Movie Details
Title: Thunderbolts
Genre: Superhero/Action/Thriller
Director: Jake Schreier
Screenplay: Eric Pearson & Lee Sung Jin
Producers: Kevin Feige, Nate Moore
Production Company: Marvel Studios
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release Date: May 2, 2025
Runtime: 130 minutes
Following the events of Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts (2024), the newly formed team of antiheroes and reformed villains—assembled by Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine—is sent on a high-stakes mission under the guise of being the new "government-approved Avengers." However, as their assignment unfolds, the Thunderbolts realize they’ve been set up as disposable assets in a larger conspiracy.
The team, consisting of Yelena Belova (Black Widow), U.S. Agent (John Walker), Ghost (Ava Starr), Red Guardian (Alexei Shostakov), Taskmaster (Antonia Dreykov), and Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier), must navigate their own personal demons while uncovering the truth behind their mission. When they discover that Valentina is working with a powerful, shadowy organization (possibly linked to Norman Osborn or the Dark Avengers), the Thunderbolts must decide whether to follow orders or rebel against their manipulative handlers.
As tensions rise and betrayals unfold, the team is forced into a brutal confrontation with a surprise enemy—either a rogue super-soldier, a returning villain from their pasts, or even one of their own. The film culminates in a explosive third act where the Thunderbolts must prove whether they’re truly heroes, villains, or something in between.
Themes & Tone:
- Moral Ambiguity – The Thunderbolts are neither heroes nor villains, operating in a gray area.
- Redemption & Betrayal – Each member has a dark past, and some may not survive the mission.
- Government Conspiracy – A critique of power and manipulation, akin to Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
- Team Dynamics – Dysfunctional chemistry, dark humor, and intense action.
Cast & Characters:
- Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova / Black Widow
- Wyatt Russell as John Walker / U.S. Agent
- David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian
- Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr / Ghost
- Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov / Taskmaster
- Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
- Harrison Ford as President Thaddeus Ross (Red Hulk?) – Potential surprise role
- Ayo Edebiri in an undisclosed role (possibly Songbird or a new character)
Action & Visual Style:
- Gritty, grounded fight scenes (similar to The Winter Soldier).
- High-tech espionage with a mix of brutal hand-to-hand combat.
- Potential for a major twist (e.g., one Thunderbolt is a traitor).