Revealed: How Thunderbolts’ Story Shifted to Form the New Avengers in the MCU!

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HEED THIS: This piece contains SPOILERS from ‘Thunderbolts’. It appears that ‘Thunderbolts’ has breathed life into the morally ambiguous Marvel Cinematic Universe characters, and it has been revealed that there were numerous alterations to the main narrative. Abounding with Marvel references and Easter eggs in ‘Thunderbolts’, the latest Marvel Studios production unveiled a new team within the superhero series. Interestingly, instead of being recognized as the Thunderbolts, the Phase 5 climax sets the stage for the New Avengers.

In a candid chat with ScreenRant’s Joe Deckelmeier, “Thunderbolts” screenwriter Eric Pearson discussed various aspects of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s latest adventure. He revealed ideas and elements that didn’t end up in the final theater release version of “Thunderbolts”, but were part of its development process. As Pearson delved into the creative changes experienced during the production of “Thunderbolts”, he disclosed some intriguing insights.

ScreenRant: Intriguing! It’s said that the initial script had similarities with Die Hard. Can you tell me which aspects of that early draft ended up in the final movie, and what were the most significant changes during the creative process?

Eric Pearson: We spent a significant amount of time in Vault Level 5, encountering a few additional challenges along the way. The experience was reminiscent of a corporate team-building weekend, with trust exercises and ropes courses. It took us a bit longer to reach our destination, and we didn’t fully emerge until around the end of Act 2.

One piece of advice I received when presenting my project was, ‘It should seem more intimate, limited, and earthbound.’ I suggested a Die Hard-style approach, but that was risky. Instead, they asked for it to remain confined initially, with our climax happening elsewhere. Eventually, it evolved into ‘Let’s have the main events take place before reaching the midpoint of the story.’

When Jake joined in, he aimed to amplify that part slightly and include a few scenic road trip sequences. At one point, the road trip seemed excessively prolonged. Some outlandish concepts were proposed as well. I don’t believe we filmed the extended road trip sequence. Instead, production kept things relatively concise.

Let me offer you an extreme scenario. In one instance, they drove towards what appeared to be a refuge at a home, but it turned out to be the morning after a teenager had hosted a wild party there. He was still recovering from his hangover and happened to be their acquaintance for a brief moment because he had damaged the house and was simply awaiting punishment.

At that juncture, Bucky stepped in to block them. However, it seemed superfluous since it slowed down the pace of the movie at a crucial moment when tension was building up. To make matters worse, we found ourselves spending five full pages engaging with an unrelated child.

After over a year of pondering the significance of the asterisk next to “Thunderbolts”, ScreenRant also reached out to Pearson to ask if he knew that it referred to the creation of the New Avengers. When asked about whether the characters selected for “Thunderbolts” were chosen with the New Avengers in mind, rather than adhering to the original Thunderbolts team roster, Pearson responded as follows:

Eric Pearson: It was Kevin Feige who initially conceived the idea for the new Avengers project when he first presented it to me. At that point, I had only laid out the basic structure of the movie, but as I reached the end, there was always that scene with Yelena appearing just behind Valentina, stating, “Now you work for us.” This scene signified Valentina being compelled to introduce the Thunderbolts.

In my experience pitching at Marvel, feedback usually comes in many forms. However, what stood out to me in this case was when Kevin suggested, “I believe they should become the New Avengers. Let her introduce them as the New Avengers.” At that moment, I felt like if that’s the only suggestion I’m receiving for this project, it’s a sign that the idea is strong and I should take advantage of the opportunity – essentially, it was a green light to cash in and make a quick exit.

I wasn’t clear on how that fit into the overall plan, but as a screenwriter, I’m focusing on developing the narrative for Yelena, Bucky, Bob, Val, and Walker. It’s my goal to craft their story, so any decisions regarding them becoming the New Avengers is someone else’s concern further down the line.

It seems we had a lengthy debate about the use of Capital ‘N’ versus lowercase ‘n’. Were they the fresh Avengers or the New Avengers? In the end, we opted for ‘New Avengers’ with a capital ‘N’. However, our team composition has generally remained consistent.

In an earlier draft, both Bill Foster and Bucky were not included. However, it seems that Bill Foster was added to the storyline with Ghost, but Bucky was absent in the initial script. It’s possible that Bill Foster was initially written into the script, only to be replaced later on. That sums it up.

What The Thunderbolts* Writer’s Story And New Avengers Comments Mean

According to Pearson’s remarks, it seems that Marvel Studios aimed to create something distinct with the Thunderbolts team in their comics lore. Their intention was not only to offer something new for the franchise but also to ensure viewers understand this movie is a significant shift. Instead of overloading the story with excessive spectacle, they opted for an emotional narrative that resonates deeply, as shown in the Thunderbolts film’s conclusion. Even when dealing with powerful characters like Sentry and The Void, the Thunderbolts movie maintained a relatable and intimate tone.

In a nod to fans who have longed for the return of the Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it seems that Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios are subtly hinting at the revival of the Avengers with the Thunderbolts. Though the post-credits scene hints at some resistance towards them becoming the New Avengers, it’s refreshing to see the MCU revisiting the Avengers discussion. According to Pearson, despite dealing with numerous alterations, the ultimate story for Thunderbolts was worth the effort in the end.

Our Take On The Thunderbolts* Writer’s Story And New Avengers Comments

Although a Thundebolts 2 movie hasn’t been established within this film, Pearson’s account of the intricate storyline development for these characters and its implications for the New Avengers promises an exciting anticipation for viewers when they appear in the 2026 Avengers: Doomsday. With Avengers: Doomsday currently being filmed, it remains to be discovered how the New Avengers will figure into the multiverse-centric narrative. Following the occurrences of Thunderbolts, fans will have to stay tuned to find out what becomes of these characters when they reemerge in the MCU a year from now.

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2025-05-05 19:51