At a robust three-and-a-half minutes in length, the initial teaser trailer for Marvel's forthcoming supervillain ensemble Thunderbolts* effectively re-introduced the eclectic group of miscreants under director Jake Schreier's helm. With its strategically placed 'Where Is My Mind?' soundtrack, realistic action sequences, and echoes of The Winter Soldier's political thriller essence, it almost instantly convinced us of the potential in witnessing Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova, David Harbour's Red Guardian, Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes, and several underutilized MCU villains (Wyatt Russell's John Walker, Olga Kurylenko's Taskmaster, Hannah John-Kamen's Ghost) come together in a Suicide Squad-like fashion. But if you still needed more convincing, the recent special preview of the film showcased at D23 Brazil over the weekend is a real game-changer—especially as it hints at the reason behind that enigmatic asterisk! Check it out below:
If the first Thunderbolts* teaser was a masterclass in trailer-making, then this follow-up is a fine example of how to build on that momentum. We see Bucky Barnes on a motorbike, sporting cool shades, channeling his inner Terminator in the desert. Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Valentina Allegra de Fontaine reveals that it was the CIA, after all, who acquired Avengers Tower (thus debunking the Oscorp theory). We witness The Red Guardian and The Winter Soldier exchanging stories about their super serum origins. And we get a glimpse of Lewis Pullman's Bob, who is unmistakably Sentry but still not officially named as such, acting like a man teetering on the edge of unleashing the power of a million exploding suns amidst a barrage of quips, reflections on trauma, and fiery explosions. All this, and there's even a moment where Harbour's Red Guardian exuberantly declares, 'We are the Thunderbolts!' only for the rest of the team to quickly shoot down his suggestion, leading to the conspicuous addition of an asterisk to the title. Dark Avengers, anyone? Only time will reveal...
With Captain America: Brave New World slated for release just months before this, it seems the MCU is gearing up with a pair of gripping political thrillers to kick off 2025. And with the overarching plot of Thunderbolts* still shrouded in intrigue, the imminent arrival of Sentry promising a shift in the balance of power within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and all indications pointing towards another stellar Marvel Studios team-up of misfits, suffice it to say that 2 May, 2025 can't arrive soon enough.
Source link: https://www.empireonline.com
