Despite several lengthy trailers and the expected bombardment of TV spots and other promotional material, the upcoming Thunderbolts* has maintained more of an air of mystery than many MCU projects. The nature and size of several characters’ roles remain unclear and this intriguing lack of certainty extends to the film’s title and what specific comics — if any — the movie is really adapting. Though several of the main cast members have been members of the antihero team the Thunderbolts or encountered them in the comics, much of what’s been shown from and said about the film so far suggests that it’s also heavily influenced by a pair of different, interconnected comic series, namely writer Brian Michael Bendis’ New Avengers and Dark Avengers. As the film’s release gets closer, it seems more and more likely that it will serve as the MCU’s equivalent of one or both series, with the conspicuous asterisk in the title possibly foreshadowing the reveal of one of their titles as the film’s new moniker upon its release.
