• Marvel Studios revealed the asterisk in the title 'Thunderbolts*' represents '*The New Avengers,' the official subtitle of the film.
• 'Thunderbolts*' (now '*The New Avengers') opened with a domestic gross of $74-76 million and a worldwide gross of $162 million.
• A post-opening marketing campaign involved changing posters and promotional materials to reflect the new title, tying into future MCU projects.

Marvel Studios has officially revealed that the asterisk in the movie title 'Thunderbolts*' signifies the film’s subtitle, '*The New Avengers'. The reveal came after the film's theatrical release on May 2, 2025, where it earned $74-76 million domestically during its opening weekend. This unveiling was accompanied by a widespread marketing campaign, replacing 'Thunderbolts*' posters with '*The New Avengers' across various platforms. This strategic move clarifies the film's narrative connection to future Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) installments, particularly 'Avengers: Doomsday'.

• What: Marvel Studios revealed that the asterisk in 'Thunderbolts*' signifies the film's subtitle '*The New Avengers,' launching a marketing campaign to reflect the title change.
• Who: Key individuals involved include Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jake Schreier, and Kevin Feige. Key entities are Marvel Studios and Disney.
• When: The reveal and marketing changes occurred after the film's opening weekend, starting May 5, 2025. 'Avengers: Doomsday' is slated for May 1, 2026.
• Where: The marketing campaign included changes to billboards in Los Angeles and updates to online ticketing websites.

The decision by Marvel to reveal '*The New Avengers' as the subtitle for 'Thunderbolts*' after the film's release indicates a strategic marketing approach aimed at enhancing audience engagement and clarifying the film's place within the broader MCU narrative. The positive critical reception and audience scores suggest a positive reception, although box office performance is being closely compared to previous MCU releases. The explicit connection to 'Avengers: Doomsday' sets the stage for future interconnected storylines.

It felt like, if Val is also trying to pull a switcheroo and sell the New Avengers to the world, we could do that, too. Especially given that the asterisk has been on the movie for a year, hopefully it doesn’t feel sweaty — it feels like this was a plan and we built up to it.

Marvel's 'Thunderbolts*' has been officially revealed as '*The New Avengers,' with a post-release marketing campaign solidifying its new identity. The film's financial performance and critical reception indicate a solid start. The reveal sets the stage for future MCU installments, notably 'Avengers: Doomsday,' positioning '*The New Avengers' as a key part of the evolving cinematic universe.