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Marvel's 'Thunderbolts*' Prepares for Release with Grounded Approach and Early Praise

The 36th MCU film shifts focus to flawed antiheroes and emotional depth, with Florence Pugh leading a standout ensemble cast.

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Overview

  • Set to release on May 2, 2025, 'Thunderbolts*' is the final film of Marvel's Phase Five, marking a strategic pivot toward smaller-scale, character-driven storytelling.
  • Florence Pugh reprises her role as Yelena Belova, with critics praising her nuanced performance and a daring stunt off the world’s second-tallest building, Merdeka 118.
  • The film assembles a team of morally complex antiheroes, including characters played by Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, and David Harbour, on a mission that forces them to confront their pasts.
  • Directed by Jake Schreier, 'Thunderbolts*' employs a gritty, grounded visual style that blends practical effects and high-quality VFX to create a more tangible world.
  • Early reviews highlight the film’s fresh emotional stakes and thematic focus on trauma, redemption, and identity, offering a distinctive departure from recent MCU entries.