The Two Shocking Thunderbolts* Post-Credits Scenes: New Avengers, Sam Wilson's Lawsuit, And The Fantastic Four Connection, Explained
Yes, for every Marvel fan who stayed through the credits, we can confirm: Thunderbolts* features two pivotal post-credits scenes, a mid-credits scene and a second, more significant end-credits scene, both of which radically reshape the Marvel Cinematic Universe's status quo following the film's theatrical release on May 2, 2025. These scenes are not mere jokes; they are essential viewing, setting the stage for major upcoming events, including the next team-up film, Avengers: Doomsday, and potentially introducing a massive new element with the Fantastic Four. The current date is December 22, 2025, and with the film now streaming, the implications of these final moments are being debated more fiercely than ever.
The decision to include a pair of final stingers follows the classic MCU formula, but the content of the Thunderbolts* scenes is anything but typical. They serve as a definitive pivot point for the franchise, officially establishing a new team and a new hierarchy of power under the watchful, manipulative eye of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. If you walked out early, you missed the true beginning of the MCU's Phase 6, a development that involves a controversial name change, a potential lawsuit from Captain America himself, and the first major hint at the arrival of Marvel’s First Family.
The Complete 'Chaos Crew' Dossier: Cast and Characters
The film, directed by Jake Schreier, brings together a ragtag group of antiheroes and reformed villains, dubbed the "Chaos Crew" by some. This ensemble cast of returning MCU fan favorites forms the backbone of the new government-sanctioned team, operating under the command of the enigmatic Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Their complex history and motivations are central to the film's narrative and the post-credits reveals.
- Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova: The sassy, stabby Black Widow 2.0. Yelena serves as the de facto leader and emotional center of the team, having been manipulated by Valentina since the events of Hawkeye.
- Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier: The reformed assassin and former best friend of Steve Rogers. Bucky’s involvement provides a moral compass, albeit a heavily damaged one, for the group of antiheroes.
- Wyatt Russell as John Walker / U.S. Agent: The disgraced former Captain America replacement. Walker's unstable patriotism and super-soldier abilities make him a volatile but powerful asset.
- David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian: Russia’s answer to Captain America and Yelena’s adoptive father. His comedic relief and desire for glory are key to the mid-credits scene.
- Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr / Ghost: A character introduced in Ant-Man and the Wasp with phasing abilities. Her need for stabilization and cure makes her susceptible to Valentina's control.
- Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov / Taskmaster: A highly skilled operative capable of mimicking an opponent's fighting style, first seen in Black Widow. Her past trauma is a major factor in her allegiance.
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine: The mastermind behind the team. She is the ultimate puppet master, collecting powerful, morally grey individuals for her own obscure agenda.
- Lewis Pullman: Plays the new Sentry, a character whose introduction is pivotal to the film's climax.
- Geraldine Viswanathan: Plays the new role of the team's handler, replacing Lewis Pullman's original role.
The Mid-Credits Scene: A New Home and a New Status Quo
The first of the two stingers, the mid-credits scene, delivers a lighter moment that quickly establishes the team’s immediate future and their new operational base. This scene is a classic Marvel "status quo" update, showing the direct aftermath of the main mission and hinting at the next steps for the newly formed group.
Red Guardian’s 'Avenger' Downtime
The scene opens with Alexei Shostakov, the Red Guardian, enjoying some well-deserved downtime. After the intense and morally ambiguous mission that forms the core of Thunderbolts*, Alexei is shown relaxing, perhaps finally achieving the level of recognition and comfort he has always craved, even if it is under the dubious banner of Valentina's operation.
The New Avengers Tower Reveal
The main segment of the mid-credits scene shows Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Ava Starr (Ghost), and John Walker (U.S. Agent) getting off an elevator. They are walking into what is immediately recognizable to long-time MCU fans as the former Avengers Tower, now a property acquired by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's organization. The visual of these antiheroes in the iconic, former headquarters of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is a powerful statement. It signifies that Valentina has not only assembled her team but has also secured a symbolically important base of operations, effectively stepping into a power vacuum left by the original Avengers.
The End-Credits Scene: 'New Avengers,' Lawsuits, and Phase 6 Set-up
The second post-credits scene is the true game-changer, providing a direct, explosive link to the MCU's future narrative and confirming the massive scope of Valentina’s ambitions. This scene is what officially launches the storyline that will lead into the next major team-up event, Avengers: Doomsday.
The Controversial Name Change: 'New Avengers'
The biggest reveal in the final stinger is that the team, which had been operating as the "Thunderbolts," decides to change their name. The new, highly controversial moniker they adopt is the "New Avengers." This move is a direct challenge to the established order and the legacy of the original team, and it signals their intention to operate on a global, even cosmic, scale, far beyond the scope of a mere black-ops squad.
This name change is not without immediate consequences. The scene includes dialogue among the team members discussing the fact that Sam Wilson, the current Captain America, is suing them over the use of the "New Avengers" name. This comedic-yet-serious detail confirms the tension between the official, established heroes and Valentina's morally ambiguous group, setting up a potential conflict that could be a major plot point in upcoming films like Captain America: Brave New World or Avengers: Doomsday.
The Fantastic Four Tie-In and Space Crisis
Beyond the internal MCU politics, the end-credits scene features a massive, universe-altering tease. The scene shifts focus to a looming "space crisis." This crisis is directly linked to the MCU's most anticipated new heroes: the Fantastic Four.
The stinger shows a ship, clearly bearing the Fantastic Four logo, entering this space crisis or being involved in its genesis. This is the first definitive, on-screen link between the Thunderbolts* narrative and the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps film, effectively establishing that the events of the antiheroes’ film have consequences that ripple out to the cosmic corners of the universe. This scene directly fulfills the director's promise that this final stinger would be a "small hint" of a production that might be starting, with some sources suggesting it was a direct setup for Avengers: Doomsday.
The True Meaning: Setting the Stage for Avengers: Doomsday and MCU Phase 6
The two post-credits scenes in Thunderbolts* are not just bonus content; they are foundational pillars for the MCU's Phase 6. They move the chess pieces into position for a conflict that will be far more complex than the Thanos saga.
- The Rise of Valentina: Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is now firmly established as a key power player, controlling a team of volatile super-powered individuals from an iconic former Avengers base. Her agenda is the new overarching mystery of the MCU.
- The New Avengers vs. The Old Guard: The "New Avengers" name change and the Sam Wilson lawsuit create an immediate, compelling internal conflict. It suggests that the next major threat will require the attention of multiple, potentially warring, superhero factions.
- Cosmic Expansion: The introduction of the Fantastic Four ship and the "space crisis" signals that the next major threat is not just terrestrial. The Thunderbolts’ actions have opened a door to a new, cosmic domain of threats, directly impacting the heroes of Fantastic Four: First Steps.
In conclusion, if you're a Marvel fan, staying for the credits of Thunderbolts* was mandatory. The two scenes—the mid-credits reveal of the new base and the end-credits shocker about the "New Avengers," Captain America's lawsuit, and the Fantastic Four—ensure that the film is not a standalone adventure but a critical, explosive launchpad for the future of the Multiverse Saga.
Detail Author:
- Name : Fannie Stamm IV
- Username : kilback.larue
- Email : hane.dulce@yahoo.com
- Birthdate : 1992-12-06
- Address : 926 Howell Canyon Suite 606 East Jo, TN 36196-8926
- Phone : +1.551.459.2881
- Company : Schuppe PLC
- Job : ccc
- Bio : Quibusdam officia facilis cumque reprehenderit. Omnis beatae corporis distinctio sit doloremque. Libero qui voluptatem accusantium. Voluptates dolore laborum voluptas repudiandae ab voluptate.
Socials
instagram:
- url : https://instagram.com/aboyle
- username : aboyle
- bio : Impedit error nemo sint quasi. Dolores nobis vitae est dolores nihil. Sint est dolore et nobis.
- followers : 4747
- following : 1860
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/aboyle
- username : aboyle
- bio : Quo aperiam atque odit eum nam qui. Commodi sit facilis voluptatem est. Non ut autem possimus quo.
- followers : 4743
- following : 1975
tiktok:
- url : https://tiktok.com/@ayana.boyle
- username : ayana.boyle
- bio : In sequi numquam aut aut.
- followers : 794
- following : 1518
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/ayana.boyle
- username : ayana.boyle
- bio : Eum deleniti qui amet. Est corrupti eum distinctio laudantium qui.
- followers : 5856
- following : 2524
