Disney/MarvelThunderbolts* is in cinemas, meaning we now know why that asterisk exists (which was obvious), and the reason for that name (which was not).
The Thunderbolts are a rag-tag team of anti-heroes assembled by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), one of the least trustworthy characters in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Over the course of the movie, their roster becomes Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Yelena Belova’s Black Widow (Florence Pugh), John Walker’s US Agent (Wyatt Russell), Antonia Dreykov’s Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), Alexei Shostakov’s Red Guardian (David Harbour), and Ava Starr’s Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen).
They also become known by the titular moniker, though the source of that name is very different to the comics. Let us explain, via several SPOILERS…
Why is the team called the Thunderbolts?
The superhero team is named ‘Thunderbolts’ after Yelena Belova’s childhood soccer team.
Disney/MarvelEarly in the movie, Yelena makes mention of her pee-wee soccer team the West Chesapeake Bay Thunderbolts, from back when her Russian family was masquerading as suburban Americans.
Her dad Alexei was the coach, and they didn’t win a single match. Yelena references the club early in proceedings, then the Thunderbolts keep getting mentioned, until Red Guard adopts it as their superhero team name.
That’s a big departure from the comics, where the group is named after their boss Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross. In this MCU timelines he became President Ross, though the character is only briefly mentioned, when Val talks about him turning into “a giant red superhuman rage monster.”
The Thunderbolts* asterisk explained
DisneyEver since Kevin Feige revealed the Thunderbolts* title treatment with that asterisk, fans have been speculating over what it might mean.
Turns out, the most obvious answer was the correct one, as Thunderbolts is a placeholder for a team that’s introduced to the world as The New Avengers.
It’s Val’s idea, turning the PR nightmare of the end of the movie into a win via some rebranding at a swiftly organised press conference.
But it’s going to come with some problems. The team knows where the metaphorical – and literal – bodies are buried, so as the Thunderbolts are agreeing to the New Avengers overhaul, Yelena whispers in Val’s ear “we own you now.”
Plus during a Thunderbolts mid-credits scene, we learn that Sam Wilson/Captain America is none-too-happy with the relaunch, and going after them for copyright infringement of the ‘Avengers’ name.
Thunderbolts* is in cinemas now. You can also read about why Baron Zemo isn’t in the movie, check out every upcoming MCU title, and get an overview of Avengers: Secret Wars and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
