The eagerly anticipated Thunderbolts will make their thrilling entrance into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2025. Originating from the Marvel Comics, the Thunderbolts consist of a unique ensemble of antiheroes and reformed villains who operate under government orders. During the San Diego Comic-Con in 2022, Marvel officially confirmed that a Thunderbolts film was in production. This upcoming cinematic experience features an all-star cast and is a vital installment in Phase Five of the MCU. The latest trailer provided fans with an exciting sneak peek into the action and drama that awaits.

Production faced significant delays due to the Hollywood strikes in 2023, resulting in multiple postponements of the release date. As a consequence of these production challenges, several actors were unable to continue with the film. Hollywood Life is your go-to source for comprehensive updates on Thunderbolts. Continue reading to discover insights about the latest cast members, the confirmed release date, and additional exciting details!

Confirmed Release Date for ‘Thunderbolts’

Thunderbolts is set to soar into theaters on May 2, 2025. The release date was delayed by a year due to scheduling conflicts arising from the SAG-AFTRA and writers’ strikes. This scheduling change was necessary to accommodate the production timeline and ensure the film meets the high expectations of fans.

Originally, the film was slated to premiere in theaters on July 26, 2024, a date that was first revealed during San Diego Comic-Con in July 2022. Filming was anticipated to commence in June 2023, but production was halted until the resolution of the strike, as reported by Deadline. This adjustment reflects the evolving landscape of the film industry.

As the second-to-last film in Phase Five of the MCU, Thunderbolts will precede the release of Blade, which stars Mahershala Ali. Prior to Thunderbolts, audiences can look forward to Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Marvels, and Captain America: New World Order. Additionally, Marvel has introduced a range of exciting Phase 5 TV series on Disney+, including Secret Invasion, Loki Season 2, and Echo. Upcoming series like Ironheart, Agatha: Coven of Chaos, and Daredevil: Born Again are also generating buzz.

Meet the Star-Studded Cast & Crew of ‘Thunderbolts’

The initial cast of Thunderbolts was unveiled during Disney’s D23 Expo in September 2022. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige introduced the talented cast members to an enthusiastic audience. Below is a detailed list of the confirmed cast.

• Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier. Sebastian made his MCU debut in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. Since then, he has appeared in six additional films and the miniseries The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. At the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, Sebastian shared his excitement about returning to the character, stating, “I’m excited. I’m going to go back basically in a month or so. I’ve missed it. It’s a great cast,” he told Variety.
• Wyatt Russell portrays John Walker. In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, John is selected as the successor to Captain America by the US Government.
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Valentina is the director of the CIA and begins to assemble the Thunderbolts in the post-credits scene of Black Widow. She also appears in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
• Florence Pugh stars as Yelena Belova. Yelena is the adopted sister of Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, and she is recruited by Valentina to take revenge on Clint Barton for his role in Natasha’s demise. She pursues Clint in the Hawkeye series.
• David Harbour as Red Guardian. Red Guardian serves as a father figure to Natasha and Yelena, and he is featured in Black Widow.
• Olga Kurylenko portrays Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster. Antonia is manipulated by her father in Black Widow.
• Hannah John-Kamen plays Ava Starr/Ghost. Ava possesses the powers of invisibility and intangibility and is featured in Ant-Man and the Wasp.

Ayo Edebiri was initially cast in Thunderbolts, but scheduling conflicts forced her to depart from the project. Blockers star Geraldine Viswanathan has stepped in to replace Ayo. Marvel has yet to disclose the roles that Ayo and Geraldine will assume in the film.

Ayo’s departure follows Steven Yeun exiting from an undisclosed role in Thunderbolts. “I think for me, time passing and things shifting kind of pulled me out of it,” Steven shared with Variety. He expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “I wanna do a Marvel movie.”

Lewis Pullman has taken Steven’s place in Thunderbolts. Lewis has received critical acclaim for his performance in Lessons in Chemistry, starring alongside Brie Larson. He is also known for his role as Bob in Top Gun: Maverick.

Jake Schreier is directing Thunderbolts, marking his debut in the MCU. His most notable film prior to this is Paper Towns, released in 2015. The screenplay is penned by Eric Pearson, who has previously contributed to Thor: Ragnarok and Black Widow.

Exploring the Intriguing Plot of ‘Thunderbolts’

When Marvel announced Thunderbolts, they provided a brief synopsis of the film’s premise: “A group of antiheroes embarks on missions for the government.” This storyline aligns closely with the traditional narrative of the Thunderbolts from the Marvel Comics. In the comics, Helmut Zemo is credited with forming the Thunderbolts, yet it appears that Daniel Bruhl will not reprise his role as Zemo in the film, indicating a distinct direction for the MCU adaptation.

David Harbour shared intriguing insights about Thunderbolts during an interview on the Phase Zero podcast. “We’re like losers, which I find appealing. I think it’s entertaining to see us continually mess things up,” the actor commented. “That’s the essence of the story. It’s humorous, yet there’s a profound emotional depth to it.”

Continuing on, David expressed, “There’s rich drama in a group of individuals who continually mismanage their lives due to their character flaws, seeking the respect that iconic heroes like Captain America and Iron Man naturally receive. This dynamic presents a wealth of material to explore, promising a film that will be both entertaining and thought-provoking.”