10 Things About Marvel’s ‘Thunderbolts*’ You Didn’t Know
When ‘Thunderbolts*’ premiered in 2025, it brought a new kind of team to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed by Jake Schreier, the movie followed a group of antiheroes and reformed villains—including Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, U.S. Agent, Ghost, and Taskmaster—who were pulled together under the guidance of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Unlike the Avengers, this squad operated in moral gray areas, raising questions about trust, redemption, and control.
The film surprised fans by mixing intense action with psychological drama, eventually rebranding the team as The New Avengers in its post-credit reveal. With Florence Pugh leading the ensemble and new threats like Sentry and his dark alter ego, the Void, ‘Thunderbolts‘ expanded the MCU in unexpected ways. Here are ten things you might not know about ‘Thunderbolts‘.
The Asterisk in the Title Had a Meaning
The official title included an asterisk, ‘Thunderbolts*,’ which puzzled fans before release.
By the end, the team’s name was changed in-universe to The New Avengers, making the title a clever hint at their transformation.
Yelena Belova Took the Spotlight
Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova became the emotional core of the movie. She wrestled with grief over Natasha Romanoff and the uncertainty of leading a team of broken individuals.
Her journey from reluctant participant to central leader gave the film its heart.
Sentry Was Introduced as a Wild Card
Lewis Pullman played Bob Reynolds, also known as Sentry, whose godlike powers came with a destructive dark side called the Void.
His struggle with trauma and mental instability became the central conflict, forcing the team to face not only him but also their own demons.
Valentina Manipulated the Team
Julia Louis-Dreyfus returned as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, orchestrating the mission and keeping secrets from the Thunderbolts.
Her shady tactics created mistrust within the group and set up future storylines about her true motives.
The Void Was a Psychological Villain
Instead of being just another destructive force, the Void forced characters to confront their darkest memories.
These “shame room” sequences gave depth to characters like Ghost and Taskmaster, who had lived in the shadows of their past actions.
The Film Blended Action and Therapy
Unlike typical MCU movies, ‘Thunderbolts*’ leaned into psychological exploration. The team wasn’t just fighting enemies—they were battling their own guilt and trauma.
This gave the movie a different tone, more introspective while still delivering big battles.
Red Guardian Added Humor and Heart
David Harbour returned as Red Guardian, providing comic relief with his bumbling bravado.
At the same time, his relationship with Yelena added emotional weight, grounding the film’s family themes.
It Explored Legacy Beyond the Avengers
The movie asked whether Earth needed another team of heroes after the Avengers’ absence.
By the finale, the Thunderbolts proved themselves, leading to their rebranding as the next generation of Avengers.
It Had a Mid-Budget MCU Scale
With a budget of around $180 million, ‘Thunderbolts*’ was smaller in scope than cosmic epics like ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ but more personal in its storytelling.
This allowed it to focus on character-driven drama while still delivering spectacle.
It Found More Success on Streaming
Though it earned about $380 million worldwide at the box office, the film exploded in popularity once it hit Disney+.
It quickly became one of the platform’s most-watched films, proving the lasting appeal of Marvel’s morally complex characters.
What fact about ‘Thunderbolts*’ did you find the most surprising? Share your thoughts in the comments!
