Summary
Thunderbolts*is set to bring the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s current phase to an end in a year, and while fans got a lot of new information and reassurances about the project over the weekend, Marvel has failed to answer the most pressing question on everyone’s mind concerning the project.
Thunderbolts*has seen an Avengers-level degree of setup within the MCU, bringing together characters from many different previous projects in much the same way the original Avengers lineup brought together those members for their first outing as a team. Based on the villain-turned-hero team of the same name from the comics, this team of antiheroes drew a lot of fan interest, but also ranthe risk of being perceived as a rip-off ofSuicide Squad,as the team’s villainous comic origins and moral reform will be substituted for a mandate from an arm of the US Government à alSuicide Squad’sAmanda Waller.
While the MCU’s San Diego Comic-Con presentation gave a ton of announcements and fans now haveeven more things to expect fromThunderbolts*,there was one piece of information that was glaringly absent from the presentation. During the presentation byMarvel,Thunderbolts*director Jake Schreier took to the stage with the main cast of the film, including David Harbour in full Red Guardian costume, and gave fans a general overview of the film’s plot and vibe, calling it an irreverent team-up movie, following an unlikely group as they unite to face a new threat. While this was all well and good, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige would annoy the entirety of the audience at home and in the hall when asked about the asterisk that had been added to the end of the film’s official title, a choice that has had fans confused since it was rolled out. To this all-important question, both Feige and Schreier responded, “You have to see the movie!”
This answer is willfully evil, as the meaning behind the asterisk has been a hot topic ever since it was added and many fans were hoping for some clarification at SDCC, especially when the project got its own little segment of the presentation. As it stands, fans will be left guessing what the asterisk could mean right up until the film’s premiere, and maybe even beyond, as the chances of such a meta detail being explicitly discussed within the film are very low. There are tons of prevalent theories already, with the most prominent being a resurgence of theMCU fan theory that the Dark Avengers are assembling within the franchiseand thatThunderbolts*will be the vehicle for the final revelation. Alternatively, some fans also believe that the asterisk denotes a betrayal coming from within, which wouldn’t be out of place for a team comprised entirely of antiheroes. On the other end of the spectrum, a much less weighty theory suggests that the film might see members of the group refuse to agree on a name, rendering the film’s title an unofficial moniker.
While fans are still looking forward toThunderbolts*despite the mystery surrounding its title,Feige’s confirmation that Hugh Jackman’sDeadpool & Wolverineperformance might open the doors for other stars to returnhas done a lot to devalue the team’s potential overnight. With the MCU still struggling to assemble headliners on par with the former Avengers lineup, the Thunderbolts had a real chance to shine. With the potential return of the already-made stars, this potential falls through the floor and the Thunderbolts will now have to try that much harder to remain in the limelight.
Thunderbolts*is set to be released theatrically on June 26, 2025, as the final project of the MCU’s Phase Five
Thunderbolts*
Marvel’s Thunderbolts is a superhero movie based on the comic team of the same name. The movie acts as a part of the MCU’s fifth phase of films. The film sees the likes of Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell, the Red Guardian, and more as an unlikely group of heroes and villains brought together to fight for good.
