Summary
- Thunderbolts* concludes Phases Four and Five of the MCU with unique heroes and anti-heroes facing a new threat without the Avengers.
- Lewis Pullman debuts in the MCU and steals the spotlight as the Sentry, who illustrates the movie's theme of self-worth and trauma.
- Valentina Allegra De Fontaine emerges as the true villain in Thunderbolts*, showcasing power-hungry and callous traits despite her outward appearance.
Marvel Studios has released Thunderbolts* to audiences, marking the culmination of Phases Four and Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the conclusion of Phase Five. It brings together a team of unfortunate heroes and anti-heroes to confront a threat unlike anything the Avengers have fought, and without the Avengers, these down-and-out characters are the only ones who can stop it.
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While it may not be as expansive as the last two Avengers movies, Thunderbolts* still features a compelling roster of characters, each contributing something unique. From the various members of the Thunderbolts* to the villains, Marvel Studios delivers one of its most distinctive films, thanks to its darker tones and themes.
Major Story Spoilers Ahead for Thunderbolts*
9 Taskmaster
Not The Epic Return Fans Would Expect
- Played By: Geraldine Viswanathan
- First MCU Appearance: Black Widow
After a controversial debut in the Black Widow movie, fans hoped Taskmaster would see some improvement in Thunderbolts*, and that is somewhat the case. Unfortunately, the character is only in the movie for a few minutes. She has been given an improved design that looks closer to what fans know of Taskmaster in the comics and a strong introduction, only for the character to die by a simple gunshot before the Thunderbolts* are even a team.
Olga Kurylenko's face appears on-screen for just a few seconds, which makes the iconic comic character feel underutilized, despite her potential to contribute to memorable scenes. Unfortunately, Taskmaster is not mentioned by name at any point, nor is there any further character development beyond a brief explanation provided by Yelena Belova.
8 Valentina Allegra De Fontaine
Manages To Be More Evil Than Some Supervillains
- Played By: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
- First MCU Appearance: The Falcon And The Winter Soldier
While the Void is the physical and psychological threat that the Thunderbolts* have to fight as the anti-heroes that they are, the true villain of the story is Valentina Allegra De Fontaine. She is a power-hungry, self-centered, and devious schemer who is willing to make her own operatives try to kill each other to erase evidence of her corruption.
It takes a good villain to make the audience root against her, and Valentina is just that. She fills every scene with smugness and callousness, even when she feigns having a good heart. In this way, she creates the Thunderbolts* and directly makes the villain that they fight, whom she just treats like a product. Julia Louis-Dreyfus deserves nothing but praise for portraying her so well that she seems genuinely evil.
7 Mel
Not All Heroes Wear Gimmicky Costumes
- Played By: Geraldine Viswanathan
- First MCU Appearance: Thunderbolts*
The concept of a henchperson who regrets working for a villain and ultimately betrays them has been explored in many movies, including those in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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Mel in Thunderbolts exemplifies this, as she serves as Valentina's assistant. Mel realizes just how twisted and reckless her boss has become, particularly in her treatment of Sentry, and it causes enough disillusionment that she eventually changes sides.
6 Ghost
From Callous Villain To Honorable Anti-Hero
- Played By: Hannah-John Kamen
- First MCU Appearance: Ant-Man And The Wasp
Ghost is treated in Thunderbolts* like Hawkeye was in Avengers: Age of Ultron, a character who was not many people’s favorite in their introduction, but was given an upgrade. From her costume to her powers being dialed up and honed, she is made more memorable than before while still maintaining the good qualities that were introduced in Ant-Man and the Wasp, such as her gray morality as an anti-hero.
Ghost has less development than the other Thunderbolts*, but her evolution from her debut is noticeable. There is an emphasis on her not being willing to abandon people, showing that Janet Pym saving her life has had an impact. Additionally, Ghost is given more to do in terms of interaction, with her, Yelena Belova, and John Walker having fun banter in almost every scene together.
5 Winter Soldier
His Dark Past Makes Bucky Perfect For The Team
- Played By: Sebastian Stan
- First MCU Appearance: Captain America: The First Avenger
After appearing in every single Phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fans have seen Winter Soldier go through all kinds of trauma and recover, so it’s a delight to see him again. Bucky is the ideal person to lead a team of emotionally troubled anti-heroes, seeing as he suffered through a dark past as well, which also helps his chemistry with them.
Winter Soldier is also one of the funnier characters because of his status as a veteran superhero. He’s seen so much that he’s deadpan, even when Void attacks. While he’s trying his best to be a U.S. Congressman, he brings a good amount of humor while maintaining the hardened Winter Soldier vibe that the character is known for.
4 U.S. Agent
He May Be Flawed, But He’s Not A Bad Person
- Played By: Wyatt Russell
- First MCU Appearance: The Falcon And The Winter Soldier
When John Walker was first introduced as the government-sponsored Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, he went down a dark path that turned him into a villainous character. Thunderbolts* develops him even further as U.S. Agent by showing that anyone can become a hero, as he has his fair share of regret for the actions that cost him his life and family.
Where Captain America embodies the ideal superhero, U.S. Agent illustrates the consequences of a hero with an inflated ego. He’s arrogant and always eager to prove himself, which is both his greatest strength and his most significant flaw. However, John’s evolution into a more heroic version of himself feels like a natural progression from how audiences last saw him, with Wyatt Russell perfectly capturing the character in every scene.
3 Red Guardian
Every Superhero Needs A Supportive Dad
- Played By: David Harbour
- First MCU Appearance: Black Widow
In many ways, Alexei Shostakov, the Red Guardian, is the heart and soul of Thunderbolts*, as he’s the only one who loves the idea of being on a team, whereas everyone else is reluctant. Even though he is a disheveled super soldier who makes many mistakes, it’s impossible to dislike him because of his unfaltering optimism and tenacity, even in the darkest moments throughout the film.
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David Harbour continues to be as endearing as he was in the Black Widow movie, serving as the comedic relief without ever diminishing the darker tone featured throughout. However, he is not just a clown for audiences to laugh at; he has a touching relationship with Yelena that builds off what was established in Black Widow, which comes full circle in the climax, and he becomes the superhero he always wanted to be.
2 Black Widow
Yelena Carries The Team And Her Sister’s Legacy
- Played By: Florence Pugh
- First MCU Appearance: Black Widow
Still struggling with the loss of her sister, Yelena Belova leads Thunderbolts* as the new Black Widow for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Florence Pugh once again delivering a strong performance. Yelena exemplifies the qualities that the entire team shares: poor past choices and trauma that result in self-hatred and depression eating at their souls, even if they try to hide it.
Throughout the story, Yelena learns to not only become a better superhero, but also realizes that she is more than her mistakes, which helps her in the battle against the Void. While there is no leader of the Thunderbolts*, Florence Pugh’s Yelena still feels like the driving force from the moment they first come together and team up to save the world from the Void’s terror, which would make Natasha proud.
1 Sentry
Earth’s Mightiest Hero And Scariest Villain
- Played By: Lewis Pullman
- First MCU Appearance: Thunderbolts*
The Thunderbolts* team all have the opportunity to shine, but in many ways, Sentry emerges as the central character who brings the story full circle, acting as both a tragic protagonist and antagonist. The theme of self-worth is most prominently showcased through Bob Reynolds, who begins as a frightened and timid man. His past remains mysterious, but it is evident that it is dark from the moment he appears.
Lewis Pullman excels at portraying essentially three versions of the same character: the scared but sweet Bob, the powerful superhero Sentry, and the downright horror-like Void. In addition to the spectacle that the character provides, there is a lot of psychological and emotional depth to Sentry that makes the final battle more cerebral, rather than just CGI explosions and heroes crashing into buildings.
- Release Date
- May 2, 2025
- Runtime
- 127 minutes
- Director
- Jake Schreier
- Writers
- Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo
- Producers
- Kevin Feige
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
Cast
-
Florence PughYelena Belova -
Sebastian StanBucky Barnes
WHERE TO WATCH
- Studio(s)
- Marvel Studios
