Movies

The Meaning Behind the Thunderbolts* Name—And That Asterisk—Is Finally Revealed

BBG News

In the title of the Marvel Studios’ new movie, “Thunderbolts“, the asterisk turned out to be a significant element in their marketing strategy. Initially, it left many wondering about its purpose and meaning. However, now that the film has been released, we can finally uncover why this group of lesser-known superheroes temporarily took up the name “Thunderbolts” and what the punctuation was all about. The studio chose to remain tight-lipped about it until the premiere.

The series Thunderbolts explores multiple superheroes grappling with depression and seeking meaning in their lives. For instance, Yelena, Natasha Romanoff’s sister from Black Widow, has been plagued by depressive thoughts ever since her sister passed away. Their father, the Red Guardian, misses the old days when he was a symbol of strength for the Soviet Union, similar to Captain America. John Walker, portrayed by Wyatt Russell, can’t shake off his fixation on his unsuccessful term as Captain America, causing his wife and child to leave him. Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost and Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes have both endured traumatic pasts involving experimentation. Lastly, Lewis Pullman’s character, Sentry, has battled mental health issues, abuse, and addiction.

In unison, they discover their purpose within this collective unit. A significant portion of the movie is dedicated to arguing over the name that represents them. Interestingly, the name ‘Thunderbolts’ doesn’t stem from Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, a character portrayed by William Hurt in the MCU, who later passed away and was replaced by Harrison Ford for this role. Although it was initially announced that Ford would be part of the cast, contributing to the formation of the band of antiheroes in early drafts of the script, he eventually left the project. However, Ford’s Ross did make an appearance in this year’s Captain America: Brave New World, where his adventures were quite eventful. He was voted president, transformed into the Red Hulk, and ended up behind bars for keeping a scientist as his personal physician against their will.

The creators of the comic book Thunderbolts presented an unusual and somewhat comical explanation for its name: It was named after Yelena’s youth soccer team, the West Chesapeake Bay Thunderbolts. This team was coached by Red Guardian during a period when his family were undercover spies posing as suburban Americans, and unfortunately, they never managed to win a single match.

Taking a fresh approach: Adorable! However, the image doesn’t seem polished enough for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, the CIA director who dabbled in experimental procedures on Bob to grant him powers, nearly causing the annihilation of New York City, and even attempting to eliminate the Thunderbolts – that is, until she spotted a lucrative business opportunity. Following an unintentional release of a malevolent alternate persona known as the Void by Bob, and the Thunderbolts saving the citizens of New York from this new menace, Val recognizes the team’s potential value. She holds a press conference and presents Yelena and her comrades as the latest iteration of the Avengers – the New Avengers.

The movie’s credits are displayed alongside numerous news articles, some celebrating the fresh ensemble of sidekicks and antiheroes as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes while others criticize their unconventional choice for the role. In an additional scene after the credits, it is revealed that Sam Wilson, now Captain America, is taking legal action against the New Avengers due to copyright infringement. Red Guardian’s proposed solution? Rename the group to “New Avengerz” with a “z.” (This version aims to maintain clarity and simplicity while using more natural language.)

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2025-05-02 11:10

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