After years of Marvel fans speculating on what the next big chapter in the MCU might look like, Thunderbolts* slams into theaters with not one, but two post-credits scenes — and the final tag isn’t just a tease, it’s a full-throttle setup for the entire future of the franchise. More than just a cool after-credits moment, the late sequence transforms the Thunderbolts* team into something greater, introduces a brand-new Avengers squad, and gives the Fantastic Four their most epic entrance yet. Oh, and did we mention the Russo Brothers are back behind the camera, Marvel-style, for the first time since Endgame?
Russo Brothers’ Return Makes the Final Post-Credits Scene Even More Impactful
In a move that caught even the most hardcore MCU fans off guard, Marvel brought Anthony and Joe Russo back to direct the final post-credits scene in Thunderbolts*. The brothers, who haven’t helmed a Marvel project since Avengers: Endgame in 2019, filmed the sequence just weeks before the film’s world premiere in Leicester Square. And they didn’t just show up for nostalgia — they delivered a scene packed with significance and swagger.
That the Russos were helming this late addition speaks volumes. Not only is this their first MCU work in seven years, but it’s also a preview of what’s to come. The duo will be back in the director’s chair for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars films — the two marquee events of Phase 6. And Marvel smartly used their comeback moment to tease these next-gen Avengers films in the boldest way possible.
The New Avengers Are Here — and They’re Not Playing by the Old Rules
The scene jumps forward 14 months from the film’s climax, and we find our formerly villainous team—now rebranded as the New Avengers—making their entrance into what looks like the old Stark Tower. Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and Bob (Lewis Pullman) share a dynamic that’s equal parts strained and brotherly, setting the tone for a team that’s still very much figuring itself out.
Marvel has long played with the idea of legacy and branding in its universe, and this scene nails it with a comedic twist: the team is already squabbling over what to call themselves. “New Avengerz,” with a forced cool ‘Z,’ is quickly shot down, especially once Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie)—or rather, his legal team—is brought into the picture. The copyright battle over the “Avengers” name is a small but sharp detail that grounds the scene in the MCU’s evolving reality. It’s not just about saving the world anymore; it’s about managing your brand.
A Space Crisis, a Mysterious Ship & the Fantastic Four’s Triumphant Arrival
Just when the team seems like they might settle into familiar ground, Yelena drops the real bomb: there’s a space crisis unfolding. Strange anomalies, unexplained vessels entering Earth’s atmosphere — the kind of cosmic chaos that only Marvel can escalate between trailers. And then we get the reveal that sends the Marvel fandom into overdrive.
A retro-style rocket with a bold number 4 blazes into view. The theme swells. The logo hits. The Fantastic Four are here. Or at least, they’re there — orbiting Earth, heading into the MCU’s main timeline in a way that feels equal parts purposeful and mysterious. As GQ insightfully notes, the manner of their arrival raises questions: Are they explorers of the multiverse? Warning everyone about an impending doom? Or are they refugees from a universe already lost to Galactus or Doctor Doom?
Why This Post-Credits Scene Could Be Marvel’s Most Important One in Years
For all the post-credits sequences that have led us down wild rabbit holes (looking at you, Eternals and your Harry Styles cameo), this one feels different. It’s not just teasing the next big fight or a random cameo—it’s reshaping the MCU’s core. With the New Avengers stepping into the spotlight, the introduction of the Fantastic Four in full force, and the cosmic stakes dialed up to eleven, Marvel isn’t just setting up Phase 6 — they’re redefining it.
And the fact that this scene was shot specifically for Thunderbolts*, on a separate set in London just weeks before the premiere, shows how fluid and dynamic Marvel’s planning has become. They’re no longer just planting seeds; they’re actively sculpting the narrative based on what sticks and what excites the audience.
Thunderbolts* May Be the MCU’s Most Underrated Hit So Far
With a critic score of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and a fan approval rating of 95%, Thunderbolts* is quickly becoming one of Marvel’s most beloved Phase Five entries. The film’s blend of character work, team dynamics, and comic-accurate energy—plus the introduction of Sentry—gave fans a lot to chew on. But it’s the after-credits sequence that may give the film its lasting legacy.
Marvel didn’t just close out Phase Five with a bang—they gave us a full preview of Phase Six’s potential. And with the Russos back in the director’s chair, the Avengers brand being reborn, and the Fantastic Four making their long-awaited MCU debut, the future has never looked more exciting (or iconic).
“The New Avengers and Bob will return.” And this time, they mean it.