Thunderbolts* surprises in more ways than one. While the franchise has struggled to regain its former success, Jake Schreier's film should, a priori, be in line with what the franchise has been offering for the past five years. Adventures that are sometimes enjoyable, often disappointing, but still a certain weariness among viewers.
Deadpool & Wolverine and Spider-Man: No Way Home excepted, the House of Ideas is no longer as attractive as it once was. The film starring Sebastian Stan and Florence Pugh, however, has just had a solid start with $76 million in the United States for its first weekend. Worldwide, the film has already grossed $161 million.
A strong performance for this first summer blockbuster. On the critical side, Thunderbolts* has 88% positive reviews from the press and 94% from the public. While we thought Kevin Feige would have to wait until Avengers: Doomsday to achieve such a triumph, or at least Fantastic Four, the story of this makeshift team puts the future of the MCU into perspective…
The new Avengers?
The asterisk for Thunderbolts* has been much talked about. First promoted as a reference to the absence of the Avengers, it took on its full meaning when the film hit our screens last week. Marvel is no longer hiding the fact that the team was trying to present its New Avengers.
While this marketing choice raises many questions, it is clear that this turnaround has had its effect. When asked about this choice, the screenwriter returns to the origins of this brilliant idea. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Eric Pearson explains:
He specifies that he does not know all the subtleties behind this choice and in particular the impact that this decision will have on the next Avengers film (without the mention of New). As Doomsday begins filming, all eyes are already on this confrontation between the superheroes and the big bad: Victor Von Doom.
One more step before the confrontation
Now that Thunderbolts* have reshuffled the cards, by establishing the formation of a new team led by Bucky and Yelana, the future of the world is not only in their hands. The post-credit scene tells us that another group has been created by Sam Wilson, aka Captain America. The identity of his accomplices, however, remains a mystery. From the top of the old Avengers Tower, the New Avengers are unknowingly preparing to carry out a mission even more perilous than the one that brought them together. They now embody the legitimate government force, while Wilson's group operates under the radar (we can imagine that Falcon, Ant-Man and Thor will be among the allies of Steve Rogers' former protégé).
But another team is being formed in another universe... Next July, viewers have a date with Fantastic Four, also a new generation. Under the aegis of Matt Shakman, the film will bring together Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn for a reinterpretation of the iconic comics. Victor Von Doom, aka Doctor Doom, should be at the epicenter of the conclusion or post-credits scenes, the character being an essential component of their mythology. We can therefore imagine that the story described in Doomsday forces these teams to join forces.
The situation is reminiscent of the beginning of Avengers: Infinity War, which showed the Avengers scattered across the world and pledging allegiance to Tony Stark or Steve Rogers after Civil War. All the pieces are almost in place, all that remains is to discover if the Russo brothers (to whom Marvel owes its biggest commercial successes) will reproduce the miracle. The answer will be on April 26, 2026 in theaters with Avengers: Doomsday and its colossal (and incomplete) cast.
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