Key Easter eggs and Marvel references in Thunderbolts*, explained

The freshly released Marvel movie Thunderbolts* bears a couple of exciting Easter eggs and Marvel references.

The film was released on May 2, 2025, and has been welcomed with warm reviews. The film follows the plot of a group of flawed heroes who are assigned to work together as a team to safeguard the city.

Let us find out more details about its Easter eggs and Marvel references!

Key Easter eggs and Marvel references in Thunderbolts*, explained

1) "The New Avengers"

A still from Thunderbolts* | Image via YouTube/MarvelEntertainment

In the ending of Thunderbolts*, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine schemingly coins the term "The New Avengers" to address the squad in front of the public, just when the team attempts to get even with her.

In an end credits scene, it appears that Captain America, who is already gearing up for an undertaking with the existing Avengers team, is not really in favour of the "new Avengers."

2) Mel is..Songbird?

Geraldine Viswanathan's character, Mel, serves as Valentina's assistant, who is going through an inner conflict of morality.

Her name is actually Melissa Gold, which is the actual name of a character in the Thunderbolts comics, named Songbird. Originally known as Screaming Mimi, she was a supervillain who emerged as a superhero.

Adding to this, Geraldine Viswanathan even dons a bird necklace in the film, which strengthens the Songbird reference much more. Viswanathan's character hints at the possibility of a transformation in any future buildups of the film.

3) O.X.E.

Founded by Valentina, O.X.E. is an enigmatic company that is also known as the Company of a Thousand Shells. It is in the same league as the Outer Circle.

4) The Fantastic Four is coming!

In the end credits scene of the film, Bob and the New Avengers gang witness an interdimensional spacecraft. The spacecraft bears the iconic Fantastic Four symbol, the "4".

The scene's experience is heightened with Michael Giacchino's score. The worlds of the Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four shall collide in the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

5) The West Chesapeake Bay Thunderbolts

How did the name "Thunderbolts" come into existence?

Well, it is in reference to Yelena's soccer team from her childhood, the West Chesapeake Bay Thunderbolts. Alexei Shostakov a.k.a. Red Guardian, whom Yelena looks up to as her father, named the group based on the soccer team that is always defeated.

In the film, the group is also deemed a team of underdogs, but they are triumphant when they are together, as unity is their best strength.

6) "A giant red superhuman rage monster"

In the film, Valentina talks about the incident of President Thaddeus Ross's metamorphosing into the Red Hulk, from Captain America: Brave New World (2025).

Regarding Harrison Ford's character, President Thaddeus Ross, Valentina recalls the incident from a few months back when he transformed into "a giant red superhuman rage monster."