The Thunderbolts (Marvelette film)

The Thunderbolts is a Marvelette Cinematic Universe Phase Five film. It was released on September 29th, 2023 following Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and preceding Spider-Man: No Place Like Home. The film is directed by Steven Soderbergh.

Cast

 * Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye / Ronin
 * William Hurt as Secretary Thaddeus Ross / Red Hulk
 * Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky / Abomination (Death)
 * Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns / The Leader
 * Sebastian Stan as James "Bucky" Barnes / White Wolf
 * Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova / Black Widow
 * Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr / Ghost
 * Michael Keaton as Adrian Toomes / Vulture
 * Glenn Howerton as Eric O'Grady / Black Ant (Death)
 * Linda Cardellini as Laura Barton
 * Richard Jenkins as President Robert Wesley (First Appearance) (Death)
 * Various Stunt Doubles as the Scourge of the Underworld (First Appearance) (Death)

Crew

 * Steven Soderbergh: Director
 * Andrew Kevin Walker: Writer
 * Kid Marvelette: Executive Producer
 * Kevin Feige: Executive Producer
 * Louis D'Esposito: Producer
 * Victoria Alonso: Producer
 * Steven Price: Composer

Plot
Concerned about the lack of Avengers in this changed world, Secretary Ross puts together the Thunderbolts Initiative, recruiting Hawkeye to lead a team of semi-reformed villains on covert missions. Things go awry however, when, while chasing the Leader, Ross transforms himself into the Red Hulk and goes mad with power.

Trivia

 * The Scourge of the Underworld's true identity is never revealed, and it is left ambiguous as to whether or not it was multiple people.
 * This is the first Marvel film in which Hawkeye stars as the lead character.
 * It is revealed by Ghost that Bill Foster died in the experiment the two of them were seen doing in the Ant-Man and the Wasp and the Ant-Man mid-credits scene.
 * Taskmaster was originally planned to appear in this movie, but was replaced with the Scourge of the Underworld.
 * Hawkeye has an antagonistic relationship with the new Black Widow, Yelena Belova, still traumatized by witnessing Natasha sacrifice herself.
 * Bucky expresses in this film his sorrow over losing both Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff. He and Clint bond over this during the scene in the bar, and form a strong friendship. Bucky also confides in him his desire to retire and live in Wakanda.
 * By the end of the film, the Thunderbolts have essentially been disbanded, with Ross in prison, Abomination and Black Ant dead, and the Vulture making his escape in the final battle, leaving only Hawkeye, White Wolf, Black Widow, and Ghost.