“Thunderbolts*”, the highly anticipated, highly chaotic, and highly unlikely ensemble film closing Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is now showing in cinemas nationwide. Former villains and assassins take center stage as the MCU answers, ‘Now that the Avengers are gone, who will protect Earth?’
The former villains in their redemption era
This group of misfits, ticking timebombs that are completely ungovernable, sure don’t dream of becoming legendary heroes themselves. But redemption and a chance to restart? Those are more up their alley. After commiting crimes against humanity, these antiheroes now seek redemption by joining this dysfunctional team of misfits.
(L-R) Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian (David Harbour), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and John Walker (Wyatt Russell) in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2025 MARVEL.
Leading the pack is Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), a former assassin for General Dreykov under the Black Widow program, who is back on the battlefield fighting for a different cause. She is joined by Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), a former Hydra-brainwashed assassin who eventually turned his life around to fight for good as the congressman of Brooklyn and will be forced to jump back into action in “Thunderbolts*”.
The team also includes Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), a former super-soldier and father figure to Yelena and Natasha Romanoff, now seeking a second chance at purpose and relevance; Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), an elite and ruthless former S.H.I.E.L.D. operative driven by one goal: to harness quantum energy to stabilize her deteriorating condition; John Walker (Wyatt Russell), the disgraced former Captain America; and Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), General Dreykov’s daughter and ‘greatest weapon’, now fighting alongside the very enemies she was once programmed to destroy.
And the person responsible for assembling this chaotic team? Enter Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), whose real motives remain a mystery. Does she have ulterior and personal motives for assembling a team of assassins, or is she an earnest patriot who wants to ensure the safety of her people?
Comics Reimagined
Marvel Studios’ “Thunderbolts*” brings the iconic anti-hero team from page to screen, capturing the spirit of the 1997 comics. “There’s a rich history of source material, so it forced us to find a unique perspective,” says executive producer Brian Chapek. Director Jake Schreier, inspired by stories of broken teams and unlikely bonds, pitched a bold vision blending grit, humor, and emotion.
(L-R) Director Jake Schreier and Wyatt Russel on the set of Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2025 MARVEL.
From the outset, the creative team prioritized authenticity, focusing on characters’ inner battles as much as their external ones. “What’s fun in the story is that these people are a mystery to each other, and it’s ingrained in their DNA not to trust anyone,” Schreier explains. Stars like Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova) and David Harbour (Red Guardian) were drawn to the film’s exploration of trauma and redemption. The production likewise mirrors the raw, hard-edged world the “Thunderbolts*” inhabit, even constructing a fully built New York City block. As Schreier puts it, “Thunderbolts*” offers “not just big superhero action, but a real emotional resonance—the need for connection and the fight to overcome the darkness within.”
Don’t miss the clash of redemption, revenge, and raw power as this unlikely team fights not just their enemies, but their own dark pasts. “Thunderbolts*” delivers the chaos — and heart — in a way you’ve never seen before. Watch the ultimate antihero rumble unfold in Marvel Studios’ “Thunderbolts*,” now showing in cinemas nationwide! Book your tickets now: https://www.disney.ph/movies/thunderbolts
