Thunderbolts* trailer gives the first look at the MCU answer to the Suicide Squad

As a seasoned gamer who’s spent countless hours immersed in the Marvel Universe, I must say that the latest Thunderbolts trailer has sent my adrenaline soaring! The concept of a team composed of anti-heroes and villains working for the government is right up my alley, reminiscent of the darker, grittier corners of gaming worlds like Gotham City or New York’s criminal underbelly.

Thunderbolts* has just revealed its first trailer for the first major look at the MCU answer to the Suicide Squad! Check it out!

In 1997, the idea for the Thunderbolts was first introduced. It so happened that both the Avengers and the Fantastic Four were thought to have perished while battling the terrifying Onslaught, but in reality, they had been transported into another dimension. The Thunderbolts were then presented as a fresh team of authentic heroes stepping up to fill the void left by their absence.

In a surprising turn of events, one of the most unexpected plot twists in comic book lore unfolded at the end of the first issue. It was revealed that the T-Bolts, who had been portrayed as heroes up until then, were actually the Masters of Evil – a group of long-time supervillains. Their true intention was to win public and government trust in order to eventually seize control of the world. However, some among their ranks found that they preferred the heroic life over villainy and decided to change their ways, striving for redemption instead.

Over time, this comic series has evolved to serve as Marvel’s counterpart to DC’s Suicide Squad, featuring both villains and anti-heroes employed by the government. The forthcoming film seems to follow suit in theme, and the trailer showcases a captivating assortment of characters.

Initially scheduled to premiere in July 2024 under Jake Schreier’s direction, the movie had to postpone its release due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes, which affected many films. It was then moved to December, but Disney later reshuffled their entire release schedule, meaning the film will now be released in May instead. The first trailer hints at the fun that’s coming our way.

See the Thunderbolts form

The trailer shows the setup as Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), a former Black Widow, reunites with her foster father, the Red Guardian (David Harbour). We also see John Walker (Wyatt Russell), still feeling the disgrace of the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Now US Agent, he and Yelena are brought to a lab to face off with Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) and a guy called Bob (Lewis Pullman). He’s replacing Steven Yeun, who bowed out due to scheduling conflicts and appears to be the Sentry, the Marvel Universe’s answer to Superman (albeit with serious mental problems).

Recognizing that they are being hunted and removed, the makeshift group is in flight and encounters conflicts with the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan). Additionally, Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns as Valentina Allegra De Fontaine, who seems to be manipulating their assembly.

The story is filled with battles and intense action, yet none of these scenes seem connected to the central narrative or the danger the T-Bolts are facing. Additionally, there’s a puzzle surrounding the reason for the asterisk in the title.

It’s quite possible we’ll see further developments, but this trailer marks a potential shift in the action genre within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which many fans are hoping will steer it towards success again.

Thunderbolts* premieres in theaters May 2, 2025.

2024-09-23 21:57