Marvel Studios has released Thunderbolts* (2025), officially closing out Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the film now in theaters, both of its post-credits scenes have been revealed, offering major clues about what’s next for the MCU.
The first trailer for Thunderbolts* debuted last year and drew millions of views. Directed by Jake Schreier (Paper Towns), the film brings together a lineup of characters pulled from various corners of the MCU, many of whom fall into morally complex territory.
“Marvel Studios assembles an unconventional team of antiheroes—Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster and John Walker,” the official Marvel Studios synopsis reads. “After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. Will this dysfunctional group tear themselves apart, or find redemption and unite as something much more before it’s too late?”
Early trailers also included the first official appearance of the character “Bob,” better known to comic readers as Sentry. The role is played by Lewis Pullman, who replaced Steven Yeun (Beef, The Walking Dead) after Yeun exited the project in 2024.
The path to Thunderbolts* was shaped by the wider context of Marvel’s current phase, which began in 2023 with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The results have been inconsistent, both creatively and financially. The Marvels struggled at the box office and sparked concerns over the studio’s direction. That outlook shifted somewhat with Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), which broke records to become the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time.
However, the momentum slowed again with the release of Captain America: Brave New World (2025), directed by Julius Onah. The film finished its global box office run with just over $400 million.
Now, Thunderbolts* arrives with a cast that includes Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, David Harbour as Red Guardian/Alexei Shostakov, Wyatt Russell as John Walker/U.S. Agent, Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr/Ghost, Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster, and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier.
With the film now in theaters, audiences can see how Marvel has used its signature post-credits scenes to shape the next steps of its cinematic world. There are two in Thunderbolts*, both setting up potential storylines and character arcs that could continue into Phase Six and beyond.
By the film’s end, the Thunderbolts have been formally declared Earth’s New Avengers, a reveal that becomes pivotal in both post-credit sequences.
The first scene during the mid-credits showcases Alexei, now clean-shaven and brimming with self-assurance, trying to sell a box of Wheaties featuring the New Avengers lineup—including himself. The customer, however, walks away unsettled, implying a lukewarm public reception to these new heroes.
In contrast, the final credit scene offers a more gripping development. The newly formed New Avengers are seen entering their base, mid-discussion about Sam Wilson’s (Anthony Mackie) efforts to reassemble the original Avengers under his leadership as Captain America—tying directly into the narrative of Captain America: Brave New World.
Injecting humor into the moment, Alexei appears in a “New Avengerz” jumpsuit and jokes with the team—and Bob, who was saved during the climax—that he’s got extra uniforms ready in case there’s a copyright issue over the Avengers name.
The scene takes a dramatic turn when Yelena receives an alert on her tablet indicating an object has entered Earth’s atmosphere. A projected image shows an alien spacecraft, which turns slowly to reveal the unmistakable “4” logo of the Fantastic Four.
This directly tees up the next MCU installment: The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), directed by Matt Shakman. Kicking off Phase Six, the film will introduce Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm/Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach)—as they take on Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).
Another talking point leading into the film was the asterisk in its title. That punctuation mark became the subject of online speculation and discussion across fan communities. At CinemaCon 2024, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige addressed the change.
Several fan theories have attempted to decode the symbol’s meaning. One suggests that the Thunderbolts team may eventually evolve into the New Avengers. Another theory points to the Dark Avengers, a group from Marvel Comics known for its morally ambiguous leadership and hidden agendas. With the film confirming they are in fact the New Avengers, the next era of MCU has officially begun.
The introduction of Sentry adds another major character to the Marvel canon. In comic books, the character has appeared in several major arcs, including “New Avengers” (2005), “World War Hulk” (2007), and “Siege” (2010). In the latter storyline, Sentry is overtaken by his darker alter ego, The Void, leading to a confrontation with Thor that ends with dramatic consequences.
Although no new Thor solo project has been announced, Sentry’s presence opens up possibilities for connections to Asgard and the wider cosmic mythology of the MCU. Chris Hemsworth is already confirmed to return as Thor in Avengers: Doomsday (2026), and Marvel appears to be building toward larger narrative events, including Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), which is expected to lean heavily into the Multiverse.
Thunderbolts* serves multiple roles within the MCU. It’s both a conclusion to a transitional phase and a platform to launch new characters and storylines. The Russo Brothers, returning to direct Avengers: Doomsday, have called that film “a new beginning,” further signaling that Marvel is reconfiguring its cinematic strategy.
How do you feel about the post-credits scenes of Thunderbolts*? Let us know in the comments!
