‘A Symbol Of Things Taking A Darker Turn’ The MCU’s Most Iconic Location Takes On A Whole New Ambiance In Thunderbolts*

Thunderbolts* has revealed some interesting updates for some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most interesting and underutilized characters, and now it’s also been confirmed to offer fans a better look at how one big MCU location has evolved for the new era.

Thunderbolts* has crept up on the MCU fan base relatively unchallenged, with its impending release being overshadowed by other projects on both ends. With Daredevil: Born Again finally in play on Disney+ and Captain America: Brave New World’s unsatisfactory box office run almost at an end, the film’s promotional tour is finally starting to pick up some steam with fans and the media. One major selling point of the film will be its revelations on the current state of its cast of characters, many of whom are fresh off of live-altering developments from their last appearances. This also applies to the world at large, as Thunderbolts* offers fans a chance to see what the MCU world is like when the Avengers are nowhere to be found in a way that the politically involved Captain America 4 couldn’t.

One thing that fans have been interested in knowing the current status of is Avengers Tower, where the Earth’s mightiest heroes coalesced as a team. It has been unclear what became of Avengers Tower after the death of Tony Stark and the dissolution of the Avengers following the end of the Infinity Saga, with the iconic location missing in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, it was eventually revealed that in-universe CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine bought it. More recently, it’s been confirmed that the building was renamed the Watchtower and this rechristening has some real significance for the MCU, according to Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier. “We know what that tower means,” he says in an interview with Empire. “Who’s the person you would least like to own that tower, that means so much to so many people? Can you use that as a symbol of things taking a darker turn?” Val is indeed the person that fans would least like to own such a prominent monument to the Avengers, and it likely won’t end well.

In addition to being a more grounded entry, Thunderbolts* will certainly take on a grittier, darker tone than most MCU projects, with leading lady Florence Pugh calling the final cut ‘an indie assassin film’ in a recent interview. While it won’t be without that classic MCU humor and charm, as fans have already seen in the promo material for the film, it is centered on characters that either have never aspired to be heroes or have met with harsh reckonings that dissuaded them from those lofty ideas, like John Walker’s downfall in Falcon & The Winter Soldier. Trailers have already shown that this new team of misfits will be briefed in the newly named Watchtower, but it’s unclear if the location will become an instrumental part of their combined origin story or is just a neat bow on that era of the Avengers. When a new Avengers team does eventually form, it’s not known whether the Thunderbolts* will merge into that new group, but it’s pretty much guaranteed that they’ll be working out of a new base of operations. The sinister overtones of a crooked government bigwig operating the Watchtower is also sure to be an interesting plot point sometime soon.

While Thunderbolts* will bring a much-missed team dynamic back to the MCU that’s been missing since the departure of the Avengers, it could also finally bring that grounded new direction that the franchise has been trying to capture. Captain America: Brave New World failed on that front by basically becoming a Hulk sequel, and the inclusion of Sentry could take Thunderbolts* in the same direction. However, if the story can manage to introduce the character and maintain the promised tone without burning the already frayed goodwill from fans, there’s a chance that Thunderbolts* really will make it up there with the Avengers films.

Thunderbolts* is set for theatrical release on May 2, 2025.

Thunderbolts*

Release Date

May 2, 2025

Director

Jake Schreier

Writers

Lee Sung-jin, Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo

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Source: Empire