The asterisk in Marvel's "Thunderbolts*" title indicates that "Thunderbolts" is a placeholder or temporary name for the team. It hints that the group featured in the movie is not the official Avengers, as the Avengers are "not available" in the story context. The asterisk adds a playful or thematic note to the title, reflecting that the team is a new or different kind of superhero group standing in for the Avengers, who have been inactive or scattered. At the end of the movie, it is revealed that the Thunderbolts* officially become the "New Avengers," which fully explains the asterisk as representing this transitional or provisional identity. The asterisk also plays into the film's marketing and narrative, emphasizing that this team is darker, more dysfunctional, and not the classic Avengers team, though they are stepping up as protectors in their place. Key details include:
- The asterisk means that the Avengers are not available, so the Thunderbolts* are stepping up instead.
- The name "Thunderbolts" was never meant to be final; it was a working or humorous title.
- The movie ends with the group announced publicly as the New Avengers, clarifying the asterisk's meaning.
- The asterisk was a marketing and storytelling device, keeping the mystery until the film's conclusion.
This explanation was revealed through trailers, marketing posters, and ultimately the film itself, with confirmation from Marvel and the cast explaining it was part of the plot and title design from the beginning.
