Updated as of February 18, 2025
Within the continuously changing film and television landscape, comic book movies have a significant share of contemporary must-see theatrical events. Even though many factors have led to an overall declining box office, superhero movies are relentlessly fighting to leave their cinematic mark and many of our favorite heroes have had a positive impact at movie theaters in recent years.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is evolving their strategy while moving forward to develop content for many years to come. Sony Marvel movies have also been supplementing the genre with sporadic releases in recent years, however limited financial success may prevent Sony from continuing with their separate Marvel universe. On the contrary, DC is restarting their Justice League-based franchise, with big promises from studio heads James Gunn and Peter Safran.
We are here to help you keep track of superhero movie mania. What is the next big release? Will it be a part of a shared movie universe that you know and love? What cast members are set to return in the sequel?
The live-action movies that follow have confirmed theatrical opening dates. Here are the latest updates to the release date schedule.
Thunderbolts*
Release Date: May 2, 2025
Director: Jake Schreier
Writers: Joanna Calo, Eric Pearson, and Lee Sung Jin
Cast:
• Julia Louis-Dreyfuss – Contessa Valentina
• Florence Pugh – Black Widow/Yelena Belova
• Sebastian Stan – Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes
• Wyatt Russell – U.S. Agent/John Walker
• David Harbour – Red Guardian/Alexei
• Hannah John-Kamen – Ghost/Ava Starr
• Olga Kurylenko – Taskmaster/Antonia Dreykov
• Lewis Pullman – Sentry/Robert Reynolds
The Thunderbolts are an anti-Avengers assembly of not-so-good guys. After over 30 movies, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will finally debut a supervillain (or at least not the typical hero type) team-up. While multiple named antagonists have compiled in a single narrative, villains from previous films have not yet gathered together in a large follow-up event. So, Thunderbolts should be an enticing prospect for the franchise.
The character who was guaranteed from the beginning to round up the Thunderbolts is Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, brought to life by Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. She could operate similar to Nick Fury’s role within the Avengers – recruiting the members of the team. Thus far, she appeared in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, molding Captain Walker into U.S. Agent, in Black Widow, giving Yelena a nudge toward taking out Hawkeye, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, unveiling her position as the head of the CIA. Surprisingly, she was nowhere to be found in the Hawkeye miniseries, but a cameo in Captain America: Brave New World would seem probable.
The most popular veteran MCU figure on the Thunderbolts squad will be the Winter Soldier, as he is the only teammate to also suit up as an Avenger. His opponent from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, John Walker, will learn to work beside him in this movie. Three standout Black Widow cast members will return; Florence Pugh as the new foremost Black Widow, David Harbour as Red Guardian, and Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster. Ant-Man and the Wasp’s Hannah John-Kamen will round out the Thunderbolts roster as Ghost, while Lewis Pullman will have his inauguration as the unfathomably formidable golden guardian, Sentry.