Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* is being widely compared to The Suicide Squad and Guardians of the Galaxy, but director Jake Schreier says those surface similarities miss what truly makes the film different.
Speaking while promoting the movie, Schreier explained that Thunderbolts* is less about a forced team of criminals and more about broken individuals trying to redefine their purpose. Unlike DC’s Suicide Squad, there is no central authority figure uniting the group for covert missions. Instead, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine initially sends the characters to eliminate each other, creating conflict before cooperation.
Schreier said the story focuses on characters who once believed they were destined for something greater, only to confront failure and disillusionment. From there, the film explores how they rebuild identity, trust, and direction. He described the approach as more internal than external, prioritizing emotional conflict over spectacle.
That shift appears to be resonating with audiences. Thunderbolts* currently holds one of the MCU’s strongest audience scores in recent years, outperforming several Avengers and Guardians installments. Critics have praised its character driven tone and its willingness to subvert expectations in the final act.
The film arrives at a time when Marvel has faced criticism for formula driven storytelling. Thunderbolts* is now being viewed as a reminder that the franchise can still evolve when it embraces risk and depth.
Adding to the conversation around Thunderbolts* is the growing crossover of talent between Marvel and DC. Actors such as Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson, Florence Kasumba, David Harbour, Barry Keoghan, Pom Klementieff, Sylvester Stallone, and many others have appeared in both cinematic universes, often under the guidance of directors like James Gunn.
This shared talent pool has blurred traditional studio boundaries and strengthened fan interest across franchises. Performers like Keoghan, who moved from Marvel’s Eternals to DC’s Joker, and Stallone, who voiced King Shark after appearing in Guardians of the Galaxy, represent how modern superhero cinema is increasingly interconnected.
Thunderbolts* benefits from that creative cross-pollination, combining Marvel’s scale with a tone closer to prestige ensemble dramas than standard blockbuster formulas.
While The Fantastic Four: First Steps remains Marvel’s most anticipated upcoming release, Thunderbolts* has quietly positioned itself as one of the studio’s most meaningful projects in years. Its box office trajectory will determine whether audiences reward Marvel for taking a more thoughtful approach to its anti-hero storytelling.
