The movie “Thunderbolt” has hit theaters, so it’s clear what the asterisk signified earlier (it was already apparent) and it’s also become clear why the title is “Thunderbolt” (previously, this wasn’t obvious).
The Thunderbolts is a diverse group of characters, somewhat unconventional, who have been gathered together by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine – a character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe known for her questionable loyalty.
Throughout the film, the team is made up of Bucky Barnes (played by Sebastian Stan), Black Widow, who is Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), John Walker’s character as US Agent (Wyatt Russell), Taskmaster portrayed by Antonia Dreykov (Olga Kurylenko), Alexei Shostakov’s role as Red Guardian (David Harbour), and Ava Starr appearing as Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen).
Additionally, they’re often recognized by their title-given nickname, but contrary to the comics, the origin of this name is distinct. Here’s a brief explanation, containing some potential SPOILERS…
Why is the team called the Thunderbolts?
The superhero team is named ‘Thunderbolts’ after Yelena Belova’s childhood soccer team.
In the early scenes of the film, I fondly recall my childhood days on the West Chesapeake Bay Thunderbolts, a pee-wee soccer team. This was during a time when my family, originally hailing from Russia, were living undercover in suburban America.
In her narrative, Yelena often refers to the club as the Thunderbolts. Unfortunately, under her father’s coaching, Alexei, they didn’t manage to win a single match. Later on, this team name became the chosen identity for the Red Guard as their superhero team.
In the comics, the team’s name derives from their superior, Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross. However, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), he is depicted as President Ross instead and his character is referenced indirectly when Val discusses him transforming into a colossal, enraged red superhuman entity.
The Thunderbolts* asterisk explained
Since Kevin Feige unveiled the Thunderbolts title with an asterisk, fans have been pondering and guessing about its possible implications.
It seems that the apparent stand-in for this new team, which we know as The New Avengers, was indeed the accurate choice – Thunderbolts being its official name.
At a hastily arranged press conference, Val proposed transforming the negative publicity crisis at the film’s conclusion into an advantage through clever rebranding.
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However, there will be some challenges that come along with it. The team is well aware of the secrets they’ve buried, both figuratively and literally. As the Thunderbolts consent to the New Avengers restructuring, Yelena leans close to Val and says, “We now have control over you.
In the extra scene following the Thunderbolts credits, it’s revealed that Sam Wilson/Captain America isn’t pleased about the relaunch and is planning to take legal action against them due to what he perceives as a violation of the ‘Avengers’ trademark.
Thunderbolts is currently playing in theaters! If you’re curious about why Baron Zemo isn’t featured in this film, or want to know more about the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe titles, here’s a rundown for you. Additionally, you can find details on Avengers: Secret Wars and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
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2025-05-02 12:18