Summary
- Valentina's past in Captain America: Brave New World ties to Thunderbolts plot, addressing political themes.
- Thunderbolts team name origin is humorously revealed, adding depth to characters and connections.
- Sentry's debut in intense action scene creates parallel with Winter Soldier, showing his overpowering strength.
With a darker approach, Thunderbolts is a Marvel film that presents a group of heroes who must face the threat of Valentina Fontaine. By rescuing classic elements from films like Avengers, this MCU release won audiences by presenting a series of distinct characters who work as one of the best hero line‑ups ever created.
The vast Marvel universe, with its many films and series, likes to reference its own works, and the best easter eggs in Thunderbolts* honor the MCU by mentioning not only characters but also events from other heroes that drastically affect their shared reality. With the multiverse, many of these easter eggs may point toward the future of the MCU.
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This text contains Thunderbolts spoilers and post-credit scenes — read with caution!
10 Captain America: Brave New World
One Of The First Easter Eggs In Thunderbolts* That Connects The Mcu Films
Early in the film, Valentina de Fontaine remarks that the former President of the United States was turned into the Red Hulk, which links the events of Captain America: Brave New World to the current plot. With a more political theme, the story explores political and ethical conflict before the formation of the Thunderbolts*, delivering a tense opening and the need for a new hero roster.
The presence of the Red Hulk also reinforces the foundation of the Thunderbolts*, which shares the president’s nickname, Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, raising the possibility that he could join or influence the team, though no further reference is made. By raising questions of authoritarianism and abuse of power, the film addresses both these issues and the characters’ emotions, a strong theme in the narrative.
9 A New Origin for the Team Name
The Team Name Gains Comedic Depth In The New Marvel Film
During several light‑hearted exchanges, it is revealed that the Thunderbolts* name originates from Yelena Belova’s childhood pee‑wee football squad, the West Chesapeake Bay Thunderbolts, a humble team she once led with fiery competitiveness. Red Guardian recalls the anecdote after she rescues him in a battered limousine, a playful moment that underscores his fatherly bond with the heroine and foregrounds their complicated family ties within the film.
At first the name is a joke among the team, but it becomes official by the end, where the group gains new meaning under Valentina de Fontaine’s influence. Thus, the squad that once drew heavily from General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, a powerful officer linked to the group and the Hulk in the comics, now holds a different connection established by the film.
8 The Winter Soldier’s First Appearance
The Hero’s Entrance Is A Strong Thunderbolts* Easter Egg That References Several Films
In a frantic getaway sequence set on a rain‑slick highway, the Thunderbolts* scramble to outrun OXE operatives dispatched by Valentina de Fontaine moments after breaking free from her clandestine warehouse. A shadowy figure suddenly joins the fray, crippling each pursuit vehicle with the familiar disc grenades beloved by fans, a clever easter egg first deployed in Captain America: The Winter Soldier that instantly signals who is behind the rescue.
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With his grenade launcher slung low and a roaring, heavy motorcycle beneath him, Bucky Barnes bursts onto the scene with a silhouette reminiscent of the Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic character in the classic The Terminator. Unyielding, he appears to support the Thunderbolts* until, in a sudden turn, he fires at their escape vehicle, a tactic echoing his Hydra conditioning and delivering one of the film’s most talked‑about action beats.
7 Fantastic Four's Arrival
Thunderbolts Reveals How The Heroes Will Join The Main Universe
The post‑credits scene of Thunderbolts unfolds almost a year after its main narrative, with the full team gathered at Avengers Tower in Manhattan to review recent cosmic threats and outline their next move. During the heated discussion, an urgent alert forces everyone to face a massive screen, where the theme from The Fantastic Four: First Steps blares as a sleek spacecraft materializes, proudly displaying the famous numeral logo.
The moment not only announces the arrival of The Fantastic Four in the MCU but also hints at future interaction among the heroes, raising fan expectations for new Marvel films. The post‑credits scene is not only one of the best easter eggs in the MCU; it also confirms the film’s narrative weight and the impact of its connections on the universe’s expansion.
6 No Special Cameos
Marvel Sustains The Film By Only Mentioning Past Characters As Easter Eggs
Within the sprawling shared universe and its roster of celebrated heroes, the new Marvel film casually drops several notable character names rather than staging physical cameos. Yelena, one of the protagonists, references her sister Natasha Romanoff repeatedly, underlining the depth of their bond and the lingering impact of Natasha’s death on her life, a pain highlighted in the opening act.
Sam Wilson, as the new Captain America, is also mentioned several times, whether due to events in his film or the conflict that arises when the new Avengers appear, underscoring his disappointment with Valentina de Fontaine’s decision and the potential for a future clash between teams. Melina Vostokoff, mother of Natasha and Yelena, is also cited, acknowledging her importance to the protagonist and Red Guardian.
5 Red Room
Explored In Black Window, Red Room Returns As A Strong Easter Egg In Thunderbolts*
With Yelena Belova as one of the protagonists of Thunderbolts*, Red Room is mentioned repeatedly throughout the narrative, carrying the weight of her past and the consequences of having taken part in the clandestine program. Captured by Void, she must confront that history during her first mission as Black Window, in which her teammate Anya is murdered in cold blood.
The memory recurs in the complex plot of Thunderbolts*, which explores the dark past of its characters and serves as the main arc for Yelena and Bob, who is revealed to be both Sentry and Void. The influence of Red Room on Yelena remains, as does its impact on Natasha and on the story established in Black Window, paving the way for further Marvel appearances.
4 Another Hero Surpasses the Winter Soldier
The Easter Egg References One Of The Most Memorable Scenes From Avengers: Civil War
In an intense action sequence, the new Marvel film Thunderbolts* nods to one of the greatest Avengers moments. When Bob is unveiled as Sentry by Valentina de Fontaine, he is tasked with subduing the Thunderbolts* with his vast powers, leaving the team unable to challenge him, which culminates in the image of Sentry effortlessly gripping Bucky’s arm during their failed rooftop escape.
The scene echoes Avengers: Civil War, where Winter Soldier is overpowered by Spider‑Man, who also clamps his cybernetic arm without strain. Although brief, the repetition here signals a deliberate parallel, rewarding observant fans with a direct homage while underscoring the helplessness of Bucky and his allies in the face of the new threat posed by Sentry’s overwhelming strength and tactical superiority.
3 Avengers Tower
This Easter Egg Is One Of The Most Emblematic Avengers Locations
Situated in Manhattan, Avengers Tower was purchased by Tony Stark to serve as the headquarters of Earth’s mightiest heroes. First seen in the team’s debut film, it hosted one of their most epic battles, where the Avengers united to challenge Loki, and it later changed hands before being acquired by Valentina de Fontaine in Thunderbolts* as part of her covert consolidation of power.
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Waiting for the Thunderbolts* on the top floor, Valentina lounges at the bar in a direct nod to Tony Stark’s confrontation with Loki, even remarking on the building’s storied past. The tower, once a backdrop for emotional Avengers milestones, now hosts the Thunderbolts* clash with Sentry and, later, Void, hinting that the skyscraper may again house the next generation of Avengers.
2 O.X.E. Group
The Company Was Founded By Valentina To Run Her Covert Operations In Thunderbolts*
As one of the film’s most significant easter eggs, O.X.E. Plays a complex role that directly shapes each character’s trajectory. The plot begins inside the O.X.E. Vault, where the protagonists are incarcerated and nearly incinerated to halt further evidence of Valentina de Fontaine’s impeachment from surfacing to the wider world and the authorities, a desperate measure ordered by her inner circle.
Later, the company is revealed as the force behind illegal experiments and numerous deaths that culminated in Bob’s transformation into Sentry, he being the sole subject to survive the trials. The scandal never reaches the public because Yelena, acting on Valentina’s orders, suppresses all records of the research, preserving O.X.E.’s secrecy at the expense of justice and accountability for the victims.
1 Avengers Theme Music
The Avengers Theme Finally Plays For The First Time Since 2012
At the end of the film, as the credits roll, Alan Silvestri’s original 2012 Avengers theme resonates through the auditorium. In the franchise’s first movie, the score underscored the historic moment when the team assembled, and variations reappeared in later epics such as Infinity War and Endgame, rooting each climax in the same stirring melody that has become a cultural touchstone worldwide.
With the name change from Thunderbolts* to the new Avengers, multiple nods link the fledgling team with the original lineup, and the score is the clearest signal yet. Valentina’s decision also sparks friction between Sam and Bucky, setting the stage for a sequel that could draw heavy inspiration from Civil War, where ideological fault lines split allies once more across a global stage.
- 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
- Distributor(s)
- Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
