A Comeback for the MCU? Thunderbolts* Says Yes

Release Date：May/2/2025

Genre：Political Drama/Superhero/Action/Adventure/Crime/Drama/Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Director：Jake Schreier

Cast：Florence Pugh、Sebastian Stan、Julia Louis-Dreyfus、Lewis Pullman、David Harbour

Viola's Rating：8.2

With three feature films regarded as the worst the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has ever produced, Phase 5 ends on a high note with Thunderbolts*—released in the US on May 2, 2025.

Interestingly, this adventurous fantasy sci-fi superhero crime action drama also doubles as a political drama in some ways. After being caught in a death trap, an unconventional team of antiheroes must embark on a dangerous mission that forces them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.

As the tagline says, “Be careful who you assemble,” Thunderbolts* explores the power of solidarity. Rather than preaching this theme in a serious tone, the film, although not officially listed as a comedy, plays out like a group therapy session for depression. It hopes that the positive energy generated by these antiheroes will inspire and uplift audiences in their own lives.

Even though the poster and the trailer feature a slew of characters, Thunderbolts* primarily focuses on Yelena and her interactions with other characters, such as her father, Red Guardian, and the mysterious figure Bob. This makes the flick feel more like a Black Widow sequel than an Avengers-style origin story.

What’s more, since all the characters have been villains at some point, Thunderbolts* has more in common with the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise than with the Avengers series. However, unlike Guardians, which introduced each character’s background early on, this motion picture expects moviegoers to already be familiar with everyone through other MCU movies and TV series. Thankfully, even if you haven’t caught up with all the “trailers,” Thunderbolts* remains enjoyable, as every character is so distinct that it’s easy to follow.

As the final installment of Phase 5, Thunderbolts* plays a crucial role in bridging earlier storylines with what’s to come. While it doesn’t reveal what will happen next, we already know that Doomsday and Secret Wars are on the horizon, hinting at major upheaval both within and beyond the new Avengers. This latest picture definitely drops some clues pointing in that direction.

Though featuring a different lineup, “Thunderbolts” has always been an antihero team in Marvel Comics, typically made up of reformed supervillains. Staying true to this legacy, Thunderbolts* builds on the idea that its members long for admiration and gratitude from the public—but first, they must go public and change their images.

While some viewers remain unhappy with Thunderbolts*’s large ensemble cast, this feature film still shows that the old Marvel has made a comeback. Whether you are a diehard Marvel fan or not, Thunderbolts* will definitely give you an entertaining two hours.

Picture Credit: IMDb