Marvel Studios has just released exclusive new footage at CinemaCon from Thunderbolts*, showing the new MCU team bonding as they break into the former Avengers Tower. Starring Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and U.S. Agent, Thunderbolts* is set to be a very unique ensemble film as the dysfunctional team attempts to save New York from The Sentry, one of the Marvel Universe’s most powerful heroes/villains.
Screen Rant was present at Disney’s CinemaCon panel in Las Vegas, revealing some exciting updates and trailers for their upcoming projects. Here’s our description of the exclusive footage that was released for Thunderbolts*:
It begins with a shot of a city. Red Guardian and Bucky are riding in the front seat of a truck, bonding over the fact that they were messed up by the Soviet Union.
“What kind of super serum did you get?” – Red Guardian. “Hydra,” – Bucky. Red Guardian tries to convince Bucky that they should be co-leaders. “Are we there yet?” – Yelena Belova yells from the back of the truck.
In the back, Yelena, Walker, and Ghost are discussing their bodysuits, helmets, etc. Yelena is making fun of Walker for his “hat.” Red Guardian is asking Bucky what the plan is. “The plan?” He asks. Then we see their truck drive right into Val’s Watchtower (formerly Avengers Tower). Everyone gets out and starts fighting a dozen armed guards. Walker smashes one with his shield. Bucky nearly chokes one to death. Ghost uses her phasing powers we saw in Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Fontaine speaks on a loud speaker and says, “Guys, I left the door unlocked for you. Come up.” They didn’t know they weren’t supposed to fight everyone. Then we see them in the elevator (the same shot seen in the trailers). “Can you believe how many fights took place exactly here,” asks Fontaine as the team enters the main floor of the Watchtower/Avengers Tower.
Fontaine insults Bucky. Apparently he only lasted half a term as congressman. Fontaine calls U.S. Agent a “Junior Varsity Captain America,”. Then she calls Red Guardian an “Old Santa.” “You are all so adorable. I send you down there to kill each other, but instead you make nice and form a team.” Val then reveals she’s not alone as Sentry comes down the stairs.
More action shots and later they are all captured together, and then Yelena jumps off a building (Florence Pugh says it was the second-tallest building in the world). There’s lots of action, including Bucky using his arm to block a car that is barreling towards them.
Confirming Val’s Role (And Connection To The Sentry)
While previous Thunderbolts* trailers had teased as much, this new CinemCon footage definitively confirms that Val did not want the Thunderbolts to come together as a team. Instead, she wanted them to kill each other. This is likely because she now has Lewis Pullman’s “Bob” aka The Sentry, an incredibly powerful hero she believes can replace the Avengers. However, both the trailers and the original comics prove that Sentry has a dark side known as the Void, shown deleting civilians and covering the city in dark shadows.
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Once the Void emerges, The Thunderbolts will become New York’s best hope, if only because they’re already assembled and look to be Bob’s first targets. As teased by this new footage, Val will likely be the one who pits Sentry against the Thunderbolts to finish the job they couldn’t do themselves, only to ultimately lose control over the new MCU hero when his dark side takes over. Additionally, the new footage does a great job of showing the new team’s chemistry as they needlessly break into the old Avengers Tower.
It’s Going To Be A Wild Ride
Without a doubt, Thunderbolts* looks like it’s going to be a very fun and unique MCU entry. The opportunity to revisit existing characters fans love with a new status quo has some great potential, as this new footage continues to prove. The stakes are fascinating as well, seeing how they’ll have to fight a hero/villain who is WAY out of their league combined. It’s going to be very exciting to see how this new MCU team possibly survives to Avengers: Doomsday when Thunderbolts* releases in just under a month.
Thunderbolts* is set to release in theaters on May 2nd, 2025, from Marvel Studios.
Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
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May 2, 2025
- Director
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Jake Schreier
- Writers
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Lee Sung-jin, Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo
Upcoming MCU Movies