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Express Tribune
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
What Thunderbolts* post-credit scenes reveal about the MCU's future
Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts is now playing in theaters and comes packed with two end-credit scenes that push the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) into its next chapter. The film unites characters like Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, and US Agent in a dysfunctional antihero squad forced into action by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. The mid-credits scene is a comedic moment featuring Alexei Shostakov (Red Guardian) admiring a cereal box featuring his likeness. Set in a grocery store, the lighthearted moment plays off earlier dialogue where Alexei longs for admiration and fame, now partially realized through New Avengers merchandise. The final post-credit scene sets up major future Marvel films. Taking place 14 months later, the Thunderbolts are at their new base debating their identity, with Sam Wilson apparently trying to reclaim the Avengers name. Bob, now controlling his Sentry-based powers, remains with the team in a support role. Suddenly, the group is alerted to an unidentified aircraft—revealed to be a ship bearing the iconic '4' logo of the Fantastic Four. The screen then confirms: The New Avengers and Bob will return. This scene directly links to Fantastic Four: First Steps, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. It also teases Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for May 1, 2026, with Robert Downey Jr. returning as Victor Von Doom, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027. The Thunderbolts' future is now tightly woven into Marvel's evolving multiverse saga.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Best Look at Sentry Suit in Thunderbolts* Revealed by Marvel Future Fight
A fresh look at Lewis Pullman's Sentry in his suit from the movie may have just been revealed in the Marvel Future Fight game. Pullman's Sentry is being introduced as the force that Thunderbolts* have to go up against in the movie, which will arrive on May 2, 2025. Marvel has tried to conceal the look of Sentry's costume in live-action before the film's release. However, a previous Marvel Legends action figure and the game may have given fans a glimpse at the suit. The official Instagram handle of the Marvel Future Fight game recently posted an image of the Thunderbolts* team, announcing their arrival in the game. The squad includes Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova, David Harbour's Red Guardian, Wyatt Russell's US Agent, Hannah John-Kamen's Ghost, Olga Kurylenko's Taskmaster, Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes and Lewis Pullman's Sentry. Each one of the characters can be seen in their costumes, which were inspired by the Thunderbolts* movie, according to Marvel Future Fight. They mentioned in the caption, 'A new squad steps out of the shadows. Get ready to command a team built for chaos, precision, and power. Costumes inspired by Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts. #MARVELFutureFight.' So it appears that the image has revealed a brand-new look at Pullman's Sentry suit. The suit matches the yellow and blue colors of the suit that the character wears in the comic books, and also has a logo on its belt which resembles an 'S.' Additionally, Sentry's suit appeared to have been previously revealed by a Marvel Legends action figure, a photo of which made it to social media. The figure sports long blonde hair with the same suit shown in the game's Instagram post. As the highly anticipated movie's release date draws close, Marvel Studios has been featuring Lewis Pullman's Sentry in new clips, but as an all-black silhouette, to avoid showing his costume.
Express Tribune
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Superheroes and safe bets
With Thunderbolts* only a day away and expectations soaring, it is as good a time as any to press rewind and see how cult love is keeping the Marvel Cinematic Universe alive. Now, at first glance, you might think that I'm being pessimistic. But then, you'd only be partially correct. Let's take a look at the rogues leading the MCU's new lineup film: Yelena Belova AKA the new Black Widow, former Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes, former Captain America candidate John Walker or the US Agent, ex-villain Ava Starr or Ghost, and many more. If some of these names sound familiar to you, it's because you have seen them before. And chances are, they've carved a hole in your heart that only they can fill. Although some of these are much newer than the others, they all have one thing in common - their reputation precedes them, disgraces them even. And to the audience, it makes them individuals worth a thorough exploration and perhaps even redemption. It ultimately makes them memorable enough for the film to show promise. But is that all there is to it? Hard to swallow It is no secret that MCU fans tend to hold a grudge against the novel in a crowd of fan-favourites, sometimes even for a debatable reason. Take the late entry of Captain Marvel as an example. Despite the Infinity Saga being at its grand culmination, Carol Danvers proved to be a disturbance for some, an anomaly who couldn't keep up with the Saga's gut-punching speed despite her spaceship-wrecking abilities. While many had a problem with Captain Marvel's pacing or the fact that Carol didn't smile as frequently as palatable superheroines are expected to do, this was soon remedied in Avengers: Endgame - the Infinity Saga's star-studded farewell. And that's because Carol was flanked by a legion of heroes that fans loved ardently, effectively granting her no more visibility than that of a single piece in a large puzzle. If you were one of the lucky ones who scored tickets to one of the early screenings of Endgame, it's likely you remember it to be your most exhilarating cinematic experience. But don't let those old cheers deceive you, even if they were prompted by your own slackened jaws and balled fists. That adrenaline rush of an experience doesn't oblige you to turn a blind eye towards the blatant fanservice that carried the film whose first hour you'd likely skip on a rewatch. Because let's be honest, we're in it for the spectacular "Avengers Assemble" moment that had been fermenting with teases and abrupt cuts in prior films. So yes, we were seated for hours just to hear that war cry, just to watch the reversal of the Snap, just to scream our lungs out as our favourite heroes marched headfirst into Thanos' forces. It is hardly a sin to admit that, given how little luck new heroes have had in following MCU projects. Need I get into She-Hulk? Playing it safe I'm a woman of my word, so I come bearing some positives. Thunderbolts* is not a bad idea in of itself; it is, in fact, a long-awaited breath of relief. I hold by the belief that oftentimes, anything popular is popular for a reason, and the anticipation that this film has garnered after a dry season for the franchise isn't misplaced. There is of course a narrative advantage to bringing back old characters, specifically ones that have served as side characters for a majority of their screen time. It gives their underdeveloped stories a chance to shine, to develop into something more personal, something that does justice to their strong character traits. It is also less overwhelming for new fans, who are unfamiliar with the original comics and are navigating a multiverse of superheroes and supervillains. As for old fans, it is content that they've been deprived of for far too long. They need this as much as their beloved heroes do. Except, Marvel relies heavily on this nostalgic factor to keep the lights on, seeing as MCU fans can largely only digest characters they are familiar with. Perhaps, even Marvel can't always be blamed for the reception, giving the deep-seated bias that propels fan sentiments. It is still unfathomable to some that Sam Wilson is capable of succeeding as the new Captain America, despite not just proving himself time and again but also safely being an agreeable old character. But why must fans move on? It's not as if Steve Rogers explicitly retired and passed on the torch to Sam himself. It is this reliance on fanservice and reluctance to change that prevents superhero films from being regarded as works of art, at least not in the grandiose, cinephile sense of the word. The MCU's insistent obedience to this formula forbids risk-taking because straying seldom leads to fruitful results, as the recent past proves. Beyond fanservice In the context of now, that couldn't be any more ironic. At this point in time, the MCU is awaiting the release of a film made specifically for strays and those who resonate with them. The very essence of a justice-bearing superhero. Because despite everything, Thunderbolts* shows promise. Aside from diving into the mental health of survivors ridden with guilt, the film focuses on all that maketh a complex superhero: a tragic past, a rebellious cause, an unsung story, and a living martyrdom. For many superhero fans, this is a tale as old as time and is consumed for all the right reasons. It doesn't fashion a one-dimensional sense of justice; it instead promotes inner turmoil, complexity, and most of all, empathy. A superhero may not be anything more than a cape-wearer with supernatural abilities, but a people's superhero is one whose appeal survives the test of time because their values mirror the brighter side of human nature. So when Bucky's metal arm reminds him of the harm he was brainwashed into causing or when Ava looks back on how her desperation was manufactured by pain, they transform into something more than superhuman. They become a reflection of imperfections, of forgiveness, of a chance at a better life. So even aside from the fanservice, their appeal lives on. If the pre-release reviews are any indication, our anti-heroes have critics convinced. But only time and fan sentiments can tell if this wayward group sticks the poster landing or falls straight into a pit of fanservice.
Straits Times
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Thunderbolts* movie review: A Marvel B-team brings A-grade entertainment
(From left) David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell and Florence Pugh in Thunderbolts*. PHOTO: THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY At The Movies: Weak superheroes make for strong entertainment in Thunderbolts* Thunderbolts* (PG13) 126 minutes, opens on May 1 ★★★★☆ The story: A group of superheroes with spotty records and shady pasts – Yelena Belova/Black Widow (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and John Walker/US Agent (Wyatt Russell) – reluctantly unite when faced with a threat posed by CIA director and industrialist Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). The asterisk in the film's title points to its conditional or provisional nature. Its precise meaning will not be revealed here. Instead, have this takeaway: This is the most emotionally rich Marvel movie to come along in a long time. A decent film-maker can evoke tears with Tony Stark's death in Avengers: Endgame (2019). But it takes talent to wring pathos from a scene in which two lower-ranked Marvel characters talk about the ways they have been hurt. The film's easy-going yet deceptively taut storytelling stands in contrast to the grim and less coherent Captain America: Brave New World (2025), the most recent Marvel outing. As the trailer suggests, Thunderbolts* is a comedy centred on a team of misfits. What is surprising is the number and quality of the jokes, most of which stem from them being painfully aware of their inability to do anything awesome, like fly or shoot webs. As villainess de Fontaine puts it, these are 'antisocial defectives' with B-grade powers, worsened by the emotional baggage they bring to the job. Viewers familiar with their backgrounds through their appearances on the Disney+ spin-off shows will enjoy a richer experience, but that foreknowledge is not essential. Red Guardian, the former Soviet supersoldier, is, aptly , a boisterous bear in human form, trying to bond with wary adoptive daughter, the assassin Yelena (Pugh). Their exchanges crackle with a tense energy. Unusually for a Marvel ensemble work, the cast is stacked with strong character actors, beginning with Harbour and Louis-Dreyfus, who are ably backed by Russell and Stan. Russell is striking as the disgraced former Captain America, now a glorified henchman for de Fontaine, played by Louis-Dreyfus in a role that will have fans of her political satire Veep (2012 to 2019) weep with joy. As de Fontaine, she personifies hypercapitalist America, the beast that swallows superheroes and turns them into products. The veteran actress brings such joie de vivre to the part, it becomes impossible to hate a woman who loves her job so much. Director Jake Schreier, making his Marvel feature debut, handled the middlebrow dramedies Robot & Frank (2012) and Paper Towns (2015), but it is his television work that best represents his ability to balance pathos, comedy and heartfelt emotion. He directed episodes of the cruelly underappreciated comedy Lodge 49 (2018 to 2019), which also starred Russell, as well as the first season of the Emmy-winning Netflix satire Beef (2023). In Beef, the story of a feud taken to monstrous extremes, an ounce of therapy would have prevented a pound of suffering. The same principle applies in this film, except the stakes are much higher. Hot take: Thunderbolts* delivers rare emotional richness through its B-list heroes, proving that often, stronger superpowers lead to weaker storytelling. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Newsweek
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
'Thunderbolts' Early Reviews Overwhelmingly One-Sided
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors The reviews for "Thunderbolts*" are coming out, and everyone seems to be saying the same thing: for fans tired of the same old thing in Marvel movies, this is the one that breaks the mold of recent failures. It's a great flick with a big heart, and most of the credit goes to the cast, who elevate the material above usual superhero movie fare. Read More: New 'Thunderbolts' Teaser Shows Best Look at Sentry's Powers One of the main common threads throughout the reviews is that "Thunderbolts*" is, as Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence calls it, "a breath of fresh air." She also writes that it's "a notable step forward for the MCU as a whole, which is pretty remarkable given that this is a cast of characters where the literal point is that they're loose ends left adrift." From left to right: David Harbour as Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier, and Wyatt Russell as USAgent in Thunderbolts* From left to right: David Harbour as Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier, and Wyatt Russell as USAgent in Thunderbolts* DISNEY Likewise, Linda Marric of HeyUGuys calls the film "a gritty, chaotic and sometimes uneven return to the best of the old MCU. It is thrilling and heartfelt and best of all, it proves Marvel can still surprise us when it stops trying to please everyone and leans into the weirdness." Some critics weren't in love with "Thunderbolts*" as much as others, but still gave it credit for surpassing other recent Marvel films. Empire Magazine's John Nugent, for example, writes that the film "doesn't always land, but it dares to be different, from the title to the team-up. Fresh and thoughtful in a way recent Marvel efforts haven't always managed." Similarly, Donald Clarke of the Irish Times says, "It is a shame the project feels flimsier than the average TV-show pilot, but, after the catastrophe that was 'Captain America: Brave New World', one can celebrate something that at least has a middle between its beginning and its end." If nothing else is agreed upon by most critics, it's that the best reason to see "Thunderbolts*" is Florence Pugh's portrayal of Yelena Belova. "If it ultimately works," writes Radheyan Simonpillai of the Guardian, "it's all due to Pugh, who can wrestle sincerity out of a screenplay (and a franchise) that has so little, capturing a whole emotional arc in just her moments of silence." Vulture's Alison Willmore agrees, writing, "Pugh, in particular, gives the movie an emotional tangibility that makes it feel realms more solid than the last few years of Marvel product." If nothing else, we know what the critics have to say about "Thunderbolts*". The film hits theaters this Friday, May 2. More Comics: 'Avengers: Doomsday' First Look Marks Production Milestone Blade Reboot Costume Designer Confirms Wildest Theory About Failed Film
