TheMCU’s next slated release has some big expectations to meet, but the fact thatThunderboltsis breaking a 13-year franchise trend bodes well for the film. Now less than a month away from its release, fans will be able to watchThunderboltsin theaters starting on May 2. Coming afterCaptain America: Brave New Worldand before the highly-anticipatedThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, some fans may have assumed thatThunderbolts*would fly under the radar in terms ofthe MCU’s 2025 slate. However, excitement for the film has been ramping up.
Thunderboltswas an unconventional concept from the start, asno other MCU project has put such a focus on anti-heroes thus far. Headed by longtime Marvel character Bucky Barnes, the group will be composed of Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, U.S. Agent, Ghost, and Taskmaster. Unlike other iconic Marvel teams, none ofthe characters in this groupare necessarily known for their heroics.Thunderboltsis going to give them the chance to step up, and that concept has seemed to appeal to fans as anticipation starts to grow.
Thunderbolts* Is The First Non-Sequel Marvel Movie Released In May Since The Avengers In 2012
The impending release ofThunderbolts*is actually going to break an MCU trend. With its May slot, it will be the first non-sequel Marvel movie to release in that month since 2012’sAvengers. Although that doesn’t seem like a particularly significant statistic, it’s a telling one considering how the MCU slate has played out since Phase 1. The MCU started in May 2008 withIron Man, and the sequel was released two years later in May 2010.Thorwas then released a year later in May 2011, thenThe Avengersin May 2012.
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As the MCU has progressed,other May releases have included sequels to the studio’s biggest franchises.TheAvengersandCaptain Americasequels were released in May, and eventually so were both of theGuardians of the Galaxysequels after the success of the original film. Both upcomingAvengersfilms will also have May releases in 2026 and 2027 respectively. In fact,Avengers: Doomsdaywill premiere one day off an exact year fromThunderbolts*. It’s not a coincidence that all of these heavy hitters were released in May, which is why it bodes well forThunderbolts*despite it not being a sequel.
Thunderbolts*’s Release Could Be Perfectly Timed For The MCU
The May movie slot has been a historically crucial part of the MCU’s prior release history - as can be seen by how many major films have released in this month for Marvel over the past decade or so.Thunderboltsoffers the MCU a chance for this to be true once more, but in a somewhat different manner, as whileThunderboltsstill builds on past installments and the history of its characters, the fact it isn’t a sequel allows it to unfold in a way that’s less beholden to living up to expectations than sequels can arguably often be.
Similarly, as the first superhero team comprised more of antiheroes than conventional Marvel superheroes,Thunderbolts*is a real chance for the MCU to delve into a story it couldn’t have carried off with the likes of The Avengers, and show audiences how even a concept as well-covered as a superhero team can be explored in new and fresh ways. With some more mixed results from movies in recent years, leaning into the fascinating stories of some beloved MCU characters like Bucky and Yelena while also establishing a very different Marvel group makes a lot of sense for the franchise.
All this is without even taking into account that the majority of the movie’s main characters are confirmed to appear inthe cast ofAvengers: Doomsday, which makesThunderbolts*all the more crucial as a release that can help set up for the next Avengers movie to hit screens afterAvengers: Endgame. As such,the movie’s timing looks as though it may well and truly be perfect for the MCU and its overarching plansin more than one way.
Why Thunderbolts*’s May Release Date Is So Significant
May seems to be the month that Marvel has saved for films that they expect to perform, considering that most of the films that premiere in the month are sequels. Major franchises likeAvengers,Captain America, andGuardians of the Galaxyare three of the studio’s most popular, and Marvel can rely on them to bring in their established fanbases. The fact thatThunderbolts*has received a May release date may not seem important, but based on the MCU’s past release schedule,it says a lot about the studio’s confidence in the film’s success.
Thunderbolts* Opening Weekend Box Office Projections Are In And A New Report Claims Disney Says Response To The Marvel Movie Has Been Strong
Disney reportedly has faith in Thunderbolts*' critic and audience response despite low box office projections three weeks ahead of release.
Marvel and Disney likely wouldn’t have given the film their prime release month if they didn’t have faith that it would perform well. It’s a big feat for a film likeThunderboltsbecause although it will feature returning MCU characters, it is a brand-new story. Marvel cannot bank on the previous fanbase coming in, so they’re relying mostly on the film’s quality. Perhaps the studio sees potential inThunderboltsbecoming a franchise of its own in the future and is priming them for the coveted May release slot as soon as possible.
