Marvel’s upcoming film Thunderbolts* contains a solid of acquainted faces… acquainted, that’s, if you happen to’ve been paying a variety of consideration to the MCU timeline post-Avengers: Endgame and the conclusion of Part 3. The ensemble journey brings collectively an eclectic array of anti-hero characters from an assortment of beforehand launched films and TV reveals, characters performed by Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, and extra.
What sorts of evil will the assembled Thunderbolts struggle when the film premieres on Might 2nd? No spoilers right here. However with the film’s premiere on the horizon, it’s value cataloging simply how a lot of Marvel’s previous the brand new film is constructed upon.
It’s seemingly that, as with the primary large MCU team-up, 2012’s The Avengers, Thunderbolts* will make a degree of offering a minimum of transient introductions/explanations as to who among the lesser-known characters are. Nevertheless, maybe you’re a Lewis Pullman superfan who’s by no means seen something Marvel earlier than, and also you need to atone for every little thing you’ve missed. Or perhaps you stopped taking note of after Endgame, however you’re very inquisitive about the truth that Julia Louis-Dreyfus is on this new film.
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So, character by character, let’s work out what number of hours of previous Marvel leisure you’ll need to watch, if you wish to really feel totally caught up in time for the brand new film. The excellent news is that the whole isn’t as unhealthy because it might be, since many of those characters appeared collectively in previous initiatives; there’s a variety of doubling-up right here. Additionally, we’re not together with alternate universe adventures just like the animated sequence What If…?, which did characteristic a number of appearances from Thunderbolts* solid members, however by design exists outdoors the established MCU continuity.
With all that stated… Whoof. There’s nonetheless a lot to look at.
Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh)
Thunderbolts* (Marvel)
First look: Black Widow (2021)
Additionally reveals up in: Hawkeye (2021)
Florence Pugh wasn’t fairly the extent of star she is now when she was initially solid as Natasha Romanoff’s adopted sister, however right here she is on the prime of the solid record for Thunderbolts*, and well-deserved. (Sure, she’s not the one Oscar nominee within the solid, however she acquired hers first.) Yelena was immediately among the best issues about Black Widow when it premiered, and her shock look within the again half of Hawkeye was additionally among the best issues about that present.
Observe: On this tally, we’ve included all six episodes of Hawkeye, not simply the three episodes Pugh seems in, as a result of the second half of the season received’t make a lot sense with out watching the primary. However certain, if you happen to simply need to see Pugh in motion, begin with Episode 4.
Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan)
Thunderbolts* (Disney)
First look: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Additionally reveals up in: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Ant-Man (2015 — post-credits scene solely), Captain America: Civil Battle (2016), Black Panther (2018 — post-credits scene solely), Avengers: Infinity Battle (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021), Captain America: Courageous New World (2025)
With out query, Bucky’s presence has the most important impact on our tally, since he’s the film’s oldest solid member (each by way of his introduction into the MCU and the character’s precise age). Most of his appearances came about previous to Part 4, however due to him in addition to different characters on this record, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier might be probably the most important pre-Thunderbolts* viewing. His cameo on this yr’s Courageous New World can also be a bit vital, because it establishes Bucky’s new established order going into Thunderbolts*, although it’s not exhausting to spoil your self for what occurs.
Observe: That Ant-Man post-credits stinger is technically only a preview clip of Civil Battle, however we’re holding the 2015 movie within the tally since you actually should see Ant-Man in full to know how that scene comes about.
John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell)
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Disney+)
First look: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
Additionally reveals up in: N/A
Wyatt Russell shaved off his well-established beard to play the difficult villain dubbed U.S. Agent in Falcon and the Winter Soldier. As hinted at by the finale of that Disney+ sequence, John Walker apparently hasn’t stopped serving America below the radar, as the apparent juice of Thunderbolts* goes to come back from what occurs when Walker has to confront previous foe Bucky Barnes — or work alongside him. Once more, Falcon seems like an important homework a newcomer ought to watch earlier than the brand new film’s premiere.