Thunderbolts (2025), later marketed as The New Avengers, follows Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and a team of antiheroes—Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker—trapped in a deadly scheme by CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Tasked with destroying evidence of her illicit "Sentry" project, they uncover Bob Reynolds (Lewis Pullman), a man with a split personality harboring the powerful Sentry and chaotic Void. The team battles betrayal and their own traumas on a globe-trotting mission, finding redemption and rebranding as the New Avengers.

United States/Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Superhero.

Publishers: Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (Theatrical, May 2, 2025), Digital/4K/Blu-ray (July 1, 2025)

Main Characters:

  1. Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh): Depressed assassin, seeking purpose.

  2. Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan): Ex-assassin, now a congressman.

  3. Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour): Yelena’s bumbling father, ex-hero.

  4. Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen): Phase-shifting antihero, haunted by pain.

  5. Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko): Skilled fighter, seeking redemption.

  6. John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell): Arrogant soldier, clashing with the team.

  7. Bob Reynolds/Sentry/Void (Lewis Pullman): Unstable superhuman, key to the plot.

  8. Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus): Scheming CIA director.

  9. Mel Gold (Geraldine Viswanathan): Mysterious ally, aiding the team.

  10. Congressman Gary (Wendell Pierce): Political figure, tied to Bucky’s arc.

Thunderbolts (aka The New Avengers), released May 2, 2025, has electrified fans with its raw, character-driven take on the MCU’s misfits. Directed by Jake Schreier, the film blends gritty action—like a stunning Merdeka 118 jump in Kuala Lumpur—with emotional depth, tackling mental health and loneliness. Florence Pugh’s Yelena and Lewis Pullman’s Bob/Sentry steal the show, earning an 88% Rotten Tomatoes score for their heartfelt performances. Despite a $180M budget, it grossed $381.9M, a solid but not stellar haul. Critics praise its darker tone and practical stunts but note a weak first act and sequel-baiting ending. Filmed in Atlanta, Utah, and Malaysia, it’s a bold MCU pivot, with fans on X calling it “the best since Endgame.” Stream on digital now or catch it on Blu-ray July 29!