Marvel Officially Confirms the New Avengers, Fans Furious

Thunderbolts* is no more. Long live the New Avengers.

On May 1, Marvel Studios rolled out the 36th entry in its sprawling cinematic universe, and while the anticipation didn’t quite match the fever pitch surrounding Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), it certainly surpassed the early buzz around Captain America: Brave New World (2025). Jake Schreier’s Thunderbolts* made its theatrical debut with a title that was hiding something in plain sight.

Florence Pugh returns as Yelena Belova, joined by fellow Marvel alums Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent, and Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster. These characters—often overlooked or relegated to supporting roles—step into the spotlight as a mismatched team of anti-heroes pulled together under questionable leadership. So far, the movie has proven to be a modest success at the box office, opening to $74 million domestically and climbing to a global haul of $165 million.

But what has fans talking isn’t just the team dynamic or action sequences—it’s the asterisk. Midway through production, Marvel quietly added an asterisk to the film’s title, prompting widespread speculation. Was the film secretly about the Dark Avengers? Could this be the launch of the New Avengers? Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige promised that all would be revealed on release day, and true to form, the final moments of Thunderbolts* delivered just that.

In a climactic scene that follows the team’s battle against Sentry (played by Lewis Pullman), Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine assembles the press and formally rebrands the group as the New Avengers. In this version of the MCU—where the original Avengers are officially disbanded—Val’s announcement doesn’t just redefine the team, it rewrites the playing field for the future of the franchise.

The setup leads directly into the twin mid- and post-credit stingers that tease what lies ahead, including a nod to the future: the arrival of the Fantastic Four and the new chapter of Victor Von Doom, portrayed by none other than Robert Downey Jr., in Avengers: Doomsday (2026).

What’s drawing even more attention, however, is Marvel’s decision to publicly confirm the name change just days after the film’s debut. On social media platforms, including the official Marvel Studios X (formerly Twitter) account, the rebranded title The New Avengers is prominently displayed, from the header image to the bio. In a wave of coordinated marketing, updated posters and cast-led videos—such as one with Sebastian Stan revealing the new branding—have been rolled out to reinforce the switch.

Not everyone is thrilled by the reveal. Some fans, particularly those who hadn’t yet had the chance to see the film, are voicing their disappointment over what they consider a major spoiler being broadcast far too early.

One frustrated fan, @nicht_weit, commented: “LOL, should I even go to the cinema and see this? You spoilt the plot.”

Another echoed the sentiment. @kebede_sanam wrote: “Thank you for spoiling this 3 days after, very cool!”

And then there’s @marcuszee77, whose tweet reflects the bigger risk Marvel might be taking: “Couldn’t go watch this over the weekend and was avoiding spoilers to watch the movie this weekend, but of course you already spoiled it for me. Very disappointed, I think I’ll just wait for it to come on Disney+ now.”

It’s a strategy that walks a fine line. On one hand, the rebranding of Thunderbolts* to The New Avengers is a significant development in the MCU’s narrative arc. On the other, the decision to push that information front and center in the marketing campaign just days after release has created a backlash that Marvel can’t ignore—especially as it navigates a time of uncertain audience engagement and evolving franchise expectations.

Speaking to The New York Times, director Jake Schreier offered his take on the reveal, and the unexpected way it’s shaped conversation around the film.

“It’s very fun that they were open to embracing that,” Schreier said. “It’s so interesting in this world, and Kevin talks about it sometimes, where sometimes they wanted things to leak, and they don’t. I think we all assumed that it would be a bigger part of the conversation already, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens.”

As it stands, the future of the New Avengers is in flux. The film’s post-credits scenes tease multiple paths forward—including the return of Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, who is seen taking legal action to trademark the Avengers name. That thread now stretches beyond the screen, with official Avengers social media accounts adopting a copyright symbol alongside the iconic team name, suggesting Sam’s claim is more than just narrative.

Meanwhile, Marvel is already teeing up its next theatrical chapter: The Fantastic Four: First Steps, directed by WandaVision’s Matt Shakman, is set to launch on July 25, 2025. That will lead directly into Avengers: Doomsday, arriving in May 2026, a film poised to be a massive crossover event uniting the New Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and more.

If Thunderbolts* was the bridge to what comes next, Phase Six may be the turning point that reshapes everything Marvel fans thought they knew—potentially kicking off the long-awaited Mutant Saga.

For now, Thunderbolts*—or The New Avengers, depending on your poster of choice—is playing in theaters worldwide.

So, where do you stand on Marvel’s title twist and marketing approach? Share your take with us in the comments below.