The New Avengers: Thunderbolts Gets a Major Marvel Makeover
Just when Marvel fans thought they had the next chapter figured out, the studio pulled a fast one. Thunderbolts, which opened in theaters on May 2, is now officially called The New Avengers. And get this—nobody less than Robert Downey Jr. broke the news with a splashy Instagram post. He shared that while filming the massive crossover movie Avengers: Doomsday, his crew enjoyed a private screening of the newly retitled movie. Picture this: the "Old Avengers" huddled around, catching a first look at the team's successors. His words? It was like "dinner and a show." Pretty hard to top that for a cast bonding night.
The timing of this title switch wasn’t random. Marvel quickly rolled out fresh posters and trailers—erasing the Thunderbolts name and swapping in The New Avengers everywhere you look. There’s no denying this is a full-blown rebranding push, tying neatly into that ever-expanding MCU storyline. Marvel clearly wants everyone to see the so-called "Thunderbolts" as more than an oddball squad—they’re officially carrying the Avengers torch now.
Inside the Watchtower: The Hidden Signals in the Post-Credits Scene
Marvel loves its post-credit surprises, and this one packs a punch for fans who track every detail. At the end of The New Avengers, we see the new team move into the Watchtower. If you're a longtime MCU watcher, you know this was the original Avengers’ headquarters, now passed on to the franchise’s new faces. That one shot is loaded with meaning: it’s a clear invitation to start thinking of these characters not as extras or side stories but as legitimate successors to the original Avengers lineup.
The core cast for The New Avengers includes familiar names like Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan. There’s plenty of crossover from the Avengers: Doomsday ensemble, too. But sharp-eyed fans noticed one major absence: Charlie Cox. His profile in the MCU has been rising, so his lack of involvement here has people guessing—maybe there’s something bigger in store for him, or maybe it’s just good old-fashioned scheduling conflicts.
Plot-wise, Marvel is keeping things tightly under wraps. Downey Jr. hinted at fun back-and-forth with his Doomsday co-stars online, but stopped short of dropping spoilers. If the studio’s secretive strategy holds, it’ll be a while before fans know exactly how the New Avengers lineup connects with the rest of the Marvel universe—or what kind of threat they’ll face next.
The studio’s decision to lean hard into the The New Avengers brand says a lot about their vision for the MCU’s future. This isn’t just a name swap—it's a signal that the baton has officially been passed and a new era is beginning. Whether you loved the old team or are warming up to the new, Marvel’s made one thing clear: the legacy isn’t fading anytime soon.