Premiere - Thunderbolts* : Florence Pugh and Cast Light Up Los Angeles at the Electrifying Premiere

By Mulder, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Dolby Theatre, 28 april 0002 to 28 april 2025

On April 28, 2025, Hollywood Boulevard became the center of gravity for Marvel fans around the globe as the Dolby Theatre rolled out its black carpet—emblazoned with yellow thunderbolt motifs—for the highly anticipated U.S. premiere of Thunderbolts. This was not merely another blockbuster debut, but a cultural celebration that radiated with electricity, emotion, and something distinctly more personal. Just six days earlier, the world premiere in London at the Empire Leicester Square had already set the tone with grandeur, but the Los Angeles event pushed it to another level. Not only did the night serve to introduce the 36th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it also marked the epic conclusion of Phase Five, a chapter that began in 2023 with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. In many ways, Thunderbolts represents both a narrative coda and a stylistic evolution—a move away from sanitized heroism toward something messier, darker, and far more human.

Director Jake Schreier, known for his nuanced, emotionally intelligent work on series like Beef and Brand New Cherry Flavor, brings an indie heart and character-driven approach to the Marvel formula. That shift is felt in every frame of Thunderbolts, from its layered performances to its morally ambiguous tone. The screenplay, penned by Black Widow scribe Eric Pearson and The Bear co-creator Joanna Calo, trades quips for confrontations and gags for grief. Cinematographer Andrew Droz Palermo, celebrated for his ghostly lensing of A Ghost Story, cloaks the film in moody shadows and stark contrast, visually underlining the emotional burdens each character carries. Complementing this is Son Lux’s haunting, avant-garde score—a fusion of electronic experimentation and orchestral unease that sets the tone for the psychological turbulence ahead. Together, these elements deliver a Marvel film that doesn’t just entertain but dares to dig deep.

Red carpet nights always carry their own drama, and this one was no exception. Florence Pugh, undeniably the heart of the film both on and off screen, stole every flashbulb moment. She arrived wearing a mint green Elie Saab couture gown, sculpted with pleated ruffles and a subtle armor-like structure that could have been lifted from a fairy tale—or a Marvel showdown. The symbolism wasn’t lost: Yelena Belova, the Black Widow-trained assassin Pugh portrays, is both protector and survivor. Later, at the afterparty, she stunned again in a nude sheer trench coat over delicately embroidered lingerie—a daring look that immediately trended across social platforms and earned praise from Vogue, WWD, and Vanity Fair. If there’s one thing Pugh has proven, it’s that she can command attention on any stage—whether it’s a battlefield, a runway, or a film premiere.

The cast that joined her was equally striking. David Harbour, sporting a three-piece suit and signature grin, was the embodiment of jovial chaos—much like his character Red Guardian, the Russian answer to Captain America, who returns in this film with even more bravado and reluctant wisdom. Wyatt Russell, whose portrayal of the disgraced U.S. Agent John Walker continues to intrigue fans, shared easy camaraderie with castmates, especially Sebastian Stan. Stan, always a crowd favorite, appeared subdued but confident—a reflection of Bucky Barnes’ own arc in the film as a weary leader thrust into a position of responsibility he neither wanted nor sought. Also in attendance were Hannah John-Kamen, radiant in a striking black cutout gown, and Olga Kurylenko in soft pastels, whose portrayal of Taskmaster is finally expanded upon, giving the character depth, pain, and agency beyond the silent mimicry of her first appearance in Black Widow.

One particularly touching moment from the evening came from outside the official cast. Pedro Pascal, who will soon make his MCU debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, appeared on the red carpet in a T-shirt reading “Protect the Dolls,” designed by Conner Ives. The shirt was a loving tribute to his sister, trans actress and activist Lux Pascal, and a subtle but powerful gesture in support of the trans community. His presence served as a reminder that Marvel red carpets are no longer just about spectacle—they’ve become platforms for advocacy, identity, and deeply personal expression. As the night unfolded, fans lining the barricades weren’t just cheering for fictional heroes—they were celebrating real ones, too.

But beneath the glitter of the premiere lies a story far grittier than Marvel has attempted in recent memory. Thunderbolts centers on a black ops team assembled by the cunning Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who manages to bring biting wit and icy resolve in equal measure). The group—Yelena, Bucky, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, John Walker, and newcomer Mel (played with surprising depth by Geraldine Viswanathan)—is anything but cohesive. Each member harbors past traumas, unresolved vendettas, or fractured loyalties. This isn’t the Avengers. It’s a ticking time bomb of conflicting egos, moral compromises, and raw survival instinct. What starts as a mission soon becomes a therapy session wrapped in a betrayal, all while the line between ally and enemy grows dangerously thin. Critics who saw early screenings during the London and Hollywood premieres have already hailed it as Marvel’s The Dirty Dozen meets The Hurt Locker—an emotionally charged ensemble thriller that replaces neat resolutions with complex questions.

The black carpet was flanked by oversized posters showcasing the brooding ensemble, their faces cracked, scowling, and cloaked in shadow. It was a stark visual message: these aren’t your polished heroes. This message echoed once more inside the Dolby Theatre, where the cast gathered on stage before the screening to a roaring, full-capacity crowd. As the lights dimmed and the Dolby Atmos surround sound kicked in, the audience fell into stunned silence, only erupting in applause during key character moments and the film’s brutal final act. The energy in the room was not of popcorn joy but of collective catharsis—a sense that the MCU had crossed an emotional threshold.

As Marvel Studios gears up for Thunderbolts' general U.S. release on May 2, 2025, it’s clear that this film isn’t simply a Phase closer—it’s a statement of intent. The MCU is evolving. The characters are no longer demi-gods immune to consequence. They are broken, bruised, morally grey, and profoundly human. In doing so, Thunderbolts becomes more than just a film—it becomes a reckoning. It dares to ask what happens after the hero's journey ends, when what’s left are the shattered pieces of those who fought in the shadows. Can they become something more? Or is survival the only victory left?

Discover the official red carpet videos :

itw Jake Schreier

itw Florence Pugh

itw David Harbour

itw Sebastian Stan

itw Julia Louis Dreyfus

itw Alexa Swinton

itw Chris Bauer

itw Eric Pearson

itw Geraldine Viswanathan

itw Hannah John Kamen

itw Joanna Calo

itw Lewis Pullman

itw Ryan Lott and Ian Chang and Rafiq Bhatia

itw Violet McGraw

itw Wenedell Pierce

itw Wyatt Russell

Synopsis : 
Marvel Studios brings together an unconventional team of antiheroes: Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, The Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker. Trapped in a deadly trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these disillusioned outcasts must embark on a high-stakes mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their past. Will this dysfunctional group tear itself apart or find redemption by uniting before it's too late?

Thunderbolts*
Directed by Jake Schreier
Written by Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo
Story by Eric Pearson
Based on Marvel Comics
Produced by Kevin Feige
Starring  Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Cinematography : Andrew Droz Palermo
Edited by Angela Catanzaro, Harry Yoon
Music by Son Lux
Production company : Marvel Studios
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release dates : April 22, 2025 (Cineworld Leicester Square), April, 30 2025 (France) May 2, 2025 (United States)
Running time : 126 minutes

Photos: Getty Images For Walt Disney Company