It's been a couple of months now since my last written movie review, and ironically it was for the first Marvel Studios release for the year in "Captain America: Brave New World" - which was an ok superhero film but not as great as previous releases in the grander scheme of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While Sam Wilson's film debut as the new Star Spangled Avenger was hardly a disappointment, fans were then left wondering just when the MCU would pull itself together and deliver another movie that echoed the quality of films from "The Infinity Saga" - where heroes would go through character development and story arcs that would propel them to become better figures even after the adventure was over.
Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* | 'Wrong' Trailer | April 30, 2025
Well it looks like we're finally seeing the shake up we've been waiting for, as Marvel gathers the most unlikely line-up of anti-heroes, villains, and "disposable delinquents" that were seen in past MCU movies and are now banding together to fill the literal "Void" left in the wake of the disbandment of the Avengers after the events of "Avengers: Endgame". Say hello to the Thunderbolts*... And there's a reason why there's an asterisk in the title too - which I will not spoil in this review but will certainly make sense once you dive into the film and watch it all the way to the end!
Thanks to the lovely folks at Marvel Philippines and Ardent Communications, I got to see the film not once, but TWICE - once on the night before the movie opened in cinemas on April 30, and on opening morning itself in a special fan screening alongside my fellow fans, friends, and cosplayers too! It was certainly experiences I haven't felt so much hype for since the last two Avengers films were released in 2018 and 2019 - and something we sorely missed looking forward to especially after going through a pandemic and we had to go through a number of years building to another big team-up film the evoked the same feelings from those films and even the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. This was a film that certainly explored many feelings and issues - especially themes of mental health, being outcasts, and finding purpose and meaning when everything seems to go wrong in one's life.
Taking place some time after the events of Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts* sees the late Natasha Romanoff's sister Yelena Belova working as a shadow operative for CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine - who is facing impeachment for her illegal activities and is under trial by the United States government. To clean up her mess, she pits Yelena against her other agents that include former Captain America John Walker/ U.S. Agent and the phasing Ava Starr aka Ghost. Their battle takes an unexpected turn when they encounter a seemingly regular guy named Bob, and even more so when they cross with Yelena's adopted father Red Guardian and the former Winter Soldier turned US Congressman Bucky Barnes. When a powerful force none of them could have imagined threatens them and innocent people, these unlikely heroes band together and form a team that has adopted the name "Thunderbolts" - named after Yelena's soccer team from her childhood.
Directed by Jake Schreier and absolutely one of the most unexpected turn arounds that Marvel Studios has gotten to get fans invested and excited again, Thunderbolts* is a breath of fresh air that the MCU needed to get the ball rolling again and is the perfect way to wrap up Phase 5 and set up what’s to come down the road. Honestly enjoyed the chemistry of the entire cast / especially Florence Pugh and David Harbour reprising their roles as Yelena and Alexei. They have the perfect dysfunctional daughter-father relationship, and it speaks about the growth of both characters and Yelena’s turn in the spotlight and following in her late sister’s footsteps. She’s the VIP and core in this film too, and you can resonate with her struggles on a personal level.
It’s also great to see Sebastian Stan back as Bucky Barnes - having grown well beyond being a brainwashed assassin and now trying to move on with his life and serve as a US congressman outside of being a soldier. Of course we know bigger things bring him back to the fight, and he ends up being the de facto leader if the misfits who come to be known as the Thunderbolts. It’s also great to see Wyatt Russell back as John Walker/ U.S. Agent - who has fallen from grace since the events of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and no longer being Captain America to boot. The redemption arc is what you want to see with these guys - and it’s especially a surprise to see Hannah John-Kamen kick ass as Ghost and the strange and peculiar role Luis Pullman has as Bob - aka The Sentry and The Void. That is a character comic book fans have been wondering how the MCU will adapt, and for the most part it works well and is also commentary on struggles individuals with no emotional support go through. All these characters work through their baggage, and end up becoming something more when they actually get to work together and lean on to each other.
So is Thunderbolts* worth it? ABSOLUTELY and is A MUST SEE to prepare for what’s to come when we finally reach the new Avengers films coming in 2026 and 2026. It’s not a perfect blend and you really need to have followed past MCU films and shows to really know the backstory of most of these characters, but these band of delinquents are a case study on what it means to overcome any obstacles and difficulties life will throw at you, and in the end you become something more and come out better for it too.
