One Year Later, Marvel Reimagines Thunderbolts’ Post-Credits Scene

Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday Trailer Rewrites Previous MCU Storylines

Marvel has continued to release new trailers for Avengers: Doomsday, and the latest footage has significantly altered what the franchise had previously set up in Thunderbolts’ post-credits scene. This development has created a major shift in how fans are expecting the story of Avengers: Doomsday to unfold.

The Role of Thunderbolts in the MCU

Thunderbolts was one of the most anticipated movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), especially as it served as a crucial part of the Multiverse Saga. The film brought together a number of supporting characters, forming a new team that would play a key role in future stories. At the end of the movie, the Thunderbolts were revealed to be the MCU’s New Avengers, a development that sparked a lot of excitement among fans.

The film also introduced an asterisk in its title, which hinted at a deeper mystery. While this setup was intriguing, Marvel had another surprise in store for audiences, which was unveiled in the post-credits scene of Thunderbolts. However, the latest trailer for Avengers: Doomsday has now rewritten that setup.

The New Avengers and Their Role

After the team becomes the New Avengers, there is a 14-month time jump between the film’s ending and its post-credits scene. During this time, the New Avengers are shown operating out of the old Avengers Tower, which is owned by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. This arrangement gives the heroes power over her, as they wear team uniforms and face legal challenges.

This setup created tension between the New Avengers and Captain America’s original Avengers team when Doomsday arrives later this year. Additionally, the post-credits scene introduced the Fantastic Four, with their spaceship seen flying through space.

The Impact of Avengers: Doomsday’s New Trailer

Thunderbolts was released on May 2, 2025, and now, just a few months later, Marvel has made a significant change to the storyline. The fourth trailer for Avengers: Doomsday skips ahead of what was previously set up in Thunderbolts.

With The Fantastic Four: First Steps scheduled for release a couple of months after Thunderbolts, the latter marked the first time that the team was seen in the MCU, even if only through their spaceship. It also set up the New Avengers as the first team from the MCU’s main Earth to come into contact with the Fantastic Four.

However, the latest trailer has changed the game entirely. It brings back Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s The Thing, who meets Winston Duke’s M’Baku, revealed to be the King of Wakanda, in a desert. This marks the first time that a member of the MCU’s Fantastic Four is seen interacting with a hero from the franchise’s main universe.

A Major Shift in the Storyline

This development undoes what Thunderbolts’ post-credits scene had suggested. Fans have yet to see the New Avengers meet Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards and the rest of the Fantastic Four. While it’s still possible that the New Avengers and the Fantastic Four could meet in space before The Thing and M’Baku interact, it will no longer be the first look at the team’s Avengers: Doomsday crossover as Thunderbolts had implied.