Thunderbolts*’ post-credits scenes return to old-school MCU pondering

Thunderbolts* is the ultimate movie of Marvel’s Part 5, which was kind of marked by insecurity. Beginning with 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and snaking round a few of the roughest information cycles for the Cinematic Universe, Part 5 is now giving method to a (seemingly) extra confidently laid-out Part 6.

Which implies Thunderbolts*’ closing moments have a number of setting as much as do, and a good bit of propping up as nicely, as they set the tone for the MCU transferring ahead. Very like the remainder of the film, they do it with a type of return to kind for the MCU. And in the long run, the post-credits scenes do what appeared unattainable, truly drumming up pleasure for the following MCU film particularly, as a substitute of simply boosting the nebulous stakes of the franchise.

[Ed. note: This post discusses Thunderbolts*’ post-credits scenes, which involves talking a bit about the end of the movie. Spoilers abound.]

Does Thunderbolts* have a mid-credits scene?

Yup, and it’s a little bit of basic Marvel allure: Crimson Guardian (David Harbour) is within the cereal aisle in a grocery retailer, making an attempt to impress a random stranger by encouraging her to purchase a field of Wheaties branded with him and the opposite lately established “New Avengers.”

He strikes out, nevertheless it doesn’t matter — he’s dwelling the dream! His face is on a Wheaties field! When she leaves it behind, he hardly cares; can’t no one inform this man nothing after he’s been featured by the breakfast of champions.

That every one feels very quaint for an MCU mid-credits scene after years and years of countless guarantees with no payoff. Harbour completely has Crimson Guardian’s humor dialed in, and smooshing his face towards the cereal field to ensure the connection is obvious as day (although he’s masked and bearded on the field, however unmasked and freshly shaved in actual life) is extra comedy gold. This mid-credits second doesn’t have to construct to something greater in Marvel’s universe, as a result of the gravitational pull of Crimson Guardian’s charisma is that robust.

Plus, that’s what the opposite Thunderbolts* credit scene is for.

Does Thunderbolts* have a post-credits scene?

Sure! And it’s an enormous one.

We soar ahead 14 months, the place the Staff Previously Recognized As Thunderbolts have formally been rebranded as The New Avengers, and live in Avengers Tower. Sadly, they’re working up towards an issue: Sam Wilson, after his exploits in Captain America: Courageous New World, is submitting a copyright declare for “the Avengers.” And because the actual Captain America, he’s already profitable within the court docket of public opinion.

The New Avengers are discussing this, together with how they’re being lower out of aiding with no matter “house downside” is presently happening, which nobody will fill them in on. Crimson Guardian comes up with the genius rebrand “New Avengerz” (it’s foolproof; with the Z in place, there’s no justification for a copyright criticism). In the meantime, Bob is chilling within the nook with snacks and a guide. (He’s afraid The Void will return if he tries to make use of his powers once more, so he can’t assist a lot with the house downside.)

Then their computer systems alert them to some type of multidimensional spacecraft getting into Earth’s orbit. As they stare on the display and go, “Multidimensional spacecraft? What does that even imply?” the reply seems on the display… It’s the Implausible 4’s rocket.

That is precisely the type of Marvel teaser we actually haven’t gotten in a minute: An precise tease for a film that isn’t out but, however is legitimately on its method. (Developing subsequent in Marvel’s cinematic launch roster, even!) And although this scene is a short window into what would possibly occur on the finish of July’s Implausible 4: First Steps, it’s an thrilling one. Will Implausible 4 finish with the 4 getting bounced to a different dimension and having to seek out their method to the MCU Earth, probably many years later (and possibly… with some X-Males in tow)?

Price noting right here: That “14 months later” timeline appears fairly particular, and it actually appears to align with the following spherical of MCU motion pictures in an fascinating method. Fourteen months after the discharge of Thunderbolts* would imply this post-credits scene is occurring simply in time for Spider-Man: Model New Day, which comes out on the finish of July 2026. (With Avengers: Doomsday due out in Might 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars not following alongside till Might 2027.)

All of this factors to one thing greater brewing — in case you didn’t already know a serious team-up occasion was on the horizon, you actually do now. It’s attractive, particularly as a result of it should receives a commission off quickly. This has all the time been the best way of Marvel’s post-credit scenes. However these days, they’ve felt completely different — extra lurchy, if you’ll — as they attempt to construct a multiverse by means of the scheduling insanity. Whereas Tony Stark getting his invitation to the Avengers initiative on the finish of 2008’s Iron Man wasn’t actually paid off till just a few motion pictures later, it’s onerous to disclaim that these days, MCU post-credits scenes have felt like an excessive amount of delayed gratification. That’s as a result of they skewed both too small or too nebulous, or finally, as a result of one thing by no means actually paid off — both as a result of the film it was establishing simply dodged the problem, or as a result of the MCU nonetheless hasn’t caught as much as it.

Thunderbolts*’ post-credit scene looks like an actual return to kind for the MCU: one thing with imminent, tangible promise. And for the primary time shortly, it feels thrilling to each wish to see what’s going to return subsequent, and to really feel like we’re truly going to get to.