Thunderbolts* title mystery solved: Here’s what the asterisk means

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Last month, Florence Pugh addressed the meaning of asterisk in Thunderbolts*, and like others, she too didn't really give away the spoiler before the film finally released. We covered that story and added our take on this; it turns out it was true. Though it was obvious and everyone sort of already knew it.

As an asterisk is universally a symbol for correction, it was the same here as Thunderbolts* became The New Avengers. We had six members in the original Avengers; it was almost the same with this new team of ragtags, but then Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) gave Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) an instant death.

By the end of the film, here's how the New Avengers look: Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), and Ghost. Bob is with them, but he isn't really on the team, mainly due to the fact that he cannot bring out his Sentry side, as Void comes complimentary with it.

Valentina plays some politics to announce the new team

Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in the film. (Image via Marvel Entertainment)

In the final moments of the movie, when the new team in Thunderbolts* have finished saving the residents of New York City from the Void, they find Valentina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) trying to escape the scene. It is well established by this time in the film that she was trying to own this evil superpower.

However, her plan fails and now the new heroes are pretty sure that they will expose the 'Val-practices,' so they slowly chase her there, walking towards her. However, they are unknown to the fact that this is a setup and Valentina made them walk right into it.

In a surprising turn of events, they find themselves in front of a large bunch of press members, with Val quickly announcing that the Earth now has its New Avengers. While she has played safe, Yelena assures us at the Thunderbolts* end that they own her.

We can't say how much of a role Val will play in the adventures of New Avengers, but they sure can use her to their advantage, and we know it will be for good, unlike her.

The title card changes from Thunderbolts* to The New Avengers

Bob isn't exactly a part of The New Avengers. (Image via Marvel Entertainment)

While it was Valentina who made this official in the film, the film made it official at the end as the title card changed from Thunderbolts* to The New Avengers. There's also a post-credits scene where this bunch of ragtags turns into classy heroes in a new facility, with some great dresses and equipment at their disposal.

What we can say is that it's just a beginning for their newfound careers and they will next be seen in Avengers: Doomsday. Now they are almost set to save their world from an unlikely threat that awaits. And not just their world, but the other worlds that are likely to collide in a Multiversal War.

Other than the New Avengers, there will be a lot of familiar faces who will appear in Avengers: Doomsday, as it was announced recently in a five-hour-long video. Thunderbolts* concluded Phase Five and now The Fantastic Four: First Steps will kick off Phase Six on July 25, 2025, which will be concluded with Avengers: Secret Wars.