Marvel Studios: Thunderbolts Teaser Trailer Breakdown & Analysis
Marvel fans got a surprise treat as the Official Teaser Trailer of Marvel Studios: Thunderbolts* released online. The same Teaser was screened at this year’s San Diego Comic Con before. So, the details were already known, but yet the trailer got my interest as it’s more action oriented than recent Marvel trailers. Let’s deep dive into this new Marvel team along with the additional characters: Sentry & Songbird!
-Thunderbolts in Comics-
In the Marvel comics, the Thunderbolts were initially formed by none other than Zemo. Known for his long-standing rivalry with the Avengers, Zemo was also a founding member of one of their earliest foes – the Masters of Evil, a notorious supervillain team. The original Thunderbolts team was, in fact, comprised largely of former members of the Masters of Evil, who posed as heroes to carry out Zemo’s grand scheme. However, many of them eventually chose a path of genuine redemption, setting the Thunderbolts apart as a unique and unpredictable group in the Marvel Universe. When Marvel Studios announced a Thunderbolts movie, many fans naturally assumed that Zemo would reprise his leadership role, given his pivotal connection to the team. Yet, the First Look reveal surprised everyone by confirming that Zemo would not be a part of the team – at least not in the initial lineup. Still, there remains the possibility that he could appear later in the film, perhaps as a surprise antagonist or a twist character, adding another layer of intrigue.
In the comics, there have been a total of 12 distinct Thunderbolts teams, with an additional iteration known as the Thunderbolts Army. Each team has had a variety of leaders, reflecting the team’s evolving nature. Some of the most notable leaders include iconic Marvel characters like Hawkeye, Red Hulk, Green Goblin, and Luke Cage. Interestingly, several characters from the Thunderbolts* movie itself such as Bucky Barnes, Taskmaster, and U.S. Agent, have also served as leaders of the Thunderbolts in the comics.
-Thunderbolts* Into The MCU-
The trailer opens with a touching moment as Alexei a.k.a Red Guardian, welcomes his daughter Yelena back home. The two share an emotional exchange, with Yelena confiding in Alexei about the personal struggles she’s been facing, hinting at the weight of the mission ahead. Next, the iconic Marvel Studios logo appears, but this time it’s in a striking yellow, reminiscent of Thunderbolts* Movie Title, and rises dramatically like a door opening – perhaps symbolizing the unveiling of something secret or dangerous. The scene shifts to Bucky Barnes, now attending a congress meeting, marking a new chapter in his life after the events of “The Falcon & The Winter Soldier”. It’s clear that Bucky’s journey has led him into the political sphere, suggesting he’s trying to find his place in the world after his time as the Winter Soldier. We then cut to the U.S. Agent, sitting next to a crying baby while reading a news article about himself on his phone. His tense expression reveals his inner turmoil, showing that he’s still grappling with his own sense of identity and public perception.
These early glimpses into the lives of the characters paint a picture of individuals burdened by their own demons, none of them in a good place mentally or emotionally as the film begins. The tension ramps up as we see an explosion tear through a building, with Yelena walking away from the destruction. This is followed by a fast-paced fight sequence featuring Yelena, highlighting her skill and resilience. Yelena soon arrives at a mysterious facility, where she encounters U.S. Agent, Taskmaster, and Ghost (the villain from Ant-Man & The Wasp). The atmosphere is charged with hostility as the team engages in chaotic infighting, illustrating the fractured nature of this makeshift alliance.
At this moment, the arrival of a new character shifts the dynamic: Bob!
Though his unassuming name belies his true identity. According to Reports, Bob is none other than Sentry, one of Marvel Comics’ most powerful and complex characters. His entrance feels almost like a lab experiment gone awry, signaling that Sentry’s immense power could be both a blessing and a curse for the Thunderbolts*. Bob also reminded me of Superman from Flashpoint Comics & Animated Film.
-The Sentry: A New Hierarchy in MCU-
In Marvel Comics, Robert Reynolds was once an ordinary man, struggling with drug addiction in his youth. One fateful night, he consumed a mysterious serum developed by a professor. It was no ordinary formula, but one designed to surpass even the legendary Super Soldier Serum that gave Captain America his powers. However, instead of merely enhancing his physical abilities, this serum unleashed something far more extraordinary. It imbued Reynolds with the unimaginable power of “a million exploding suns.” This transformation turned him into the Sentry – one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe. Throughout his comic book history, the Sentry has fought alongside some of Marvel’s most iconic heroes, including the Avengers, Spider-Man, and the Fantastic Four. Now, with Lewis Pullman stepping into the role of Robert “Bob” Reynolds in the MCU, fans are eagerly anticipating how this godlike figure will be portrayed on screen. In one particularly intense shot from the teaser, an entire army can be seen opening fire on Bob. Yet, knowing the incredible extent of Sentry’s powers, it’s clear that these bullets will have no effect on him. Another shot gives us a glimpse of Bob’s belt, hinting that his transformation into the Sentry – complete with his iconic costume – may happen later in the film or possibly in a post-credit scene, leaving room for further exploration in future MCU projects.
An intriguing detail in the teaser poster shows Sentry with six fingers, a subtle but curious alteration that could signal a unique twist in the character’s live-action adaptation.
-The Sentry’s Future in the MCU: A Connection to Hulk?-
When considering the future of the Sentry in the MCU, all signs seem to point toward a major showdown involving the Hulk. In “Captain America: Brave New World”, we know that Thunderbolt Ross transforms into the Red Hulk. The film also features the return of Samuel Sterns, aka “The Leader,” another gamma-powered villain from “The Incredible Hulk”. Additionally, the MCU already has an impressive lineup of Hulk-related characters, including the main Bruce Banner Hulk, She-Hulk, Skaar, and Abomination. With so many gamma-enhanced individuals in play, this could very well be building up to a “World War Hulk” storyline. Returning to the teaser, we see all the doors of the facility slam shut. Yelena declares that everyone in the room has done terrible things in their lives. The teaser then shows quick flashes of their pasts – U.S. Agent, involved in secret Shadow Ops; Yelena, robbing government labs; and Ghost, working as a contract killer. Suddenly, a timer activates, making it seem as though everything is about to explode.
-Valentina’s Strategy-
The scene then cuts to an exhibition, where we gather from the background posters that it’s related to the Battle of New York. In a glass case, we even catch a glimpse of Loki’s scepter from the 2012 “The Avengers” movie. Bucky is present at the exhibition as well, now wearing a badge – evidence of his new role as a congressman, as hinted earlier. Next, we see “Valentina Allegra de Fontaine”, a character first introduced in “The Falcon & The Winter Soldier” series. She later appeared in the Black Widow post-credit scene, where she manipulated Yelena into targeting Hawkeye, a plotline that played out in the “Hawkeye” series. Most recently, we saw her in “Wakanda Forever”, further establishing her growing presence in the MCU. It’s now clear that Valentina is the one pulling the strings behind the formation of the Thunderbolts*, bringing together these misfit characters into a single team. In the closing moments of the teaser, we get the revelation that Valentina is the new owner of ‘Avengers Tower’. This answers the long-standing mystery from “Spider-Man: Homecoming” – Valentina is the one who purchased the iconic tower, or at least co-purchased.
-Songbird’s Introduction in the MCU-
Reports suggest that “Melissa Joan Gold”, a.k.a “Songbird”, is seen standing beside Valentina at the exhibition. “Geraldine Viswanathan” portrays the role of this powerful character. Songbird possesses an impressive array of sound-based powers, including: Sonic screams and shockwaves, Burst projection, The ability to create “solid sound” constructs, Manipulation of sound and vocals, Hypnotic song & Echolocation.
In the comics, Songbird was also known as “Screaming Mimi” and was part of “The Grapplers”, an all-female wrestling team. The Grapplers were tasked with covert operations for the ‘Roxxon Corporation’. To assist with these missions, Roxxon granted the team enhanced abilities, and it was during this time that Songbird gained her sound-based powers. Songbird has been a member of several notable teams since joining the second incarnation of the Thunderbolts in the comics. From what the trailer suggests, it seems that in the MCU, Songbird will be working under Valentina, likely as one of her operatives. While her powers aren’t fully showcased in the teaser, it’s possible they will be revealed towards the end of the film or in future MCU projects, where Songbird could take on a larger role within the Thunderbolts*.
One intriguing detail from the teaser is Valentina’s hair, which has shifted from her signature black and purple to black and white, perhaps symbolizing a new phase for her character as she takes the Thunderbolts under her control.
-Bucky Leads The Team-
Bucky retrieves his arm from the kitchen drawer, a small but telling moment of preparation. Moments later, we’re thrown into an exhilarating bike chase, with Bucky speeding down a winding road, showcasing his trademark agility and strength. The action shifts dramatically when an elevator door slides open, revealing the entire Thunderbolts* team standing inside. This team-elevator moment evokes similar iconic scenes from past Marvel content like The Defenders, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. They ascend to the top floor of Avengers Tower, where Valentina awaits. The teaser leaves us guessing the true purpose of this gathering. Rumors suggest it involves Adamantium extraction and a potential Wakandan invasion, but the full story remains shrouded in mystery. The real stakes will likely become clear soon enough. As the title appears on screen, one curious detail stands out – a prominent asterisk (*) in the title font, something not present in the original. This new symbol only appeared after the title font was updated. Its inclusion is intriguing, as an asterisk often signifies something amiss or altered. Could it be concealing the team’s true identity? Some speculate that the Thunderbolts may eventually be rebranded as “The Dark Avengers”, hinting at a deeper transformation. The teaser then revisits the road fight, showing Yelena, Alexei, U.S. Agent, and Ghost speeding in a car. However, tension rises as Bucky suddenly opens fire on the car maybe due to the U.S. Agent or maybe to capture the whole team for Valentina. Previously, it was rumored that Yelena would lead the Thunderbolts*, but recent revelations confirm Bucky as the appointed leader, reminiscent of Rick Flag’s role in “DC’s Suicide Squad”. Bucky got a great shift in his character if we think back to his Winter Soldier era.
Anyway, this teaser trailer felt good especially the fight sequences. I hope the movie will provide a good experience too. Marvel Studios: Thunderbolts* is scheduled to be released on May 2, 2025, as the last film of Phase Five of the MCU.
Compiled By Sree Nandan Chengannur