Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova delivers a melancholic monologue in the opening minutes of “Thunderbolts.” She confides to a tied-up security guard, “There’s something wrong with me.” Her depression, rooted in a traumatic childhood and years as a groomed assassin, resonates with her fellow antihero misfits and serves as the film’s central theme. Directed by Jake Schreier, “Thunderbolts” marks a significant step in the right direction for Marvel Studios. The movie’s success largely relies on Pugh’s performance, injecting Belova with humor, charisma, and emotional depth often missing in superhero narratives.
The film makes intriguing, creative decisions visually and structurally.
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The depiction of Sentry’s darker half, the Void, transforming victims into shadows, provides some of the most striking moments in recent MCU history. The climax revolves around the Thunderbolts battling depression, a unique conceptual departure that meshes well with the film’s themes.
Despite its unique aspects, “Thunderbolts” still contains familiar MCU traits, including quips and a look towards future developments. The final twist reveals that the team’s official name by the end is not the Thunderbolts but the New Avengers. Valentina Allegra de Fontaine uses a near-doomsday event to promote her new superteam.
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Pugh’s gripping monologue sets tone
This rebranding has significant implications for the MCU. Since the Avengers’ breakup after “Endgame,” the Multiverse Saga has lacked a cohesive narrative.
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— Paul Dergarabedian (@PDergarabedian) May 4, 2025
“Thunderbolts” addresses this fragmentation, hinting at a more unified future. The end credits show media frenzy surrounding the New Avengers announcement, emphasizing excitement and skepticism. A mid-credits scene features Red Guardian humorously basking in his newfound celebrity and the team’s “B-Vengers” status.
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The film’s stinger, set fourteen months later, shows the New Avengers at their renovated Avengers Tower facing public image issues and legal disputes over the Avengers name. The scene transitions to a warning about an “extra-dimensional ship” entering the atmosphere, revealed to be the Fantastic Four’s spacecraft. This sets up future MCU narratives, including “Avengers: Doomsday,” and hints at the Fantastic Four’s arrival.
“Thunderbolts” provides much-needed momentum for Marvel, reconnecting with its audience through fresh themes and creative storytelling. As the Multiverse Saga unfolds, fans eagerly anticipate the next chapters and the introduction of new heroes.
