The asterisk in Thunderbolts* points to the team’s new identity: the Thunderbolts become the New Avengers. Marvel’s February 2025 poster teased the mystery with the line “*THE AVENGERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE”; after the film opened, a May reveal showed the title changing to “New Avengers.”
What the asterisk means
The asterisk is the reveal hook for the team’s name: by the end of the campaign, Marvel identified the group as the New Avengers. Disney Latin America explicitly confirmed the identity in a May 8, 2025 press release, describing the name as the answer to the asterisk’s mystery: Disney Latin America’s announcement.
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Why the February poster said the Avengers were unavailable
Marvel Japan’s February 10, 2025 announcement unveiled a poster bearing the line “*THE AVENGERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.” It framed the asterisk as an unresolved point for audiences, rather than naming the team as the New Avengers. The tagline was an early campaign joke about the Avengers’ absence; it was not the later answer to what the asterisk meant. Marvel Japan’s February announcement also listed the six-character team and said the film would open in Japan and the United States on May 2, 2025.
How Marvel revealed the new name
In May 2025, the campaign made the answer explicit. On May 5, Good Morning America reported that Marvel Studios posted “Presenting Marvel Studios’ #̶T̶h̶u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶b̶o̶l̶t̶s̶* #TheNewAvengers.” The cast video peeled away the “Thunderbolts*” portion of a poster to reveal “*The New Avengers.” Good Morning America’s report documents the social reveal.
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Marvel Japan’s May 14 post-release announcement likewise described a poster and video in which Florence Pugh and other cast members turn over the “Thunderbolts*” layer to show “New Avengers.” It invited audiences to see the film for the full meaning, but the name itself had already been publicly revealed. Marvel Japan’s May announcement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who is on the New Avengers team?
Disney’s publicity identifies the six members as:
- Yelena Belova, played by Florence Pugh
- Bucky Barnes, played by Sebastian Stan
- Red Guardian, played by David Harbour
- Ghost, played by Hannah John-Kamen
- Taskmaster, played by Olga Kurylenko
- John Walker, played by Wyatt Russell
The roster appears in Disney Latin America’s announcement; Marvel Japan’s February announcement also described a six-character team.
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