Spoilers ahead for the plot, ending, and post-credits scene in Thunderbolts*.
If you’re curious about the asterisk in the title Thunderbolts*, the film’s credits reveal its significance, leading to a post-credits scene that builds on this. Marvel’s last stinger, following Captain America: Brave New World, involved mere speculation about future team-building, but this time, we see substantial developments in a three-minute sequence that introduces the Fantastic Four to the MCU.
At the film’s conclusion, the surviving members of Thunderbolts — Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bob “The Sentry” Reynolds (Lewis Pullman), Congressman Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and John “Not quite Captain America” Walker (Wyatt Russell) — find themselves at a press conference next to CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Valentina, facing impeachment for her questionable operations, has been seeking a new defense project in light of the Avengers’ absence. In an unexpected twist, the Thunderbolts agree to keep her involvement in the villainous Void’s defeat quiet, in return for her rebranding them as “The New Avengers.” The credits then transition from “Thunderbolts*” to this new title, mirroring a comic book page tear.
For comic enthusiasts, the rebranding was anticipated. Following the 2005 comic event Civil War, adapted partially by the MCU, the Avengers divided into the “authentic” New Avengers and the government-sanctioned Mighty Avengers. The post-credits scene of Thunderbolts* suggests a similar division, with Valentina’s group taking on the former title.
Months later, the team, now in sleek black-and-red uniforms, discusses facing copyright challenges against Captain America/Sam Wilson, who has claimed the Avengers name for his own team. While the specific members of his team remain unclear, the Red Guardian has opted for a vividly colored uniform adorned with a “New Avengerz” logo to circumvent potential trademark issues.
Amid this, the team is alerted to a “space crisis” and an “extra-dimensional ship” entering the atmosphere. A satellite image reveals a retro rocket with a notable “4” logo — a nod to the upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps, set to the playful score by Michael Giacchino.
While the Fantastic Four don’t appear directly, it’s likely they are entering the main Marvel universe following their film, which seems set in a distinct reality. The upcoming Doomsday will pave the way for Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027, likely reflecting the impending crash of multiple universes, also hinted at in earlier films.
