The MCU has just released its newest film Thunderbolts*, starring an unlikely lineup of “heroes.” Since the wrapping up of Avenger’s: Endgame in 2019, there’re many who have come to the conclusion that Marvel’s greatest era of movie making is now over. With perhaps the most beloved characters like Iron Man, Captain America, and Black Widow now completely gone, there hasn’t been a lot of saving breath for success in new projects for the MCU. However, with the release of the Thunderbolts* that came out in May of this year, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is starting to gain traction again. With the realization that the loss of Iron Man, Captain America, and Black Widow has put them in a tough spot, they’ve released a movie that fans worldwide can relate to themselves. Instead of heroes coming to save the day, a star-studded lineup of anti- hero’s struggle to fill the shoes of their previous counterparts, who were once great heroes themselves.

This story of anti- heroes taking on the role of superheroes is a conflict within themselves. They don’t know how to take on the roles of a great group of superheroes, and that’s the same question being asked by fans since the end of the previous Avenger’s movies. How could we replace the original Avengers? and where will the MCU go from here? The plot of this movie is a significant strength and appeal for this film. According to critics, Marvel’s Thunderbolts* has successfully secured a cool 89% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 7.8/10 from IMDb. With reviews saying, “The best Marvel movie in a long time” (Kain, 1), and “The equivalent of an All-Star Game that celebrates the qualities that make these antiheroes appealing” (Edwin Arnaudin, Asheville Movies).

Despite bringing new life and reviving the MCU, Marvel isn’t without its imperfections. One big problem with the movie is the trouble they will face when trying to tie it all together with the heap of TV shows Marvel has produced in recent years. A lot of Marvel’s TV shows that have been released on Disney+ have been quite unsuccessful, meaning a lot of people don’t watch them, especially when compared to most of their movies. Some critics say, “another unnecessary Marvel adventure about sidekicks that could have been a Disney+ miniseries” (George Simpson, Daily Express), or “has all the ingredients for a good time, but fails to mix them well” (Travis Johnson, Blunt Magazine). Although there are obviously a few nay sayers concerning the future of the MCU, one thing remains for sure. These “New Avengers” or Thunderbolts* have put the Marvel Cinematic Universe one step in the right direction. With the newly announced Avengers: Doomsday (May 2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (May 2027) coming to theatres in just a couple years, the MCU might hopefully be able to catapult themselves further on track and back into the spotlight.