Marvel Thunderbolts* The New Avengers: A Deep Dive into Marvel’s Changing Superhero Landscape

Marvel’s universe is changing fast. New teams like the Thunderbolts* (aka “The New Avengers”) are reshaping how heroes work together and what is coming next. Understanding these teams will help you enjoy Marvel movies, comics, and shows even more. In this article, we take a look at who the Thunderbolts are and why they are now “The New Avengers”.

The Rise of Marvel’s Thunderbolts: From Villains to Antiheroes

The Thunderbolts started as a group of villains. Over time, they became more complex characters who sometimes fight for good. This shift shows how Marvel explores redemption, moral gray areas, and what it truly means to be a hero.

The Thunderbolts first appeared in Marvel Comics in the late 1990s. Originally, the team consisted of bad guys pretending to be heroes. Over many storylines, they changed. Some members turned into genuine heroes or antiheroes. This mix made the Thunderbolts a unique part of Marvel’s universe. Their journey from villains to heroes is a story about second chances and moral growth.

Current Roster and Key Members

Today, the team includes characters like Ghost, Red Guardian and U.S. Agent John Walker. In Marvel comics, the roster shifts often, but each member brings his or her own unique story. The team in movies might look different but captures that same gritty, morally complex spirit.

The latest Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts movie was released in theaters earlier this year in May and is now available to stream on Disney+. The movie brings together the latest crew of antiheroes from previous Marvel movies and Disney+ series. The cast of Thunderbolts includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Valentina Allegra de Fontaine), Geraldine Viswanathan (Mel, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s assistant), Lewis Pullman (Sentry), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost), Olga Kurylenko (Taskmaster), Wyatt Russell (U.S. Agent John Walker), David Harbour (Red Guardian), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova a.k.a. Black Widow), and Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barns a.k.a. the Winter Soilder).

Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts The New Avengers — Photo credit: Marvel Studios/Disney

Breaking down the cast of Thunderbolts, these actors and characters were introduced into the Marvel Universe in the following movies and/or Disney+ series:

Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barns / The Winter Solider from Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soilder, Captain America: Civil War, Captain America: Brave New World and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent John Walker from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova / Black Widow from Black Widow and Hawkeye

Lewis Pullman as Sentry introduced in Thunderbolts*
David Harbour as Red Guardian from Black Widow
Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr / Ghost from Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster from Black Widow

Formation of the Thunderbolts

Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, CIA Director, orchestrates a covert operation using the Thunderbolts. She sends Yelena Belova, John Walker, Ava Starr, and Taskmaster to destroy a lab in Malaysia, intending to erase evidence of the Sentry project along with the team. The team soon realizes they’ve been set up and Valentina plans to eliminate them.

As Valentina scrambles, Bucky Barnes enters the picture and the team unites against Valentina’s schemes. To save face, she rebrands the team as “The New Avengers,” spinning a tale of heroism to cover her tracks. The public reacts with mixed feelings, while the team considers their next move in Valentina’s ongoing machinations against them.

This experience lays the groundwork for the Thunderbolts, a team born from necessity rather than choice. Their formation marks the beginning of an unpredictable journey as they navigate their new roles and relationships.

Introducing the New Avengers

Valentina rebrands the Thunderbolts as “The New Avengers” following their battle with Sentry. This move serves dual purposes:

Deflecting attention from her own misconduct
Presenting the team as successors to the original Avengers

For the team members, this new identity offers a chance at redemption and a fresh start. It represents a shift from personal struggles to a focus on larger, global threats.

In the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe, the emergence of “The New Avengers” signals a new chapter in superhero narratives. It raises questions about the nature of heroism and second chances.

Public reception is mixed, with some embracing the new team while others remain skeptical due to the members’ controversial pasts. “The New Avengers” face the challenge of proving themselves worthy of their new title while navigating the complexities of their newfound roles.

Future Outlook

Expect more storylines involving the Thunderbolts and “The New Avengers” in Marvel’s upcoming movies. The team has already been confirmed as being part of the cast of Marvel’s next Avengers film, Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled to arrive in theaters in 2026 and are set to play a crucial role in the film.

The Thunderbolts film received positive reviews from critics, but underperformed at the box office, grossing only $382 million, becoming one of the lowest grossing Marvel films. But, while the film did not break major records at the box office, it still adds value to Marvel’s future lineup of stories and films. And the release of Thunderbolts on Disney+ today exposes the film and characters to a wider audience, introducing the new team to a larger fan base and setting up the next film(s) in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe.