Why Is There an Asterisk in ‘Thunderbolts*’?

Be aware! The information in this post could reveal key plot points for Thunderbolts. There’s no asterisk to indicate ‘spoilers’, but they are certainly spoilery. Proceed with caution, as you might be exposing yourself to potential storyline reveals.

After much anticipation, Marvel officially unveiled plans for a Thunderbolts movie at San Diego Comic-Con in the summer of 2022. The title they chose was indeed Thunderbolts. Later, during Disney’s D23 convention a few months later, they disclosed the team roster for this film: Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, Winter Soldier, Ghost, Taskmaster, U.S. Agent, and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.

Subsequently, at CinemaCon 2024, Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige disclosed that the movie now bears the name “Thunderbolts,” denoted by an asterisk.

“We won’t talk about the asterisk until after release,” he added.

Well, Thunderbolts* is now in wide release. So let’s talk about it.

When Feige made his announcement, I ventured a guess – drawing solely from my extensive comic book reading experience – that the asterisk might signify the flexibility of Marvel’s Thunderbolts team throughout the years. Notably, at one point, this name was used for a team of villains working under Norman Osborn, on behalf of the U.S. Government. Over time, Osborn amassed more power and transformed the Thunderbolts into his personal version of the Avengers, comprised of heroes who appeared familiar but were actually disguised villains. For instance, his “Spider-Man” was actually Venom, while his “Hawkeye” was Bullseye wearing a Hawkeye costume.

Back in 2024, it struck me that the asterisk signified their transformation from the Thunderbolts to the latest incarnation of the Avengers by the film’s end. I was spot on!

Never ever doubt me.

In the comic book series “Thunderbolts,” a quartet of morally questionable mercenaries – Yelena, U.S. Agent, Ghost, and Taskmaster – find themselves taking on individual assignments handed to them by Valentina, who is under scrutiny from Congress due to her illegal superhuman experimentation. These four characters are involved because they have carried out unauthorized black ops for Valentina in the past. However, these missions turn out to be a trap.

When Red Guardian arrives (following Taskmaster’s demise), the team is already in hiding, and they start jokingly calling themselves the Thunderbolts – a name inspired by Yelena’s youth soccer team who never won a game. Symbolically speaking! If they can track down Valentina and bring her to justice, perhaps they can regain some semblance of their former lives.

However, by the movie’s conclusion, Valentina, a skilled manipulator, manages to evade arrest once more. Rather than submitting to the Thunderbolts, she orchestrates an impromptu press conference where she presents them as “The New Avengers.” She reveals that the clandestine research she has been carrying out in recent years was actually preparatory work for establishing this new squadron of officially endorsed superheroes.

A couple of minutes pass, and then the movie concludes, showing a title card on screen. Moments later, “Thunderbolts” with an asterisk transforms into “The New Avengers.

The nickname “The New Avengers” was coined in Marvel Comics back in 2005. Unlike the Thunderbolts from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this team had a nearly entirely distinct roster. However, they originated under similar circumstances. When the comic-book version of the Avengers faced numerous setbacks and disbanded, a critical situation led to a new ensemble of superheroes joining forces. They chose to carry on the Avengers legacy by adopting the name and committing to work together as a united team.

Originally known as “The Avengers” among themselves, this team was officially called “The New Avengers” in their comic book. The first roster included Captain America, Iron Man, Luke Cage, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Wolverine, Echo, and Sentry – the character who has so far been part of both the Marvel Comics’ “New Avengers” and the Marvel Cinematic Universe version.

The “New Avengers” comic series became incredibly popular among readers, prompting Marvel to produce numerous Avengers titles at once. Post the events depicted in “Civil War”, various groups started referring to themselves as the Avengers. The “New Avengers” comics featured characters who opposed government registration, such as Captain America and Hawkeye, while a separate title called “The Mighty Avengers” followed a team of heroes who were officially recognized by the U.S. government, including Captain Marvel, Black Widow, and Wasp.

In a parallel scenario to the MCU’s Thunderbolts, both teams believed they were the authentic Avengers and argued over the title. This dispute mirrors discussions seen in the Thunderbolts post-credits scene. This ongoing narrative ultimately spawned the Dark Avengers comic series, which starred a team resembling the Thunderbolts, with Norman Osborn as the armored Iron Patriot leading this comic book group.

Who will have the rights to the Avengers team in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? I suppose we’ll find out in the upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release in cinemas on May, 2026, without any asterisks.

The Best Performances in Marvel Movies

15. Jeff Goldblum, Thor: Ragnarok

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are numerous extraterrestrial characters, and one that stands out as the most convincingly alien is Jeff Goldblum’s character, the Grandmaster, from Thor: Ragnarok. He’s oddly charming with his peculiar staffs, space DJ gear, and humorous way of saying “Asgard.” Goldblum’s delivery after saying “Time works differently here. On any other planet, I’d be millions of years old, but here on Sakaar…” is a masterpiece.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe features various alien characters, and among them, the one that seems most authentically extraterrestrial is Jeff Goldblum’s character, the Grandmaster, from Thor: Ragnarok. He exudes an odd yet appealing charm with his peculiar accessories, space DJ equipment, and humorous pronunciation of “Asgard.” One of Goldblum’s lines, “Time works differently here. On any other world, I’d be millions of years old, but here on Sakaar…” is a true piece of art.

14. Iman Vellani, The Marvels

Almost all that prevents The Marvels from dwelling at the bottom of my Marvel Cinematic Universe film rankings is the captivating performance of Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel. She finds herself involved with Captain Marvel, then embarks on a cosmic voyage alongside her and fellow space hero, Monica Rambeau. (It’s high time Monica got a code name.) While the concept holds potential, the presentation was overwhelming and reliant on gimmicks, as the heroes are frequently shifting places due to their peculiar powers. Nevertheless, Vellani seems genuinely enjoying herself; in a film as chaotic and cluttered as this one, that’s a remarkable display of acting skill.

13. Stanley Tucci, Captain America: The First Avenger

In “Captain America: The First Avenger,” an exceptional ensemble of actors graces the screen, led by Chris Evans as Steve Rogers. Other notable cast members include Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, and Toby Jones. However, among this stellar group, my personal favorite is Stanley Tucci, who plays Dr. Erskine, the scientist responsible for creating the Super Soldier Serum and choosing Rogers as his initial test subject. Typically, Marvel scientists are either reckless innovators or lunatics. Dr. Erskine stands out, serving as a moral compass within the film and possibly the entire Marvel Universe. His eloquent discourse on the distinction between virtue and power is one of the most poignant quiet scenes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

12. Michael Peña, Ant-Man

The most memorable scenes in the first two “Ant-Man” films are not linked to the main character or his ability to shrink. Instead, they feature Michael Peña as Scott Lang’s friend Luis, who delivers lengthy, humorous monologues that are comically lip-synced by other characters during these Rube Goldberg-like speeches. Each time Peña delivers one of these performances, it’s side-splittingly funny, and the rest of his acting is equally captivating. The “Quantumania” film was noticeably less enjoyable due to his absence.

11. Sam Rockwell, Iron Man 2

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sam Rockwell’s character Justin Hammer has been absent since a short film in 2014. I find this disappointing as he was my preferred antagonist from Phase One of Marvel, mainly due to Rockwell’s eccentric portrayal that embodied the essence of villainy through his peculiar spray tan and amusing dance moves. It would be delightful to see Justin Hammer return!

10. Andrew Garfield, Spider-Man: No Way Home

Even though Marvel maintained they weren’t involved, it wasn’t entirely unexpected when Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield appeared in “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” What took us by surprise was the magnitude of their roles. Particularly Garfield, who seemed deeply committed to providing a resolution for his portrayal of Peter Parker. His Peter, whose third “Amazing Spider-Man” movie never materialized, didn’t get to explore fully how he would react to Gwen Stacy’s death. In “No Way Home,” he channeled all those unrealized emotions. When he rescues Zendaya’s MJ and then becomes visibly emotional… that’s some top-notch acting, right there.

9. Hugh Jackman, Deadpool & Wolverine

In essence, Deadpool and Wolverine primarily serve to satirize superhero films, poking fun at themselves as well. However, it boasts an outstanding performance by Hugh Jackman, who is often regarded as the finest actor in comic book movie history. He once again offers a poignant, tormented portrayal of Logan, a mutant burdened with immortality and a conscience laden with questionable deeds that he believes renders him irredeemable. It’s unlikely Jackman surpasses his performance in Logan, but the fact that this role seems more than just a money-making venture is nothing short of remarkable for a mutant.

8. Clark Gregg, The Avengers

In the initial phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it wasn’t one of the superheroes who stole the spotlight; instead, it was the human character from S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Coulson, who appeared in virtually all their films, inviting them to join the Avengers Initiative. Clark Gregg’s portrayal of Agent Coulson added a touch of humanity to each scene, making viewers feel connected to this relatable character as they watched Marvel’s gods, iron men, and sentinels of liberty. It’s no surprise that Marvel made Gregg the focus of its first television series, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., even after his death in The Avengers.

7. Tom Hiddleston, Thor

Tom Hiddleston’s Marvel performances are consistently impressive, making him one of the most reliable actors in their entire cast lineup. This excellence dates back to the very first “Thor” film in 2011, where he introduced Loki’s cunning deceit, his resentment, his power-hungry ambition, and his desperate yearning for approval from his adoptive father. Since then, the character has grown even more complex, continually reappearing to cause turmoil for his powerful brother Thor.

6. John Brolin, Avengers: Infinity War

It’s important to acknowledge that the creation of Thanos should be attributed to more than just Josh Brolin, who provided the motion capture and voice for the character. The visual effects team played a significant role in shaping his performance, and the script writers were instrumental in developing this complex villain who amasses almost divine power with the intention of eliminating half the universe to save the other half. However, the collective effort between these creative minds resulted in Marvel’s most compelling antagonist, one who is not only terrifying but also has intriguing motivations. While I’m not endorsing his actions, he certainly presents a persuasive argument.

5. Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther

There’s a particular rationale behind Marvel’s choice not to replace Chadwick Boseman following his untimely demise in 2020 from colon cancer. Replicating the essence of T’Challa, the insightful king of Wakanda and the iconic superhero Black Panther, is an impossible task for any other actor. In the rich ensemble cast of Black Panther, Boseman stood out with his unyielding strength. Regardless of who assumes the role of Black Panther in future projects, it’s undeniable that there was only ever one T’Challa and one Chadwick Boseman.

4. Bradley Cooper, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

In the Marvel comics, Rocket Raccoon initially made an appearance in just ten issues over three decades. However, his role significantly transformed from a secondary character to a scene-stealer and eventually one of Marvel’s most emotionally profound heroes during the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. His backstory is heartbreaking, so much so that it makes Spider-Man’s complaints seem trivial. A significant factor contributing to Rocket’s endearing nature, even at his grumpiest, is Bradley Cooper’s exceptional voice acting. This talent brings a profound sense of wounded humanity, particularly in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which delves into Rocket’s harrowing past and places him at the heart of the Guardians’ narrative.

Rocket Raccoon, who was only seen in ten Marvel comics during his first thirty years, changed from a minor character to a scene-stealer over the Guardians of the Galaxy series. He became one of Marvel’s most emotional heroes due to a tragic backstory that outdoes Spider-Man’s complaints. One reason we love Rocket is because of Bradley Cooper’s voice acting, which gives this space raccoon a lot of human feelings, especially in Guardians Vol. 3, where we learn about his tough past and see him play a crucial role in the Guardians’ story.

3. Florence Pugh, Thunderbolts*

Marvel will persist as it identifies fresh, gifted performers to step into the shoes of its original cast members. The departure of Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow was tough, but it hurts less now that Florence Pugh’s Yelena has taken over the role of the MCU’s new Black Widow. In her portrayal of Yelena, Pugh infuses a deep emotional depth into Yelena’s transition from disheartened mercenary to the leader of a band of anti-hero outlaws. She further enhances this transformation with a dark wit that fits Marvel’s famous one-liners perfectly.

2. Michael B. Jordan, Black Panther

In collaboration, filmmaker Ryan Coogler and actor Michael B. Jordan consistently produce noteworthy results. In the movie ‘Black Panther’, Jordan portrays the antagonist, yet his captivating screen presence and intricate character development compel viewers to become involved in Erik Killmonger’s mission to seize the Wakandan throne from T’Challa as part of a quest for vengeance. Remarkably, Jordan manages to execute this complex role under the character name Erik Killmonger, even expressing a heartfelt plea, “Mr. Killmonger was my father. Call me Erik!” (Please, please: Mr. Killmonger was my father. Call me Erik!)

1. Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man

It’s a valid inquiry: If director Jon Favreau hadn’t been able to persuade Marvel to cast Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark (and they initially had no interest in him), would the movie have succeeded at all? And if the movie failed, would that have marked the end of the Marvel Cinematic Universe right then and there? Downey helped shape the entire MCU by masking his troubled character with constant wit, using humor as a protective shield on his journey from ruthless arms dealer to selfless superhero. Although Tony is no longer around, Downey continues to serve as the benchmark against which all other MCU actors are compared.

2025-05-01 23:26