Thunderbolts* asterisk brings a new meaning to the MCU’s future
As we said in The Asterisk of Thunderbolts* Revealed, it seems the meaning of the asterisk was not entirely spilled.
Warning! Proceed at your own risk! Thunderbolts* spoilers ahead!
Like always, Marvel hadn’t disclosed the entire meaning, but was playing with leak-leak. The Avengers are not available, seemed apt for many, including us, until the movie revealed it. That wasn’t all, it had something major up its sleeve!
It seems, the Thunderbolts’ moniker has nothing to do with Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, played by Harrison Ford after William Hurt passed away in Captain America: Brave New World.
The asterisk was used to signify it as a temporary, or rather, an unofficial name. The stars and director had told Entertainment Weekly, when asked, that the true name of the movie was to have a strong impact on the MCU’s future. Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) lures the so-called Thunderbolts in front of the media, takes credit for their success in saving everyone from the Void, and renames them as the New Avengers.
The name sticks till the end credits rip the Thunderbolts* title revealing the actual name of the flick: New Avengers. Below is the revealing launch video of the title on the Instagram of @marvel.
Again in Comics…
In Marvel Comics, the New Avengers lineup was formed after the Avengers Disassembled arc. The core members of the lineup included: Captain America (Steve Rogers), Iron Man (Tony Stark), Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Wolverine (Logan), Luke Cage, Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), and the Sentry (Robert Reynolds aka Bob).
Jake Schreier, Thunderbolts* director, confirms that the idea to rename the movie and to name the group New Avengers was there from the very first draft.
| Upcoming MCU Flicks | Release Date | |
| 1. | The Fantastic Four: First Steps | July 25, 2025 |
| 2. | Avengers: Doomsday | May 1, 2026 |
| 3. | Avengers: Secret Wars | May 7, 2027 |
Thunderbolts* is now released in theaters around the world on May 2nd.
Pic Credits: Marvel/MCU
Jake Schreier’s confirmation about renaming the movie and calling the group “New Avengers” from the very first draft is intriguing. It makes me wonder how much of the original vision will stay intact in the final product. The idea of rebranding the Thunderbolts as the New Avengers feels like a bold move—will it resonate with fans? I’m curious if this decision was driven by audience expectations or a creative shift in the storyline. Do you think this change will bring a fresh perspective to the MCU, or could it risk alienating long-time fans? Personally, I’m excited but also a bit skeptical—what’s your take on this? Would you have preferred they stuck with the Thunderbolts name?
Yeah, that’s an intriguing move, indeed. Loved the way the title was revealed ☺️