THUNDERBOLTS* Writer Reveals Exact Moment Decision Was Made To Pivot To *THE NEW AVENGERS Reveal

THUNDERBOLTS* Writer Reveals Exact Moment Decision Was Made To Pivot To *THE NEW AVENGERS Reveal

Thunderbolts* writer Eric Pearson has revealed exactly when the decision was made to introduce The New Avengers, and comments briefly on his contributions to Blade and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

By JoshWilding - May 06, 2025 10:05 AM EST
Filed Under: Thunderbolts
Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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, 'You work for us now,' essentially. So I pitched that Valentina is forced to introduce the Thunderbolts [to the public], and Kevin said, 'I think that she should call them the Avengers.' And I was like, 'Whoa, okay!'" Pearson revealed.

"I was like, 'Okay, cool. I don’t know what your plan is for the New Avengers.' And then there were many, many discussions: 'Capital N? Lowercase n? Are they Avengers that are new? Are they the New Avengers?'" he added. "But that was Kevin’s idea, and it’s part of some four-dimensional chess plan that I don’t totally know yet."

So, the decision was made while the movie was still being written and came directly from Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. With the Russo Brothers directing Thunderbolts*'s post-credits scene on the set of Avengers: Doomsday a few weeks ago, some speculated that it might have been a last-minute decision. Clearly not. 

Commenting on the stinger, Pearson said, "I can’t take credit for that tag scene either. I believe [co-writer] Joanna Calo wrote that, and I’m very jealous of it. It’s so funny and good. One of my favorite parts of the whole movie is John Walker saying, 'I don’t know what any of these buttons do, nobody labeled them.' [Laughs] That, for me, is one of the funniest things."

The writer, who has taken a crack at Blade for Marvel Studios, said he "cannot talk about the Blade situation," but did share a brief tease for The Fantastic Four: First Steps when he revealed, "I will share a proper noun: Galactus. That’s all I’m going to say."

Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters. You can see Sebastian Stan and Wyatt Russell weigh in on *The New Avengers reveal in the player below. 

THUNDERBOLTS* Writer Eric Pearson Reveals Scrapped Plans For Red Hulk, Man-Thing, And Goliath
Related:

THUNDERBOLTS* Writer Eric Pearson Reveals Scrapped Plans For Red Hulk, Man-Thing, And Goliath

AVENGERS Social Media Accounts Officially Add © Copyright Symbol Following THUNDERBOLTS* Post-Credits Reveal
Recommended For You:

AVENGERS Social Media Accounts Officially Add © Copyright Symbol Following THUNDERBOLTS* Post-Credits Reveal

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

Wahhvacado
Wahhvacado - 5/6/2025, 11:01 AM
@MakeAmericaGrea - And you write like you have tears in your eyes over things offending you.

Sorry to disappoint but I have my MBA.

I don't limit my views to one perspective. You dig your heels over the dumbest shit.

I'm not the one crying on a comic book movies website that's you. Daily
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 5/6/2025, 11:02 AM
@Wahhvacado -

If you have an MBA, why is your writing so poor?
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 5/6/2025, 11:07 AM
@Wahhvacado -

No one believes I write like I have tears in my eyes.

That's a poor attempt at gaslighting.

You cry on this site, don't be a hypocrite.

What did you get your MBA?

MBAin3weeks.com?
Wahhvacado
Wahhvacado - 5/6/2025, 11:08 AM
@MakeAmericaGrea - If you are a man, why are you such a snowflake?
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 5/6/2025, 11:39 AM
@Wahhvacado -

Nice attempt at gaslighting.

You have ignorant beliefs and you support bad things.

We could have had a disastrous Heels Up Harris presidency because of people like you.
Fogs
Fogs - 5/6/2025, 12:12 PM
@Wahhvacado - I'm so glad I blocked this tool. Not a single positive comment towards the man, it's incredible.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/6/2025, 10:47 AM
Interesting…

I wonder if it means when all is set & done that we’l get one big super team of Avengers in the MCU which could be fun but we’ll see.

Also I guess going by his second pitch , this was always gonna have Yelena at the center against Val but the rest of the team & their inclusion wasn’t set in stone…

It does make me curious about what his first pitch was that was rejected?.
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 5/6/2025, 11:24 AM
@TheVisionary25 — I’d say the Civil War Avengers team was a super team even without Thor and Hulk. Technically they still had two. What if this is a Civil War 2 setup 🧐
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/6/2025, 11:38 AM
@MyCoolYoung - I don’t think so

I think this might either be them creating a super team or the start of multiple Avengers teams like in the comics.
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 5/6/2025, 12:30 PM
@TheVisionary25 - I get that. I just remember the seeds for civil war was sewed as far back as the first avengers. I’m probably reaching but it wouldn’t surprise me that would be the big event after secret wars
SuperCat
SuperCat - 5/6/2025, 10:50 AM
User Comment Image
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 5/6/2025, 10:53 AM
Just like some “content/article creators” make the same articles with different headlines for clicks Marvels doing it to get more butts in seats.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 5/6/2025, 10:55 AM
Wyatt Russell is the man
EskimoJ
EskimoJ - 5/6/2025, 11:38 AM
@McMurdo - Star-spangled man with a plan.
Fogs
Fogs - 5/6/2025, 12:13 PM
@McMurdo - lol, a friend of mine said he prefers him over Steve. I can understand the appeal, he's a lot of fun onscreen.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 5/6/2025, 11:01 AM
I want the writers and execs and directors and everyone to talk about their comversations on:

A. Indoctrinating people with liberal ideology.

B. Social engineering people.

C. Ways to annoy conservatives.
Rpendo
Rpendo - 5/6/2025, 11:05 AM
@MakeAmericaGrea - Still didn’t fix your errors when you cut and pasted the literal same comment from earlier in the thread, huh?

Lol

I simply MUST meet you in real life.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 5/6/2025, 11:08 AM
@Rpendo -

You make more errors than I do.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 5/6/2025, 11:11 AM
@MakeAmericaGrea - you're so lucky certain people on this site "agree" with your dogshit takes on EVERYTHING THAT'S POLITICALLY CHARGED. Now I'm gonna have to buy this place just for you lol
Rpendo
Rpendo - 5/6/2025, 11:12 AM
@MakeAmericaGrea - lol

Dude, you are awesome.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 5/6/2025, 11:12 AM
@Rpendo -

What errors did I make here?

I didn't cut and paste a literal same comment.

Name all the continents.
Rpendo
Rpendo - 5/6/2025, 11:21 AM
@MakeAmericaGrea - Shhhhh, little boy. Hush, now.

Keep being weird and frantic online.

It’s hilarious.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 5/6/2025, 11:41 AM
@bobevanz -

Not everything I say on this site is politically charged.

Please don't lie about me.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 5/6/2025, 11:43 AM
@Rpendo -

Oh, you couldn't find any errors.

And you can't name all the continents.

Uh oh, a liberal called someone smarter than them a little boy.
Rpendo
Rpendo - 5/6/2025, 11:54 AM
@MakeAmericaGrea - Quiet now, precious.

You’re popular and everyone likes you.

You have a vibrant social life.

Really. You do.

What state do you hail from, my sweet, squishy cupcake?
Itwasme
Itwasme - 5/6/2025, 12:08 PM
@Rpendo - it's a long flight to Russia. That's the only chance you'll have to meet the guy. Lol.
Rpendo
Rpendo - 5/6/2025, 12:14 PM
@Itwasme - lol

No, this is my mission, now. I have to know what this cat looks like.
Itwasme
Itwasme - 5/6/2025, 12:17 PM
@Rpendo - I really don't think they live in the US. If they do, I think the only explanation is an elaborate troll account trolling MAGA people, but that would be a huge effort and I figure they'd grow bored eventually.

They have publicly identified as a white pride nationalist here too. That's a pretty big level of commitment.
AllsNotGood
AllsNotGood - 5/6/2025, 11:09 AM
Wished I would have seen more of sentry/void....the movie felt short
99OPTIMISTPRIME
99OPTIMISTPRIME - 5/6/2025, 11:20 AM
Obviously Avengers IP equals billion dollar franchise. But this feels a bit forced and gimmicky to me.🤣
Itwasme
Itwasme - 5/6/2025, 12:12 PM
@99OPTIMISTPRIME - which is exactly the point of doing it. That's what makes it a pretty great move IMO, because it is so meta. All the complaints in real life fit into the story now.
PartyKiller
PartyKiller - 5/6/2025, 11:37 AM
They are doing it now because the movie is flopping. It needed someone more dynamic in the cast and a real villain.
HistoryofMatt
HistoryofMatt - 5/6/2025, 11:56 AM
The only way this works out narratively speaking is if they're wiped out in like, the first five minutes of Doomsday, because Bob can't be Sentry and the rest of them, even though they're enhanced (except for the 90-lb female midget) can't match up power-level wise.
emeraldtaurus
emeraldtaurus - 5/6/2025, 11:57 AM
This is so stupit from Marvel/Disney , wait to see if its successful...then rebound it to "The New Avengers" ....smacks of desperation ! Not sure what their game is.
Itwasme
Itwasme - 5/6/2025, 12:14 PM
@emeraldtaurus - if you see the movie then it makes a lot more sense. The game is right there and these negative reactions are exactly the point.

Please log in to post comments.

Don't have an account?
Please Register.

View Recorder