With ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ about to hit theaters, Marvel fans are buzzing with excitement. However, even before Sam Wilson’s first solo outing as Captain America arrives, other Marvel projects have come in the way.
‘Thunderbolts*’ set to release on May 2, 2025, just released its first trailer. However, it might have done more than just tease the film’s explosive plot. In fact, it suggested that Sam Wilson’s mission to rebuild the Avengers won’t go as planned.
‘Thunderbolts*’ Trailer Suggests Sam Wilson Fails To Recruit The Avengers
The ‘Thunderbolts*’ trailer opens with a shot of New York City, setting up the tense political atmosphere of the film. Soon after, we see Valentina standing before a government panel. Her one line, “The Avengers aren’t coming,” makes it clear that the stakes are very high.
Related: ‘Thunderbolts*’ Reveals Why ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Couldn’t Have Happened Earlier
Given that much of ‘Brave New World‘ is expected to focus on Sam Wilson’s efforts to rebuild the Avengers under President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross’s orders, this line suggests that something goes terribly wrong. In the film’s trailer, Ross is shown personally recruiting Sam for the mission of reviving the Avengers.
However, given Ross’s history, it’s not hard to imagine that his motivations may not be entirely pure. Additionally, it’s possible that Sam discovers an ulterior motive behind Ross’s push for a new Avengers team. If that’s the case, then the ‘Thunderbolts*’ trailer may have confirmed that by the end of ‘Brave New World’, there still won’t be an official Avengers team in place.
Can The Thunderbolts Replace The Avengers?
If the Avengers are still missing after ‘Captain America: Brave New World‘, it makes perfect sense that Valentina would step in. As the ‘Thunderbolts*’ trailer makes clear, she’s been working behind the scenes to assemble her own super-team, one that operates under strict government control.
In case you missed it: ‘Thunderbolts*’ Trailer Hints At Sentry Being The Main Antagonist
This is a stark contrast to the Avengers, who have historically acted as independent heroes. By positioning the Thunderbolts team as a more “manageable” alternative, Valentina could be setting the stage for a new era of government-backed superheroes. Moreover, these heroes in the film will likely take the place of the Avengers.
However, will the Thunderbolts truly replace the Avengers? That seems unlikely, especially considering ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is set for release in 2026. The team might temporarily fill the void left by the Avengers. But it’s hard to imagine that Marvel’s flagship superhero team will stay gone for long.
