One of the hotly anticipated Marvel movies, Thunderbolts*, is going to see the return of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s least anticipated band of misfits. Starring Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, and more, the movie is going to be the 36th movie in the MCU, and follows the antiheroes on a mission for the government. Directed by Jake Schreier, Thunderbolts is going to serve as the last movie of Phase Five of the MCU.
Fans have been waiting for Thunderbolts* since it was initially teased in 2021. However, the project was delayed due to the Hollywood Labor disputes in 2023, which led to a few actors opting out of the project and being replaced with new ones in 2024. The movie brings back one of the most beloved actors in MCU with Thunderbolts*, just not the way one would expect.
Scarlett Johansson joins Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* as Executive Producer
Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated movie Thunderbolts*, uniting the antiheroes of the MCU for a mission, has got the fans excited since its’ announcement. The teaser trailer for the upcoming movie was released just a few hours ago, and it is bigger and better than what the audience had expected.
Bringing the team face-to-face one by one, the depressed assassin Yelena Belova, played by Florence Pugh, says in the trailer:
Everyone here has done bad things. Shadow ops, robbing government labs, contract kills. Someone wants us gone.
Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who is the conniving director of the CIA, and tells the group that everyone is brought up with a belief that there are good guys and there are bad guys. She adds that eventually, people come to realize that there are bad guys and then there are worse guys, and nothing else.
The teaser trailer did not disappoint the fans, who are now eagerly looking forward to the movie. Eagle-eyed fans also noticed that one of the most beloved characters from the MCU is going to be a part of the movie.
Scarlett Johansson, who has played Black Widow in eight Marvel movies, is setting up her fan base among the comic book characters. Reportedly, Johansson loved playing Black Widow on-screen, adding that she was attracted to the way her character did her job by employing her feminine wiles, and not her physical appeal.
Johansson’s character died in Avengers: Endgame which broke a lot of hearts. However, the actress has returned to Marvel’s playground, as she is going to serve as the executive producer on Thunderbolts* alongside Brian Chapek, Jason Tamez, and Louis D’Esposito.
Sebastian Stan on Marvel movies playing a significant role in the cinema
Sebastian Stan, who has played Bucky Barnes since 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, has always been appreciated for his work on screen. He reprised his role as the Winter Soldier in Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, alongside Anthony Mackie. Stan is once again getting ready to slip into the shoes of Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier for Thunderbolts*.
In his interview with Variety, he shared about the upcoming movie by stating that it was kind of like ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’, He described Bucky’s role as a guy coming into a group that was chaotic and degenerate and somehow finds a way to unite them. He dwelled upon Marvel movies not being able to perform at the box office in recent times, and the public picking upon the studios.
It’s become convenient to pick Marvel films. And that’s fine. Everyone’s got an opinion. But they’re a big part of what contributes to this business and allow us to have smaller movies as well. This is an artery traveling through the system of this entire machinery that’s Hollywood. It feeds in so many more ways than people acknowledge.
The Romanian actor, who is gearing up for his movie The Apprentice, in which he plays former President Donald Trump, added that he gets protective of Marvel movies because the intention is always good. He lastly added that it’s so hard to make a good movie over and over again.
Thunderbolts* is scheduled for a release in May 2025.
Frequently asked questions
How is Scarlett Johansson involved in Thunderbolts*?
Scarlett Johansson, who played Black Widow across nine MCU films (from Iron Man 2 in 2010 through her character’s death in Avengers: Endgame), is not returning on screen. According to the article, she was credited as an executive producer on Thunderbolts*, alongside Brian Chapek, Jason Tamez, and Louis D’Esposito, marking a behind-the-scenes return to Marvel rather than a reprise of Black Widow. (Notably, by the film’s release Johansson had asked Marvel to remove her executive-producer credit, and her name did not appear on the finished movie.)
Who stars in Thunderbolts* and who directed it?
Thunderbolts* stars Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, among others. Jake Schreier directed the film. The article notes it is the 36th MCU movie and serves as the final film of Phase Five, following the antiheroes on a government mission.
When was Thunderbolts* scheduled to release?
The article states Thunderbolts* was scheduled for release in May 2025 (it ultimately opened May 2, 2025). Fans had waited for the project since it was first teased in 2021, but it was delayed by the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes, which led some actors to drop out and be replaced with new cast members in 2024 before the teaser trailer finally arrived.
