Marvel’s Thunderbolts: A new super-team emerges at Comic-Con

A surprise debut at San Diego Comic-Con

Marvel’s latest ensemble, the Thunderbolts, made a striking entrance at San Diego Comic-Con, captivating fans with a sneak peek and a lively panel discussion. The event, held in the iconic Hall H, featured the entire cast alongside Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige. Among the highlights was David Harbour, who appeared in full costume as Red Guardian, much to the amusement of his co-stars who had not dressed up. Harbour humorously chided them, exclaiming, “Oh my god, you guys didn’t dress up? Guys! Guys! I sent that email! We all said we were going to dress up because it was Comic-Con!” He then made a quick exit to change.

Insights and revelations from the panel

While the panel kept many details under wraps, a few intriguing tidbits were shared:

• Kevin Feige clarified that the group’s name isn’t linked to Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, explaining that comic book writers sometimes reuse names.
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus described her character, Valentina, as someone who craves power and control, adding, “She wants to kick ass in the Marvel universe.”
• Wyatt Russell humorously addressed his character John Walker’s controversial nature, saying, “Everyone is going to love me! It’s really fun to be with a group of actors that you have a good time with.”
• Sebastian Stan reflected on his long journey in the MCU, starting with 2011’s “Captain America: The First Avenger,” and expressed gratitude for the experience.
• David Harbour praised his “Black Widow” co-star Florence Pugh, calling her “electric to work with” and highlighting her warmth, humor, and depth.
• Florence Pugh acknowledged the stunt team, stating, “We all like feeling cool doing stunts,” and described the movie as “wonderful, bizarre, and brave.”

Exclusive first-look footage

The panel concluded with an exclusive first-look at the film, showcasing some of the promised stunt work. Highlights included a fight scene between Russell’s Walker and Pugh’s Yelena, as well as action sequences featuring the rest of the cast. The footage left fans eagerly anticipating the film’s release.

A closer look at the Thunderbolts

Set to release on May 5, 2025, Thunderbolts will be the final film of Phase Five. Based on Kurt Busiek’s comic series, the movie follows a team of mostly reformed supervillains conducting covert operations for the U.S. government. The group bears similarities to DC’s “Suicide Squad,” but with a PG-13 rating and led by Stan’s Winter Soldier, a reformed villain turned hero.

The cast and characters

The Thunderbolts ensemble includes:

• Sebastian Stan as Winter Soldier
• Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova
• David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian
• Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster
• Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost
• Wyatt Russell as John Walker
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
• Lewis Pullman as Sentry
• Geraldine Viswanathan and Harrison Ford as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross

Behind the scenes

The film is directed by Jake Schreier (“Paper Towns,” “Robot and Frank”) with a script by Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo.

Personal reflections for fans

For fans of cinema and TV series, Thunderbolts promises to be a thrilling addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The blend of reformed villains and covert operations offers a fresh take on the superhero genre. The cast’s chemistry and the film’s unique tone, described as “wonderful, bizarre, and brave,” suggest a movie that will stand out in the crowded superhero landscape.

Explore more

For those eager to dive deeper, check out the trailers and information pages for the mentioned movies and series:

• Thunderbolts
• Captain America: The First Avenger
• Black Widow
• Ant-Man and the Wasp
• The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
• Top Gun: Maverick
• Captain America: Brave New World

As we await the release of Thunderbolts, the anticipation builds for what promises to be a standout film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.