The 36th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, "Thunderbolts*", currently in theaters, has been generating significant buzz. It's not only Marvel's first team-up film featuring multiple characters since "Avengers: Endgame" but also surprised audiences just three days after its release by revealing that the asterisk in its title, "Thunderbolts*", actually stands for "The New Avengers".
While this revelation didn't come as a complete surprise to seasoned Marvel fans, it caught general audiences off guard and sparked widespread discussion about the naming strategy.
Director Jake Schreier recently explained the decision in an interview with The New York Times. "We felt that if Valentina was pitching a new Avengers team to the world, then we could reflect that through the marketing as well," he stated. Schreier emphasized that this was not a last-minute decision but a plan that had been gradually laid out since the trailer's release.
Schreier also revealed that Marvel was open to this creative promotional approach, even hinting that the buzz was expected to ignite sooner. He added, "We originally thought this hint would become a talking point earlier, so it's interesting to observe how it's unfolding now."
"Thunderbolts*" brings together anti-hero characters such as Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker. Trapped in a deadly scheme orchestrated by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, they are forced to embark on a perilous mission to uncover the truth. The film features returning cast members alongside several new additions, expected to inject new life into the MCU and set the stage for future "New Avengers" storylines.
via： The New York Times