Summary
- Thunderbolts* will feature practical effects, providing a more grounded and realistic tone compared to other MCU films
- Being compared to The Breakfast Club, Thunderbolts* will emphasize character connections and unique storytelling
- The practical effects in Thunderbolts* will help differentiate the movie, focusing on characters and personalities, appealing to audiences
Many fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are excited about the upcoming release of Thunderbolts* on May 2, 2025. Thunderbolts* will serve as the end for Marvel’s Phase 5 before the arrival of The Fantastic Four kickstarts the next one, which should lead to some exciting plots.
Thunderbolts* has been delayed several times, which has caused some concerns and questions, but they could have taken place for all the right reasons. Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes is the most well-known character in this movie, and he’s had the chance to experience what Marvel Studios can provide, which is why his latest comments are a positive sign for the film.
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What Did Sebastian Stan Say?
Most Marvel movies feature a lot of special effects, which is needed to create some of the out-of-this-world fight scenes that take place. However, Thunderbolts* is going to provide a slightly more raw and realistic approach. Stan told Deadline, “It has its own vibe, and it’s funny, and it’s real, and we did actual real stunts. Like, when you’re watching a truck blow up, it’s a truck blow up. It’s not CGI. Marvel really wanted this to have its own, there were many things in the movie that were actually done practically, and I think that does go a long way because people are just smart. I think audiences just, they know.” It’s an interesting decision that will provide a very different feel to everything else within the MCU.
Stan has also compared Thunderbolts* to the beloved 80s movie, The Breakfast Club, which is certainly something different for Marvel. The idea that the characters are going to have such a unique connection while the fight scenes are guaranteed to feel realistic is going to create an interesting combination that has the potential to make Thunderbolts* an extremely enjoyable movie that will allow this team to connect with audiences to feel important moving forward.
How It Will Impact The Movie
The practical effects should lead to Thunderbolts* feeling like a raw and gritty film due to the nature of the characters. The skills that the likes of the Winter Soldier, Yelena Belova, and Ghost have all lend themselves nicely to having practical effects. It could give a similar feeling to Captain America: Winter Soldier, which felt more like a classic political spy thriller rather than a massive superhero movie. That benefited the movie and will likely help Thunderbolts* too because standing out in this genre isn’t an easy thing to do.
Lately, there have been many big cosmic stories in the MCU that have told grand-scale stories that have been entertaining. However, practical effects should make Thunderbolts* feel more relatable, which isn’t easy to achieve in this genre. It will give people a breather in the MCU before upcoming movies like Avengers: Doomsday take things to the next level with tremendous powers and personalities. Thunderbolts* being focused on huge explosions and effects will draw viewers in, and that should lead to this one feeling special.
Why Thunderbolts* Can Thrive Being More Practical
Thunderbolts* will see a group of heroes team up, much like The Avengers or The Guardians of the Galaxy, but only these characters are very different. The Thunderbolts* team is much more grounded in terms of their powers, which should allow Marvel to tell a different type of story compared to what has been done before. That should lead to the movie thriving because MCU fans always like something completely different and outside the norm. That’s one of the reasons movies like The Guardians of the Galaxy performed so well; they were completely unique.
Having this movie grounded in the real world will ensure that a lot of the focus is placed on the characters and personalities rather than just good vs evil. Certain MCU characters thrive because they have huge personalities and build memorable connections with others around them. That’s something that can happen with Thunderbolts*, and the fact audiences can understand the scale of what’s happening due to the effects being practical will only aid how they view those in Thunderbolts*.
Audiences always enjoy seeing practical effects used in movies because it adds a sense of realism and authenticity to the film. Marvel movies can often feel very over the top, which is the very nature of a superhero film. However, having Thunderbolts* feature lots of practical effects will make this movie slightly more grounded, yet it will ensure the scale of the scenes is truly appreciated. While massive explosions always grip viewers, they will be able to tell that this has been done for real, and that’s something that should benefit Thunderbolts*. Considering this movie features a lot of newer and more obscure characters in the MCU, having something that will help the movie differentiate itself is going to be a key selling point.
Marvel’s Thunderbolts is a superhero movie based on the comic team of the same name. The movie acts as a part of the MCU’s fifth phase of films. The film sees the likes of Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell, the Red Guardian, and more as an unlikely group of heroes and villains brought together to fight for good.