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.