Movies

Is Thunderbolts the MCU’s Epic Return? Early Reactions Say Yes!

BBG News

It appears that “Thunderbolts*” is drawing inspiration from the early days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), right from its inception up until the final credits. This upcoming film also introduces an intriguing ensemble cast consisting of villains and anti-heroes previously seen in various MCU installments, some of whom may not have made a lasting impression initially. For instance, Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes was a standout character in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, whereas characters like Ghost and Taskmaster didn’t leave as strong an impact in “Ant-Man and the Wasp” and “Black Widow”. However, in “Thunderbolts*”, each character gets their moment to shine and seems poised to embark on a heroic path following the conclusion of their initial crossover film.

It seems that the post-credit scenes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) during Phases 4 and 5 have lost some of their impact compared to the Infinity Saga. The teasers from movies like Eternals, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Moon Knight either didn’t get resolved or took a surprising turn. This means that the post-credit scenes for the Multiverse Saga no longer generate as much excitement as they used to during the Infinity Saga. However, Thunderbolts appears to buck this trend in Phase 6.

*Note: The correct title is “Thunderbolts” and it’s a confirmed upcoming movie in the MCU.

Thunderbolts* Early Reactions Are Hyping Up The MCU Movie’s Credits Scenes

Thunderbolts* Early Reactions Confirm The Movie Has Two Post-Credits Scenes

The majority of initial responses to the film praise its grim atmosphere, the exploration of each character’s internal struggles, the strong team dynamics, and the exceptional acting by Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Lewis Pullman as Bob, and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes. Although they refrain from giving away spoilers, early reactions suggest that Thunderbolts* includes one scene during the mid-credits and another at the end of the credits, which seem to fit seamlessly with the film’s narrative.

Despite predictions about significant character deaths in Thunderbolts*, the movie might subvert expectations by providing an ending and two credit scenes that no one could have anticipated.

The scenes that appear during and after the credits in Thunderbolts could delve into the consequences of the film’s storyline, or they might hint at forthcoming Phase 6 ventures. It’s also common for these scenes to adhere to the typical Marvel Cinematic Universe format: one scene often provides a humorous moment, while another foreshadows a future sequel. This pattern was established in The Avengers, where its mid-credits scene hinted at Thanos and its post-credits scene depicted the Avengers enjoying shawarma following the Battle of New York.

I’m Convinced The Thunderbolts* Credits Scenes Are Proper Setup

Thunderbolts* Has The Chance To Start The Countdown To Avengers: Doomsday

In a similar vein to films like Spider-Man: Homecoming, Iron Man 3, and Guardians of the Galaxy, Thunderbolts might follow a comparable path. However, instead of wrapping up Phase 5, its final movie could instead pave the way for the start of the end of the Multiverse Saga. Given that The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Avengers: Doomsday, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Avengers: Secret Wars are scheduled next in Marvel Studios’ lineup, Thunderbolts is ideally positioned to offer tantalizing glimpses of what the franchise has in store for Phase 6. Furthermore, any characters who make it through Thunderbolts may find themselves among the earliest to defend the world when Avengers: Doomsday commences.

It was revealed during the announcement of Avengers: Doomsday that most of the Thunderbolts team are expected to reappear in the upcoming film. Clues from the ending and credits scenes of Thunderbolts may hint at their roles in the next Avengers movie. Interestingly, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Geraldine Viswanathan, and Olga Kurylenko were not mentioned in the cast list for Avengers: Doomsday, suggesting that more information about characters like Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Mel, and Taskmaster will be revealed before the release of Avengers: Doomsday.

With Thunderbolts*, It Seems Like Marvel Is Back On Track Telling A Central Story

Thunderbolts May Be The Second MCU Project In A Row To Lead Directly To Avengers: Doomsday

A common criticism of the MCU’s Phases 4 and 5 is that each installment seemed to head in a distinct direction, with some projects exploring different aspects of the multiverse, while others focused on completely unrelated concepts. To add to this confusion, it appeared as though Kang the Conqueror was set to be the main antagonist for the Multiverse Saga, only to meet an untimely end in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. In 2025, Captain America: Brave New World concentrated solely on its own narrative but also introduced Sam Wilson’s new Avengers team. Following this, it seems that Thunderbolts may follow a similar pattern.

In a similar vein to how Phase 1’s solo films like Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger told individual stories but were also connected pieces leading up to The Avengers, if Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts deliver standalone narratives that subtly pave the way for Avengers: Doomsday, they would be following a similar pattern. Although Phases 4 and 5 may not have the same level of cohesion, there’s a possibility that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) could adjust its approach to effectively set up Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars in the future.

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2025-04-23 23:58

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