Thunderbolts will serve as Marvel’s take on DC’s Suicide Squad—minus the explosive devices in everyone’s heads. The trailer showcases an intriguing lineup:
- Yelena Belova
- Red Guardian
- Bucky Barnes
- Ghost
- Taskmaster
- US Agent
While the film may skip over some character origins, you might want to catch up on:
- Black Widow
- Ant-Man and the Wasp
- The Captain America films
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Disney aims for viewers to have less need for backstory with new releases, but this one might not fully deliver on that promise. The plot revolves around these antiheroes being assembled to face a significant threat: Sentry, portrayed by Lewis Pullman after Steven Yeun exited the role. They’re brought together by Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who has been a sort of alternate Nick Fury, assembling this team over several projects.
The film certainly promises humor, but the action scenes are impressive too. The moment when Yelena throws a knife that ricochets off everyone before returning to her is particularly standout. Similarly, every action sequence featuring Bucky is captivating.
The trailer clearly positions Florence Pugh’s Yelena as the lead, which is a smart move—after all, she’s fantastic. Sebastian Stan’s Bucky appears to take on a secondary lead role before his storyline intertwines with hers, but it seems Yelena will ultimately be the one leading the team. Ghost and Taskmaster have received some questionable costume redesigns, and I’m curious about Taskmaster’s true identity, especially in light of the events in Black Widow. I wonder if that will lead to a significant reveal.
I’m not sure how this film will perform, especially given the current unpredictability of Marvel’s box office and the absence of heavy hitters like Spider-Man, Deadpool, or Wolverine. However, if the movie delivers quality, that’s what truly matters to me. The trailer looks very promising, and it seems most fans feel the same way. Thunderbolts is set to arrive in May 2025.