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Thunderbolts* North America Box Office: Hits $150 Million Mark(Photo Credit –Facebook)

The New Avengers felt the arrival of Final Destination: Bloodlines as it got knocked off the #1 spot in the domestic box office chart. Thunderbolts*, however, is maintaining a stronghold at the US theatres, despite losing screens this past week. It has hit a significant mark at the box office in North America. Keep scrolling for the deets.

The viewers are gearing up to witness the Barbenheimer of 2025 – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, clashing with Lilo & Stitch this weekend, when they will open in the theatres. The movies will surely blow away all the other movies already running in the cinemas. The critics and the viewers might have praised the MCU movie, but it still suffers due to the bad reputation created by some of the previous Marvel films.

However, Thunderbolts* still has strong legs at the box office in North America.

The Earth now has its team of new mightiest heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, consisting of a bunch of ragtags trying to make something out of their lives. Sebastian Stan, who plays Bucky Barnes, was recently seen changing posters that included a retitle of Thunderbolts, The New Avengers. With them came Bob (Lewis Pullman), aka Sentry, aka the Void, aka their new Superman-like friend who turns on them when sad. Though that turning on thing happens when he is not in control.

Since fans first saw Bob turning into Sentry and fighting the New Avengers, they have been comparing him with characters like Homelander, Omni-Man, and more. They want to know who can defeat him; maybe Saitama, the One Punch Man, should give that a try. But let us tell you something, brothers and sisters: even Hulk Hogan can defeat him. Because all it takes is some kindness to...

Brothers Ethan and Joel Coen have made 18 movies together, starting with 1984’s Blood Simple to 2018’s The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, creating an iconic filmography of black comedy masterpieces.

Then, without warning or explanation, they split up. Joel made The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021), an austere, black-and-white Shakespeare adaptation that felt as far away from a Coen Brothers movie as possible. Ethan’s first solo project, in contrast, was Drive-Away Dolls, the story of two lesbian friends (Geraldine Viswanathan and Margaret Qualley) on the run from dim-bulb thugs after a McGuffinian bag of loot. The queer spin on the Coen-esque crime caper comedy comes in large part from Coen’s co-writer, Tricia Cooke, his longtime editor and wife of 32 years. Cooke is lesbian; the couple have an unconventional marriage where both have separate partners outside their marriage. Coen and Cooke have followed up Drive-Away Dolls with Honey Don’t!, a nutty...

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2025 has been one of the weaker years for the film industry as high-budget films like Captain America: Brave New World and Snow White have failed at both impressing the audience and at the box office. While there have been many disappointments this year, it does not mean that there have been no good movies released this year, and to prove that, we have compiled a list of the best movies that have come out in 2025 so far.

Final Destination: Bloodlines (In Theaters) Credit – Warner Bros.

Final Destination: Bloodlines is a supernatural horror film co-directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein from a screenplay co-written by Guy Busick and Lori Evans Taylor. The 2025 film is the sixth entry into the Final Destination film franchise, and it follows a college student who saves the lives of many people who were supposed to die,...

Scarlett Johansson can't believe 'Avengers: Endgame' didn't receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.The 40-year-old actress starred in the 2019 Marvel movie alongside the likes of Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, and Jeremy Renner, and Scarlett has now admitted to being baffled by the lack of recognition for the record-breaking film.The Hollywood star - who played Natasha Romanoff, also known as the Black Widow, in the hit movie - told Vanity Fair magazine: "How did this film not get nominated for an Oscar?"'Avengers: Endgame' was nominated for the Best Visual Effects gong at the Oscars. But given the scale and success of the movie, Scarlett can't understand why it was overlooked for further honours.The actress said: "It was an impossible movie that should not have worked, that really works as a film - and also, it’s one of...

Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima began sharing his thoughts on the movies he's seen on social media a while ago, and his posts always get a lot of attention.

The visionary video game designer has come out in defence of widely panned films such as Joker: Folie à Deux, and posted telling one-sentence verdicts on the movies he wasn't so keen on ("Saw The Marvels; Saw Madame Web in the theater").

Kojima has now weighed in with his thoughts on Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts*.

"I watched Thunderbolts*. It’s not about eliminating a powerful “external enemy” to save the “world.” It’s about embracing lonely “individuals” and rescuing the “audience” from their own “inner enemies.” A truly “kind-hearted” MCU film. Jake Schreier’s sense of humor strikes a perfect balance. And above all, Florence Pugh was phenomenal. You could say it’s her film. Lewis Pullman’s...

Without spoiling the film, Thunderbolts* was the deepest movie Marvel Studios has produced in years. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a close second, but only because that focused mostly on Rocket's past. This movie, however, touched on all of the Thunderbolts’ problems in their past and personal lives. It was something that many of us weren't expecting, especially considering the trailers made it look more silly than serious.

Each of the characters in the Thunderbolts* (now titled New Avengers) has been in the Marvel Comics for decades. Some of them mirror what you see in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while others are vastly different. This article will explain them. Hopefully, it’ll make you curious enough to learn about them in the comics.

Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) in Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 Marvel. Yelena Belova

Played by: Florence Pugh

First Marvel Comics appearance: Inhumans No.

Along with the rest of the main cast of Thunderbolts* (with one notable exception), Lewis Pullman is set to return for Avengers: Doomsday, and the actor has now teased Bob/Sentry's role in the next major Marvel Studios event movie.

Spoilers for Thunderbolts* follow.

At the end of the antihero team-up film, Bob joins his new allies as a member of The New Avengers, but he makes it very clear in the post-credits scene that he doesn't want to risk becoming the Sentry again in case the Void takes over.

During a new interview with Men's Health, Pullman revealed that his teammates are going to be keeping a very close eye on Bob in Doomsday, while also trying to figure out a way to harness the "power of a thousand exploding suns" without unleashing his inner darkness upon the world.

"The Thunderbolts don’t want to let him out of their sight,...

Marvel Studios recently rebranded Thunderbolts* as "The New Avengers," with a number of posters and billboards released displaying the new team name.

Though it was somewhat surprising that the studio decided to reveal the new title this quickly, the Avengers name carries a lot of weight, and the marketing play does seem to have paid off with a box office boost (how long it'll last remains to be seen). It's also worth noting that the movie's title hasn't been officially changed.

The Jake Schreier-directed antihero team-up flick is expected to hold on to the No. 1 spot in the U.S. this weekend, and is not likely to face much in the way of completion from any new releases.

Thunderbolts* had a reported production budget of $180 million (minus P&e), and should pass $260 million worldwide by Monday if estimates hold.

Another poster has now been released, this time paying homage to...

Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts* - or The New Avengers, if you prefer - is set to hit a major box office milestone at some point today.

As the 36th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe enters its second weekend in theaters, it will become the fourth movie this year to pass $100 million domestically, joining A Minecraft Movie, Captain America: Brave New World, and Sinners.

The Jake Schreier-directed antihero team-up flick is expected to hold on to the No. 1 spot, and is not likely to face much in the way of completion from any of Friday's new releases - although Rlje/Shudder's Clown in a Cornfield is sure to draw in the horror crowds.

Thunderbolts* had a reported production budget of $180 million (minus P&e), so it still has a long way to go to turn a profit for the studio. The movie does seem to be benefitting from positive reviews and word of mouth,...

Before we begin, if you haven’t already seen the film, just back off, because this is going to be one spoiler-filled explainer, but we may miss something if you are lucky. So, Thunderbolts*, or shall we say, The New Avengers (you see what we mean?). Jake Schreier made his directorial debut in 2012 with Robot & Frank, and now he has done his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut with a bunch of ragtag characters who will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride. But with this film, the MCU might have gotten its strongest character to date, Sentry, aka Void, aka Bob, played by Lewis Pullman.

While it has been made clear earlier that the film puts an emphasis on mental health, you’ll feel it when you finally sit in the theater. Every single member of the team has a past with which they are dealing. They have no place,...

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is back, and while it’s not like it ever really went away, the scores on the doors are praising Jake Schreier’s Thunderbolts* as one of the best MCU movies in years. Proving itself to be much more than just the MCU’s answer to the Suicide Squad, this rag-tag team of rogues has put the hero in anti-hero while cementing themselves as a crucial part of the franchise’s future. While the big reveal that the likes of Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan would be part of Avengers: Doomsday might’ve clad them in some vibranium-level plot armor, that didn’t take the fun out of Thunderbolts*.

We weren’t exactly surprised to learn that Olga Kurylenko’s Taskmaster was the sole casualty of Thunderbolts*, but moving forward, there are questions about what’s next for the Thunderbolts? The movie’s mysterious title was...

Such is the uncertainty surrounding superhero movies these days, even a modest performance at the box office, like the one delivered by Thunderbolts*so far, is worth celebrating. The movie was a risky bet, especially considering the era that it is being released in. Films featuring far more popular characters have struggled commercially in recent times; only a few months ago, Marvel's own Captain America: Brave New World, was barely able to pass the $400 million mark worldwide. Thunderbolts* should be able to pass the $100 million milestone in its second weekend, having already become one of the 100 highest-grossing superhero movies in global box office history.

To achieve this feat, the movie overtook 2015's disastrous Fantastic Four reboot. Having survived a turbulent production, Fantastic Four was released in compromised form, earning terrible reviews and tanking at the box office. Directed by Josh Trank, the movie concluded its run with $167 million worldwide. It starred Miles Teller,...

In the build-up to Black Widow's release, fans were convinced that The Handmaid's Tale actor O-t Fagbenle would be unveiled as the man behind Taskmaster's mask, but it turned out that his character, Rick Mason, really was just the guy who sorted out Natasha Romanoff's (Scarlet Johansson) weapons and travel arrangements.

Towards the end of the movie, we learned that Taskmaster was actually Antonia Dreykov (Olga Kurylenko), who reprised the role for Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts*.

This new take on the villain wasn't exactly embraced by fans, who were hoping to see the original comic book incarnation of the character, Anthony "Tony" Masters. Now, Fagbenle has confirmed that Marvel was originally planning to introduce a male take on Taskmaster, and he auditioned for the role.

"Basically, I first auditioned for Taskmaster, and it was this, it was a really incredible speech, actually. It was an audition I was very proud of.

Lewis Pullman is the newest superhero to join the MCU. After Steven Yeun stepped away from the role of Sentry in Thunderbolts, Pullman took on the part, and he couldn’t be happier.

So far, Pullman is thoroughly enjoying his time in the MCU, and fans are also embracing his performance, with some even calling him the best part of the recently released movie.

In a recent interview with Kristian Harloff, Pullman shared insights into the process of bringing Sentry to life. He also revealed that while on set, he had the chance to geek out with Sentry’s creator, Paul Jenkins, a moment he clearly cherished.

“I was geeking out with him and I was like I got to give you my number we got to stay in contact and he was so game and open and he was such a spectacular dude” Pullman said.

Related: Geraldine Viswanathan Reveals...

Natasha Lyonne is back on the road for Season 2 of Poker Face, and she brought a few old friends along for the ride.

While discussing the star-studded guest roster of the Peacock show’s sophomore season, the first three episodes available to stream May 8, the actress admitted to Deadline that she wasn’t entirely sure if she’d previously worked with ‘The Sleazy Georgian’ actor John Cho.

“I think that he’s maybe in some of the American Pies,” she said. “I’ll be honest, I haven’t seen those. I did see the first one at the premiere. I do love Chris and Paul Weitz. I do talk a lot of shit about that movie, it’s mostly just because I don’t understand high school or proms or suburbia.”

Despite having only seen the first American Pie (1999), Lyonne played the sarcastic Jessica in the teen film and its...

After a somewhat disappointing debut and the third-lowest first Monday in MCU history, Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts* has rebounded with a strong Tuesday haul of $7.5 million at the domestic box office.

Thanks to a 49% jump from Monday, the antihero team-up film now sits at $86.8 million in the US and $172.9 million worldwide on a reported production budget of $180 million (before marketing costs).

Earlier this week, Marvel began the process of rebranding the movie as The New Avengers. The marketing campaign is believed to have kicked off a little earlier than planned when the opening weekend numbers came in, but it sounds like it was always set to begin shortly after the movie hit the big screen.

“It felt like, if Val is also trying to pull a switcheroo and sell the New Avengers to the world, we could do that, too,” director Jake Schreier explained to The New York Times in a recent interview.

Thunderbolts* fans, if you’ve been on a quest to uncover Geraldine Viswanathan’s nationality, your search ends here. The breakout star of the anti-hero saga has everyone buzzing on social media, with fans tossing around guesses about her roots. Some say she is Indian, others claim she is American, and a few are convinced she is Italian. So, who is she really?

Geraldine Viswanathan shines as Mel, the sharp and resourceful assistant to Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s cunning CIA director, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, in Thunderbolts*. Her character is far more than a sidekick, bringing wit and intrigue to the Marvel film. Fans speculate that she might be Songbird, a comic book hero with sonic scream powers.

Thunderbolts* star Geraldine Viswanathan’s nationality Geraldine Viswanathan and Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Thunderbolts* / Credits: Marvel Studios

At first glance, I assumed Geraldine Viswanathan might be American or maybe Indian, given her name and...

Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters, though we should probably just call it The New Avengers after this past Monday's rebranding. The movie is a more important chapter in the Multiverse Saga than anyone realised, and one of Marvel Studios' best efforts. 

Beyond the fact that this team will assemble in Avengers: Doomsday next year, the movie sets the stage for the McU's future in quite a few thrilling ways. 

In this feature, we're taking a deep dive into those and what it all means for where the franchise goes next. From changing allegiances to new characters and conflicts, Thunderbolts* The New Avengers has us excited about this Saga in a way we haven't been for some time. 

For a better idea of where we go from here, simply click on the "Next"/"View List" buttons below. 

5. From Enemy To Ally

Valentina Allegra de Fontaine sets out to kill the...

'Thunderbolts' is the "first and best example" of Marvel's new strategy, according to Bob Iger.The new superhero film stars the likes of Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Geraldine Viswanathan, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Bob - the CEO of Disney - believes the movie reflects the long-term direction of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.The 74-year-old media executive said during an investor call: "We all know that in our zeal to flood our streaming platform with more content, that we turned to all of our creative engines, including Marvel, and had them produce a lot more."We’ve also learned over time that quantity does not necessarily beget quality."Marvel enjoyed an impressive run of success between 2008's 'Iron Man' and 2019's 'Avengers: Endgame'. But since then, Marvel's successes have become more sporadic, and the company has learned some important lessons because of recent flops.Bob said: "Frankly,...

Though Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts* goes to some pretty dark places in its third act, the movie has its fair share of signature MCU humor, but the inclusion of one comedic moment in particular did not sit well with Sebastian Stan - at least, not at first.

Yes, as you probably already guessed, it's the Vibranium arm in the dishwasher scene.

While speaking to EW, Stan explained that he just didn't find Bucky Barnes sticking his arm in the dishwasher after dripping mustard on it to be a particularly amusing sight gag.

"I immediately said to Jake, 'I don't understand why this is funny. You do not need this. This is silly,'" Stan tells the site. "But Jake was like, 'But maybe you could be eating something and then it can just go everywhere.' And I go, 'Really? That's what's going to [happen]?'"

As silly as it may seem,...

Focus Features has slated Ethan Coen‘s dark comedy Honey Don’t! for an August 22 theatrical release. The film stars Margaret Qualley as Honey O’Donahue, a small-town private investigator who delves into a series of strange deaths tied to a mysterious church. Aubrey Plaza, Chris Evans, Charlie Day, and Billy Eichner also star in the project. The studio has now released the trailer, which you can view above.

Honey Don’t! will have its world premiere at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival in the Midnight Screenings section. In addition to helming the film, Coen also co-wrote the script with Tricia Cooke. It will be the second installment of the “lesbian B-movie trilogy,” which began with Coen and Cooke’s Drive-Away Dolls, which also starred Qualley.

While speaking with i-d, Qualley dropped a few details about her character, including that she had to hit the brakes on her “natural Scooby-Doo” inclinations so...

I don't know how you overlook a new Coen brothers movie, even if it's just one Coen doing the directing, but 2024's "Drive-Away Dolls" (aka "Henry James' Drive-Away Dykes") somehow came and went without much of a fuss. To be fair, the darkly comedic yarn about two friends (Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan) who hit the road with the wrong drive-away car (which happens to have a man's severed head in its trunk) was not showered with the kinds of raves that greet most Coen brothers films. Still, the reviews were mostly positive. A year after its theatrical release, I'm still laughing myself silly over Bill Camp's portrayal of the badly beaten Curlie.

While "Drive-Away Dolls" couldn't muster up much in the way of moviegoer enthusiasm, I've got to think Ethan Coen's latest film, "Honey Don't!", will stir up more than a little interest. As with his last film,...

After wowing audiences with a villainous turn in Rian Johnson's Knives Out, Chris Evans is back playing a less-than-scrupulous character in the first trailer for Honey Don't. The upcoming detective comedy movie serves as Ethan Coen's second entry in his "lesbian B-movie trilogy."

The trailer introduces Margaret Qualley as small-town private investigatorHoney O’Donahue, who is looking into a series of strange deaths tied to a mysterious church led by Priest Dean, played by Evans. Set in Bakersfield, California, the Honey Don't trailer quickly turns violent, with blood seemingly set to splatter the further Honey looks into the "traffic fatality" that she believes was anything but an accident. Aubrey Plaza and Charlie Day also briefly appear in the trailer, which can be viewed below.

Honey Don't! is being billed as part of Coen and Tricia Cooke's "lesbian B-movie trilogy," which began in 2024 with Drive-Away Dolls, also starring Qualley.

After overtaking the lifetime domestic haul of Jared Leto's horribly-received superhero film Morbius in its opening weekend of release alone, Marvel's Thunderbolts* has surpassed it globally as well. Thunderbolts* was released theatrically this past weekend, drawing a healthy $74 million in its domestic debut. This put the movie above Morbius' lifetime domestic haul. It has now also passed the poorly received Spider-Man spin-off at the global box office. Directed by Daniel Espinosa, Morbius debuted in 2022, and received poor reviews upon release. It became fodder for memes, and remains one of the most despised superhero films ever made.

The movie made $162 million worldwide, against a reported production budget of $80 million. Thunderbolts*reportedly cost over $100 million more, but, unlike Morbius, earned positive reviews from critics and audiences. The movie holds a "fresh" 88% Rotten Tomatoes score, as compared to Morbius' dismal 15%. The movie initiated the spiral for Sony's ambitious Spider-Man Universe,...

Natasha Lyonne In Poker Face Season 2 Still(Photo Credit –YouTube)

The eagerly anticipated Season 2 of Rian Johnson’s case-of-the-week murder mystery series, Poker Face, starring Natasha Lyonne, is all set to start streaming on the Peacock Ott platform in the US from 8th May 2025. In India, Poker Face S2 is scheduled to be released on the Jio Hotstar Ott platform on 9th May 2025, according to the Jio Hotstar official website. And even before its premiere, the upcoming season has surpassed the Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score of its first season.

Poker Face Season 1 Vs Season 2 – Rotten Tomatoes Scores

The first season of Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne’s murder mystery series has an outstanding Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score of 98% (Via Rotten Tomatoes). On the other hand, Poker Face Season 2 has received an even better Rt critics’ score of 100% (can’t get better than that!) (Via Rotten Tomatoes). On IMDb, the show...

There has been talk of the original line-up of Earth's Mightiest Heroes appearing in Avengers: Doomsday and/or Avengers: Secret Wars since shortly after the projects were officially announced, but of the six characters who made up the team that assembled in the first Avengers movie, Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff always seemed the least likely to return.

Romanoff was killed off in Avengers: Endgame when she sacrificed herself so that Clint Barton could acquire the Soul Stone, and although the former assassin did return for a solo Black Widow prequel movie, Johansson has claimed to be done with the character on a number of occasions.

Even so, rumors persist that the Jurassic World Rebirth star will be back as Black Widow for the upcoming Avengers films, potentially joining the likes of Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans as "evil" variants of their original characters. Johansson wasn't part of the initial Doomsday cast reveal,...

Season 1 of the series featured notable appearances by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Chloë Sevigny and others. Who will pop up in Season 2?

The new season of “Poker Face” may not have a release date quite yet, but Peacock is already teasing some pretty epic guest star appearances for the new batch of episodes. The Natasha Lyonne-headlined series treated fans to some pretty fascinating characters played by recognizable stars in Season 1, and has unveiled the full list of guest performers it will welcome in Season 2. Check out who you’ll be able to see when Charlie Cale rolls back through in her Plymouth Barracuda!

Who Will Guest Star in Season 2 of ‘Poker Face’?

Check out the official trailer for ‘Poker Face’ Seaosn 2

Who Will Guest Star in Season 2 of ‘Poker Face’?

Check out images from Season 2

What is ‘Poker Face’?

Who Guest Starred in Season 1 of ‘Poker Face’?

Check out the official...

Following Marvel Studios' decision to basically spoil the ending of Thunderbolts* by revealing that the asterisk in the title actually refers to The New Avengers, the official Avengers social media accounts have added the copyright symbol next to their display name as a nod to a significant development from the movie's post-credits scene.

At the end of the movie, the Thunderbolts regroup after successfully preventing Bob from unleashing the darkness of "The Void" (a group hug works wonders), and approach Val to apprehend her while she attempts to talk her way out of it.

However, the resourceful CIA Director had formulated a plan to keep herself out of prison, and the team follows her right into a press conference she has arranged in order to introduce the New Avengers to the world. The group decides to play along, and the post-credits scene reveals that they have been operating as the...

Thunderbolts* is all about revisiting characters introduced in previous Marvel Cinematic Universe projects and getting to know a different side of them. Anti-heroes, misfits, and misunderstood super individuals all join forces in Marvel's most unlikely crossover since Guardians of the Galaxy. But amidst all the chaos, mistrust, and funny interactions between this team's members, there's also a big story of redemption and rising to the most dire of situations when there's no one else to save the day. Be careful, because the Thunderbolts might just become your favorite MCU heroes.

As it turns out, audiences are not the only ones inspired by the new protectors of New York City. Their actions might've actually played a big part in the path of redemption of a powerful Marvel hero. See, prior to the film's release, fans spent months speculating that there was more to Geraldine Viswanathan's character than met the eye,...

Marvel’s Thunderbolts* Enters Letterboxd Top 50 Movies List (Photo Credit – Instagram)

You might already know about the popular entertainment website called Letterboxd, an Auckland-based film-focused social platform for diehard movie buffs. The international platform is renowned for its movie-centric global lists, such as ‘Top 50 Movies’ lists and the One Million & Two Million watched lists, amongst others. A few days back, Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners found a place on the Letterboxd top 50 movies list (from 2025). And now, Marvel’s latest superhero movie, Thunderbolts*, has entered the coveted international list. But has it outranked Sinners?

Thunderbolts* & Sinners Letterboxd Ranks

The widely admired Marvel superhero movie is currently ranked 31st with a 3.8 user rating on the Letterboxd top 50 movies list. And in doing that, it has outranked Alex Garland’s highly rated war film Warfare, which was released on 11th April 2025. On the other hand, the critically acclaimed and...

Marvel Studios has officially begun promoting its latest theatrical release, Thunderbolts — now retitled The New Avengers — following a post-credits scene that introduced the team’s new name. The updated marketing began shortly after the film opened in theaters on May 2.

Sebastian Stan, who portrays Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appears in a new video released by Marvel replacing a Thunderbolts poster with a revised The New Avengers version at a Los Angeles bus stop. Dressed in black, Stan mirrors his character’s usual costume as he attaches the new poster with visible strips of tape.

Another video shared by the studio features Florence Pugh, in her role as Yelena Belova, tearing off a poster’s surface to reveal The New Avengers underneath. She is joined by castmates including Olga Kurylenko, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The video appears to have...

The big reveal that the asterisk that was added to the Thunderbolts* title shortly after the release of the first trailer referred to "The New Avengers" probably didn't come as a shock to many here on Cbm, but it would have been a surprise for general audiences who haven't been keeping up with rumors relating to the movie.

For this reason, the decision to officially rebrand the movie as The New Avengers just three days after its theatrical release was seen as a bit of a head-scratcher.

Some believe the marketing campaign kicked off a little earlier than planned when the opening weekend box office numbers came in, but it sounds like it was always set to begin shortly after the movie hit the big screen.

“It felt like, if Val is also trying to pull a switcheroo and sell the New Avengers to the world, we could do that,...

Today, just three days after the movie was released in theaters, Marvel Studios began the process of rebranding Thunderbolts* as The New Avengers via a series of posters, BTS promotional videos featuring the cast, and outdoor adverts.

Now, we have a trailer - the first released under the new title - featuring some new footage along with more quotes from critics.

So, is Thunderbolts* now officially known as The New Avengers? Not exactly. The movie's title hasn't actually been changed, rather the studio is simply spelling out the asterisk as a marketing ploy.

It sounds like the marketing department may have launched the campaign slightly earlier than planned in the wake of the film opening to $74M (instead of the reported $76M) after an estimated $18M Sunday, -27% from Saturday’s $24.5M. Thunderbolts* received positive reviews and word of mouth is sure to be a factor, but it remains to...

Sebastian Stan is owning his membership of The New Avengers.

Earlier this morning, Marvel Studios tweeted a video of the actor, who has long portrayed James “Bucky” Buchanan Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic universe as early as films like Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), replacing a poster for the latest Marvel installment film Thunderbolts*, directed by Jake Schreier, at a bus stop.

Stan, clad in black from head to toe like his character Bucky often wears, and definitely does so in his latest MCU film, can be spotted on a stroll with some rolled up posters, and once he sees one at the bus stop, he stops to place a poster that reads *The New Avengers over it. Pieces of tape have been placed at the top and bottom of the poster’s frame.

Ahead of this latest promotional clip for the film, which arrived in theaters Friday, May 2 and opened to $74M,...

Hold onto your popcorn, Marvel fans, things just got wild. On May 5, 2025, Marvel dropped a bombshell by rebranding Thunderbolts*, a movie already lighting up theater screens, as The New Avengers. The big reveal happened at a glitzy event where the cast proudly unveiled the new title before a Thunderbolts* poster.

This isn’t just a clever marketing stunt; it’s a full-on pivot that ties this ragtag team of antiheroes chasing redemption to the legendary Avengers name. But is Marvel playing a genius long game here, or are they risking a fan frenzy by switching things up mid-run, after the movie’s one-week release?

From Thunderbolts* to New Avengers: What is Marvel’s vision? Geraldine Viswanathan and Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Thunderbolts* / Credits: Marvel Studios

When Thunderbolts* hit theaters, I was totally hyped like any Marvel fan for a team of MCU misfits; think Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, and Bucky Barnes,...

Thunderbolts* arrived in theaters last week to glowing reviews from fans and critics alike. Marvel Studios is so back (though we're pretty sure everyone said the same thing after Deadpool & Wolverine and Daredevil: Born Again), and this is a key chapter in the Multiverse Saga.

While this movie sets the stage for Avengers: Doomsday in a big way, it also expands on story arcs and characters from several previous MCU films and TV shows. The Thunderbolts also have a storied comic book history.

In this feature, we're taking a closer look at Thunderbolts*'s biggest and best Easter Eggs, references, comic book nods, and cameos. Some you might have spotted, and others likely passed you by during this epic and emotional new blockbuster. 

You can check them out by clicking on the "Next"/"View List" buttons below. 

10. The Sentry's Classic Logo

When Yelena Belova explores the O.X.E.

The latest Marvel Studios big-screen release, Thunderbolts*, arrived in theates on Friday, and we want to know what you made of the antihero team-up film.

The Cbm community wasn't too impressed by Captain America: Brave New World, but Thunderbolts* seems to have gone over quite a bit better. The movie has certainly been better received by critics, and currently sits at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.

General audiences also seem to have embraced Thunderbolts* for the most part, although the next couple of weeks will be telling.

The movie took in $76 million (just ahead of expectations) in the U.S. and $86.1 million overseas this weekend for a global start of $162.1 million. This is below Captain America: Brave New World's $180 million worldwide opening, but Thunderbolts* will likely benefit more from positive word of mouth going forward.

The studio is currently in the process of rebranding Thunderbolts* as "The New Avengers," with a...

Editor's Note: The article below contains spoilers for Thunderbolts*.The post-credits scenes in Thunderbolts*are already getting fans talking, but director Jake Schreier has revealed they could have gone in a very different direction—one involving a VHS tape, some referee yelling, and a truly deep cut callback to Black Widow. The cast of Marvel's latest blockbuster features Florence Pugh (Black Widow), Hannah John-Kamen (Ant-Man and the Wasp), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) Sebastian Stan (Avengers: Endgame), Wyatt Russell (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), Olga Kurylenko (Black Widow) and David Harbour(Black Widow), alongside MCU newcomers Lewis Pullman (Salem's Lot) and Geraldine Viswanathan (Miracle Workers), and it's Harbour's character, Alexei aka Red Guardian, around whom the scene in question revolved.

In an interview with Collider's Steve Weintraub, following our advance IMAX screening of the film earlier this week, Schreier explained that the original...

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This May, we are getting a ton of content on streaming and theaters from the much-anticipated return of Love, Death and Robots and Nine Perfect Strangers on streaming, to the release of the highly anticipated A Simple Favor sequel and Guy Ritchie‘s Fountain of Youth. This upcoming month will see the release of many great movies, so we thought of compiling a list of all the must-watch films that are coming straight to Theaters near you.

Thunderbolts* (May 2) Credit – Marvel Studios

Thunderbolts* is a superhero action film directed by Jake Schreier from a screenplay co-written by Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo. Based on Marvel Comics, the 2025 film follows Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker as they team up to survive a deadly trap laid out by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Thunderbolts* stars Florence Pugh,...

When word got out that Geraldine Viswanathan's Thunderbolts* character was named Mel, fans immediately began to speculate that she must be Melissa Gold, aka Songbird, but the movie doesn't really lay any groundwork for Val's assistant to suit-up down the line... or so we thought.

During a new interview, Thunderbolts* producer Brian Chapek points to an "emblem" Mel wears that could indicate that she will eventually become the super-powered Songbird.

“There is a character that fans are trying to figure out is she or is she not — I would say what emblem does she wear that may or may not hint at this character’s larger identity.”

Sure enough, eagle-eyed fans have noticed that Mel is wearing what looks a lot like a songbird pin in at least one scene.

Geraldine Viswanathan's character in ‘Thunderbolts*’ is seemingly wearing a Songbird necklace. pic.twitter.com/t2PGBPby8v

— Cosmic Marvel...

After fans have finally met the official members of the New Avengers in Thunderbolts*, Marvel Studios is already planting the seeds for future characters and their arcs, and we’re excited to see this superhero squad expand and make its own mark! While we hear familiar names such as Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes and Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, we have new faces like Geraldine Viswanathan’s Mel.

For her MCU debut, Viswanathan plays the assistant of Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. We don’t know much about her at this point, although we know she played a key role in the movie, especially in helping Barnes’ team.

Geraldine Viswanathan’s debut as Songbird seemingly confirmed by Brian Chapek

As Marvel Studios ushers in a new set of superheroes post-Avengers: Endgame, the movie franchise is also gearing up for the debut of new characters who will play significant roles in Avengers: Doomsday.

In Thunderbolts*, CIA director La Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine unwittingly brings together Marvel’s anti-heroes instead of the Avengers, who face a threat that could destroy the world. This unlikely team-up of our morally gray fan favorites is receiving a good reception on the big screen. The team includes Yelena Belova, U.S. Agent, Ghost, Taskmaster, Red Guardian, and Winter Soldier.

Not only is it the final film in Marvel’s Phase 5, but it also ends up being one of the most crucial films in this phase that sets up the Multiverse Saga finale. The ensemble cast returning to this film includes Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, Olga Kurylenko, David Harbour, Sebastian Stan, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Thunderbolts* cast salary: Who has the highest and lowest net worth? The cast of Thunderbolts*: Hannah John-Kamen, Olga Kurylenko, Wyatt Russell, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, and Florence Pugh | Credits: Marvel Studios

Julia Louis-Dreyfus,...

On Monday May 5 2025, NBC broadcasts The Kelly Clarkson Show!

Season 6 Episode 145 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” promises to be a lively and entertaining affair. Titled “Cameo-oke,” this episode features a mix of music, celebrity guests, and fun moments that fans will surely enjoy. It will air on NBC and offers a delightful lineup that showcases a variety of talents.

One of the highlights of the episode is Abbey Romeo, known for her role in “Love on the Spectrum.” She will take the stage to perform “Boyfriend Forever.” This performance is expected to be heartfelt and engaging, as Abbey brings her unique charm to the show. Fans of the series and her music will likely be excited to see her in this setting.

In addition to Abbey, the episode features a star-studded guest list. Florence Pugh, Geraldine Viswanathan, and Hannah John-Kamen, all known for their roles in “Thunderbolts,...

The Thunderbolts* are officially here and while the movie is far from perfect, it is being praised by both fans and critics as one of Marvel’s best outings in recent year. The box office numbers are also pretty solid, so it seems that Marvel has another hit on its tally.

There are numerous interesting moments from this movie, but the post-credits scene, one of the longest and most packed ones in Marvel’s history, was truly epic and we would like to talk about that.

In light of that, we have to warn you that the article is going to contain some major spoilers, so be careful how you approach the upcoming paragraphs.

Related: Marvel’s ‘Thunderbolts*’ Opens Strong with $162 Million Globally

The character we are going to talk about is Mel, who is brilliantly played by Geraldine Viswanathan in the movie. An assistant to Val, Mel is seemingly a very loyal character,...

Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Thunderbolts*.

Thunderbolts* was Geraldine Viswanathan's first foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or the world of superheroes at large, for that matter. Before Viswanathan was cast in the role of Mel, the part was originally going to be played by Ayo Edebiri, who was forced out of the role due to scheduling conflicts.

Per Collider, Viswanathan was experiencing the same doubt and anxiety that many other first-time Marvel performers have described. When joining an entertainment behemoth like the MCU, things are kept fairly under wraps, meaning that when a role is offered, new actors often don't get to read the entire script. In a very Who Wants to be a Millionaire? moment, Viswanathan decided to phone a friend – one who had already landed the same role.

"I was like, 'Hey, girl. So, they gave me a call about this. What do you think?...

Thunderbolts* has only been in theaters a few days, but Marvel Studios has wasted very little time in revealing the meaning of that hotly-debated asterisk by rebranding the movie in official marketing materials.

Spoilers follow.

At the end of the movie, the Thunderbolts regroup after successfully preventing Bob from unleashing the darkness of "The Void" (a group hug works wonders), and approach Val to apprehend her (with a few broken bones if Red Guardian gets his way).

The ever resourceful CIA Director has formulated a plan to keep herself out of prison, however, and the team follows her right into a press conference she has arranged in order to introduce the New Avengers to the world. The group decides to play along, and the post-credits scene reveals that they have been operating as the New Avengers for over a year.

As you can see from the billboard in the photo below,...

Editor's note: This article contains spoilers for Thunderbolts*.

If you stayed through the end credits of Thunderbolts*, then you were treated to one of the MCU’s most loaded — and longest — post-credits scenes yet. The mysterious appearance of a spacecraft marked with a giant “4” stole most of the spotlight, and understandably so, given the wider implications of it, but one lingering question remains for fans invested in the shadowy new world of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s operations: Where was Mel?

Played by Geraldine Viswanathan, Mel was very quickly one of Thunderbolts*’ most intriguing new characters. As Valentina’s quietly calculating assistant — who might not be as loyal as she seems — Mel operates in the background, subtly pulling strings and shaping the outcome of several pivotal moments in the film, like a true sleeper agent. So when the team ends up inside Avengers Tower (rebranded as the “Watchtower”) and makes...

Editor's note: This article contains spoilers for Thunderbolts*.

Before signing on to Thunderbolts*,Geraldine Viswanathan wasn’t just taking a leap into the Marvel Cinematic Universe — she was jumping in blind. Like many actors stepping into Marvel’s massive sandbox, she didn’t get to read the full script before agreeing to play her mysterious character, Mel. But before she said yes, she called up a friend who had just gone through it herself: Ayo Edebiri.

Edebiri had originally been cast in the role of Mel, the personal assistant to Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), but due to scheduling conflicts with her role on The Bear, she was forced to drop out of the role, opening the door for Viswanathan. In an interview with Perri Nemiroff for ColliderLadies Night, Viswanathan revealed the advice that helped seal the deal. “100%,” she said when asked if she reached out to Edebiri. She...

Editor's note: This article contains spoilers for Thunderbolts*.

Thunderbolts*put a rag-tag group of anti-heroes together and asked audiences "What if superheroes were forced to face their dark pasts?" Literally. The Void, aka Sentry, aka Bob (played by Lewis Pullman), can transport people into dark moments in their pasts. For Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), it was her first mission for the Red Room. But for Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, we get to see shades of her past that we haven't seen before. During a recent interview for the film, Louis-Dreyfus opened up about the scene with Collider's Perri Nemiroff.

When Bob touches Valentina, she is transported back to when she had to watch her father die as a child. In that moment, Valentina cannot hide behind the same mask she'd always had up when she was dealing with Yelena or even John Walker (Wyatt Russell). And Louis-Dreyfus...