Summary
It was inevitable from the start forThunderbolts*to draw some obviousSuicide Squadparallels, but there’s still scope for the MCU movie to find its own voice. The recent trailer has only made the comparisons more intense, as it seems to mirror the DC team in its characters, premise, and even storytelling tone and intent.
Marvel has faced a lot of flak for borrowing too many ideas from DC throughout comic book history, and theThunderbolts-Suicide Squadconnection is a typical example. Both groups are essentially misfit teams of bad guys sent on dangerous missions by some governmental authority, as they later become reluctant heroes while trying to redeem themselves.
However, comic books and their movie adaptations are two different ballgames, and Marvel has consistently eclipsed DC on the big screen. For instance, the Justice League is way more popular on paper, but the “inspired” Avengers franchise overpowered them in theaters, and the MCU would aim to repeat just that withThunderbolts*.While theDC Extended Universetook two shots with David Ayer’sSuicide Squad(2016) and James Gunn’sThe Suicide Squad(2021), Marvel has more at stake. What works in Marvel’s favor is that most Thunderbolts members have already appeared in the MCU. Given their familiar moral ambiguity, it wouldn’t take much time to convince audiences that they’re villains.
Moreover, with the DCEU now virtually obsolete, theSuicide Squadmovies lack long-term relevance, except maybethePeacemakerspin-off series. In contrast,Thunderboltsis a key film in the build-up toAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars, and it marks the final chapter of the MCU’s Phase Five. Interestingly,the asterisk () in the Thunderbolts*titlehints that the team might even get a name change after the first movie. This level of significance alone helps the film escape its “MCU’sSuicide Squad” label, and instead makes it the spiritual successor to another MCU misfit team, theGuardians of the Galaxy.
To make theThunderbolts* look fresh, the MCU should focus on the subtle yet significant difference between morally gray anti-heroes and outright villains. In the limited comic seriesJustice League vs. Suicide Squad(2017), the Squad intends to keep the Justice League in check and fight them if they go rogue. Right now, the MCU doesn’t need a group to counter the Avengers or any other heroes. Instead, the Thunderbolts should be more than disposable assets, and hold the same weight as the marquee heroes.
One thing is clear:Thunderboltsdirector Jake Schreier should consciously avoid imitating the “James Gunn signature”. It’s hard for any Marvel film to escape the director’s trademark humor and needle drops, but it’s crucial for givingThunderboltsits own style despite similar plot elements toThe Suicide Squador theGuardians of the Galaxytrilogy. The writers must ensure that the Thunderbolts don’t turn into a B-team for missions that the “bigger” heroes are too busy to do or avoid due to excessive violence. WithSebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnesalready in the picture, the MCU should also lean into bringing older, familiar heroes into the new team, which could transformThunderbolts*into an instant fan favorite.
In terms of central characters, bothValentina Allegra de Fontaineand Amanda Waller lead secret government operations and create the two teams in their respective franchises. However, unlike Waller, Valentina doesn’t appear to hold any of her team members hostage or implant explosive devices in their heads. This imminent death threat worked well for DC, but it doesn’t align with the MCU’s current tone, so they can skip such concepts altogether. Moreover, if they go another step further with a twist and rebrand theThunderboltsasthe Dark Avengers, it would massively set them apart from being a mereSuicide Squadclone.
Drawing inspiration isn’t inherently negative, but sometimesMarvel’s DC-borrowed ideasblow the originals out of the water, especially in terms of the success they enjoy. One could argue that they have a counterpart for nearly every DC hero or group – like Iron Man and Batman, Quicksilver and the Flash, the Avengers and the Justice League, and case in point, the Thunderbolts and the Suicide Squad. On the flip side, whenever the MCU tries to force a spotlight on a hero that DC has already brought to the screen, it often struggles to escape that shadow.
Captain Marvelwas intended to be the MCU’s answer toWonder Woman, but it never quite achieved the same level of fan reception, despite similar box office success. There have also been some cautionary tales in the post-Endgameera, such asthe box-office bombThe Marvels(2023)and the forgettableEternals(2021). These outings were meant to expand the universe with new-look superhero teams, but they all turned out to be duds. Nevertheless, Marvel has consistently found ways to stand out, even when borrowing elements from elsewhere, and theThunderbolts*might do it too, when it releases on July 31, 2025.
Thunderbolts*
Marvel’s Thunderbolts is a superhero movie based on the comic team of the same name. The movie acts as a part of the MCU’s fifth phase of films. The film sees the likes of Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell, the Red Guardian, and more as an unlikely group of heroes and villains brought together to fight for good.
