Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and produced by Marvel Studios, Thunderbolts* is an upcoming American superhero film. It is based on the Marvel Comics and was first presented to readers and the Marvel Universe in The Incredible Hulk #449 in January 1997. The film is set to be the 36th movie of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

The Thunderbolts are a group of previous antiheroes with unique characteristics who are forced to work together by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, the director of the CIA.

The Director, Jake Schreier, did an impeccable job in casting. Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour and more well known actors are impatiently awaited on screen by fans. Filming occurred mainly in Atlanta, Georgia, Utah, and Kuala Lumpur.

Marvel Studios began teasing the formation of a Thunderbolts team within the MCU in 2021. It was revealed to be “in development” in June 2022, and the main cast was revealed in September, with additional casting through early 2023. The production was delayed due to the Hollywood labor disputes in 2023. Filming finally took place from February to June 2024.

The movie will be released in the United States and Canada on May 2nd, 2025. It will be the final film of Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The story is about a group of enhanced people who are recruited to go on missions for the government. After getting caught in a death trap, they must embark on an Avengers-level threat mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. The film will introduce a new villain, Void, known for his dual nature of hero and villain.

In the comics, Void is the evil personality of Sentry, aka Robert “Bob” Reynolds. Because of his unstable mental condition, paranoia, and schizophrenia, Bob unconsciously created The Void from his near-unlimited power to wrap reality.  Lewis Pullman will take on a complex role, and fans cannot wait.

On April 5th, 2025, the stars of Marvel’s upcoming film met on stage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. The event seemed to have confirmed the identity of the main villain, as the footage shown to the audience indicated that Valentina is actually the one pulling the strings from the shadows.

The Thunderbolts team is composed by James “Bucky” Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) and John Walker (Wyatt Russel).  Florence Pugh called the group “our new team of glorious misfits” during her brief comments. The crew has deeply bonded and shared terrific memories over their time together. “Such a special time with so many unique experiences,” Pugh declared.

The team leader, James Barnes (aka Winter Soldier), is a super soldier with a vibranium arm. He has also been elected a member of the United States Congress. Yelena Belova is a former Black Widow assassin who is affected by many traumatic events, like the death of her sister, Natasha Romanoff (aka Black Widow).

Red Guardian, aka Alexei Shostakov, is Belova’s adoptive father. The film will explore the complex relationship between Yelena and Alexei. It was noted that Belova cannot stand Shostakov but needs someone to help her feel complete, and he’s able to fit that role. Ghost, also known as Ava Starr, can phase through objects. She was introduced in Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and can now control her powers calmly and decisively.

Taskmaster, or Antonia Dreykov, has photographic reflexes that allow her to copy her adversaries’ fighting style. She was initially controlled by her father, Dreykov, and fought for the Red Room, but Natasha Romanoff saved her in Black Widow (2021). Finally, John Walker, a U.S. agent, is also an enhanced super soldier, whom the U.S. government selected to become the new Captain America after the departure of Steve Rogers. Although he received a discharge in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021). 

The next big Marvel project, Avengers: Doomsday, is set to release on May 1st, 2026. The cast was announced on March 26th, 2025, and all Thunderbolts members are involved, showing that they’ll all survive Thunderbolts*. How much time do they have left?