Marvel’s antihero team is coming to the big screen

Marvel fans have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Thunderbolts, a team of reformed supervillains who take on heroic missions. The team was first introduced in the comics in 1997, and has had various members and leaders over the years, including Baron Zemo, Hawkeye, Red Hulk, and the Winter Soldier.

The Thunderbolts movie was officially announced at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con, with a release date of May 2, 2025. The cast includes David Harbour as Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier, Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent, Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster, and Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova.

Florence Pugh reveals filming update at Dune: Part Two premiere

While the Thunderbolts movie has been shrouded in secrecy, one of its stars has given a surprising update on the filming status. Florence Pugh, who made her Marvel debut as Yelena Belova in Black Widow, revealed that she is currently filming for Thunderbolts in New York City.

Pugh shared this news while attending the New York premiere of Dune: Part Two, in which she plays Princess Irulan. She told Entertainment Tonight that she had to fly from New York to Los Angeles for the SAG Awards, where she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Little Women, and then back to New York for the Dune premiere.

“I’m filming Thunderbolts right now in New York, which is very exciting,” Pugh said. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s a great cast, a great crew, a great story. I can’t wait for people to see it.” 

Pugh also expressed her gratitude for being part of two epic franchises, Dune and Marvel. “It’s a dream come true, really. I feel very lucky and honored to be part of these amazing stories and work with these amazing people,” she said.

What to expect from Thunderbolts

While Pugh did not reveal any plot details about Thunderbolts, fans can expect to see some familiar faces and some new ones in the movie. The Thunderbolts team is formed by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, a mysterious figure who has been recruiting former villains and antiheroes for her own agenda. She first appeared in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, where she recruited John Walker, the disgraced former Captain America, as U.S. Agent. She also appeared in the post-credits scene of Black Widow, where she hired Yelena Belova to assassinate Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, blaming him for the death of her sister Natasha Romanoff.

The other members of the Thunderbolts are also connected to previous Marvel movies and shows. Red Guardian is the Russian counterpart of Captain America, who was imprisoned for decades after the Cold War. He reunited with his adoptive daughters Natasha and Yelena in Black Widow, and helped them take down the Red Room.

Ghost is a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who gained the ability to phase through objects after a quantum accident. She was an antagonist in Ant-Man and the Wasp, but later received help from Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne to stabilize her condition. Taskmaster is a mercenary who can mimic the fighting styles of any opponent. He was revealed to be Antonia Dreykov, the brainwashed daughter of the Red Room’s leader, in Black Widow.

The Winter Soldier is the former assassin and best friend of Steve Rogers, who regained his memories and identity after being controlled by Hydra. He teamed up with Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and sought redemption for his past crimes.

The Thunderbolts movie will explore the dynamics and conflicts of this unlikely team, as they face threats from both enemies and allies. The movie will also tie into the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, as the Thunderbolts may cross paths with other heroes and villains. The movie is directed by Drew Goddard, who previously wrote and produced Daredevil and The Defenders for Netflix. The movie is written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who penned the Captain America and Avengers movies.

Thunderbolts is one of the most anticipated movies of Marvel’s Phase Five, which also includes Blade, Fantastic Four, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Deadpool 3. The movie will be released in theaters on May 2, 2025.