Marvel Studios is set to reach a crossroads in the not-too-distant future. It's not the first one that the Marvel Cinematic Universe will encounter, but it might be the biggest, as the franchise might be forced to make a decision it couldn't fully make the previous time. We're talking, of course, about the releases of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars - with will both bring about the end of the Multiverse Saga (just as Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame did the same for the Infinity Saga).
Very little is known about what will come next from the MCU but the upcoming phase is expected to place a focus on the X-Men, launching the era of the mutants. It also may be the first chapter of the franchise not to feature an Avengers movie. Or, well, in a way it might, according to a new report.
Thunderbolts* sequel reportedly in development at Marvel Studios
According to industry insider Alex Perez, Marvel Studios is working on a sequel to Thunderbolts*. Responding to fan questions via their monthly Q&A via The Cosmic Circus, Perez directly addressed a question about the status of Doctor Strange 3, revealing that it's currently on the backburner as the studio primarily focuses on the likes of "Black Panther 3, Shang-Chi 2, Spider-Man 5, the X-Men, Thunderbolts* sequel, Blade, Midnight Sons, and the next Avengers title". Needless to say, this has received quite the reaction from fans.
We could obviously go into the ramifications of delaying Doctor Strange 3 further or the possibility of the Midnight Sons movie finally coming to fruition, but the Thunderbolts* namedrop is perhaps the most surprising reference here - and, indeed, perhaps the most exciting.
Thunderbolts* was released in May 2025 and it starred a host of familiar faces from the MCU's Multiverse Saga, as well as two significant ones from the franchise's lengthy history. Florence Pugh led the charge as Yelena Belova and she was joined by David Harbour's Red Guardian, Wyatt Russell's John Walker, Olga Kurylenko's Taskmaster, Lewis Pullman's Bob / Sentry, Hannah John-Kamen's Ghost, and Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes. Julia Louis-Dreyfus also reprised her role as Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Most of that cast will return in this year's Avengers: Doomsday, which isn't surprising considering that the Thunderbolts literally became the New Avengers in the closing moments of their own movie - setting the stage for their imminent return.
The film went on to slightly underperform at the box office, grossing $382 million against a budget of $180 million, but it received critical acclaim, with many citing as one of the best Marvel movies ever made - and one of the few true highlights of the Multiverse Saga. That fact alone is justification enough for a sequel - and honestly it would probably succeed at the box office this time around.
Why a Thunderbolts* 2 would be a success
Fans of Thunderbolts* rarely allowed themselves to believe that a sequel would happen for two distinct reasons. First of all, its box office performance proved to be a real hurdle in generating the comeback that Marvel wanted it to; it did generate a lot of buzz, but it wasn't able to break even during its theatrical run (which a lot of the naysayers quickly jumped on). Secondly, Avengers: Doomsday is essentially a sequel to it anyway, bringing back the New Avengers in leading roles again. Therefore, Avengers: Secret Wars is likely in the same boat, relying on the chaotic team (again, along with some other Marvel heroes) to save the multiverse.
But it sounds like Marvel Studios might indeed have plans for them going forward. And honestly, it's the right decision. Not only has Yelena Belova become one of the most popular characters in the franchise, the Thunderbolts* concept would theoretically allow Marvel to repopulate the team with new and exciting heroes. As beloved as the original line-up is, one of the biggest criticisms from fans is that everyone on it was essentially a trained assassin or super soldier, resulting in less variety. Perhaps a sequel could feature some more super-powered, unusual, witchy individuals. That would certainly make it a very different type of movie.
But stocking the cast with more Marvel favorites wouldn't be the only reason that Marvel Studios would commit. See, there are reasons that many of us expect a Thunderbolts 2 to be profitable. First and foremost, the reception to the first film was extremely positive, and it has since enjoyed a long and successful streaming, PVOD, and home media run - which has likely helped it get closer to profitability. After all, the film grossed just shy of $400 million (with an expected break-even point of around $425 million), so it was still clearly a popular title that wasn't that far out from the green. And having the characters front two potentially-billion-dollar Avengers movies will likely increase fan interest in those characters going forward. Just give them a lower budget this time and you likely have a major success story on your hands.
It would be foolish to move on from the creative success of Thunderbolts*, so the idea that the Mutants Era might feature a sequel is music to my ears - and the ears of so many Marvel fans around the world.
The Thunderbolts / New Avengers return in Avengers: Doomsday on December 18, 2026.
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