Thunderbolts has two post-credits scenes that Marvel fans will want to stay for after the movie ends. The first scene comes mid-credits while the second appears after all credits have finished. These scenes set up major future developments for the Marvel Cinematic Universe including the arrival of the Fantastic Four and the formation of the New Avengers team.
The movie follows a group of anti-heroes and former villains brought together by Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s character Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. The team includes Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, U.S. Agent, and Bob Reynolds who becomes the powerful Sentry. Throughout the film, they must confront their past traumas while dealing with Bob’s transformation into the dangerous Void entity.
Mid-Credits Scene Shows Red Guardian’s Cereal Promotion
The first post-credits scene is a lighthearted moment featuring David Harbour’s Red Guardian character. The scene shows him in a grocery store cereal aisle with a new mustache instead of his previous beard. He eagerly approaches a shopper and tries to get her to buy a box of Wheaties cereal that features the Thunderbolts team now called the New Avengers.
Red Guardian holds the cereal box next to his face hoping the woman will recognize him. She reluctantly takes the box but quickly abandons it at the end of the aisle before leaving. This humorous moment pays off an earlier scene in the movie where Red Guardian expressed his desire to appear on a Wheaties box. The scene does not advance the overall MCU story but provides character development for Red Guardian who finally achieves his dream of celebrity recognition.
Final Post-Credits Scene Teases Fantastic Four Arrival
The second post-credits scene takes place fourteen months after the main events of the movie. It shows the newly renamed New Avengers team operating from the former Avengers Tower now called The Watchtower. The team members have new uniforms and are adjusting to their public roles as officially sanctioned heroes.
The scene reveals that Sam Wilson’s Captain America is unhappy with Valentina’s team using the Avengers name. Bucky Barnes reports that his conversation with Sam went poorly and that legal action is being considered over copyright of the Avengers name. Red Guardian proposes a solution by suggesting they rebrand themselves as The Avengerz with a Z while wearing colorful racing-style suits covered in sponsor logos.
During their discussion, the team detects an extradimensional spacecraft entering Earth’s atmosphere. When they pull up satellite imagery, they see a spacecraft rotating to reveal the classic Fantastic Four logo. This confirms the arrival of Marvel’s First Family in the main MCU universe setting up their appearance in the upcoming Fantastic Four movie and future crossovers.
Bob’s Status After The Events Of The Movie
The post-credits scene also addresses what happened to Lewis Pullman’s character Bob after the main story. Bob is still with the team but has chosen to suppress his Sentry powers to prevent the Void from returning. He mentions that without his dangerous other side he no longer has powers and can only perform ordinary tasks like washing dishes. This shows Bob prioritizing safety over power after nearly destroying New York City as the Void.
Yelena Belova appears to have taken a leadership role within the New Avengers team. She is shown coordinating the response to the incoming spacecraft and trying to maintain focus despite the team’s distractions. The dynamic between the members has evolved from reluctant allies to a more cohesive unit though they still bicker like family.
Connection To Fantastic Four Movie And Avengers Doomsday
The Fantastic Four’s arrival in the MCU main timeline represents a significant development for the franchise. The Thunderbolts post-credits scene initially seemed to suggest that the Fantastic Four would be fleeing their destroyed homeworld when they arrive in Earth-616. However, according to additional reports, this was actually a clever misdirection by Marvel Studios.
The Russo brothers directed both the Thunderbolts post-credits scene and the mid-credits scene for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Rather than showing the Fantastic Four escaping a destroyed world, the actual Fantastic Four movie reveals they successfully defeated Galactus and remained on their home planet for several additional years before eventually coming to the main MCU universe possibly through Doctor Doom’s actions.
The Thunderbolts post-credits scene was actually filmed on the set of the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday movie rather than during Thunderbolts production. This approach mirrors how previous MCU films have included scenes from upcoming projects such as when Doctor Strange featured a scene that actually appeared in Thor: Ragnarok.
New Avengers Team Composition And Public Perception
The closing credits of Thunderbolts include a montage of newspaper headlines and magazine covers showing how the public has reacted to the New Avengers team. The coverage appears mixed with some media outlets questioning the legitimacy of these former anti-heroes now being presented as Earth’s mightiest heroes. This sets up potential conflict with Sam Wilson’s established Captain America who is reportedly assembling his own Avengers team.
The New Avengers team consists of Bucky Barnes as Winter Soldier, Yelena Belova as the new Black Widow, Red Guardian, Ghost, U.S. Agent, and Bob Reynolds who remains with the team but without using his powers. Valentina Allegra de Fontaine has taken credit for assembling the team and has positioned herself as their public benefactor despite their initial intention to arrest her for her crimes.
The Thunderbolts movie is now playing in theaters worldwide. The Fantastic Four: First Steps will premiere on July 25, 2025, while Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for release in 2026.
Also Read: Marvel’s Thunderbolts Is Now Available to Watch at Home on Digital Platforms
Credits: IGN, ScreenRant, Variety
