In the premiere of Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts, released on May 2, 2025, there are several hidden gems that might have slipped past your notice. This new superhero team, consisting of reformed villains and antiheroes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was assembled with the mission to protect New York City from a threat known as the Void. Although Thunderbolts didn’t enjoy great success at global box offices, it has been highly praised for its fresh take and high production quality – attributes that are partly due to its nods to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s rich history.
As a movie enthusiast, I must say that in the exhilarating world of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the film titled “Thunderbolts” truly stands out. This action-packed extravaganza brings back Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Sebastian Stan, Hannah John-Kamen, and Wyatt Russell to reprise their captivating roles from earlier MCU films, but this time with more depth and development than ever before.
The story revolves around their collective mission to thwart the sinister plot of Robert Reynolds, played by Lewis Pullman, whose menacing alter ego, the Void, threatened to ensnare everyone in New York City within their most harrowing nightmares. The outcome? A triumphant victory for our heroes, who were subsequently unveiled to the world as the New Avengers.
What sets “Thunderbolts” apart is its plethora of Marvel references, some of which might escape even the keenest of eyes on a first or second watch. These hidden gems are a delightful treat for fans, adding an extra layer of excitement to this already gripping tale.
7) Marvel Studios’ Opening Logo Comprises Thunderbolts & Sentry Comics
As a devoted cinephile, I’ve always been captivated by the grandeur of Marvel Studios’ openings, but this time around with Thunderbolts, they took it to another level. Instead of just the usual fanfare and logo reveal, they threw in some surprising twists. You probably caught the Void’s shadow over the Marvel logo, but you might have missed the nods to various Marvel Comics issues that replaced scenes from the MCU’s history.
In this year’s Sentry (Vol. 4), all the way back in 2008 with Mighty Avengers, as well as the runs of Sentry (Vol. 2) from 2006, Thunderbolts (Vol. 6) from 2023, Sentry (Vol. 3) from 2018, the collaboration between Sentry and Fantastic Four in 2001’s Sentry/Fantastic Four, 2010’s Siege, 2009’s Dark Avengers, and even the original Sentry run from 2000 were all woven into the Marvel Studios logo. All these stories revolve around the Sentry, the Thunderbolts, or the Void, providing a rich tapestry of comic book lore for us fans to dissect and appreciate.
6) “A” From the Battle of New York & Other Memorabilia
Meanwhile, members of the Thunderbolts clash within OXE Group’s underground lair in Utah. On the other hand, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) organizes a grand soiree for New York high society, formerly known as Avengers Tower. During this gathering, items such as Loki’s scepter, Chitauri handcuffs, one of Captain America’s suits, and other Avengers artifacts come to light. However, the highlight of the evening is a colossal “A” sign that once formed part of the word “STARK” on the tower’s exterior – a symbol destroyed during the Battle of New York, now restored as a tribute to the Avengers.
5) “Who’s This Old Santa?”
The first time Thunderbolts encounter Valentina in the old Avengers Tower’s bar area (now Watchtower), the CIA director queries the identity of Alexei Shostakov’s Red Guardian (Harbour), as they supposedly haven’t crossed paths before. Valentina seems to allude to Harbour’s recent acclaimed role as a Viking Santa Claus in last year’s “Violent Night”, by asking, “Who’s this old Saint Nick?”, given his long beard that resembled a superhero Santa. However, in the Thunderbolts’ final scenes, he has shortened his beard to just a moustache and goatee.
4) Bucky Uses His Winter Soldier Weapon
In the comic series “Thunderbolts,” Bucky Barnes (Stan) officially joins a superhero team, holding two unique roles: one as a member of the team and another as a United States Congressman. Unexpectedly, Bucky decides to apprehend fellow Thunderbolt members using a weapon reminiscent of his Winter Soldier days. This weapon was previously used by him to take down Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” back in 2014. The weaponry, once again, causes an explosion that mirrors the one it created when destroying Red Guardian’s limo, leaving Bucky in a surprising position of wielding his past as the Winter Soldier.
3) The New Avengers Are Sponsored By Real-World Brands
The post-credit sequence of Thunderbolts takes place 14 months after the team was unveiled as the New Avengers, and it’s revealed that they are embroiled in a legal battle with Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) over the use of the Avengers name. To resolve this issue, Alexei proposes a rebranding to the New Avengerz, and he flaunts his new jumpsuit inspired by NASCAR, adorned with real-world sponsors such as Barbasol, Xbox, Tide, Heineken Zero, ampm, and Wheaties. These brands have previously collaborated with Marvel in promotional campaigns, and Wheaties plays a humorous role in the New Avengers’ partnership in Thunderbolts’ entertaining mid-credits scene.
2) The Void’s Power Was Inspired By Hiroshima
In a chilling turn of events for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Void’s assault on New York was one of the most frightening occurrences, as he held the ability to forcefully pull anyone into his ominous void dimension, turning them into dark shadows that blanketed the city. As director Jake Schreier revealed to Collider, these haunting shadows were inspired by the seared shadows left behind from the Hiroshima bombing, further amplifying their striking visual impact and underscoring the terror they evoked. This poignant inspiration only serves to heighten the spine-tingling atmosphere surrounding The Void, making him all the more terrifying.
1) The Avengers Theme Returns
In the movie Thunderbolts, the music composers Son Lux creatively and uniquely wove each character’s theme throughout the film. At the climax, as Valentina unveils the New Avengers to the public, a familiar version of the original Avengers theme resonates. This particular tune has been featured in numerous Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) productions, but its full rendition hasn’t been heard since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. It was a delightful surprise to catch this iconic theme again, with only a year left until the Avengers, New Avengers, and other heroes join forces against Doctor Doom in the upcoming movie, Avengers: Doomsday.
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2025-09-01 21:43