Thunderbolts* is about to launch in theaters, that includes a workforce of beforehand established MCU characters coming collectively for the primary time. Notably, every member of the brand new workforce has been seen in earlier Marvel tasks, and some of them have been featured collectively in the identical film or MCU present.
That includes MCU characters who may not be thought of all that heroic on the floor, Thunderbolts* will characteristic Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, U.S. Agent, Pink Guardian, Ghost, and Taskmaster becoming a member of forces, turning into heroes regardless of their darkish pasts and errors. The film additionally consists of the CIA’s Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, in addition to some newcomers like Bob aka Sentry, who turns into the film’s important risk, and Mel, Val’s assistant. Preserving that in thoughts, here is a breakdown of every of the MCU tasks these characters have beforehand been in, in addition to a very powerful motion pictures and exhibits it is best to watch earlier than Thunderbolts*.
Venture |
Yelena Belova |
Pink Guardian |
Taskmaster |
Bucky Barnes |
Ghost |
U.S. Agent |
Valentina |
Bob |
Mel |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thunderbolts* (2025) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Captain America: Courageous New World (2025) |
X |
||||||||
Black Panther: Wakanda Perpetually (2022) |
X |
||||||||
Hawkeye (2021) |
X |
||||||||
Falcon & The Winter Soldier (2021) |
X |
X |
X |
||||||
Black Widow (2020) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|||||
Avengers: Infinity Battle/Endgame |
X |
||||||||
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) |
X |
||||||||
Black Panther (2018) |
X |
||||||||
Captain America Trilogy |
X |
Which MCU Motion pictures & Exhibits Had The Most Thunderbolts* Characters
Black Widow and Falcon & The Winter Soldier
The 2 MCU tasks with probably the most Thunderbolts* characters featured are 2020’s Black Widow and 2021’s Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Black Widow options 4 members of the Thunderbolts* solid with Yelena, Pink Guardian, Taskmaster, and Val. Likewise, Val additionally seems in Falcon and the Winter Soldier alongside Bucky Barnes and John Walker’s U.S. Agent.
That being mentioned, the upcoming Thunderbolt with probably the most MCU appearances by far is Bucky Barnes, having been round since 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. In complete, Sebastian Stan’s Bucky has been in 8 totally different MCU live-action tasks, with Thunderbolts* being his ninth. Conversely, one of many characters who’s been seen the least and gone the longest with out an MCU look is Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost, whose most up-to-date (and solely) look earlier than Thunderbolts* was in 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Which MCU Motion pictures & Exhibits You Ought to Watch Earlier than Thunderbolts*
At Most, 4 Motion pictures and One Present
Naturally, a correlation exists between the MCU tasks that characteristic probably the most future Thunderbolts and the way vital they’re to look at forward of the upcoming film. As such, Black Widow and Falcon and the Winter Soldier are undoubtedly on the high of the record. Each supply character debuts for a number of of the Thunderbolts whereas establishing lots of the present relationships that will probably be current within the upcoming film.
Black Widow establishes the household relationship between Yelena and Alexei Shoktakov’s Pink Guardian. The film additionally connects to the lack of Natasha Romanov (Yelena’s sister and Alexei’s different daughter), organising a shared grief they will each come to deal with within the new MCU film. Black Widow consists of Taskmaster as effectively, a fellow murderer of the Pink Room whose thoughts was additionally let loose by the film’s finish.

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Where To Watch Thunderbolts*: Showtimes & Streaming Status
Thunderbolts* is a extremely anticipated MCU film of 2025, which means its theatrical showtimes and streaming launch dates are coveted data.
Likewise, Falcon and the Winter Soldier exhibits Bucky’s makes an attempt to make up for his previous because the Winter Soldier. It additionally exhibits the rise and fall of John Walker, having been chosen to wield the protect as the brand new Captain America earlier than he misplaced the correct after publicly executing an unarmed eco-terrorist (with the protect). This then results in Walker turning into the U.S. Agent on the finish of Falcon and the Winter Soldier, having agreed to work for Val (who makes her first look within the sequence).
Past these two tasks, Ant-Man and the Wasp might be price anticipating the sake of Ghost and her single MCU look. It will even be good to look at Black Panther: Wakanda Perpetually because it gives the clearest image of the form of character Valentina is, her motivations, and what she’s keen to do if she believes it is in the perfect pursuits of the American folks. Likewise, Captain America: Courageous New World not solely gives insights into the state of the MCU’s present established order, but additionally Bucky Barnes’ new job as a congressman, which will probably be addressed in Thunderbolts*.
Thunderbolts* releases in theaters on Might 2nd from Marvel Studios.

- Launch Date
-
Might 2, 2025
- Runtime
-
126 Minutes
- Director
-
Jake Schreier
- Writers
-
Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo