Thunderbolts*’ Post-Credits Scene Hits Very Different Now It’s on Disney+

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The post-credit scene of “Thunderbolts” is a significant advancement for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but its impact has evolved since the film started streaming on Disney+. Initially released in cinemas back in May, the New Avengers film garnered a mix of responses from Marvel fans; it received positive critical reviews, boasting the highest Rotten Tomatoes score (88%) among all Phase 5 movies. However, it fell short at the box office, earning $382 million against an estimated production budget of $180 million. With its Disney+ premiere on August 27th, the movie now has an opportunity to reach its intended audience and is definitely worth a second watch for fans.

The post-credit scene of the film Thunderbolts introduces an intriguing twist regarding the name of the New Avengers team. It is revealed that Sam Wilson is taking legal action for copyright infringement. Moreover, it hints at the introduction of the Fantastic Four, as a spaceship with the number “4” emerges on Earth. Initially, this appeared to be a blatant teaser for The Fantastic Four: First Steps (which came out a couple of months later), and their appearance in Avengers: Doomsday. However, after the release of the Fantastic Four’s own movie, this connection takes on a deeper significance.

Thunderbolts*’ Post-Credits Scene Is Quietly Dark Setup For Avengers: Doomsday

In the movie “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” instead of a simple introduction where the team arrives on Earth-616 in “Avengers: Doomsday” with a cheerful atmosphere, there’s now an air of tension and impending doom surrounding their spaceship. This shift is due to the post-credits scene revealing the MCU’s Doctor Doom for the first time, who appears to have a keen interest in Franklin Richards. This interest seems to escalate into kidnapping Franklin, possibly to further his multiversal objectives. It’s likely that the aftermath of this situation is what we’ll see unfold in “Thunderbolts.

While in a theater, the story felt one way, but on Disney+, it has a different impact. Instead of portraying a grand entrance, it appears to be more of an emergency mission for Doom to have brought Franklin to Earth-616. This sets up the Fantastic Four’s arrival as a rescue operation for Reed Richards and Sue Storm to reclaim their son. The comic book series Thunderbolts hinted at this development, and even before it, there were signs that something significant would occur on the Fantastic Four’s Earth, necessitating a crossover. Given the extraordinary nature of Franklin’s birth and the realization that he might have been taken by Doom, this situation carries a much grimmer implication.

*Note: I couldn’t find the reference to “Thunderbolts” in any popular comic book series or known crossover event involving the Fantastic Four. It is possible that it was a typo or refers to a specific issue or event not mentioned in the original passage.

Well, it’s quite possible that the mysterious figure aboard the ship is none other than Doom, accompanied by Franklin (although it seems less probable). Whatever the case may be, the post-credits scene of Thunderbolts sets up not just a new team’s arrival but also what could potentially be the pivotal storyline for Avengers: Doomsday. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had its fair share of struggles with credit scenes leading nowhere and introducing characters who never reappeared (or may never do so again). Thunderbolts breaks this pattern, delivering one of the most significant post-credit scenes in years, a significance that has only grown since its release.

Thunderbolts* is currently available for streaming on Disney+, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is showing in cinemas, and Avengers: Doomsday is set to premiere on December 18th, 2026.

*Note that the asterisk (*) indicates a title or term that may require further explanation or context for full understanding.

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2025-08-28 00:15