The term is currently popular because Marvel shared the first official trailer for a film that will be launched in May 2025. This movie is centered around a group of antiheroes as those are characters like Yelena Belova played by Florence Pugh, Bucky Barnes as portrayed by Sebastian Stan, and Red Guardian played by David Harbour, and their missions for the government. Fans are excited about the movie’s darker tone and complex dynamics between its characters, as it explores themes of redemption and camaraderie, drawing comparisons to previous Marvel hits like *Captain America: The Winter Soldier*.
There is even more discussion and anticipation concerning an asterisk that was newly added to the title of the movie, some of them trying to guess that it alludes to the comic plots touching the “Dark Avengers” or “Secret Avengers”.
The teaser trailer for Thunderbolts has generated controversies as there are rumors that Florence Pugh’s character Yelena Belova could turn evil in MCU thereby paving the way for a villain role. In the trailer, Yelena is a member of a team of antiheroes working for the government, which is famous for its shady activities. This may signal that she wants to delve into character development and her past within the context of the Red Room and the series’ themes turning her into a villain due to the internal struggle.
Yelena is “simply strangers with Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who has been assembling a team of amoral characters as we’ve seen with the U.S. Agent and Yelena herself” which makes her have a darker arc as well. This synchronizes with comic arcs where characters such as Yelena transform into villains.
Who leads the team? Marvel
In Thunderbolts, it will be headed by Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine played by Julia Louis Dreyfus. She has been building a team of such characters across the MCU series and films: In The Falcon and Winter Soldier, she recruits John Walker U S Agent and cooperation with Yelena Belova in Hawkeye’s recent series.
As much as the trailer shows internal conflict within the team, it appears that Valentina will be the one leading the team on secret operations for the government. However, on the battlefield, leadership might also be transferred to characters like Bucky Barnes, portrayed by Sebastian Stan, or Yelena Belova, played by Florence Pugh for the simple reason that both of them have fought the most; moreover, they stand to lose even more.
Who’s the villain? Marvel
The main antagonist of *Marvel’s Thunderbolts* (2025) will be Bob played by Lewis Pullman. Bob is thought to be the MCU’s version of Robert Reynolds, or the Sentry. Sentry is a compelling character he has the strength of a million exploding suns’. Nevertheless, examining the abilities of the main hero, it is crucial to mention that in the series he becomes the dark version – the Void, and this corresponds to hints in the teaser. The Void in The Thunderbolts team threatens both, the Thunderbolts team and the world if not properly addressed.
Although Bob does not seem like much of a threat in this first look at the film, a glimpse of him hints at him having been experimented on by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine and offers another layer to his transition into becoming Sentry. This means the Sentry/Void dynamic not only makes him a fascinating character, but it also provides frequent inability to predict his actions as an opponent.
The Appearance of the Red Hulk
It is also expected that Red Hulk will appear in Thunderbolts. Harrison Ford will be playing the character, who replaces Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross after the death of William Hurt. It is more or less certain that Ross, the man who becomes the Red Hulk in the comics, will be a major character in the movie. While Marvel Studios has only hinted at Ross’ transformation, the fans are expecting Red Hulk to make his appearance in this flick.
Many have discussed casting Harrison Ford as Ross, and with this role, Ross may well transition to become a primary character in the MCU in the future, particularly considering his part in political and military events
