Marvel Studios has once again captivated fans with a sneak peek into the world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Earlier today, the studio shared an engaging video featuring Sebastian Stan, who has portrayed James “Bucky” Barnes since the inception of the MCU in films like Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). The video showcases Stan's interaction with a promotional poster for the latest Marvel film, Thunderbolts, directed by Jake Schreier, at a bus stop.
In the video, Stan, dressed in an all-black outfit akin to his character Bucky, strolls through the streets while carrying rolled-up posters. Upon spotting a Thunderbolts poster at the bus stop, he stops to tape a new poster that reads The New Avengers over it. This playful promotion highlights his commitment to the new team and adds a layer of excitement for fans eagerly awaiting the film's release.
The recent promotional clip for Thunderbolts, which hit theaters on May 2 and debuted with an impressive $74 million at the box office, is just one part of Marvel's larger marketing strategy. The studio also released a video featuring Stan's co-star Florence Pugh, who plays Yelena Belova in the MCU. In this video, Pugh dramatically tears off the Thunderbolts title to reveal The New Avengers title, surrounded by a star-studded cast including Olga Kurylenko, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
This exciting moment was captured at the Los Angeles premiere, where Pugh dazzled in a seafoam green dress, while Viswanathan sported a striking mustard yellow gown with a hood. The promotional efforts are clearly designed to build anticipation for Thunderbolts and its upcoming sequel in the MCU.
Fans have been buzzing with questions regarding the asterisk at the end of the film's title. Marvel has since clarified the significance of this symbol, offering insights without renaming the film. For those who have seen Thunderbolts, the title originates from Yelena’s youth soccer team, although the eclectic mix of characters—including Winter Soldier, Ghost, John Walker, and Alexei Shostakov, aka Red Guardian—debate the nostalgic reference to Belova’s childhood.
Following Thunderbolts, the MCU will introduce The Fantastic Four: First Steps, with a release date set for July 25, 2025. Interestingly, the second post-credit scene in Schreier’s film hints at a connection between the two films, featuring a foreign spaceship marked with the iconic number 4 arriving in space. This surprise adds another layer of intrigue, particularly as the newly formed New Avengers argue about their name and its association with Anthony’s Sam Wilson, aka Captain America, who is humorously pursuing a copyright lawsuit over the title.
Before The Fantastic Four arrives, Marvel will premiere the Ironheart series on June 24, filling the gap between these two highly anticipated films. As the MCU continues to expand, fans can look forward to more thrilling adventures and character developments, particularly with the introduction of The New Avengers.
