THUNDERBOLTS*, US, 2025. Starring Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lewis Pullman, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, Olga Kurylenko, Geraldine Viswanathan, Wendell Pierce. Directed by Jake Schreier. 126 minutes. Rated PG (Mild themes, violence and coarse language).
A recent listing declares that there have been 36 Marvel Studios films over almost 20 years. Thunderbolts*is the latest and seems to have appealed at the box office.
The Marvel Studios superhero team has been The Avengers and we’ve seen numerous films of them working together to save civilisation, plus a number of back stories and further developments. So, the question: who are the Thunderbolts? The characters have appeared in a variety of Marvel films, as well as in the S*H*I*E*L*D television series, while several of them have appeared in the Captain America films or in the Antman films. This is not an action story of them working together, but rather the origin story of how they came together.
So, who are they now and what is the mission? (And an indication to audiences who rush out during the credits, there is a longer than usual post-credits sequence indicating the future.)
First is Yelena (Pugh). She is an assassin, getting tired of her work, but controlled by a political mastermind, Valentina (Dreyfus). As Valentina, Dreyfus, more powerful than her Veep character, faces a Senate enquiry, masterminds laboratories for developing weapons and reconditioning human beings. Clearly, Dreyfus enjoys this sinister and commanding role.
Then there is return of Bucky Barnes (Stan), familiar from the Captain America films. Here is seen in a political context, confronting Valentina. We are reintroduced to Alexi Shostakov (Harbour), prominent former Russian agent, now down on his luck and driving taxis for a living. There is Ghost (John-Kamen) who can appear and disappear through walls, from the Antman filmsAgain from Captain America, a possible captain, John Walker (Russell), supremely self-assured. Then there is a reconditioned human Bob (Pullman). He is a mysterious presence, lacklustre one minute, energised the next – and the character from Marvel comics, The Sentry.
The first part shows each of these characters in action, but, with Valentina’s sinister plans, a great deal of conflict and fighting with each other. When they eventually do begin to understand each other and see how they are being controlled by Valentina, and sharing a concern about Bob, they join to become an active force, building to an action-packed confrontation.
In many ways, this group consists of a rather unprepossessing lot. Anti-heroes? Not many superpowers, rather relying on determination, intelligence, physical force, available weapons. And, by and large, they don’t radiate immediate charm. So, it will be interesting, as well as a challenge, to move into their next film, working together as a unit, assertive, and, with the * in the title, moving towards being new avengers.
The director Schreier has had a strong career in music videos and television series.
Disney
Released 1 May