Marvel Studios has released the debut trailer for Thunderbolts*, the final film in Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (yes, the asterisk is intentional, and no, Marvel Studios boss Keven Feige has not yet made any explanation for it).
The trailer below begins with Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) visiting her father, Red Guardian (David Harbour), who is not doing particularly well. It’s clear that neither character is particularly happy with their lot in life and both need some stimulation.
As the trailer progresses, we see this antihero team take shape. Wyatt Russell as John Walker/US Agent, Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr/Ghost, and Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster try to understand what is happening to them as they fight each other. Sebastian Stan reprises the role of Bucky Barns/Winter Soldier, and according to the trailer, we will see Bucky face off against the Thunderbolts before becoming their de facto leader.
At one point we see Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who supposedly leads the Thunderbolts, but the highlight is a first look at Lewis Pullman’s Bob, aka Sentry, who looks confused when the rest of the team shows up unannounced.
Top Gun: Maverick star Lewis Pullman replaced Steven Yeun as Sentry after The Walking Dead star left the role. Pullman, the son of actor Bill Pullman, delivered a memorable performance as Lt. Robert “Bob” Floyd in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick. Other notable roles included the 2018 neo-noir thriller Bad Times at the El Royale, the television series Outer Range, and most recently Apple’s Lessons in Chemistry alongside Marvel star Brie Larson.
The role of the Sentry was freely adapted from Yeun had to leave the Thunderbolts lineup due to scheduling conflicts, because The film has been removed from the 2024 cinema schedule after a major reshuffle following the strikes of the two writers and actors, so that Deadpool & Wolverine as the only MCU movie coming out this year.
Sentry is perhaps the most dangerous and powerful superhero in the Marvel Universe, but has not received much attention outside of Marvel Comics, apart from some mobile games like Marvel Puzzle Quest, Marvel Future Fight and Marvel Snapshotso it will be interesting to bring the character to life on the big screen.
Jake Schreier directs Thunderbolts from a screenplay by Beef author Lee Sung Jinwho is working from the first draft by Black Widow screenwriter Eric Pearson. David Harbour previously said Pearson had a “really cool” idea for the story that would “drop a bomb on the MCU” when it finally hits theaters.
Thunderbolts* will be released in May 2025.
Wesley is IGN’s UK News Editor. You can find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can contact Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
