadpool & Wolverine. Thus far, people simply haven't flocked to the team-up (which has been rebranded *The New Avengers).

Does a superhero movie need to be an event to attract audiences now? Were these characters—many of whom have been seen primarily on streaming after Black Widow bypassed theaters during the pandemic—and the "Thunderbolts" branding simply not a big enough draw? It's hard to say, but the movie has reached a respectable $272.2 million at the worldwide box office.

According to Deadline, it's made $143.7 million overseas, with a -52% drop (-50% excluding China). That's a very good hold, though it would obviously...

(L-r): Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), and John Walker (Wyatt Russell) in Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 Marvel. Did you feel the box office rumble this weekend? Because Marvel’s Thunderbolts* certainly made its presence known, holding onto the top spot in its second week with an estimated $33.1 million. While that’s a noticeable drop from its $76 million debut, in today’s blockbuster landscape, a roughly 55% decrease is par for the course. The superhero flick has already amassed a domestic total of around $128.5 million and a global haul exceeding $272 million, proving its staying power as a major cinematic event. However, the real story this weekend might be the phenomenal endurance of Sinners, the latest horror masterpiece from writer-director Ryan Coogler, bolstered by a compelling performance from Michael B. Jordan. An astounding $27.5 million raked in its fourth week,...

Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts led the global box office for a second straight weekend, adding $34 million overseas and $67.1 million globally. Its total stands at $272.2 million across all markets, with $143 million from international territories and $128.5 million from North America.

The film is holding stronger than several recent Marvel Cinematic Universe titles. While Captain America: Brave New World, The Marvels, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania experienced sharp second-week declines, Thunderbolts dropped just 55 percent from its opening weekend. This figure sits slightly above the franchise average but is considered a solid result given the franchise’s recent volatility.

Budgetary pressure remains a factor. With a production cost of $180 million and marketing expenses topping $100 million, the title is expected to rely on sustained box office interest. Studio insiders indicate that continued momentum through late May is essential, as upcoming competition could shift audience attention.

The project, directed by Jake Schreier, brings together characters introduced across various Marvel properties.

Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts* has been experiencing a tremendous streak of success since it first launched. On paper, the film looked like a fun adventure designed to bridge the gap between two bigger, more high-profile films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Captain America: Brave New World and The Fantastic Four: First Steps) but it ultimately ended up eclipsing the former in terms of critical response.

The positive response to the film has led to many exclaiming that "Marvel is so back" and understandably so, for Thunderbolts* has received praise for its entertainment value, thoughtful representation of the importance of mental health, and fun character dynamics that drew comparisons to the early days of the MCU (particularly 2012's The Avengers). This led to the film slightly overperforming expectations in its opening weekend.

Now, it has done the same again in its second week.

Thunderbolts* holds strong with an impressive Week 2 at the...

Without spoiling the film, Thunderbolts* was the deepest movie Marvel Studios has produced in years. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a close second, but only because that focused mostly on Rocket's past. This movie, however, touched on all of the Thunderbolts’ problems in their past and personal lives. It was something that many of us weren't expecting, especially considering the trailers made it look more silly than serious.

Each of the characters in the Thunderbolts* (now titled New Avengers) has been in the Marvel Comics for decades. Some of them mirror what you see in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while others are vastly different. This article will explain them. Hopefully, it’ll make you curious enough to learn about them in the comics.

Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) in Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 Marvel. Yelena Belova

Played by: Florence Pugh

First Marvel Comics appearance: Inhumans No.

If there's one thing the majority of comic book fans seem to enjoy, it's pitting Marvel against DC. However, it's far more fun to imagine what might happen if certain characters were to go head-to-head.

Thunderbolts*/*The New Avengers recently introduced The Sentry, a seemingly invincible superhero with the power of a thousand exploding suns. This summer, James Gunn's Superman reboot will bring the Man of Steel back to theaters.

In recent days, social media has blown up with one very specific debate: who would win if the McU's Sentry were to fight the Dcu's Superman?

Bob made short work of the Thunderbolts, shrugging off every blow and revealing an ability to create a seemingly impervious forcefield around himself (all while manipulating the matter around him). As for Superman, well, he's Superman and one of the Multiverse's most formidable warriors.

Seeing these two go to war would be pretty extraordinary,...

It's been over half a decade since Earth's Mightiest Heroes assembled on the big screen to undo Thanos' blip and restore half of the life in the universe. Naturally, fans are eager for the stars to align once again and see heroes from all corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe come together in Avengers: Doomsday. On the bright side, we're in for the biggest crossover of all time if the casting announcement is anything to go by.

Over 25 characters are officially announced to appear in Marvel's highly anticipated movie, with Kevin Feige stating that there's room for more. But while it is exciting to know that almost everyone will be there, we can help but wonder how the Russo brothers will balance such a crowded project. Granted, their work on Avengers: Infinity War and Engame has proven they are more than capable of shining the spotlight on many heroes at the same time.

"Thunderbolts*" is one of the biggest surprises in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in recent years, a movie that's rather mature and dark in its subject matter and approach to exploring mental health, but also an action-packed movie with fun sequences and a great sense of humor. As a team-up film, "Thunderbolts*" lives and dies by its team dynamics, and in this case, that dynamic makes for some hilarious moments and some great banter.

That being said, not all the comedy works in the film. Particularly, despite not being anywhere near on the level of a "Deadpool" movie or an early-days MCU movie, "Thunderbolts*" does have a few nods and references that fall painfully flat or feel forced, like what seems like a nod to a Christmas action-comedy starring David Harbour. Then there's the reference to Captain America that even left a bad taste in the mouth of one member of the main cast.

Thunderbolts*, Marvel’s latest cinematic gamble, roared into theaters on May 2, 2025, with a global debut of $162.1 million, proving that even the MCU’s lesser-known characters can pack a punch. Even with a ragtag crew of Marvel’s most unpredictable antiheroes, the movie stormed the big screen with a mission that’s as chaotic as their chemistry.

The movie’s bounce-back story is even more impressive. Despite a 53% drop from its opening weekend, the movie’s box office haul continues to impress, raking in $75 million worldwide in its second weekend alone. With an 88% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an A-Cinema Score, Thunderbolts* defies expectations and sets the stage for what is to come in the MCU.

Thunderbolts* holds a solid second weekend despite the drop Thunderbolts* | Credit: Marvel Studios

Thunderbolts* may have seen its domestic box office dip by 53% from its opening weekend, but that is no reason to...

Marvel’s band of misfits has changed the conversation around the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). At least, they have for the time being. In a month where films like Sinners, The Minecraft Movie, and the theatrical re-release of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith are filling seats, Thunderbolts* has kept pace with the trio. Normally, this wouldn’t have been such a big deal, but since the MCU has had a series of films seen as unfavorable to lukewarm, the praise for the latest MCU outing is something to note.

Post-Avengers: Endgame, Marvel Studios has struggled a bit to maintain that same momentum. Spider-Man: No Way Home and Deadpool & Wolverine may have left viewers excited, but it can be argued that their strongest points are the introductions and returns of characters fans have long clamored for. However, they do feature memorable characters outside of the main protagonists,...

While Disney and Marvel Studios haven't "officially" retitled Thunderbolts*, *The New Avengers marketing does appear to have paid off for the latest MCU movie.

According to current estimates from Deadline, Thunderbolts* is outperforming Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings with a $9 million Friday and a predicted $35 million second weekend total.

If those numbers stick, then the movie will have dipped by only -53%, a solid hold and one that once again puts it in line with Shang-Chi (which dipped by 54% during its second weekend and ultimately grossed over $400 million worldwide).

By Sunday, Thunderbolts* will have made $130 million worldwide. While these aren't exactly Avengers-level figures, Thunderbolts* wasn't marketed as an Avengers movie and focuses on a team with little mainstream recognition. Oh, and characters who have either appeared in only supporting roles or in a single MCU film or TV show before this one.

Crucially, Thunderbolts* is holding up...

Top Gun: Maverick and Lessons in Chemistry star Lewis Pullman was never meant to play the McU's Sentry. Steven Yeun was originally cast in the role (marking a reunion with Beef director Jake Schreier), but 2023's strikes forced The Walking Dead star to drop out due to scheduling issues.

Having seen what Pullman did as Bob/The Sentry/The Void, it's fair to say that things panned out for the best. While Yeun would have likely done a terrific job, Pullman has put himself on the map with a star-making performance as the damaned superhero.

However, he very nearly made his Marvel debut years earlier.

For starters, Pullman auditioned for a lead role in Spider-Man: Homecoming a decade ago. Talking at the Thunderbolts* premiere, Marvel Studios Casting Director Sarah Finn revealed, "Lewis Pullman actually auditioned for me for the role of Ned Leeds in Spider-Man 10 years ago."

Jacob Batalon ultimately...

Along with the rest of the main cast of Thunderbolts* (with one notable exception), Lewis Pullman is set to return for Avengers: Doomsday, and the actor has now teased Bob/Sentry's role in the next major Marvel Studios event movie.

Spoilers for Thunderbolts* follow.

At the end of the antihero team-up film, Bob joins his new allies as a member of The New Avengers, but he makes it very clear in the post-credits scene that he doesn't want to risk becoming the Sentry again in case the Void takes over.

During a new interview with Men's Health, Pullman revealed that his teammates are going to be keeping a very close eye on Bob in Doomsday, while also trying to figure out a way to harness the "power of a thousand exploding suns" without unleashing his inner darkness upon the world.

"The Thunderbolts don’t want to let him out of their sight,...

Marvel Studios recently rebranded Thunderbolts* as "The New Avengers," with a number of posters and billboards released displaying the new team name.

Though it was somewhat surprising that the studio decided to reveal the new title this quickly, the Avengers name carries a lot of weight, and the marketing play does seem to have paid off with a box office boost (how long it'll last remains to be seen). It's also worth noting that the movie's title hasn't been officially changed.

The Jake Schreier-directed antihero team-up flick is expected to hold on to the No. 1 spot in the U.S. this weekend, and is not likely to face much in the way of completion from any new releases.

Thunderbolts* had a reported production budget of $180 million (minus P&e), and should pass $260 million worldwide by Monday if estimates hold.

Another poster has now been released, this time paying homage to...

Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts* - or The New Avengers, if you prefer - is set to hit a major box office milestone at some point today.

As the 36th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe enters its second weekend in theaters, it will become the fourth movie this year to pass $100 million domestically, joining A Minecraft Movie, Captain America: Brave New World, and Sinners.

The Jake Schreier-directed antihero team-up flick is expected to hold on to the No. 1 spot, and is not likely to face much in the way of completion from any of Friday's new releases - although Rlje/Shudder's Clown in a Cornfield is sure to draw in the horror crowds.

Thunderbolts* had a reported production budget of $180 million (minus P&e), so it still has a long way to go to turn a profit for the studio. The movie does seem to be benefitting from positive reviews and word of mouth,...

This post contains spoilers for "Thunderbolts*"

"Thunderbolts*" has brought an end to Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Marvel Studios finds itself in a strange position. It's no secret that the biggest blockbuster franchise of all time has floundered in recent years, struggling to overcome a noxious mixture of superhero fatigue, a general decline in moviegoing, and a market oversaturated with streaming series and middling movies. But the box office dominance of "Deadpool & Wolverine" seemed to suggest there was life in the saga yet. While "Captain America: Brave New World" might have taken Marvel Studios back a few steps, "Thunderbolts*" looks to have righted the ship, even if it won't make nearly as much money as the Ryan Reynolds team-up movie.

"Thunderbolts*" is an emotional gut punch of a film that has finally matured the Marvel Cinematic Universe, proving that these franchise films can actually be about something...

Many fans were disappointed when the news broke that Steven Yeun had to drop out of Thunderbolts*. The Invincible lead was eventually replaced by Emmy-nominated Lessons in Chemistry star Lewis Pullman, and to say he knocked it out of the park as The Sentry would be an understatement.

Today, we have an official on-set photo of Pullman in full costume. Several behind-the-scenes shots have also been released, one of which highlights the Golden Guardian's impressive get-up.

While some fans have criticised the many lines that have become the norm with MCU superhero suits, it's worth remembering that Valentina Allegra de Fontaine designed The Sentry's look by committee. That means those lines and the somewhat over-designed "S" could have been deliberate choices.

With that in mind, it's likely that when Bob does eventually suit up again, he'll do so in a new costume.

Talking to GQ, Pullman explained how his social...

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has always had a knack for keeping fans on their toes with the most recent example being Thunderbolts*, as we should say, The New Avengers. A film that has brought back the old days of the MCU glory with its character-driven and entertaining team-dynamic narrative, this film nearly took an entirely different path.

Screenwriter Eric Pearson recently sat down with The Wrap to discuss the early versions of the pitch he had made to Marvel Studios. Among the many versions, one version had Red Hulk as the villain. Looking back, I am glad they had a change of heart for this storyline should rather be saved for a more compelling future for Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner.

Thunderbolts* almost had a Red Hulk problem Wyatt Russell as John Walker/U.S. Agent in a still from Thunderbolts* | Credits: Marvel Studios

While plans for a potential Thunderbolts...

Sebastian Stan and Leo Woodall are to star in 'Burning Rainbow Farm'The 'Thunderbolts*' actor and the 'White Lotus' star will lead the cast of Justin Kurzel's upcoming thriller, which is based on a true story about a gay couple in rural Michigan.Sebastian will play Tom Crosslin and Leo has been cast as his partner Rollie Rohm, and the story sees their idyllic marijuana-growing home, Rainbow Farm, disturbed when they have their young son taken away from them after running afoul of local authorities. A five-day stand-off ensues, leading to what is described as "one of the largest and most dramatic sieges" involving the police and FBI ever seen in America, which took place in 2001, just days before the 9/11 terror attacks.Tommy Murphy has written a screenplay based on a book by Dean Kuipers.Director Justin said in a statement: “Burning Rainbow is a love story about two...

Iman Vellani is not just the MCU’s Ms. Marvel; she is a total film nerd who’s always sharing her takes on Letterboxd, where she has racked up reviews for over 1,800 movies. So when she watched Thunderbolts* and called the team “five emotionally constipated misfits” who are basically The Breakfast Club in tactical gear, you know she is onto something.

Vellani, the young movie buff with Cléo from 5 to 7 and Iron Man on her favorites list, knows her stuff. Her review on Letterboxd had fans charmed, and honestly, it is the perfect way to describe this chaotic MCU squad. Thunderbolts* isn’t your typical superhero flick; it is raw, messy, and full of heart, and Vellani’s quippy take cuts right to the core of why it works.

Ms. Marvel, Iman Vellani reviews Thunderbolts* Thunderbolts* | Credit: Marvel Studios

Iman Vellani, with her Marvel nerd hat on, clearly saw the...

It’s been a while since we’ve had a traditional Avengers movie, and even though Marvel Cinematic Universe overlord Kevin Feige suggested we’d have to wait a little longer for another, Jake Schreier’s Thunderbolts* is an Avengers-lite outing hiding in the shadows. While some clocked that the movie’s mysterious asterisks could be hiding an eventual Dark Avengers rebrand, others were on the money that Thunderbolts* was actually a placeholder for The New Avengers.

It didn’t take long for the MCU to retitle the ensemble as The New Avengers, but for those keeping up with things, you’ll know it puts Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) rag-tag team of rogues at odds with the old guard of Avengers that we expected to see back in action. Captain America: Brave New World saw President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) task Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) with reforming the Avengers.

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All is well right now in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. "Thunderbolts*" (which got some of the best reviews for a Marvel picture in a while) ends with the titular team overcoming the Void, the dark half of Bob Reynolds/The Sentry (Lewis Pullman). As they've prevented a shadow from falling over New York City, the crew goes from Thunderbolts to New Avengers.

The Marvel Comics Universe is a different story. This year's crossover event is "One World Under Doom" by Ryan North and R.B. Silva. Doctor Doom, now the Sorcerer Supreme and rocking Doctor Strange's red cape, declares that the world is his. The nations of the world go along, folding themselves into New Latveria. Not because of mind control or magic, but because Doom is offering the strong leadership people crave. The Fantastic Four, Avengers, etc., are struggling...

In the build-up to Black Widow's release, fans were convinced that The Handmaid's Tale actor O-t Fagbenle would be unveiled as the man behind Taskmaster's mask, but it turned out that his character, Rick Mason, really was just the guy who sorted out Natasha Romanoff's (Scarlet Johansson) weapons and travel arrangements.

Towards the end of the movie, we learned that Taskmaster was actually Antonia Dreykov (Olga Kurylenko), who reprised the role for Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts*.

This new take on the villain wasn't exactly embraced by fans, who were hoping to see the original comic book incarnation of the character, Anthony "Tony" Masters. Now, Fagbenle has confirmed that Marvel was originally planning to introduce a male take on Taskmaster, and he auditioned for the role.

"Basically, I first auditioned for Taskmaster, and it was this, it was a really incredible speech, actually. It was an audition I was very proud of.

In Black Widow's post-credits scene, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine tasked Yelena Belova with killing Clint Barton. Val allowed the former Red Room operative to believe he killed her sister, Natasha Romanoff, and the Hawkeye TV series revealed that Eleanor Bishop hired the assassin.

Yelena and Clint eventually set their differences aside, and the Black Widow's story continued in Thunderbolts* (a.k.a. *The New Avengers).

There was no reference to the events of Hawkeye in the movie, but in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Thunderbolts* writer Eric Pearson detailed a sequence that tied up some loose ends from the Disney+ series. After all, Yelena surely had some feelings about Val being wrong about Clint playing a role in his fellow Avenger's demise.

"Early drafts began with Yelena confronting Valentina about ordering the Clint Barton hit, which was one of my favorite scenes that eventually became not entirely relevant to the Thunderbolts* story,...

More often than not, the movie laid out in the first draft of a script is radically different from the one audiences see in movie theaters. It's always fun to get a glimpse into the "what-could-have-beens" of cinema, and that's especially true for the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe hit.

Thunderbolts* is making headlines for all the right reasons; it shines the spotlight on a lovable roster of titular characters, the action sequences are fast-paced and well-choreographed, it has Oscar-worthy performances, and its narrative does a flawless job of dealing with themes of depression, mental health, and redemption. It's hard to imagine a world in which the movie ended up being any different, but that was almost the case.

While The Void finally made its big screen debut and quickly positioned itself as one of the scariest MCU villains ever, its place was almost taken by a very unlikely choice in early drafts.

After a somewhat disappointing debut and the third-lowest first Monday in MCU history, Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts* has rebounded with a strong Tuesday haul of $7.5 million at the domestic box office.

Thanks to a 49% jump from Monday, the antihero team-up film now sits at $86.8 million in the US and $172.9 million worldwide on a reported production budget of $180 million (before marketing costs).

Earlier this week, Marvel began the process of rebranding the movie as The New Avengers. The marketing campaign is believed to have kicked off a little earlier than planned when the opening weekend numbers came in, but it sounds like it was always set to begin shortly after the movie hit the big screen.

“It felt like, if Val is also trying to pull a switcheroo and sell the New Avengers to the world, we could do that, too,” director Jake Schreier explained to The New York Times in a recent interview.

As Kevin Feige finds himself in the most precarious position he’s ever been in as the man at the helm of the MCU (many consider it’s now or never for the universe), the move to rechristen Thunderbolts* as New Avengers was bold to say the least.

While only time will tell how successful the move will turn out to be, it looks like the MCU has some big plans in store for the ensemble of characters. And Feige is at the centre of it all.

Kevin Feige’s bold call has given Thunderbolts a lot of importance Kevin Feige was the man behind the rebranding of the Thunderbolts || Image by Gage Skidmore licensed under Cc By-sa 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

There could be many reasons behind making Thunderbolts* into *The New Avengers. Some believe it might have something to do with the fact that the Florence Pugh starrer did...

Still in the first week of the Thunderbolts* theatrical release, and it seems that viewers across the board are receiving the Marvel Cinematic Universe film favorably. I myself went in with middling expectations and emerged pleasantly fulfilled and entertained. It felt fresh, the characters were compelling, they didn't stuff in any contrived attempt at character redemption, they didn't play at speed-running found family, and it left us with not only an ending that felt satisfying but also a villain that feels like she can really go the distance. It's been said before, but it really does hold true: Thunderbolts* is the best movie that the MCU has put out in a while.

Word of mouth alone is doing wonders for this movie's optics. I certainly wouldn't have gone to see it on opening weekend if not for some of my more beloved comic content creators giving it a recommendation. And...

It turns out there were a lot of interesting little nuggets in the original story for "Thunderbolts*" that didn't make the final cut. Besides Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) making it out alive and becoming best buds with Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), another side story involved a bit more exposure to the team's individual shame rooms, brought to life through the incredible powers of The Sentry (Lewis Pullman). While we get a good look at the insecurities and past trauma of Bob, Yelena (Florence Pugh), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), director Jake Schreier revealed that considerations were made to spend time with the likes of the Red Guardian/Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan).

"I was very sad not to get to see Alexei's shame room," Schreier confessed to Variety. However, the director admitted that spending time with other people would've distracted from...

Florence Pugh is enjoying the spotlight after the release of Thunderbolts*, or rather, New Avengers, as the movie is now being branded. As the new Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Pugh has taken over from Scarlett Johansson, and with several projects lined up, it’s clear that the MCU has big plans for her character.

Throughout Thunderbolts*, Pugh’s Yelena Belova proved she has what it takes to be the heroic leader of an entire team. However, the film’s final moments reveal that she isn’t quite ready to leave her darker side behind.

In a memorable scene, Yelena whispers, “We own you now,” to Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, while presenting the latest lineup of Avengers, or rather, the New Avengers. This new team includes Bucky Barnes, John Walker, Bob, Red Guardian, and Ava Starr, signaling an intriguing new chapter for Yelena and her crew.

With Pugh at the forefront,...

With Thunderbolts* now in theaters, fans are basking in what has been widely regarded as one of the best MCU films in recent memory. A grounded story about a misfit team of criminals is super-powered by one of Marvel's strongest characters, Sentry (aka Bob), played by Lewis Pullman. The character gets a mostly comic-accurate adaptation in Thunderbolts*, but one major aspect of his origin is missing from the film, and it turns out that a Spider-Man sequel is to blame.

In the comics, Sentry is a superhero who was forgotten by the world after everyone's memories were wiped. He's been a member of several iterations of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, including The New Avengers. This part of his original story is entirely absent in Thunderbolts*, but for good reason, it seems. Speaking with Marvel.com, director Jake Schreier revealed that they could not adapt the Sentry's original storyline because Spider-Man: No Way Home...

Though Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts* goes to some pretty dark places in its third act, the movie has its fair share of signature MCU humor, but the inclusion of one comedic moment in particular did not sit well with Sebastian Stan - at least, not at first.

Yes, as you probably already guessed, it's the Vibranium arm in the dishwasher scene.

While speaking to EW, Stan explained that he just didn't find Bucky Barnes sticking his arm in the dishwasher after dripping mustard on it to be a particularly amusing sight gag.

"I immediately said to Jake, 'I don't understand why this is funny. You do not need this. This is silly,'" Stan tells the site. "But Jake was like, 'But maybe you could be eating something and then it can just go everywhere.' And I go, 'Really? That's what's going to [happen]?'"

As silly as it may seem,...

Thunderbolts* has made its mark upon its release, generating millions at the box office and receiving praise from fans and critics alike. This latest Marvel feature has been out for almost a week, and Hot Toys did not hesitate that the New Avengers will be part of its figure line in an upcoming collection, but not everyone is invited.

The news was announced on social media, where the figure company released an image featuring the likenesses of Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), and Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen). Unfortunately, John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell) and Sentry/Bob (Lewis Pullman) aren't included in the teaser image, and it's currently unknown if those two will be added to the collection. As of writing, a release date for the sixth-scale Thunderbolts* figures has yet to be announced,...

Thunderbolts* ends with one of the McU's best (and longest) post-credits scenes. In that, we catch up with the New Avengers and watch as they're alerted to the imminent arrival of the Fantastic Four on Earth-616.

On a monitor in the team's headquarters, an extradimensional ship enters the atmosphere and The Fantastic Four: First Steps theme plays as the team's "4" logo is revealed on the side.

The scene ends with a shot of Yelena Belova's face, but Sebastian Stan and Wyatt Russell have revealed a humorous moment featuring Bucky Barnes and U.S. Agent debating the meaning of that number.

Here's an excerpt from their conversation with Rotten Tomatoes (the full video can be watched below).

Sebastian Stan: Since I haven't seen it yet, did our thing make it? The four?

Wyatt Russell: Honestly? No, it didn't.

Sebastian Stan: We had a very funny thing, I was looking at it...

There has been talk of the original line-up of Earth's Mightiest Heroes appearing in Avengers: Doomsday and/or Avengers: Secret Wars since shortly after the projects were officially announced, but of the six characters who made up the team that assembled in the first Avengers movie, Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff always seemed the least likely to return.

Romanoff was killed off in Avengers: Endgame when she sacrificed herself so that Clint Barton could acquire the Soul Stone, and although the former assassin did return for a solo Black Widow prequel movie, Johansson has claimed to be done with the character on a number of occasions.

Even so, rumors persist that the Jurassic World Rebirth star will be back as Black Widow for the upcoming Avengers films, potentially joining the likes of Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans as "evil" variants of their original characters. Johansson wasn't part of the initial Doomsday cast reveal,...

It's common for a superhero movie to go through multiple iterations before cameras roll and, in some instances, they can change completely during production (see: Captain America: Brave New World).

Thunderbolts* writer Eric Pearson has been doing the rounds to promote the movie and, in an interview with ComicBook.com, revealed some of the ideas he dropped during the early writing stages.

We learned yesterday that U.S. Agent was once Thunderbolts*'s big bad, with John Walker undergoing a Hulk-like transformation. Pearson, however, was eager to unleash the Red Hulk.

"There was a point where I wanted Red Hulk to be the villain and [Marvel Studios] said, 'No,'" the writer confirmed. "I was annoyed and now I’m happy. The Sentry is the perfect person [for the villain role]. Any time you think you have it figured out and they tell you that you can’t do it, you are annoyed."

Pearson went on to say that,...

This article contains spoilers for "Thunderbolts*."

"Thunderbolts*" deals with the complex topic of depression, with The Void (Lewis Pullman) literally purging all of the light and joy out of New York City during his showdown with the titular super-team. However, while the film's emotional subject matter is often challenging, the Marvel Cinematic Universe's latest box office-topping blockbuster is still full of humor. Take, for instance, the scene where Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) uses a dishwasher to clean his prosthetic arm, which shows the Congressman at his most lighthearted. That said, Stan struggled to find the humor in it.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the "Apprentice" star recalled approaching director Jake Schreier in an effort to have the scene removed from the movie. In his own words:

"I immediately said to Jake, 'I don't understand why this is funny. You do not need this. This is silly. But Jake was like,...

Thunderbolts* ends with the surprise formation of the New Avengers, something Marvel Studios isn't holding back from promoting heading into the movie's second weekend in theaters.

While *The New Avengers isn't the movie's official title, the expectation is that the reveal will increase interest and ensure the positively reviewed MCU movie doesn't suffer the same drop as Captain America: Brave New World after it opened.

Talking to The Hollywood Reporter, Thunderbolts* writer Eric Pearson was asked whether it was always the plan to introduce the McU's New Avengers here.

"That was a Kevin [Feige] thing," he confirmed. "I told him I wanted to do a Thunderbolts movie and the way in was going to be through Yelena bringing them together against Valentina. I tried one pitch that didn’t work, and the second pitch was very, very close to the movie that we have now."

"I ended the pitch with Yelena whispering in Valentina’s ear,...

Following Marvel Studios' decision to basically spoil the ending of Thunderbolts* by revealing that the asterisk in the title actually refers to The New Avengers, the official Avengers social media accounts have added the copyright symbol next to their display name as a nod to a significant development from the movie's post-credits scene.

At the end of the movie, the Thunderbolts regroup after successfully preventing Bob from unleashing the darkness of "The Void" (a group hug works wonders), and approach Val to apprehend her while she attempts to talk her way out of it.

However, the resourceful CIA Director had formulated a plan to keep herself out of prison, and the team follows her right into a press conference she has arranged in order to introduce the New Avengers to the world. The group decides to play along, and the post-credits scene reveals that they have been operating as the...

This post contains major spoilers for Marvel's "Thunderbolts.*"

"Thunderbolts*," the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, marks the beginning of the end for the Multiverse Saga. The MCU films and shows to come in Phase 6 will, in turn, bring the post-"Endgame" saga to a proper close. But first, director Jake Schreier had to deliver an action-packed, emotional redemption tour for the McU's biggest misfits, including John Walker, aka U.S. Agent, played by Wyatt Russell. Indeed, although he's now a hero, he was very nearly the film's big villain.

As MCU fans may recall, U.S. Agent brutally killed a guy in public in "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier." He was in need of redemption, which is what he got in "Thunderbolts.*" Either that or he needed to lean into the bad guy thing; it truly could have gone either way. In an interview with Screen Rant,...

Warning: This article includes Spoilers from Thunderbolts*.According to Marvel Cinematic Universe stars Sebastian Stan and Wyatt Russell, the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene had a cut moment that fans didn't get to see. While Phase 5 may have come to an end with Marvel Studios' latest release, the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene left something for fans to look forward to with not just Avengers: Doomsday in 2026, but also The Fantastic Four: First Steps this summer. However, it appears that there was meant to be a little bit more from certain Thunderbolts* characters in the post-credits scene where the team appear to witness the arrival of the Fantastic Four.

In a new interview with Rotten Tomatoes, Stan and Russell were asked about the huge Fantastic Four moment in the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene and what their reactions were like to seeing that conclusion. While Stan comments he has yet to see the film, the two...

Thunderbolts* are no more, as Marvel pulled the rug on those who have not seen the movie over its opening weekend with a huge spoiler that began taking over marketing for the movie on Monday. After just a few days in cinemas, Thunderbolts* has lost its asterisk and its original title, with posters and billboards now all declaring the team as The New Avengers.

While the move has puzzled many people, director Jake Schreier explained that it was “all part of the plan” for the movie, and after a year of hiding the real title behind that asterisk, the time was right for things to be changed. He told The New York Times:

“It felt like, if Val is also trying to pull a switcheroo and sell the New Avengers to the world, we could do that, too. Especially given that the asterisk has been on the movie for a year,...

It only took a trailer or two for fans to realise that Taskmaster likely didn't have a sizeable role in Thunderbolts*. Recently, writer Eric Pearson revealed that his script saw Antonia Dreykov make it to the credits alive, forming a close bond with Ghost along the way.

It's unclear why Olga Kurylenko only ended up with a single line of dialogue, though it may have something to do with how unhappy the vast majority of fans seemed to be when Black Widow's divisive version of Taskmaster was revealed as being part of the team.

Plus, watching the movie back now, that subplot would have risked making Thunderbolts* feel incredibly bloated.

Scooper @MyTimeToShineH was first to share details on plans for Antonia last year, with Pearson's comments confirming everything they reported at the time. Now, we have a full breakdown of Taskmaster's story arc from start to finish, including...

The mystery surrounding the asterisk in the title of Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts*, has been officially unveiled, offering a significant recontextualization of the project and its place within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

It seems the asterisk was a deliberate, albeit subtle, indicator of the film's true nature: a clandestine New Avengers project spearheaded by director Jake Schreier and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige.

This revelation directly addresses the noticeable divergence in the film's roster when compared to the various iterations of the Thunderbolts team in Marvel Comics.

Rather than a straightforward adaptation of the anti-hero/villain squad, Thunderbolts* is now positioned as a foundational narrative for a new assembly of heroes, seemingly intended to fill the void left by the original Avengers lineup as we head into Doomsday and Secret Wars.

However, this incredibly ambitious pivot raises critical questions about the film's strategic placement within the MCU timeline, particularly as it...

Thunderbolts* has already captivated the audience with its strong critical reception and ensemble of anti-heroes. Marvel fans knew the movie would deliver some unpredictable twists, but what they didn’t expect was the revelation of some major storyline that never made it to the big screen.

Wyatt Russell’s John Walker, better known as U.S. Agent, was originally set to have a much larger presence in the movie, with storylines that would have placed him at the center of the Thunderbolts’* plot. So, for the character of Taskmaster. But, ultimately, much of it was scrapped. Even the movie’s screenwriter was shocked to see this development.

Thunderbolts* screenwriter revealed Marvel scrapped a John Walker and Taskmaster subplot

According to Eric Pearson, the screenwriter for Thunderbolts* and Black Widow, an early draft of the script featured a subplot that would’ve explored John Walker’s evolving relationship with Taskmaster. There...

While it’s only been in theaters for less than a week, Marvel Studios has decided to reveal a major spoiler for this month’s MCU outing, Thunderbolts*. The cast have literally been peeling back a crucial layer, revealing the meaning behind that mysterious asterisk that follows the titular team’s name. And, as many had suspected, there’s more to that name than we first thought...

In a move that has baffled fans, Marvel has wasted no time in revealing that The Thunderbolts are really The New Avengers, with the cast revealing the movie’s new title by ripping off a section of the post. Meanwhile, returning star and MCU staple Sebastian Stan has been spotted changing posters to reveal the new title while out and about.

The idea that the asterisk in Thunderbolts* meant the movie would get a new title, and that it would either be New Avengers or Dark Avengers,...