I think the latest trailer for Thunderbolts* is even better.

At this point, it's unclear whether Marvel Studios intends to reveal more about what to first look at Bob's Sentry outside of a blink-and-you'll-miss-it shot from behind. I'm happy to keep it that way for now, as a firestorm of speculation rages in the lead-up to May regarding such burning questions as what the asterisk means. Thankfully, the latest trailer doesn't reveal much at all, though what it does illustrate is that Thunderbolts* will be a stark departure from the Marvel norm.

The Recent Thunderbolts Trailer Focuses More On Character Than Action

The Trailer Highlights The Back Catalogs Of The Filmmakers

The latest Thunderbolts* trailer is unlike anything Marvel Studios has released before, and it has struck the right chord. Dubbed "Absolute Cinema," the trailer cycles through the breadth of the talent involved in the making of Thunderbolts*, calling attention to its collaborators having worked on such movies as The Green Knight, Midsommar, and Everything Everywhere All at Once. It is a shrewd move that works to highlight the prestige involved and extend a hand to fans of the kind of "Absolute cinema" it name-checks. Compared to other MCU installments, Thunderbolts* certainly feels more like an indie darling.

This trailer compounds that sentiment by distinctly lacking high-octane action and focusing instead on its composite characters. As it cycles through the of the titular team, each can be seen in various emotional states, lending credence to the notion that Thunderbolts* will explore its characters' psyches. I think this is a positive that should hopefully help Thunderbolts* to stand out from the crowd, and it flies in the face of one of the main concerns leveled at the movie even months before the first trailer dropped.

A Big Thunderbolts* Complaint Is That The Characters Aren't Superpowered Enough

There Are Well-Founded Concerns About How They'll Fare Against The Villain

As Valentina Allegra De Fontaine stresses in two Thunderbolts* trailers: "The Avengers are not coming." Ever since rumors about Marvel's most powerful characters, with his villainous alter-ego being an Avengers-level threat at the very least. The move to instead pit him against a ragtag team of comparatively weak characters has therefore been a sticking point from the jump, as the Thunderbolts mostly comprise super soldiers and assassins who, as Yelena puts it, "All just punch and shoot."

The obvious outlier here is Ava Starr, whose phasing powers could prove useful, even if they do pale in comparison to Vision's total power set. The rest is essentially a team comprising Steve Rogers and Black Widow, with nobody holding a candle to the Avengers' most powerful , Thor and Hulk. While I can see why some harbor concerns over the potential for egregious examples of plot armor and leaps in logic, I think this makes the dynamic even more compelling, as it turns them into the ultimate underdogs with plenty of under-explored potential for the MCU.

Thunderbolts* Focusing On A Team Of Lesser Superheroes Could Be What Makes It Great

Thunderbolts* Will Focus On Their Shortcomings

The fact that the Thunderbolts comprise underpowered superheroes leaves plenty of room for the movie to capitalize on their weaknesses and deliver an MCU movie that prioritizes pathos over pandemonium. Yelena Belova highlighting their shortcomings when compared to the superpowers of the Avengers foreshadows how Thunderbolts* will hone in on their insecurities, underscored by having them face off against a threat as powerful as the Void. Lending further credence to this notion is how the Thunderbolts* cast have repeatedly asserted that Thunderbolts* will focus on themes surrounding mental health.

This reality is likely to take its toll on the team Bucky assembles.

Valentina's "The Avengers are not coming" line also bolsters this possibility, as the movie isn't shying away from comparing this team to the comparatively more iconic one that took down a universe-ending threat (even though Bucky was involved in that fight). This reality is likely to take its toll on the team Bucky assembles. Should this end, as many have predicted, in the deaths of most if not all of the team, I think Thunderbolts* has the potential to be something special that could emulate the emotional gut-punch that was Avengers: Infinity War.

MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  May 2, 2025

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  July 25, 2025

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

  Release Date

  July 31, 2026

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  December 17, 2027

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