Marvel’s New Avengers Spoilers Defended by Disney Exec After Aggressive Thunderbolts* Marketing

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People who watched the movie “Thunderbolts” during its premiere weekend discovered the significance of the asterisk in the title. In reality, this team was a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe known as the New Avengers. This revelation took many by surprise, but an even bigger shock came when Marvel Studios exposed the twist prematurely in promotional materials released shortly after “Thunderbolts” hit theaters. Although it stirred controversy, Disney has stood behind their decision. In a conversation with Empire for their preview coverage of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps“, Ryan Stankevich, the studio’s senior vice president of marketing, explained the move, stating that many fans appreciated it.

Stankevich stated that discourse is a significant element of the Marvel fan experience. Although some individuals voiced their criticisms, many more appreciated its cleverness. Interestingly, some fans even complained about not featuring *The New Avengers* with a ‘z’! However, we embrace constructive discussion.

Prior to the launch of the film “Thunderbolts”, various interpretations circulated regarding the asterisk (*) in its title. The movie’s entire duration passed before the asterisk’s meaning was finally unveiled. Towards the end, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine publicly introduced the team – comprising Yelena, Red Guardian, John Walker, Bucky Barnes, Ghost, and Bob – as the New Avengers, a move aimed at salvaging her reputation after the Sentry incident. In the “Thunderbolts” post-credits scene, viewers learned that Sam Wilson had assembled his own Avengers squad, expressing concern about the New Avengers being active.

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I was taken aback when Marvel, known for its secrecy, decided to shake things up only a few days after the release of “Thunderbolts”. What came as a surprise was the official renaming of the film to “The New Avengers” on promotional materials such as posters.

In certain aspects, featuring *The New Avengers* in promotional strategies mirrors Marvel’s unconventional marketing tactics employed for *Thunderbolts*. Before the movie hit theaters, the studio opted for an innovative approach, such as a trailer mimicking A24’s style and a Wheaties-style poster. However, it’s not hard to comprehend why some fans might have felt frustrated by this. Not everyone can watch a film on its opening weekend, and while many have grown adept at avoiding spoilers on social media, fewer anticipated official Marvel channels to be the source of such surprises. Typically, during a movie’s initial run, Marvel’s social media accounts are cautious about posting anything too revealing in an attempt to preserve the film’s suspense. The twist in *The New Avengers* was something some viewers wished to discover on their own.

In a more substantial spoiler move, Marvel seemingly revealed key events of the upcoming Thunderbolts* during their blockbuster livestream event for Avengers: Doomsday*. While Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Sebastian Stan, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, and Lewis Pullman were all confirmed for Doomsday*, the absence of Olga Kurylenko from this lineup hinted that her Taskmaster character might not survive in Thunderbolts*. It would have been thrilling to keep the New Avengers’ debut unspoiled, but fans can still look forward to enjoying the film despite the spoiler.

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2025-06-05 17:18