The Thunderbolts are finally coming! Marvel has released the first trailer for the highly anticipated film, and fans can't stop laughing at Red Guardian saying, "Is that Bucky?" Following the first official trailer and positive reviews from hardcore fans, it's safe to say that Thunderbolts won't disappoint.
With a strong ensemble cast playing the famous Marvel antiheroes, the first official trailer arrived one month after a leaked video surfaced online. Interestingly, Thunderbolts does not bring back any traditional superheroes from the MCU, making it even more intriguing to see how these new figures will satisfy enthusiasts.
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is all set to recruit some formidable antiheroes to perform tasks that traditional superheroes won't. Does that mean they'll be protecting Earth? No way! Each member of the supervillain gang has a motive, and for that, they need to form a team.
Who are the gang members in Marvel's upcoming Thunderbolts?
Now that we know Thunderbolts is on its way to the big screen, the trailer has also confirmed the team members set to appear in the film. So, without taking much time, here’s the list of the morally ambiguous characters in the 2025 Marvel film:
1) Black Widow (Yelena Belova)
As seen in the 2021 film Black Widow, Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow finally met her sister, who takes her mantle in the comic books. Despite training in the Red Room, Johansson and Pugh's characters chose different paths.
After learning about Natasha's sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame, Yelena decided to team up with antiheroes in Phase 5, and now we will finally see her. Yelena Belova is an incredibly skilled assassin who barely needs help fighting her rivals.
2) Red Guardian (Alexei Shostakov)
David Harbour will be seen playing Alexei Shostakov, iconically known as Red Guardian. The trailer opens with Yelena knocking at the door, making her father let her in. Like Pugh, Harbour also appeared in Black Widow and was the father figure to Natasha and Yelena.
Following his imprisonment in the past, Alexei decided to take down the Red Room with the help of his daughters. Now, he's back with more powers and determination to help his fellow Thunderbolts.
3) Winter Soldier (Bucky Barnes)
Actor Sebastian Stan's Winter Soldier was once the best buddy of one of the original Avengers, Captain America. His name is Bucky Barnes, but fans enjoy calling him Winter Soldier after he was brainwashed by Hydra and transformed into an assassin.
Thankfully, Bucky was able to learn about the brainwashing after Captain America: Civil War, and now he's a part of the Thunderbolts team. The character also appeared at the end of the trailer when Alexei asks if he's Bucky.
4) Ghost (Ava Starr)
As seen in Ant-Man and the Wasp, Hannah John-Kamen's Ava Starr was considered one of the villains in the MCU Phase 3. The quantum accident gifted Ghost with the superpower to become intangible and possess great energy.
For fans who thought Ghost wouldn't return after her previous movie, she is all set to join the antihero team and contribute to significant chaos in the world. In the comics, Ava transforms into a villainous character after losing her beloved father.
5) Taskmaster (Antonia Dreykov)
Olga Kurylenko's Antonia Dreykov is another Black Widow cast member, making her way back to the big screen. In the 2021 film, Natasha believed she executed Antonia, but she was later revealed to have transformed into Taskmaster.
Similar to the above-mentioned characters, Taskmaster will also join forces with the antiheroes to handle the threat Valentina is concerned about. Before Antonia was set free at the end of Black Widow, she was controlled by her father, General Dreykov, through a chip inside her body.
6) US Agent (John Walker)
US Agent can be best described as the aggressive version of Captain America. As seen in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson didn't care to take on Captain America's mantle and ultimately went to Wyatt Russell's John Walker.
Walker's inability to control his rage and pride resulted in his firing, followed by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine transforming him into a US Agent. Walker now has the super-soldier serum inside his body, giving him powers and instability.
When will Marvel's Thunderbolts film come out?
Things "could get messy" in Marvel's Thunderbolts, set to hit theaters on May 2, 2025, featuring a new team against the world. It's been a few hours since the trailer came out, and it has gained more than two million views and counting.
The upcoming film will also focus on the relationship dynamics of the characters, as each of them has faced significant challenges in the past, and now they're introduced as a whole new team.
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