Summary
With a cast led by Florence Pugh and a tone closer to an A24 arthouse film than traditional MCU fare, Marvel’s upcomingThunderbolts*could either be a bold reinvention of the franchise—or the final nail in the coffin for a struggling cinematic universe.
After a string of underwhelming box office performances and growing fan fatigue,Thunderbolts*stands at a crucial crossroads for the MCU. Featuring a morally ambiguous team of antiheroes, and a moody aesthetic inspired by prestige cinema, the film’s promotional material is marketing it as Marvel’s boldest tonal shift yet. If it succeeds, it could be the franchise’s nextAvengers-level success. If it stumbles, there is a good chance it will cement the sentiment that audiences are ready to move on from the MCU altogether.
Thunderbolts*Could Be the Fresh Start the MCU Desperately Needs
Recent press has made it clear that Marvel Studios and parent company Disney are changing up their tactic and betting onThunderbolts*to draw big numbers. Meanwhile, fans are hopeful the film’s daring tone is trulya diversion from the tired Marvel quip, and not just a buzzy marketing ploy.
One promising factor in the upcoming blockbuster is the cast, which includes acting powerhouses like Pugh (We Live in Time,Midsommar), Sebastian Stan (A Different Man, The Apprentice), Wyatt Russell (Everybody Wants Some!!, Ingrid Goes West), andDavid Harbor (Stranger Things,Brokeback Mountain)—all known for their work in indie movies—some in critically acclaimed hits from indie darling production company, A24. It appears as thoughThunderbolts*is attempting to recreate the magic of the MCU’s originalIron Manand laterAvengersfranchises, which plucked actors like Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo out of the prestige cinema world.
The recent teaser trailer reinforces this new vibe the studio is aiming for—being released with the title “ABSOLUTE CINEMA” on YouTube and name-dropping associated creatives behind A24 projects likeBeef,The Green Knightand the Oscar-winningEverything Everywhere All At Once. The trailer is cut to evoke the visual language of acclaimed indie thrillers and hints at a more character-driven, emotionally grounded narrative and showcasing the film’s bold, auteur-style filmmaking.
In a recent interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Florence Pugh confirmed this direction yet again, saying, “I think that Marvel is really taking a risk with this one. And I think it’s exciting to see that.” Coming from an actor who cut her teeth in the indie world,Pugh’s praise for the project’s tonehas sparked optimism among fans who’ve long wanted the MCU to take storytelling risks again. However, some fans have also criticized Marvel Studios and Disney for riding A24’s coattails and hanging their film on the creative risks taken by another (much smaller) studio.
“It feels more raw and more emotional. It does feel a bit more indie, which I think is exciting.”—Pugh
The NextAvengersor SomethingDarker?
It’s clear that Marvel isn’t treatingJake Schreier’sThunderbolts*as a side project. The slated release date, May 2nd, has the film placed squarely in the early-summer tentople spot. Recent developments have suggested that the studio is quietly positioning the new team to be successors toThe Avengers, and possibly the launchpad for a new hit franchise.
The previousThunderbolts*teaser, which aired during the Superbowl, strongly hinted at the possibility of the chaotic team eventually becoming theDark Avengers, just as theThunderboltscomic was renamedDark Avengersafter issue #175. The asterisk was also confirmed by the studio to mean:The Avengers Are Not Available. If theDark Avengersrumor turns out to be true, it could mean studio exec Kevin Feige is planning for theThunderboltsto take up the mantle in a faltering MCU, sending the franchise into even daker thematic territory in line with the recent R-ratedDeadpoolfilms.
Fans are convinced Marvel is laying the groundwork for a new era of antiheroes and bold filmmaking, with many excited for something more complex. The use of stylistic cinematography, a nihilistic tone, and the framing of these characters to represent a morally compromised authority seems inspired by recent superhero hits,including Matt reeves’The Batman. If this approach lands, Marvel could very well have the bones of its next big franchise.
However, the team’s future in the multiverse likely depends on the film’s box office performance. As current discourse suggests, the studio is likely banking heavily onThunderbolts*to act as a soft reboot—a way to reset audience expectations and reestablish excitement. If this attempt fails, the consequences could spell disaster.
IfThunderbolts*Fails, Fans Will Revolt
While the outcome of this shift could be major, the risks are also enormous. IfThunderbolts*flops—either critically or commercially—it won’t just be anotherAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniasituation. It could mean a broader collapse in audience interest in the messy, interconnected MCU narrative. WhileDeadpooland theSpider-ManSonycollabs are seemingly keeping Marvel Studios afloat, there have been more misses than hits coming out of the studio in recent years and fans are beginning to lose hope for a creative rennaissance.
Given that the 2023 Jonathan Majors scandalsent the multiverse into a tailspin, anotherAvengers-adjacent disaster could send creators back to the drawing board yet again, and unfortunately, Marvel doesn’t have the same goodwill cushion it had five years ago. Burnt out viewers are more discerning, and less forgiving of weak storytelling. A poorly executedThunderbolts*could be the breaking point for many longtime MCU fans, pushing them to disengage entirely.
Box office returns for recent entries likeThe MarvelsandQuantumaniahave been abysmal, and Disney CEO Bob Iger has publicly acknowledged the need for “quality over quantity” in future Marvel releases. IfThunderbolts*follows that same downward trajectory, it will confirm the current narrative: that Marvel has lost its ability to craft great original films, and the MCU’s best days are behind it. Either way, the movie will mark a turning point.
One Last Shot at Reinvention
TheThunderboltsholds more weight than just a single release; it’s quite possibly the dawning of a new era. Marvel Studios built its empire on the back of the originalAvengers— andThunderboltsnow has the opportunity to carry the torch. Thestudio’s gamble on a new creative directionsignals that it understands the current formula isn’t working anymore, and that desperate times call for desperate measures. With the top-tier ensemble cast and artsy A24 aesthetic, there’s a real chance it could redefine what an MCU film can be. That is, if the story sticks the landing.
If it fails,Thunderbolts*won’t just be another let-down. It may very well be the moment fans stop waiting for Marvel’s next big thing, and start moving on entirely.
