Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have much to look forward to in 2025. This includes the highly anticipated release of Thunderbolts*, the final film of the MCU's Phase Five, based on a group of anti-heroes featured in Marvel comic books. In Sept. 2024, Marvel released the official poster and teaser trailer for the film. Here is everything we know so far.
Thunderbolts* is directed by Jake Schreier (Beef), with Kevin Feige producing, and was written by Eric Pearson, Lee Sung Jin, and Joanna Calo. Louis D’Esposito, Brian Chapek, Jason Tamez, and Scarlett Johansson serve as executive producers
The first talks of the movie came around in 2021, and development began in 2022. The main cast members were then announced beginning in Sept. into early 2023. Production was stalled due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes. Filming was then finally able to commence in Feb. 2024 and wrapped in June.
Watch the Thunderbolts* trailer
The movie's action-packed teaser trailer, whose captions read: Careful who you assemble, features the group members in various states of despair and depression living average lives. It progresses as the group comes together to take on a mission for the government. The 3+ minute video showcases the team of anti-heroes to "Where Is My Mind," a single by the Boston-based alt-rock band Pixies.
Thunderbolts* is coming in the summer
The Thunderbolts* release date has been pushed back and forth for quite some time. It was initially announced to be released in July 2024, then December 2024, and then pushed to July 2025. The official date of the movie's release will come on May 5, 2025. Thunderbolts* is one of three Marvel releases coming in 2025, with Captain America: Brave New World in February and The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July.
The cast of Thunderbolts* is filled with returning faces
Most of the cast is reprising roles they portrayed in other Marvel movies, with the addition of a few new faces in Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, Chris Bauer, and Wendell Edward Pierce. As for the rest of the cast? Here's who makes up the ensemble project:
- David Harbour - Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian
- Hannah John-Kamen - Ava Starr / Ghost
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
- Sebastian Stan - Bucky Barnes
- Wyatt Russell - John Walker / U.S. Agent
- Olga Kurylenko - Antonia Dreykov / Taskmaster:
- Florence Pugh - Yelena Belova
- Geraldine Viswanathan - Mel: Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's assistant
- Lewis Pullman - Bob / Sentry
- Chris Bauer - TBA
- Wendell Edward Pierce - TBA
Pugh, Harbour, and Kurylenko starred in Black Widow, with Stan and Russell in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and John-Kamen starred in Ant-Man and the Wasp. Louis-Dreyfus reprises her role from both Black Widow and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) and Steven Yeun (Beef) were previously cast in undisclosed roles but, sadly, due to scheduling conflicts, had to bow out. Viswanathan (Drive-Away Dolls) and Pullman (Top Gun: Maverick) were then cast in the roles.
What is Thunderbolts* about?
The mysterious Valentina Allegra de Fontaine recruits the rag-tag group of indie veterans to do the dirty work of the US Government. While on their mission, they encounter a powerful man only known as Bob, which leads them to believe they have been set up.
There are a few Marvel titles you should watch before Thunderbolts*
While it's likely you can enjoy Thunderbolts* even if you aren't caught up on the latest MCU movies, there are a few projects that you should probably try watching before you see the movie.
On the movie front, we'd recommend watching Black Widow, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and the first three Captain America movies which all feature the film's key characters. We'd also suggest watching the Disney+ originals The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as well as Hawkeye, two series that set up some key character developments heading into Thunderbolts*.