By the conclusion of Marvel’s Thunderbolts*, one thing becomes evident: the Thunderbolts have disbanded — they’ve officially taken on the role of the New Avengers.
Indeed: Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour), Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kamen), and Robert Reynolds (Lewis Pullman) are now Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. However, with Bob still struggling with his perilous Void alter ego, his complete involvement may be postponed.
Nevertheless, the end-credits scene of Thunderbolts* presents an unexpected twist. Set 14 months after the film’s events, it transports us to Avengers Tower, where the newly formed New Avengers are engaged in a discussion about a surprising turn of events: Sam Wilson, also known as Captain America (Anthony Mackie), is reportedly gathering his own team of New Avengers — and he has even trademarked the name.
The scene is filled with the team’s distinctive banter — featuring a playful proposition to rebrand as the “Avengerz” — but it also poses a significant question:
Who comprises Sam Wilson’s Avengers roster?
While the scene doesn’t specify Sam’s lineup, the cast of the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday provides some hints. That ensemble includes four major factions: returning X-Men (such as Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen), the new Fantastic Four (with Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby), the Thunderbolts-turned-New Avengers, and a final group of “everyone else.” It seems likely that Sam’s team will be drawn from this last set — leaving out Robert Downey Jr., who is rumored to portray Doctor Doom.
So, who are the most probable candidates?
Joaquín Torres/Falcon (Danny Ramirez) stands out as a strong possibility, having played a pivotal role in Captain America: Brave New World. He’s evidently remaining close to Sam. Other likely additions include Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), and Shang-Chi (Simu Liu).
From Wakanda, Shuri/Black Panther (Letitia Wright) and M’Baku (Winston Duke) could also be part of the team, potentially forming a formidable alliance between Wakanda and the Avengers. Namor (Tenoch Huerta), the ruler of Talokan, might also be a contender.
And while they weren’t included in the official casting announcement, fans are hopeful for the return of Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Monica Rambeau/Photon (Teyonah Parris), and Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani). Here’s hoping.
The Fantastic Four have arrived in the MCU.
The Thunderbolts* end-credits scene not only hints at Sam’s Avengers — it also affords us our first look at the Fantastic Four.
As Yelena and Bucky deliberate on how to tackle Sam’s rival team, they’re interrupted by an alert: an “extra-dimensional ship” is entering Earth’s atmosphere. That ship? It’s clearly the Fantastic Four’s, brandishing their iconic logo on the side.
The ship’s appearance is fleeting, but it implies that the Fantastic Four have traveled from their own dimension into the main MCU timeline. The reasons behind their arrival — and its implications for the broader Marvel universe — will likely be examined in Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Thunderbolts* is currently showing in theaters.