The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues its tradition of interconnected storytelling with a significant revelation that has fans buzzing across social media platforms. Joe and Anthony Russo, the acclaimed directors behind some of Marvel’s most successful films including “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Endgame,” have officially confirmed their involvement in the recently released “Thunderbolts*” film—specifically, they directed the movie’s highly anticipated post-credits scene. This revelation adds another layer of excitement to the MCU’s expanding narrative as it directly sets up the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday” film, which the Russo brothers are helming.
The confirmation came through the directors’ Instagram account, where they congratulated “Thunderbolts*” director Jake Schreier while encouraging viewers to “stay until the very end of the credits” for their “little something.” This behind-the-scenes collaboration highlights Marvel Studios’ strategic approach to maintaining continuity between projects while building anticipation for future installments.
Table of contents
- The Russo Brothers Return: Directing the Thunderbolts* Post-Credits Scene
- What Happens in the Scene: Setting Up Avengers: Doomsday
- The Significance: Bridging Thunderbolts* and Avengers: Doomsday
- Russo Brothers’ Marvel Cinematic Universe Filmography
- Thunderbolts* Post-Credits Scene Revelations and Implications
- FAQs
For fans who have been following the MCU’s Phase 5 developments, this connection between “Thunderbolts*” and “Avengers: Doomsday” represents a crucial narrative bridge that promises to reshape the superhero landscape in significant ways. The post-credits scene not only teases the formation of a new Avengers team but also hints at the arrival of Marvel’s First Family, making it one of the most consequential stingers in recent MCU history.
The Russo Brothers Return: Directing the Thunderbolts* Post-Credits Scene
In a surprising development that has delighted Marvel fans, Joe and Anthony Russo have made their return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe earlier than expected. The acclaimed directing duo, responsible for four of the MCU’s most successful films including “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and “Avengers: Endgame,” recently confirmed via social media that they directed the post-credits scene for “Thunderbolts*,” which hit theaters on May 2, 2025.
“If you haven’t seen Thunderbolts*… Go now! @jakeschreier made a fantastic film! Congratulations to the entire cast and crew,” the Russos posted on Instagram. “And make sure to stay until the very end of the credits… we left you a little something.”
This revelation came after “Thunderbolts*” director Jake Schreier had previously mentioned in an interview with ComicBook.com that he was present during the filming of the post-credits scene but didn’t helm it himself. “I was there when it was filmed. I can say that it comes from the set of a production that might be starting production right around now,” Schreier noted, clearly alluding to “Avengers: Doomsday,” which the Russo brothers are directing.
The collaboration demonstrates Marvel Studios’ commitment to maintaining narrative continuity between projects while allowing directors to put their unique stamp on individual films. By having the Russos direct the scene that directly sets up their upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday,” Marvel ensures a seamless transition between the projects while giving fans a taste of what’s to come under the Russos’ direction.
This approach isn’t unprecedented in the MCU—previous films have featured post-credits scenes directed by filmmakers other than the main feature’s director. However, having the Russos return specifically for this purpose highlights the significance of the scene in the broader MCU narrative and signals Marvel’s confidence in the directors’ vision for the next Avengers installment.
What Happens in the Scene: Setting Up Avengers: Doomsday
The post-credits scene in question has quickly become one of the most talked-about stingers in recent MCU history, packed with revelations that significantly impact the franchise’s future direction. Taking place approximately one year after the main events of “Thunderbolts*,” the scene reveals that the team has been rebranded as the “New Avengers” and is now operating out of the Watchtower—Val’s repurposed Avengers Tower.
Several key developments unfold during this brief but consequential sequence. First, it’s revealed that Sam Wilson (Captain America) has filed to copyright the name “Avengers,” creating tension with his former partner Bucky Barnes. This conflict adds a new dimension to their relationship and suggests that the formation of this new team hasn’t received Wilson’s blessing.
As the team engages in characteristic bickering, they’re interrupted by an alert about an unidentified interdimensional ship entering Earth’s atmosphere. The reveal of a large blue “4” on the side of the craft leaves little doubt about the identities of its occupants—strongly suggesting the imminent arrival of the Fantastic Four into the main MCU timeline.
The scene effectively accomplishes multiple narrative goals: it establishes the Thunderbolts as the new official Avengers team (albeit with a potential legal challenge), hints at fractures within the hero community, and teases the introduction of Marvel’s First Family in a way that directly connects to the multiverse themes expected to feature prominently in “Avengers: Doomsday.”
For eagle-eyed fans, the scene also includes several visual cues about the team’s evolution, including Red Guardian sporting a sponsor-covered suit and the team wearing standardized black outfits with the Avengers “A” logo—likely previewing their appearance in the upcoming Avengers film.
The Significance: Bridging Thunderbolts* and Avengers: Doomsday
The Russo brothers’ involvement in directing the “Thunderbolts*” post-credits scene represents more than just a fun cameo behind the camera—it signals Marvel Studios’ strategic approach to building anticipation for “Avengers: Doomsday” while ensuring narrative cohesion across projects.
By having the directors of the upcoming Avengers film craft this pivotal scene, Marvel creates a direct stylistic and tonal bridge between the two projects. This approach allows the Russos to establish character dynamics and visual language that will carry forward into their film, while also giving audiences a taste of their return to the MCU after their successful run culminating in “Avengers: Endgame.”
The timing of this revelation is particularly noteworthy. With “Avengers: Doomsday” now in production, the post-credits scene serves as both a teaser for what’s to come and a statement of intent about the direction of the MCU’s next major crossover event. The scene’s focus on interdimensional travel and the potential introduction of the Fantastic Four suggests that “Doomsday” will continue exploring the multiverse concepts that have defined much of the MCU’s recent storytelling.
For fans of the Russo brothers’ previous Marvel work, this confirmation has generated significant excitement. Their return to the franchise, even in this limited capacity, has been widely celebrated as a positive sign for “Avengers: Doomsday,” given their track record of successfully balancing complex narratives with character development and spectacle.
The scene also represents an important milestone in the evolution of the Thunderbolts team within the MCU. By establishing them as the “New Avengers,” the post-credits sequence elevates their status from a black-ops squad to Earth’s primary defenders—a significant promotion that sets high stakes for their appearance in “Avengers: Doomsday.”
Russo Brothers’ Marvel Cinematic Universe Filmography
| Film | Release Year | Box Office | Rotten Tomatoes Score | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captain America: The Winter Soldier | 2014 | $714 million | 90% | Redefined MCU action style |
| Captain America: Civil War | 2016 | $1.15 billion | 91% | Introduced Black Panther and Spider-Man |
| Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 | $2.05 billion | 85% | First film to feature Thanos as main villain |
| Avengers: Endgame | 2019 | $2.8 billion | 94% | Highest-grossing film of all time (until Avatar re-release) |
| Thunderbolts* (post-credits scene) | 2025 | $162.1 million (opening weekend) | 78% | Sets up Avengers: Doomsday |
| Avengers: Doomsday | 2026 (expected) | TBD | TBD | Currently in production |
Thunderbolts* Post-Credits Scene Revelations and Implications
| Revelation | Description | Potential Implications for MCU |
|---|---|---|
| New Avengers Branding | Thunderbolts team now operating as the “New Avengers” | Establishes team as Earth’s primary defenders |
| Watchtower Base | Team operating from Val’s repurposed Avengers Tower | Continues legacy of Avengers Tower as hero headquarters |
| Sam Wilson Copyright Dispute | Captain America trying to copyright “Avengers” name | Suggests friction between original and new Avengers |
| Bucky Barnes Conflict | Tension between Bucky and Sam over Avengers name | Potential storyline for Captain America 4 follow-up |
| Interdimensional Ship | Craft with blue “4” logo enters Earth’s atmosphere | Teases Fantastic Four introduction to main MCU timeline |
| Standardized Costumes | Team wearing black outfits with Avengers “A” logo | Preview of team’s appearance in Avengers: Doomsday |
| Red Guardian’s Sponsored Suit | David Harbour’s character wearing sponsor-covered outfit | Suggests commercialization of superheroics theme |
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FAQs
A1: The Russo brothers directing the post-credits scene for “Thunderbolts*” represents a strategic creative decision with several important implications for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. First, it creates direct continuity between “Thunderbolts*” and the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday,” which the Russos are helming. By having the same directors craft both the teaser scene and the film it’s setting up, Marvel ensures consistent tone, visual language, and character handling across projects. Second, it allows the Russos to establish key narrative elements and character dynamics that will be central to their vision for “Doomsday” without waiting for that film’s release.
A2: The post-credits scene fundamentally reshapes our understanding of the Avengers’ future in the MCU through several key revelations. Most significantly, it establishes the Thunderbolts team—comprised of former antiheroes and assassins—as the “New Avengers,” indicating a dramatic shift in what the Avengers name represents in this universe. This transformation suggests Marvel is exploring themes of redemption and the blurring line between heroes and villains. The scene also reveals a rift between Sam Wilson’s Captain America and this new team, with Wilson attempting to copyright the Avengers name, potentially setting up a conflict between different hero factions that could play out in “Avengers: Doomsday.”
