Thunderbolts Breaks Up MCU’s Best Bromance: Bucky & Sam Feud Renewed

Although primarily known for its action-packed sequences, the Marvel Cinematic Universe places significant emphasis on developing its characters’ emotional well-being. It is unusual for a movie in this universe to leave its heroes in a worse state than they were initially, but when it does happen, there’s usually a comforting presence by their side. The importance of friendships has been a recurring theme since the very start of the MCU, and the upcoming film, Thunderbolts, introduces several new friendships. As with many movies that revolve around villains joining forces, it takes time for the members of the Thunderbolts team to bond. However, once they do, their relationships prove unbreakable after having faced a trial by fire together.

The formation of the new squad is such a thrill that one might inadvertently disregard potential conflicts it may stir up. However, the movie “Thunderbolts” acknowledges this issue in its post-credits scene, hinting that the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most enduring friendship has come to an end.

WARNING: Spoilers below for Thunderbolts*

The Thunderbolts Destroy a Years-Long MCU Friendship

Following Bob’s rescue from The Void and New York’s salvation, the Thunderbolts shift their focus towards Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who is responsible for the city’s peril. However, she’s swift in her maneuvers, presenting the team to the media as the “New Avengers.” This surprising announcement leaves everyone in shock, but since each member of the Thunderbolts desires redemption, they accept their new identities as Earth’s Superheroes. They work together for more than a year before the events portrayed in the post-credits scene, where a disagreement about Sam Wilson (also known as Captain America) arises among team members.

In the concluding scenes of “Captain America: Brave New World,” Sam follows Thunderbolt Ross’s suggestion and initiates the formation of a new Avengers squad. He begins by enlisting his comrade, Joaquin Torres, as part of the team, even though he doesn’t disclose other potential members yet. However, Sam moves slowly, and before he can fully mobilize, his friend Bucky and the New Avengers take action first. A disagreement arises over the use of the name “Avengers,” with Sam asserting ownership and forcing the ex-Thunderbolts into a frenzy. Bucky mentions that he had discussed this matter with Sam, but their conversation didn’t go smoothly, which is surprising given their friendly relationship in “Brave New World.” It seems that Sam feels let down by his friend and doesn’t mind returning things to the status quo of years past.

Bucky & Sam Have Been at Odds Before in the MCU

Despite numerous instances where Bucky attempts to harm Sam during Hydra’s control in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, their relationship has been marked by disagreements. In “Captain America: Civil War”, their animosity persists due to Sam’s lingering resentment from the past, and although they manage to reconcile in “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame”, their conflict resumes in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”. Bucky finds issue with Sam relinquishing Captain America’s shield and allowing John Walker to take it. However, their joint efforts to reclaim the shield and prevent a super-soldier army from causing significant damage help foster a stronger bond between them. Regrettably, Bucky joining the New Avengers, whether his decision was voluntary or not, sets back their progress and returns the heroes to square one for now.

In the upcoming movie titled “Avengers: Doomsday,” it’s expected that there will be some tension given that two Avengers teams may simultaneously be active. This situation mirrors the start of “Avengers: Infinity War” where Iron Man and Captain America led separate groups to confront Thanos and his forces, which didn’t turn out so great for Marvel Cinematic Universe’s heroes. To avoid a similar disastrous outcome, it would be wise for Sam and Bucky to reconcile and present a united force before the situation escalates further.

Thunderbolts* is in theaters now.

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2025-05-05 01:43