Marvel has finally unveiled the long-awaited first teaser for Thunderbolts, which promises to be a chaotic yet intriguing addition to the MCU. The trailer, which first debuted behind closed doors at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, showcases a band of unlikely antiheroes, led by Yelena Belova. Or Bucky Barnes, who is apparently the team’s leader, according to some scoops and leaks.
The scene opens with Yelena visiting her adoptive father, Alexei Shostakov (Red Guardian), and lamenting a sense of emptiness in her life. Alexei, disillusioned and past his prime, embodies the theme of washed-up Cold War operatives trying to find purpose.
Ghost and Taskmaster have a new look, who are probably the least-liked characters on the team, yet. Taskmaster probably won’t get the comic-book accuracy treatment (which is very popular) but it is still miles better than Black Widow.
As Yelena is recruited for a mission, she’s joined by other morally ambiguous characters: Taskmaster, Ghost, U.S. Agent, and Bucky Barnes. The CIA, now under Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s control, appears to orchestrate their efforts. The group’s dynamic hints at tension and inner conflict, adding layers to their already complex backstories.
The trailer also teases a mysterious character named Bob, later revealed to be the Sentry, a superhuman with an overwhelming power that could easily challenge the team’s might. The inclusion of Sentry indicates that the Thunderbolts are not just facing internal chaos but a potentially cosmic-level threat.
The trailer ends with Bucky donning his metal arm and chasing after Yelena, Red Guardian, Taskmaster, and Ghost. It will be interesting to see how the team comes together and who will be the “main” villain, apart from the Sentry.
Watch the full trailer here:
A particularly intriguing detail is the asterisk in the Thunderbolts title, which fans speculate may suggest an alternate or darker version of the Avengers, possibly leading to a future reveal about the team’s true nature.
Thunderbolts* Cast
- Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova (White Widow)
- David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov (Red Guardian)
- Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes
- Wyatt Russell as John Walker (U.S. Agent)
- Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr (Ghost)
- Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
Thunderbolts is set to hit theaters in May 2025, and it closely ties into Captain America: Brave New World, which will be released earlier that year.