Marvel Studios might have spoiled Thunderbolts* by confirming that Bucky Barnes survives the events and the тιтular team’s impending encounter with the Void – but I’m kind of glad it did. Bucky has become one of the MCU’s best-loved characters, emerging as a firm fan favorite despite his origins as more of a sidekick to Captain America. This has culminated in him being picked to lead his own team, which he is due to form on May 2 of this year. Whether this team actually adopts the Thunderbolts moniker remains to be seen, as the movie тιтle’s asterisk hints otherwise.

The fate of the Thunderbolts, meanwhile, looked decidedly uncertain at one point. The enтιтy they are set to face is one of Marvel Comics’ most ruinous characters with the powers of a god. The Void is at least an Avengers-level threat, though even the Avengers at their strongest would have their work cut out for them. The Thunderbolts, as Yelena puts it in one Thunderbolts* trailer, just “Punch and shoot,” making this one of the biggest David and Goliath stories the MCU has ever told. Nevertheless, Marvel may have just confirmed that (most of) the Thunderbolts will survive the ordeal.

Sebastian Stan Is Confirmed To Return In Avengers: Doomsday

Sebastian Stan Was The Fourth Cast Member Revealed For Avengers: Doomsday

Sebastian Stan is one of 27 cast members whose name appeared in Marvel’s recent surprise live stream announcing the start of production for Avengers: Doomsday. The stream lasted for 5 and a half hours and dominated online conversation throughout the day as more names were slowly added to the cast. While the most surprising of these names, like Ian McKellen and Alan Cumming, neared the end of the stream – it’s safe to say that Sebastian Stan also caused quite the stir as his name was the fourth one to pop up following Chris Hemsworth, Vanessa Kirby, and Anthony Mackie.

His name was then followed by Thunderbolts co-stars Wyatt Russell (John Walker), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Lewis Pullman (Bob/Sentry), David Harbor (Alexei Shostakov), and Hannah John-Kamen (Ava Starr). While all cast members are generally understood to be portraying the Marvel characters with which they are most commonly ᴀssociated – particularly as the likes of Tom Hiddleston’s appearance was accompanied by the unmistakable Loki theme – the stream stopped short of confirming their characters. Nevertheless, if these ᴀssumptions are true, then it seems Marvel just spoiled Thunderbolts*.

Marvel Seemingly Spoiled That Bucky Survives Thunderbolts*

Bucky Barnes Must Survive If He Goes On To Star In Avengers: Doomsday

Until now, hope has been scarce for the fate of the Thunderbolts in the lead-up to their self-тιтled movie. The sheer gulf in power between them and the Void is inarguable, and evidence suggests that they were always doomed from the start. For example, one version of the Thunderbolts* script, according to The Hollywood Reporter, actually ended with their deaths. The full extent of the revisions to that script remains to be seen, while evidence that at least one – Taskmaster – will meet their end is insurmountable, culminating in Olga Kurylenko’s conspicuous absence from the Avengers: Doomsday cast.

In fact, this evidence also lends credence to the notion that Bucky and company will survive Thunderbolts* to go on to star in Avengers: Doomsday. Even Lewis Pullman, who will presumably be portraying the Void as the villainous dark reflection of the Sentry, is present in the Avengers: Doomsday cast, suggesting that even the movie’s arch-villain comes out unscathed. If Marvel has spoiled Thunderbolts* with its Avengers: Doomsday announcement, I am, of course, happy to see Bucky reappear in another MCU movie. Then again, Marvel could be double-bluffing.

Sebastian Stan Could Be Playing An Alternate Universe Character In Doomsday

He Could Be Following Robert Downey Jr.’s Lead

Marvel Studios may be pulling off a clever move by announcing the return of the Thunderbolts* cast members ahead of Thunderbolts* itself. While the understandable knee-jerk interpretation of the announcement is that Sebastian Stan and his co-stars will be reprising their roles from the MCU, it is just as possible that they will be portraying either variants of these characters, or different characters entirely. This is the case for arch-villain actor Robert Downey Jr., after all. By making the audience believe that the Thunderbolts will survive Thunderbolts*, Marvel has restored the shock factor of their deaths.

I think the fact that Marvel Studios (in tandem with RDJ himself) has already teased future cast reveals for Avengers: Doomsday supports this notion. If the likes of Teyonah Parris – who was last seen interacting with confirmed cast member Kelsey Grammer’s Beast in The Marvels – are a part of this second wave of announcements, Marvel Studios would have been wiser to save the Thunderbolts* cast members for this reveal instead, preserving the secrecy of their deaths in Thunderbolts*. Instead, the studio has capitalized on audience suspicions by making us believe they survive.

Upcoming MCU Movies

• 
  

  
  

  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  

  
  

  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  

  
  

  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  

  
  

  MCU Spider-Man 4

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  

  
  

  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

Source: The Hollywood Reporter