THUNDERBOLTS* Spoilers: Eventful Post-Credits Scene May Set-Up A Surprising Conflict

THUNDERBOLTS* Spoilers: Eventful Post-Credits Scene May Set-Up A Surprising Conflict

You probably already know what happens in Thunderbolts*' post-credits scene at this stage, but there is one aspect of the sequence that seems to have been somewhat glossed over...

By MarkCassidy - May 01, 2025 09:05 AM EST
Filed Under: Thunderbolts

Thunderbolts* hits theaters tomorrow (it's already playing in The UK and certain other regions), but even if you haven't seen the movie yet, there's a good chance you already know what happens in the much-discussed post-credits scene.

Spoilers follow.

In one of the MCU's longest stingers, we see the team returning to the Watchtower (Val's repurposed Avengers Tower) just over a year after the events of the movie. As the crew bickers, we learn that Sam Wilson, aka the new Captain America, has copyrighted the name "Avengers" and has had a bit of a falling out with Bucky Barnes over his team's attempts to brand themselves as the New Avengers.

This dilemma is soon put aside when an interdimensional ship carrying the members of the Fantastic Four is shown breaking atmosphere on the screen, but this plot point might just have bigger implications for Avengers: Doomsday than we realize.

It seems unlikely that Barnes (or should that be Belova?) and Wilson's Avengers teams will actually come to blows Civil War style, but there definitely appears to be some conflict brewing. A recent rumor claimed that we will see "multiple Avengers teams trying to fight Doom," and this post-credits scene certainly indicates that the multiple heroes involved won't be joining forces to form one expanded Avengers roster - not at first, at least.

It's difficult to imagine these characters staying mad at each other for too long in the face of impending Doom, but some friction should make for interesting dynamics in the early goings.

Marvel Studios recently announced the exciting news that Son Lux will be scoring Thunderbolts*. The three-member, American experimental band was Oscar and BAFTA- nominated for their score for 2022’s best picture, Everything Everywhere All at Once. 

In Thunderbolts*, Marvel Studios assembles an unconventional team of antiheroes — Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster and John Walker. After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. Will this dysfunctional group tear themselves apart, or find redemption and unite as something much more before it’s too late?

Returning to their Marvel Cinematic Universe roles are Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Hannah John-Kamen and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The cast also includes newcomers to the MCU—Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer and Wendell Edward Pierce.

Jake Schreier directs Thunderbolts* with Kevin Feige producing. Louis D’Esposito, Brian Chapek and Jason Tamez serve as executive producers.

Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* opens in U.S. theaters on May 2, 2025.

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bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 5/1/2025, 9:35 AM
No way Sam and Bucky are gonna clash. If anything, all the teams are rushing towards stopping Doom (as with Thanos) and quickly join up under the unified banner of New Avengers when they arrive in the same place.
RedFury
RedFury - 5/1/2025, 9:46 AM
@bkmeijer1 - this seems most likely to me as well. To your point Sam and Bucky have too close of ties, and have already experienced a Civil-War between the heroes. It just wouldn't flow right if they all of a sudden are duking it out. Plus it just retreads on old plot lines and would seem a bit redundant I think.

I like the idea of them all joining up at one point to form the New Avengers. I could definitely see that happening after they realize a concerted effort is their best chance.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/1/2025, 9:50 AM
@bkmeijer1 - yeah

I think this probably be used as some friction or character drama between the 2 teams but Sam is also I feel mature & level headed anyway to put this grudge aside and work together
TGDestroyer
TGDestroyer - 5/1/2025, 9:52 AM
@RedFury - Probably just their usual banter in the gran scheme of things
RedFury
RedFury - 5/1/2025, 9:59 AM
@TGDestroyer - yeah the banter and friendly competition could absolutely be what things turn out to be. Which could be a lot of fun. Who's team is better, or beats the bad guys first kind of thing.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 5/1/2025, 10:54 AM
@TheVisionary25 @RedFury - yeah, both characters know each other and can put differences aside. Especially if the conflict is over IP infringement. It'll most likely be fun banter
AllsGood
AllsGood - 5/1/2025, 9:36 AM
Marvel Studios Thunderbolts going today. The women in in life are very excited to see this movie too.

User Comment Image
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 5/1/2025, 9:52 AM
@AllsGood - enjoy!
mountainman
mountainman - 5/1/2025, 9:37 AM
Avengerz has to be an all time worst MCU joke.
RedFury
RedFury - 5/1/2025, 9:53 AM
@mountainman - IMO I think it being corny as hell, and out of touch is what makes it funny - especially since it's coming from the Red Guardian. His whole character is based on the archetype of an out of touch divorced Dad trying to stay relevant. The joke itself isn't funny, but I don't think it's supposed to be. The funny part is how lame Alexei is in thinking that it's a good idea.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 5/1/2025, 10:00 AM
@mountainman - the singing planet in The Marvels is a joke itself and the cringiest for me
mountainman
mountainman - 5/1/2025, 10:10 AM
@RedFury - I just can’t stand his characterization at all. A former soviet super soldier who was betrayed by his country and was in jail for decades wouldn’t act like a goofball. He’d be a hardened badass. Everything about Red Guardian is terrible and he’s one of the worst characters in the MCU.

@vectorsigma - Singing planet was bad, but it wasn’t a joke so I didn’t evaluate it for this assessment. Black girl magic was probably the worst joke from that movie.
RedFury
RedFury - 5/1/2025, 10:22 AM
@mountainman - hey that's fair, and I don't disagree that his characterization doesn't fit his history persay. But personally speaking I think that's what I like about him. Despite being absolutely screwed in life he manages to stay up beat and joyful. To me that's super endearing especially as life has absolutely shit on me a bunch of times, and I do my best to keep laughing.

I will say I dislike how they've portrayed him in the what if series though. They dialed up the goofy way too much there.
mountainman
mountainman - 5/1/2025, 11:32 AM
@RedFury - Funny enough, my favorite stuff from Red Guardian so far has been the guerrilla marketing for this movie where he has a crappy used car dealership. For some reason that worked, but i’ve never liked his goofy jokes in the movies.

Maybe one day we get a project of him as a younger man in his prime facing off against Isaiah Bradley. That would be neat.
RedFury
RedFury - 5/1/2025, 1:08 PM
@mountainman - I'll have to check that out because I completely missed those. Actually sounds like the perfect plainclothes job for him haha.

Man I would absolutely love to see a project with Alexei vs. Isaiah. They could even have Steve pop in for a moment while he was busy returning the infinity stones to their proper points in time and took a wrong turn or something.
grif
grif - 5/1/2025, 9:45 AM
all nothingburger stuff


Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 5/1/2025, 10:04 AM
@grif - that kind of burguér is the rage since Trump’s back
tRuckRogers46A
tRuckRogers46A - 5/1/2025, 9:53 AM
No, he hasn't copyrighted the name Avengers. He's only filed to copyright it.

Just got out of seeing it and strangely there was no trailer for Fantastic Four but we did get the Supermman teaser.

Soooo...Thunderbolts:

At last, a coherent and very enjoyable Marvel movie.
Slower than the usual offerings from Marvel but one that's a bit more mature and doesn't feel like it's been reshot and edited to death.
A decent story that flows very well with enough action to satisfy most fans of the genre. Some pretty good choreography too.
Not as many jokes as I thought there'd be but enough to raise a smirk here and there.
Great performances from the whole cast and it's refreshing to see all the characters having some kind of arc and much more depth.
Not overly impressed by the music as there really wasn't much in it but the film editing was on point and the climax resolution felt earned and justified.
Didn't cry.
Stick around for the post credits.
7/10
Blergh
Blergh - 5/1/2025, 10:12 AM
@tRuckRogers46A - how’s US Agent in this? Do we get parts of his mental health struggle or is he mentally “better” without temper tantrums? I love that he at least seems to be aware of his deeds being viewed badly
tRuckRogers46A
tRuckRogers46A - 5/1/2025, 12:35 PM
@Blergh - he's still a bit of a dick but his issues are explored somewhat. You'll like him by the end.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 5/1/2025, 9:55 AM
If I am to guess, there are a number of prepared outcomes of the postcredit scene based on the success/failure of the movie in the BO

It is possible the spacecraft is empty. Or someone else not the F4 steering it. Maybe Loki getting trapped and incapable of easy multiverse travel.
Blergh
Blergh - 5/1/2025, 10:11 AM
I could see how Sam and other former Avengers like Hulk would be opposed to a group consisting of a disgraced Captain America hated for tainting the shield, a gangster who used to cause massive damage to San Francisco, a Russian copy of Captain America and a person who, for all the public knows, could have been a loyal Widow calling themselves the Avengers. Especially if Bob is officially on the roster after The Void just tore down NY.

Bucky may be liked but the others are certainly not beloved or even trusted.

Sam on the other hand is the official Captain America, just saved the president from himself and holds a goody two shoes image. He’s probably getting a similar morally clean team to join up.
The public will be more receptive to that team and the story might evolve to a point the teams form together and the former villains are officially redeemed
heisei24
heisei24 - 5/1/2025, 11:18 AM
@Blergh - It's not so much about the roster, but more like how the New Avengers are government sanctioned. After dealing with Ross' bullshit for years, I don't blame Sam for being opposed about it. If anything I'm surprised Bucky is sticking with them
Blergh
Blergh - 5/1/2025, 11:43 AM
@heisei24 - yeah, I'm very interested to see how Bucky bonds with the team that makes him actively want to stick with them. We'll see about that.
BlackStar25
BlackStar25 - 5/1/2025, 10:36 AM
I could catch this movie as early as 2pm today. I though Thursday showings for movies that officially come out on Friday only had a couple of showings at night?
SpaceAgent
SpaceAgent - 5/1/2025, 10:39 AM
I like John Walkers silly little hat and his dumb shield. Very fun.

Also whenever I see him I think of this
https://x.com/wpposters/status/1381714657556246541

DE-capitaion Amarica! De-capitation America! DE-capitation America! De-capitation Ameriiiicaaa!!!
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/1/2025, 11:13 AM
I doubt they get into any fisticuffs over it but I could see it be a source of some tension amongst the team if not Sam & Bucky…

However I feel both are smart enough to put it aside for the greater good given the threat they’ll face in Doom.

The movie needs as much drama as possible given the shift in villains and thus lack of buildup so this is one way to get that.

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