Ever since Marvel Studios unveiled the title Thunderbolts with a mysterious asterisk, fans have been buzzing with theories. Now that the film is out, the true meaning behind the asterisk has been revealed: it’s a game-changer for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
What Does the Asterisk in Thunderbolts* Stand For?
The asterisk in Thunderbolts is more than just a quirky design choice. It’s a clever narrative device that signals a major shift in the team’s identity.
In the movie’s final act, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine rebrands the Thunderbolts as the “New Avengers” during a live press conference, marking their official government-sanctioned status and new role as the MCU’s primary superhero team.
The asterisk points to this transformation: the Thunderbolts are no longer just antiheroes- they’re stepping up as the next generation of Avengers.
Why Marvel Chose the Thunderbolts* Asterisk
- Foreshadowing a Name Change: The asterisk hints at the impending rebrand from Thunderbolts to New Avengers, which is confirmed in the film’s climax and visually shown as the title card morphs from “Thunderbolts” to “The New Avengers”.
- Meta-Commentary: The asterisk also serves as a playful wink to the audience, referencing the team’s status as “substitute Avengers” after the original Avengers disbanded post-Endgame. International marketing even used the tagline, “The Avengers are not available*,” reinforcing this idea.
- Team Dynamics: The asterisk nods to the Thunderbolts’ struggle to find a unified identity, fitting for a group of misfits and antiheroes thrust into the spotlight.
Thunderbolts* Asterisk: What It Means for the MCU
The asterisk’s reveal sets up future MCU storylines, including conflicts over the Avengers name and the team’s evolving role.
The mid-credits scene teases legal battles with Sam Wilson’s Avengers and hints at cosmic threats on the horizon, with the New Avengers now at the center of Marvel’s next phase.
Curious about how the New Avengers will shape the future of the MCU? Ask about upcoming Marvel movies or the fate of your favorite Thunderbolts characters!
About Thunderbolts*
Thunderbolts* is an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics team Thunderbolts. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is intended to be the 36th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film is directed by Jake Schreier and written by Eric Pearson, Lee Sung Jin, and Joanna Calo. It stars an ensemble cast featuring David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, Olga Kurylenko, and Florence Pugh. In the film, a group of antiheroes goes on missions for the government.
Marvel Studios began teasing the formation of a Thunderbolts team within the MCU in 2021. The film was revealed to be in development in June 2022, when Schreier and Pearson were attached. The film’s main cast members were revealed that September, followed by additional casting through early 2023. Lee joined to rewrite the film’s script by March 2023, one of several creatives who returned to work with Schreier from the Netflix series Beef (2023). Production was delayed due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes, causing some actors to leave the project and be replaced in early 2024, when Calo joined. Filming took place from February to June 2024 at Trilith Studios and Atlanta Metro Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, with additional filming in Utah.
Thunderbolts* is scheduled to be released in the United States on May 2, 2025, as the last film of Phase Five of the MCU.
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