Movies › Thunderbolts*

Thunderbolts* 2025

Movie · 127 min · English · April 22, 2025

Directed by Jake SchreierWritten by Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo

Starring Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman

Thunderbolts* represents a 2025 superhero motion picture adapted from Marvel Comics, centered on the Thunderbolts ensemble. The production was handled by Marvel Studios and released through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, marking the 36th entry within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Directed by Jake Schreier, the screenplay was crafted by Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo, with an ensemble lineup including Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer, Wendell Pierce, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Within the narrative, a collection of antiheroes becomes trapped and compelled to collaborate on a mission that brings to light their histories of trauma.

Marvel Studios initially hinted at an MCU Thunderbolts team in 2021. Development officially began in June 2022, with Schreier and Pearson attached as writers. The principal cast was announced in September, followed by further casting announcements in early 2023. Lee Sung Jin was brought in to revise the script by March 2023, among several collaborators who returned to work with Schreier after the Netflix series Beef (2023–present). Production faced delays due to 2023 Hollywood labor conflicts, resulting in some adjustments to the cast during early 2024. Calo was then brought on board for additional script revisions. Principal photography occurred from February through June 2024 at Trilith Studios and Atlanta Metro Studios located in Atlanta, Georgia, with supplementary scenes filmed in Utah and Kuala Lumpur.

Thunderbolts* debuted on April 22, 2025 at the Cineworld Leicester Square in London, England, and was made available in the United States on May 2, concluding Phase Five of the MCU. The asterisk in the title generated discussion during promotional periods and was clarified by a post-credits reveal that the Thunderbolts are rebranded as the "New Avengers"; the title shifts to The New Avengers in the closing credits and certain marketing materials following the film’s release. Critics responded favorably, particularly highlighting its treatment of mental health themes and the portrayals by Pugh and Pullman, earning multiple awards. Nonetheless, the movie underachieved financially, collecting $382.4 million.