Overview

• Marvel has updated the title of 'Thunderbolts*' to 'The New Avengers' across promotional materials, including social media and billboards, three days after its release.
• Disney clarified that the asterisk in the original title denoted a subtitle rather than a full rebranding, revealed as 'The New Avengers' in the film's final credits.
• The rebranding connects the film to the upcoming 'Avengers: Doomsday,' scheduled for release in May 2026, positioning it as a narrative bridge to Phase Six.
• Despite a solid $74M domestic opening, Marvel is leveraging the 'Avengers' branding to potentially sustain ticket sales in the coming weeks.
• Screenwriter Eric Pearson revealed that earlier drafts of the film included Red Hulk and Bill Foster, but these characters were removed to streamline the story and focus on the core team.