Thunderbolts: The second recast hits the film project

• “Thunderbolts” will be Marvel’s new anti-hero group hitting screens in 2025.
• The group consists of seven more or less good villains or ex-heroes.
• Due to the strikes in 2023, filming had to be postponed, which is why some actors had to leave the film project.

Thunderbolts is Marvel’s answer to DC’s Suicide Squad. In the Marvel comics, the team of seven supervillains joins forces to pretend to do heroic deeds. But as the story progresses, they reveal their true intentions. Now her story is about to be told on the big screen.

1. begin

2. Plot

3. occupation

4. production

5. Trailer

Thunderbolts: Launch

Even if we still have to wait a little longer for “Thunderbolts”, there is already an exact start date for the anti-hero spectacle. The action film is due on July 23, 2025 coming to US cinemas. In Germany we are usually allowed to go to the cinemas a day earlier.

Thunderbolts: Plot

“Thunderbolts” is about the anti-hero group of the same name from the Marvel Universe. The seven-person team consists of Yelena Belova/Black Widow, Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster, Bucky Barnes, John Walker/US Agent and Ava Starr/Ghost.

In the Marvel Comics, the anti-heroes the Thunderbolts made their first appearance together in “The Incredible Hulk” (Vol. 2) #449. The villains or disgraced heroes pretend to maintain law and order as a new team after the death of the Avengers and the disappearance of the Fantastic Four.

It is only in the final pages of the Thunderbolts comic that the group’s true intentions become known. Led by Baron Helmut Zemo, posing as Citizen V, the group planned to take over the world through mind control.

But the anti-heroes rebel against their leader and plan to become real heroes and win back the trust of the population. They turn away from Heinrich Zemo and find their new leader in Avenger Hawkeye.

Thunderbolts: Cast

The core team of the “Thunderbolts” consists of seven dubious heroes. The team’s leader is Bucky Barnes, who first appeared in Captain America: The First Avenger. The character is played by Sebastian Stan (“Pam & Tommy”). In “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” we first meet Wyatt Russell (“Monarch: Legacy of Monsters”) as John Walker aka US Agent. The US agent was actually supposed to be the successor to Steve Rogers’ Captain America, but his temperament and excessive ego disqualified him for this role.

Yelena Belova, Natasha Romanoff’s adopted sister, is a Black Widow like her sister. Her first appearance was in “Black Widow” where, like in “Thunderbolts”, she was played by Florence Pugh (“Dune 2”). The second “Black Widow” character to join the Thunderbolts is Alexei Shostakov as the Red Guardian. Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova’s foster father is portrayed by David Harbor (“Stranger Things”).

With Taskmaster, another “Black Widow” character finds his way to “Thunderbolts”. Antonia Dreykov, the daughter of General Dreykov, who was able to turn her into his mindless fighting machine after her death thanks to a chip, is played in the film by Olga Kurylenko (“Tyler Rake: Extraction 2”). Hannah John-Kamen (“Killjoys”) first debuted in “Ant-Man and the Wasp” as Ava Starr aka Ghost. She was the final villain in the film and fled after being temporarily cured of her ailments.

Contessa Valentina Allegra De Fontaine is the ex-wife of Martin Freeman’s (“The Hobbit”) Everett Ross and the CIA director in the MCU. She is played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Seinfeld”). It is unknown what crucial role a state employee will play for the Thunderbolts.

Harrison Ford (“Star Wars”, “Indiana Jones”) will take on the role of Thaddeus Ross. The role was played by William Hurt (“Goliath”) until the actor’s death. Ross will rise to become President of the United States in “Thunderbolts,” according to Marvel President Kevin Feige.

“The Walking Dead” star Steven Yeun was actually supposed to star in “Thunderbold.” The successful actor was supposed to portray Robert Reynolds aka Sentry. Due to postponements of filming due to the writers and actors strikes in 2023, Yeun had to step down.

I want to do a Marvel movie. It took many draft emails to ensure that I sincerely expressed how sorry I was that I had to resign.

Steven Yeun told Variety magazine

Yeun’s role will instead be taken over by Lewis Pullman (“A Question of Chemistry”). Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear”) also has to pull out of the film project due to scheduling reasons. Geraldine Viswanathan (“Miracle Workers”) will take her place.

Thunderbolts: Production

The idea for “Thunderbolts” came from Marvel author Kurt Busiek. The screenplay for the film comes from Eric Pearson (“Godzilla vs. Kong”). “Beef” creator Lee Sung Jin is also involved. Jake Schreier, who also worked on “Beef,” will direct.

Thunderbolts: Trailer

There is currently no trailer for “Thunderbolts”. As soon as anything changes, you will find out here.

The next anti-heroes who want to collect sympathy points

The most exciting heroes are the ones who don’t actually want to be heroes. That’s why we love sharp-tongued heroes who somehow want to save the world, even if they don’t always seem like it. In addition to DC’s “Suicide Squad”, Marvel now wants to send its own anti-hero squad into the race. However, it remains to be seen whether they will be able to create a believable story with already established characters.

Age rating	from years
Duration	0 minutes
Release	23. July 2025
Post-credit scene	✘

occupation

• Ayo Edebiri

  –

• David Harbour

  Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian

• Florence Pugh

  Yelena Belova

• Hannah John Kamen

  Ava Starr/Ghost

• Julia Louis Dreyfus

  Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine

• Olga Kurylenko

  Antonia Dreykov / Taskmaster

• Sebastian Stan

  Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier

• Wyatt Russell

  John Walker / US Agent

Who streams Thunderbolts?

Buy and rent Thunderbolts

genre

Direction

producers

• Brian Chapek
• Kevin Fig
• Louis D’Esposito
• Victoria Alonso

Production companies

• Marvel Studios

• Kevin Feige Productions

Other sources