The Marvel Cinematic Universe is heading into uncharted territory. With ‘Thunderbolts*’ set to release on May 2, 2025, and ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ following almost exactly a year later, Marvel is laying the groundwork for its most daring and complex saga yet.
While the MCU has always thrived on connectivity, the latest teases from Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier and actor Anthony Mackie signal a darker, riskier phase. This phase could fundamentally reshape everything fans have known since Iron Man launched the franchise in 2008.
A ‘Thunderbolts*’ Character Will Have A Major Role In ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
In a recent interview with CinemaBlend, ‘Thunderbolts*’ director Jake Schreier teased that a known character in the film will have a major influence going forward. “There might be some stones or pebbles… I don’t know how you want to rate your rocks,” he teased. The metaphor here is intentional. Marvel fans know what “stones” often refer to (Infinity Stones). However, Schreier’s vagueness suggests something else entirely. It teases a power hidden in plain sight.
Related: ‘Thunderbolts*’ To Mark The Debut Of MCU’s Most Powerful Villain Ever
That brings us to Lewis Pullman’s now confirmed role as The Sentry. Sentry is arguably the most powerful character ever introduced. He is a character whose strength rivals, if not surpasses, that of characters like Thor or Captain Marvel. More importantly, The Sentry’s story is tied to something even more dangerous: The Void, which is his destructive alter-ego residing within him. If unleashed, The Void could be catastrophic, not just for the Thunderbolts, but for the entire MCU.
And Schreier’s comments support that theory. He said this character’s power could “have an impact going forward,” signaling that ‘Thunderbolts*’ isn’t just a standalone rogue-heroes flick. The film might directly tie into the explosive events of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. Fans who expected a smaller, grounded movie might be in for a major surprise. Kevin Feige has also confirmed that the film will be one of the five major factions fighting alongside the Avengers in ‘Doomsday.’
Anthony Mackie Teases A Cliffhanger That Could Reshape The MCU Forever
While fans are theorizing about The Sentry, Lewis Pullman, and The Void, Anthony Mackie dropped another bombshell of his own in a recent interview with Collider. When asked about ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, a project he’s deeply involved in, Mackie had a lot to say. “It’s one of those stories that really pushes the boundaries,” Mackie said. “The cliffhanger at the end… it really builds and sets us up for a way for the continuation of the Marvel saga, which is really exciting.”
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Cliffhanger. That one word instantly brings back memories of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’, which ended with half the universe snapped out of existence. However, if Mackie’s comments are any indication, ‘Doomsday’ could go even further. “No one is safe. Everyone is expendable,” he warned. This level of unpredictability is something that Marvel fans needed after the studio’s constant failure since ‘Endgame’.
The idea that beloved heroes could die, and possibly not return, injects a sense of finality and consequence that the MCU hasn’t had since then. And with Doctor Doom (played by none other than Robert Downey Jr.) serving as the central villain, the stakes are as high as they’ve ever been. So, this isn’t just another hero vs. villain story. This is the MCU facing extinction.
