Marvel Studios Pins Hopes on Thunderbolts* Amidst Creative Challenges and Mixed Results

Following a deliberate slowdown in its production schedule in 2024, Marvel Studios entered 2025 anticipating a pivotal year. However, the initial phase of this crucial period has delivered a mixed bag, reflecting the ongoing complexities of the Multiverse Saga. The studio faced significant headwinds early in the year, raising the stakes for its upcoming major release, Thunderbolts*.

The first Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film of 2025, February's Captain America: Brave New World, seemed to underscore the creative difficulties the studio has been grappling with. Reports indicated a troubled production, plagued by extensive reshoots that allegedly inflated its budget to an estimated $380 million. Despite these efforts, the film's final cut appeared to reflect the chaotic process, culminating in a worldwide gross of $414 million – a figure that struggled against its hefty price tag.

On the streaming front, Daredevil: Born Again garnered generally positive critical reviews but failed to become the breakout success Marvel might have hoped for. Its premiere viewership lagged behind 2024 Disney+ debuts like Agatha All Along and The Acolyte, and the series didn't manage to crack the Nielsen streaming charts. These instances contribute to what the source describes as an "image problem" for Marvel Studios.

Thunderbolts*: A New Strategy for a High-Stakes Crossover

Enter Thunderbolts*, set to debut this Friday. Positioned as the first major crossover event within the Multiverse Saga, the film aims to weave together characters and storylines stretching back over a decade, including connections to Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). Recognizing the need for a fresh approach, Marvel has adjusted its marketing tactics for Thunderbolts*.

A teaser released in March, titled "ABSOLUTE CINEMA," uniquely highlighted the film's creative team not by name, but by their association with acclaimed A24 productions. It pointed to contributions from the "writers and director of Beef" and "the editor of Minari," aiming to cultivate a different kind of anticipation. This indie-film sensibility was echoed by star Florence Pugh, who described Thunderbolts* to Empire magazine as feeling like a "quite badass indie, A24-feeling assassin movie with Marvel superheroes."

Despite this alternative packaging, Thunderbolts* remains firmly rooted in the MCU. It builds upon established narratives from films like Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and Black Widow (2021). The core premise addresses the significant power vacuum left by the Avengers' absence since Avengers: Endgame (2019), presenting a world – and a studio – in need of a new heroic team and a non–Deadpool & Wolverine box office success.

Meet the Thunderbolts*: Key Returning Characters

With the film's imminent release, understanding the key players is crucial. Here's a look at the major characters returning for Thunderbolts*:

• From the World of Black Widow:
  • Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh): Natasha Romanoff's adopted sister, trained in the Red Room, Yelena has become a central figure in the Multiverse Saga. After seeking vengeance for Natasha's death in Hawkeye, she began working for Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Pugh is positioned as the film's central star, reportedly even performing a significant stunt reminiscent of Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible.
  • Red Guardian (David Harbour): Alexei Shostakov, Yelena and Natasha's adoptive father figure and Russia's super-soldier counterpart to Captain America.
  • Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko): Antonia Dreykov, capable of mimicking combat skills. Introduced as an antagonist controlled by her father in Black Widow, she was freed at the end of that film (set in 2016) and hasn't been seen since. Her return marks a significant development for the character.
• From Ant-Man and the Wasp:
  • Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen): Ava Starr possesses phasing abilities due to a childhood lab accident. An antagonist in Ant-Man and the Wasp, her condition was temporarily stabilized by Janet van Dyne using quantum energy. Her fate after the events of Avengers: Infinity War was previously unknown, making her return after more than six years a notable inclusion. She apparently joins the team having found a way to permanently stabilize her condition.
• From The Falcon and the Winter Soldier:
  • Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan): A veteran of the MCU since 2011, Bucky has evolved from WWII hero to brainwashed Hydra assassin, and finally to a recovering hero who sought therapy and even became a U.S. congressman between Captain America: Brave New World and this film.
  • John Walker / U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell): The decorated soldier chosen to replace Steve Rogers as Captain America, Walker struggled with the mantle and, after taking super-soldier serum, publicly executed an opponent. Stripped of the Captain America title, he was recruited by Val and given the new identity of U.S. Agent.
  • Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus): Introduced recruiting Walker and later revealed sending Yelena after Clint Barton, Val is portrayed as a shadowy figure assembling her own team. Revealed as the new CIA Director in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, she is described as ruthless and power-hungry, essentially the "Nick Fury of reformed bad guys." Thunderbolts* is expected to reveal her ultimate agenda.

Anticipation and Future Prospects

Thunderbolts* is set to tackle the post-Endgame absence of the Avengers more directly than previous entries and features a formidable antagonist in Lewis Pullman's Sentry, described by Val as "stronger than all of the Avengers rolled into one."

Early critical buzz appears positive. While aggregate scores should be viewed cautiously, early reactions have led to an 88 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 108 reviews at the time of the source article's writing. The film's performance with audiences and at the box office will be a key indicator of Marvel's trajectory leading into its next major release, July's The Fantastic Four: First Steps.