Marvel’s ‘Thunderbolts’ Gets New Title For Home Release

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Just like within the film itself, Thunderbolts* now has a new name.

As a fervent Marvel enthusiast, I couldn’t help but be thrilled upon learning the title of the home video release for the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe entry. The stunning box art unveiled the new moniker: “Thunderbolts: The New Avengers.” It certainly sounds intriguing when you put it that way!

The recently-revealed promotional video, both for digital and physical copies, is labeling it as “Thunderbolts: The New Era of Avengers.

Marvel unveiled their upcoming movie titled “Thunderbolts” in 2022, based on the comic book of the same name. At CinemaCon 2024, Kevin Feige provided an update on the project and added an asterisk to the title. From then on, as explained by Feige, the film is now officially known as “Thunderbolts*”. However, he also mentioned that more details about the asterisk will be revealed after the movie’s release.

Fans well-versed in Marvel lore hypothesized that the asterisk might indicate a rebranding of the team by the film’s end, possibly as the new face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Indeed, this prediction proved correct at the conclusion of Thunderbolts. Soon after its theater release, Marvel initiated a fresh marketing campaign for the project, dubbing it “The New Avengers.” They even unveiled posters bearing that title.

Currently, home videos are merging the two names into “Thunderbolts: The New Avengers”. Time will tell if

The bonus features on Thunderbolts: The New Avengers’ home video releases include:

  • Deleted Scenes – Check out the scenes that didn’t make the final cut.
  • Assembling a Team to Remember – Spend a bit of quality time with the cast and crew of Thunderbolts* as they divulge how the film’s fictional team of superpowered mavericks, misfits and antiheroes was assembled.
  • Around the World and Back Again – Discover the eclectic locations and astounding production design that helped make Thunderbolts* a rousing reality, including a visit to the sprawling sets in Kuala Lumpur where we join Florence Pugh performing stunts atop one of planet Earth’s tallest buildings and blowing up buildings on the streets.
  • All About Bob, Sentry & The Void – Deep dive into the making of three different characters: Bob, Sentry, and The Void – all performed by Lewis Pullman.
  • Gag Reel – Enjoy fun outtakes on set with the cast and crew of Thunderbolts*.
  • Director’s Audio Commentary – Watch the film with audio commentary by director Jake Schreier.

Thunderbolts comes to Digital on July 1. The DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K discs go on sale on July 29.

The Best Performances in Marvel Movies

15. Jeff Goldblum, Thor: Ragnarok

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are numerous extraterrestrial characters. One character who stands out as particularly alien is Jeff Goldblum’s Grandmaster from Thor: Ragnarok. With his eccentric staffs, space DJ equipment, and peculiar way of pronouncing Asgard, he exudes an otherworldly aura. Goldblum’s delivery of “Time works real different around these parts. On any other world I’d be like millions of years old, but here on Sakaar…” is truly captivating.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has many alien characters. In my opinion, Jeff Goldblum’s Grandmaster from Thor: Ragnarok is the most convincing extraterrestrial. He’s got these weird staffs, space DJ equipment, and a funny way of saying Asgard. His line “Time works real different around these parts…” is really cool.

Both versions convey the same message but with varying degrees of complexity. The first version is more detailed and includes some specific examples, while the second version is simpler and more concise.

14. Iman Vellani, The Marvels

As a devoted Marvel enthusiast, I must admit that The Marvels nearly slipped down the ladder in my personal Marvel Cinematic Universe rankings. However, the captivating portrayal of Ms. Marvel by Iman Vellani kept it from sinking into the basement. Her character intertwines with Captain Marvel before embarking on a cosmic journey alongside her and Monica Rambeau, a fellow space-faring heroine who desperately needs a cool alias. The concept is intriguing, but the execution was overwhelming and relied too heavily on the characters’ powers that frequently swapped places, making it feel more like a gimmick than an engaging storyline.

Despite the movie’s chaotic and disorganized nature, Vellani’s enthusiasm shines through; in such a hectic and messy production, her dedication to her role is truly remarkable.

13. Stanley Tucci, Captain America: The First Avenger

In “Captain America: The First Avenger,” an outstanding Marvel ensemble graces the screen, led by Chris Evans as Steve Rogers. Notable cast members include Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, and Toby Jones. However, amongst this impressive lineup, my personal favorite is Stanley Tucci, who plays the crucial role of Dr. Erskine, the scientist responsible for creating the Super Soldier Serum and choosing Rogers as his initial test subject. Unlike other Marvel scientists, who are often reckless or mad, Dr. Erskine stands out as a moral compass within the film and possibly the entire Marvel Universe. A poignant moment occurs when he delivers a powerful speech about the distinction between goodness and power, which remains one of the most memorable quiet scenes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

12. Michael Peña, Ant-Man

In the first two Ant-Man films, the most captivating scenes don’t revolve around the title character or his ability to shrink. Instead, they are the extended monologues delivered by Michael Peña as Scott Lang’s friend Luis. Whenever Peña delivers one of these intricate speeches, with the dialogue and rapid-fire delivery humorously mimicked by other characters, it is incredibly amusing. The rest of Peña’s performance in these films is equally charming. The fourth film, Quantumania, was noticeably less enjoyable due to his absence.

11. Sam Rockwell, Iron Man 2

Sam Rockwell’s character Justin Hammer has not been seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since a short film in 2014, which is unfortunate as he was my preferred antagonist from Phase One of Marvel, primarily due to Rockwell’s unique portrayal. His villainous traits were distinctively shown through an unflattering tan and eccentric dancing moves. I hope they reintroduce Justin Hammer in future Marvel stories!

10. Andrew Garfield, Spider-Man: No Way Home

Although Marvel initially refused to confirm it, it wasn’t entirely unexpected when Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield appeared in “Spider-Man: No Way Home”. What came as a bit of a surprise was the extent of their roles. In particular, Andrew Garfield seemed deeply committed to providing some resolution for his portrayal of Peter Parker, who didn’t get the chance to star in a third “Amazing Spider-Man” film where he could fully explore Peter’s reaction to the death of Gwen Stacy. He channeled all those unexpressed emotions into “No Way Home”. When he saves Zendaya’s MJ and then becomes visibly emotional… that’s some top-notch acting, wouldn’t you agree?

9. Hugh Jackman, Deadpool & Wolverine

In essence, Deadpool and Wolverine, often characterized by their self-deprecating humor towards superhero films, offers an exceptional performance by Hugh Jackman, who is widely regarded as the finest actor in comic book movie history. He delivers another profound, emotional portrayal of Logan, a mutant burdened with immortality and a conscience ridden with wrongdoings that he believes makes redemption impossible. Although this isn’t his best Wolverine performance (that still likely belongs to Logan), the fact that Jackman’s acting here seems genuine rather than a mere money-making tactic is remarkable, considering the circumstances.

8. Clark Gregg, The Avengers

In the initial phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it wasn’t one of the superheroes that truly shone, but rather Agent Phil Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D., who appeared in numerous films to gather the Avengers team. Clark Gregg’s portrayal of Agent Coulson infused a heartfelt human element into each scene, allowing viewers to connect with him as they watched Marvel’s pantheon of gods, iron men, and guardians of liberty. It’s no surprise then, that Marvel made Gregg the focal point of its first television series, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., even after his character was killed in the film, The Avengers.

7. Tom Hiddleston, Thor

Tom Hiddleston delivers consistently impressive performances within the Marvel universe; it could be argued that he is their most reliable actor, with his stellar portrayal dating back to the initial Thor film in 2011. In this movie, he unveiled Loki’s deceitful nature, jealousy, lust for power, and desperate desire to gain approval from his adoptive father. Since then, the character has only grown more complex as he continued to cause mischief towards his thunderous brother time and again.

6. John Brolin, Avengers: Infinity War

It is important to acknowledge that Josh Brolin’s portrayal of Thanos in the Marvel movies was a collaborative effort involving visual effects artists and scriptwriters. The character’s terrifying performance and complex motivations make him stand out as an exceptional villain, even though his methods are questionable. Despite this, he presents a compelling argument for his actions.

5. Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther

Marvel chose not to replace Chadwick Boseman following his unfortunate demise in 2020 due to colon cancer. It’s because no actor could embody the complexity of T’Challa – the wise king of Wakanda and the superhero known as Black Panther – as skillfully as Boseman did, with unyielding resilience. Among a talented ensemble of supporting actors, Boseman was the undeniable star in “Black Panther.” While other actors may take on the Black Panther role in the future, there will only ever be one T’Challa and one Chadwick Boseman.

4. Bradley Cooper, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

In the span of the Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy, the character Rocket Raccoon, who made appearances in just ten comics over his first three decades, transformed from a secondary figure into a scene-stealing star and one of Marvel’s most emotionally profound heroes. His backstory, filled with heartrending tragedy, is so moving that it makes Spiderman’s complaints seem trivial. A significant factor contributing to the universal affection for Rocket, despite his sometimes harsh demeanor, is Bradley Cooper’s exceptional voice acting. In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Cooper’s performance breathes deep humanity into this small cosmic creature, particularly as it delves into Rocket’s harrowing past and places him at the heart of the Guardians’ narrative.

3. Florence Pugh, Thunderbolts*

Marvel will carry on as long as it discovers fresh, gifted actors to succeed its initial cast. The departure of Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow was challenging; however, the blow is significantly less painful now that Florence Pugh has stepped into her role as the new Widow in the MCU. As Yelena, Pugh infuses a deep emotional resonance into Yelena’s transition from disheartened mercenary to the leader of a band of anti-hero outlaws. She enhances this transformation with a dark wit that suits her well when it comes to Marvel’s iconic one-liners.

2. Michael B. Jordan, Black Panther

When Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan collaborate, they create something remarkable. In the movie ‘Black Panther’, Jordan portrays the antagonist, yet his captivating charm and intricate character make it hard not to root for him as he plots to seize the Wakandan throne from T’Challa in a quest for vengeance. What makes this even more impressive is that Jordan plays this role under the name Erik Killmonger. (“Pretty please: Mr. Killmonger was my father. Call me Erik!”)

The partnership between Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan yields great results. In ‘Black Panther’, Jordan takes on the villain’s part, yet his spellbinding allure and multifaceted character make it challenging not to support him in his mission to overthrow T’Challa as he seeks revenge. What adds to the awe is that Jordan performs this role under the name Erik Killmonger. (“I’d be really grateful if you could call me Erik, since Mr. Killmonger was my father.”)

1. Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man

Is it reasonable to wonder: If director Jon Favreau hadn’t persuaded Marvel Studios to cast Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark (and they initially resisted him for quite some time), would the movie have succeeded at all? And if the film had failed, could that have marked the end of the Marvel Cinematic Universe right on the spot? Downey’s portrayal of Tony Stark paved the way for the entire MCU, using witty banter as a shield to hide his troubled spirit throughout his transformation from selfish arms dealer to selfless superhero. Even though Tony is no longer around, Downey still serves as the benchmark against which all other MCU actors are judged.

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2025-06-18 18:26