Marvel Studios has officially begun promoting its latest theatrical release, Thunderbolts — now retitled The New Avengers — following a post-credits scene that introduced the team’s new name. The updated marketing began shortly after the film opened in theaters on May 2.
Sebastian Stan, who portrays Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appears in a new video released by Marvel replacing a Thunderbolts poster with a revised The New Avengers version at a Los Angeles bus stop. Dressed in black, Stan mirrors his character’s usual costume as he attaches the new poster with visible strips of tape.
Another video shared by the studio features Florence Pugh, in her role as Yelena Belova, tearing off a poster’s surface to reveal The New Avengers underneath. She is joined by castmates including Olga Kurylenko, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The video appears to have been taken during the film’s premiere event, based on the actors’ outfits.
The film ends with Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s Valentina Allegra de Fontaine introducing the team under their new name at a staged press event. That scene has now become the basis for the title change across promotional materials. Marvel had previously left an asterisk at the end of the title in all marketing, which sparked speculation among fans about its significance. Within the film, “Thunderbolts” is revealed to be the name of Yelena’s childhood soccer team, a point of contention among the group.
They have a̶r̶r̶i̶v̶e̶d̶ assembled!
T̶h̶u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶b̶o̶l̶t̶s̶* The New Avengers is now playing in theaters. Get tickets: https://t.co/bFq0RNfp6K https://t.co/lIUa8CJCBx pic.twitter.com/8YiRGAVpfE
— Marvel Studios* (@MarvelStudios) May 5, 2025
Following the announcement, new posters and materials are being distributed with the updated title. Cast involvement in the campaign reflects Marvel’s effort to integrate the rebrand into the larger story arc. The team is expected to appear again in Avengers: Doomsday, which began filming in late April under the direction of the Russo Brothers. The second post-credits scene in Thunderbolts was shot on that set and features the characters in new suits expected to be used in the upcoming film.
The new team lineup includes Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and Bob/Sentry (Lewis Pullman). The characters discover a spacecraft bearing the number “4,” connecting the events of The New Avengers to The Fantastic Four: First Steps, scheduled for release on July 25, 2025.
The post-credits sequence also points to growing friction between Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie. Wilson’s character was last seen assembling a different Avengers team in Captain America: Brave New World. Marvel has confirmed that both teams will feature in upcoming crossover projects, with new threats led by Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr.
#TheNewAvengers pic.twitter.com/ifA1jebPVE
— Marvel Studios* (@MarvelStudios) May 5, 2025
Before the release of The Fantastic Four, viewers will see Ironheart premiere on June 24. The streaming series is positioned between the two films and will build on events set in motion by The New Avengers.
