After years of inconsistent post-credit teases, Thunderbolts* finally delivers what fans have been craving: impactful scenes that genuinely move the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) forward. The film’s two credits scenes don’t just offer laughs or vague references—they directly establish the next wave of Marvel heroes and tease the incoming debut of the Fantastic Four in spectacular fashion.
Thunderbolts Ends With a Twist—and a Team Name
The movie itself closes with a major shift in the MCU status quo. After thwarting Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s plan and surviving Sentry’s descent into The Void, the mismatched anti-heroes—Yelena, Bucky, Red Guardian, Ghost, U.S. Agent, and Sentry—form a genuine bond. Just as they consider turning Val in, she flips the narrative by introducing them at a surprise press conference as the official “New Avengers.”
While the group is confused (and mostly annoyed), this move catapults them into the public eye. Their struggle for recognition, leadership, and legitimacy becomes a central issue—setting up the film’s hilarious and revelatory credits scenes.
Credits Scene 1: Red Guardian’s Cereal Fame
The first scene offers light comic relief. It shows Red Guardian proudly pointing himself out on a Wheaties box to an uninterested grocery shopper. Sporting a trimmed mustache and newfound celebrity swagger, he tries—and fails—to get noticed. It’s a playful nod to his long-standing quest for hero status and a fun bit of world-building that highlights the awkward fame the New Avengers are navigating.
Credits Scene 2: The Fantastic Four Touch Down
The second scene is where the real MCU expansion begins. Set 14 months later, the New Avengers are holed up in their newly acquired base: The Watchtower (formerly Avengers Tower, now under Val’s control). Despite their official status, public acceptance remains elusive, and Sam Wilson’s Captain America is reportedly planning a rival team, seeking to reclaim the Avengers name legally.
Red Guardian, ever the opportunist, rebrands the team as “The New AvengerZ” with a ‘Z’, complete with matching jumpsuits. Meanwhile, Sentry (Bob) is stable for now, his darker alter-ego The Void kept at bay—though the dynamic clearly mirrors Bruce Banner’s complicated relationship with the Hulk.
Then comes the moment that truly changes everything: an alert about an interdimensional object approaching Earth. The object? The Pogo Plane—the primary high-speed vehicle of the Fantastic Four. It streaks across the sky, signaling the team’s long-anticipated arrival and directly leading into The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel’s next major feature.
This sequence was directed not by Thunderbolts* filmmaker Jake Schreier, but by the Russo Brothers—the same duo helming next year’s Avengers: Doomsday. That makes this not just a tease, but an actual bridge scene between MCU phases, reminiscent of how Doctor Strange ended with a direct clip from Thor: Ragnarok.
The Bigger Picture: MCU’s Phase Realignment
More than just a wink to comic fans, the Thunderbolts credits scenes confirm a return to deliberate, interwoven storytelling. Val’s New Avengers, Sam Wilson’s independent team, and the Fantastic Four are clearly on a collision course in Avengers: Doomsday, marking a full-circle return to the layered planning that defined early MCU phases.
“We will get to the bottom of this situation and ensure justice is served,” says President Sheinbaum earlier in the film—a line that now echoes more ominously as secret alliances and cosmic forces converge.
What Comes Next?
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps (releasing July) picks up immediately after this scene and will likely expand on how the team arrives in the main MCU timeline.
- Avengers: Doomsday (directed by the Russo Brothers) will bring together the New Avengers, Sam’s squad, and Marvel’s first family against a shared threat.
- Expect tension between the “official” and “legacy” Avengers teams, with public trust and leadership at stake.
For the first time in years, Marvel post-credits scenes aren’t just filler. They’re the roadmap. And with Thunderbolts*, we finally see that the MCU is back on track—grounded, character-driven, and genuinely thrilling again.
