Marvel's Thunderbolts 'Spoiler' Title Change Just a Week After Release Sparks Mixed Feelings From Fans

Thunderbolts* yet started gracing screens nationwide this past play — but Marvel besides pulled a alternatively absorbing stunt successful the aftermath of its opening. Marvel unveiled a caller title, oregon astatine the precise slightest a subtitle, for the movie conscionable days aft the merchandise that, successful galore fans’ eyes, spoils a cardinal constituent of the movie. That said, delight work connected with caution if you person yet to marque it retired to the theatre to drawback this caller MCU output.

Warning! Spoilers for Thunderbolts* follow:

Thunderbolts* is besides The New Avengers, and immoderate fans astir the net simply consciousness similar Disney and Marvel should’ve fto fans fig that spot retired for themselves successful the theater. “It's implicit nonsense to spoil the movie 3 days aft release,” 1 idiosyncratic wrote connected an r/MarvelStudios post. “Marvel is simply a messiness these days.” Another instrumentality added: “Disney spoiled this to thrust summons sales. They don't spot their assemblage truthful they threw them nether the autobus for viral slop.”

Other moviegoers were much consenting to warrant the play from a concern standpoint. “If they did this successful week three, Thunderbolts volition lone person 1 week to itself earlier Mission Impossible and Lilo & Stitch crush its momentum,” 1 commenter explained successful a remark connected the post. “So that's however you're getting it week 2 to maximize attraction and drawback immoderate money's connected the array earlier Memorial Day.”

Another idiosyncratic pointed retired that connection of rima made the determination worthy it for the studios. “The information that radical are talking astir it is wherefore they did it,” they claimed successful their defence via Reddit. “It’s besides not the large twist of the movie and IMO takes thing distant from it… the movie is inactive bully regardless. The characters are inactive worthy watching and determination are inactive different twists to ticker that I would person been much upset astir being ruined.”

“I’d person waited [until] the extremity of the week, but I recognize wherefore they’ve done it,” an further Reddit idiosyncratic added to the r/MarvelStudios post. “Avengers is simply a precise large sanction brand. If they wanted this movie to marque money, they’re gonna request this backing which they wouldn't person had with the Thunderbolts title. The New Avengers is intriguing. And if you enjoyed the film, you’re gonna privation a sequel, and to get a sequel we request large reviews and it to marque money.”

— Marvel Studios* (@MarvelStudios) May 5, 2025

It’s a large selling strategy that volition apt maximize the magnitude of eyes connected the film, particularly from those who weren’t drawn successful by the Thunderbolts rubric — possibly much casual fans who don’t cognize the afloat backstory present — but inactive are intrigued by the thought of a caller radical of Avengers. Timing issues aside, it’s a coagulated program from a concern standpoint.

Other fans were much into cracking jokes astir the full situation. “Imagine not seeing this opening night,” 1 Redditor wrote alongside a GIF of Eddie Murphy bursting into laughter and clapping his hands together. Another instrumentality connected X / Twitter said: “Calling the Thunderbolts New Avengers is similar that 1 lame person you had successful schoolhouse who gave himself a nickname. Bro! I’m not calling you Dragon. :)” A 2nd societal media idiosyncratic besides joked: “Like The New Avengers hits, but don’t deed astatine the aforesaid time.”

Some fans who weren’t peculiarly thrilled by the bait and power are besides disquieted astir the film’s eventual carnal release. “Aw f—k that Blu-ray is wholly gonna accidental New Avengers isn’t it,” 1 X / Twitter idiosyncratic wrote, portion different responded successful a retweet with a beauteous slayer compromise thought that Marvel mightiness privation to steal: “The lone mode to marque this chill would beryllium to marque the Thunderbolts logo a sticker that says ‘peel aft watching’ and nether the sticker is New Avengers.”

#TheNewAvengers pic.twitter.com/ifA1jebPVE

— Marvel Studios* (@MarvelStudios) May 5, 2025

All of this is to say, Marvel has stood down the conception that Thunderbolts* is inactive the film’s authoritative rubric — the “The New Avengers” addition, according to the studio, is conscionable the spelling retired of the asterisk astatine the extremity of the archetypal title. Clever.

Lex Briscuso is simply a movie and tv professional and a freelance amusement writer for IGN. You tin travel her connected Twitter astatine @nikonamerica.