Thunderbolts* is the ultimate movie of Marvel’s Section 5, which was kind of marked by insecurity. Beginning with 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and snaking round a number of the roughest information cycles for the Cinematic Universe, Section 5 is now giving approach to a (seemingly) extra confidently laid-out Section 6. Which implies Thunderbolts*’ last moments have quite a lot of setting as much as do, and a good bit of propping up as effectively, as they set the tone for the MCU shifting ahead. Very similar to the remainder of the film, they do it with a type of return to type for the MCU. And ultimately, the post-credits scenes do what appeared inconceivable, truly drumming up pleasure for the subsequent MCU film particularly, as an alternative 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.]Photograph: Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel StudiosDoes Thunderbolts* have a mid-credits scene?Yup, and it’s a little bit of basic Marvel attraction: 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 just lately established “New Avengers.”He strikes out, but it surely 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 each one feels very quaint for an MCU mid-credits scene after years and years of limitless 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 (despite the fact that 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 sturdy.Plus, that’s what the opposite Thunderbolts* credit scene is for.Does Thunderbolts* have a post-credits scene?Photograph: Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios through Everett CollectionYes! And it’s a giant one. We leap ahead 14 months, the place the Crew Previously Recognized As Thunderbolts have formally been rebranded as The New Avengers, and reside 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 minimize out of helping with no matter “house downside” is at present occurring, 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 Incredible 4’s rocket.This can be a nonetheless from the Incredible 4: First Steps trailer, however think about a rocket ship like this one, however with a clearly emblazoned Incredible 4 brand on it… Picture: Marvel StudiosThis is strictly the sort 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 means. (Developing subsequent in Marvel’s cinematic launch roster, even!) And although this scene is a quick window into what would possibly occur on the finish of July’s Incredible 4: First Steps, it’s an thrilling one. Will Incredible 4 finish with the 4 getting bounced to a different dimension and having to search out their approach to the MCU Earth, presumably many years later (and possibly… with some X-Males in tow)? Value noting right here: That “14 months later” timeline appears fairly particular, and it definitely appears to align with the subsequent spherical of MCU films in an attention-grabbing means. 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 definitely do now. It’s engaging, particularly as a result of it can receives a commission off quickly. This has all the time been the way in which of Marvel’s post-credit scenes. However recently, they’ve felt totally different — extra lurchy, if you’ll — as they attempt to construct a multiverse by way 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 a couple of films later, it’s laborious to disclaim that recently, 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 in the end, as a result of one thing by no means actually paid off — both as a result of the film it was organising simply dodged the difficulty, 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 type 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.
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