Marvel’s newest movie hit theaters on May 1, and it didn’t take long for fans to fall in love. The moment the film got a warm welcome from both viewers and critics, Marvel jumped right into promo mode. They released a fresh new poster with a bold title change — introducing the team as “*The New Avengers.”
This title change wasn’t just online. It went big — literally. A massive billboard in Los Angeles flashed the new name, and even ticket-booking sites like Fandango updated it. But there was one little detail that had fans scratching their heads — the asterisk (*) in the title.
That mystery wasn’t left hanging for long. Later in the movie, it was explained. Turns out, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) shows up and officially calls the Thunderbolts “*The New Avengers.” The asterisk? That was Marvel’s cheeky way of saying, “Hey, this name isn’t entirely legit.” Basically, they’re being marketed as the new Avengers — but they’re not exactly the real deal (yet).
So, who’s on this so-called new team? It’s a seriously interesting bunch:
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Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh)
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Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan)
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Red Guardian (David Harbour)
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John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell)
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Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen)
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Sentry (Lewis Pullman)
This ragtag crew has serious power and even more personality — definitely not your average superhero lineup.
But Marvel didn’t stop there. They saved a jaw-dropper for the post-credit scene. It showed this new team hanging out in none other than the original Avengers’ base, now called the Watchtower. Yep, the same place where all the iconic battles and memories happened. It’s a clear sign: the Marvel Universe is colliding, and big things are coming.
Now, if that wasn’t enough to hype fans up, here’s the bigger picture. At the end of Anthony Mackie’s film, Captain America: Brave New World, we see him setting off on a mission to bring the Avengers back together. And guess what? That mission will come to life in next year’s massive event film — Avengers: Doomsday.
And speaking of epic, the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot — featuring Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Vanessa Kirby, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach — is tying into all this. They’ll be teaming up with both the old and new Avengers in what’s shaping up to be a superhero mega-movie.
But wait — there’s more. Brace yourself: Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the Marvel universe. No, not as Iron Man — that chapter is closed. This time, he’s coming back in a twisted new role as the villainous genius Doctor Doom. Talk about a plot twist!
The second post-credit scene of Thunderbolts teased something huge — the Fantastic Four’s spaceship is seen entering Earth’s orbit from another dimension, complete with their classic theme music. The crowd went wild.
Mark your calendars, because the next big Marvel release is set for July 25, 2025, and it’s going to be out of this world — literally.