I Think I Know What The Thunderbolts* Asterisk Means, & It’s Bad News For The MCU’s Team

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Summary

Thunderbolts* title was made more intriguing when an asterisk, a symbol hinting at unseen information, was added.
The asterisk could link to the unseen, secretive nature of Val, whose motivations and goals in the MCU are unclear as of yet.
Val's deception could destroy the team before it begins, as an evil leader could see their perception worsened in the MCU.

One of the more prevalent updates surrounding Thunderbolts* was the addition of an asterisk to the MCU movie's title, and I think I know what it means. In terms of excitement level, I have found myself to be anticipating Thunderbolts* more than most others. When the Thunderbolts' MCU team members were announced, many criticized the lack of power due to the absence of Red Hulk or Abomination, while I found myself excited to see characters like Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, and John Walker interacting on-screen in the upcoming MCU movie.
My anticipation for the film was only piqued, admittedly strangely, by Thunderbolts* new title that was unveiled when production began. Thunderbolts* title update added an asterisk to the original team name, leading Kevin Feige to assure us Marvel fans that it was not a mistake and will become clear in due course. Naturally, I - among many others - began speculating about exactly what the asterisk could be included for, and my theorized conclusion is bad news for the MCU's newest superhero team.

Related Marvel's Thunderbolts*: Cast, Release Date & Everything We Know With an MCU Thunderbolts* movie officially in development, here"s everything that"s known so far including potential cast, story, & release date.
The Thunderbolts* Asterisk Could Hint At Val’s Double-Agent Nature Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Val Could Be The Sole Reason For Thunderbolts* Asterisk

One confirmed member of the Thunderbolts* is Val, the mysterious MCU character introduced in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Val could be responsible for the asterisk in Thunderbolts* title, linking both to her in-universe character and the real-world use of the symbol. In real life, asterisks are often used to direct attention to further information that is important to know, often for changes or differences that are not immediately visible.
The asterisk could hint that Val is the hidden villain of Thunderbolts*, as the title is not what it seems and has more information beneath the surface...
What has been made clear about Val in the MCU thus far is that she is an incredibly secretive character. She often plays both sides to manipulate characters, as evident when she sent Yelena Belova to murder Clint Barton for an unknown reason or when she was revealed as the CIA's director in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Since her introduction, it has not been clear what Val's goals or motivations are. As such, the asterisk could hint that Val is the hidden villain of Thunderbolts*, as the title is not what it seems and has more information beneath the surface.
Your browser does not support the video tag. Val’s Hidden Motive Is Bad News For The MCU’s Thunderbolts Val's Deception Could Lead To The Thunderbolts Ending Before They Begin

Custom image by Debanjana Chowdhury. If my theory turns out to be correct, and Thunderbolts* asterisk is used to symbolize Val's sinister, ulterior motives, it would be bad news for the other team members. For the most part, the Thunderbolts roster is full of people who want to do good, but are more morally gray than the Avengers. This means that it is difficult to see any of the team members siding with Val if she were to uncover dark motives in Thunderbolts* story.
While this could see the heroes team up to stop Val, the latter's subterfuge essentially destroys the Thunderbolts before they even begin. The Thunderbolts may not even have an entire MCU story before their figurehead Val - who connects most of the characters - reveals herself to be evil. By the end of Thunderbolts* story, the wider MCU may not accept the team due to Val's deception, despite the heroics of the many characters involved as they likely try to stop her.

Thunderbolts (2025) Not Yet Rated 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.
Director Jake Schreier Release Date May 2, 2025 Writers Lee Sung Jin Cast Sebastian Stan , Wyatt Russell , Julia Louis-Dreyfus , Tim Roth , Daniel Brühl , Florence Pugh , David Harbour , Olga Kurylenko , Harrison Ford

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