How The Thunderbolts* Post-Credits Scene Sets Up Avengers: Doomsday Explained By Florence Pugh

WARNING: This article includes SPOILERS from Thunderbolts*.Florence Pugh, who plays Yelena Belova in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, addresses the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene and how it paves the way for Avengers: Doomsday. The MCU timeline has officially wrapped up Phase 5, with the Thunderbolts* movie ending serving as the finale, while Phase 6 will be kicking off this summer. However, as several Thunderbolts* characters are set to return for Avengers: Doomsday, the latest MCU film’s post-credits scene made sure to plant a number of seeds for their next appearance.

ScreenRant’s Joe Deckelmeier recently caught up with Pugh about the thrilling conclusion to Thunderbolts*, and she opened up about the post-credits scene and what effect that moment will have on Avengers: Doomsday. When asked if the Russo brothers, who will helm Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, directed the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene, Pugh said, “Yes, it was! Just a few weeks ago.” She went on to address if her team is ready for the larger stakes that are coming:

Oh my God, I don’t know. I mean, they’re definitely still a bit hopeless. I think that by the end of Thunderbolts*, you only just see them figuring out how to work together. Like, yes, they’re a team, but they need to go to therapy. You know what I mean? They’re skilled, but they need to know how to harness their skill as a team. And I think in the tag scene, you are really seeing their new iteration, their glow-ups, and how that’s settling.

What Florence Pugh’s Comments Mean For The Thunderbolts* Post-Credits Scene

While the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene also acted as setup for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, since their ship is seen in the final seconds of the film, there is a lot of addressing of the state of the Avengers in the MCU. One of the things that Pugh brought up is how Thunderbolts* explored these characters having to learn how to be a team. But the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene also makes it clear that them being the New Avengers isn’t necessarily going to be something the overall MCU accepts.

One of the big Marvel Easter eggs and references in Thunderbolts* is how Captain America is not thrilled about the New Avengers’ existence, and that is something that will clearly be tackled in Avengers: Doomsday. Even though the Thunderbolts* characters dealt with a major force like Sentry and The Void, Pugh is right that they may be a bit hopeless when it comes to tackling someone bigger like Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. Based on Pugh’s comments, it definitely sounds like Avengers: Doomsday will see the New Avengers having to step up even more, with Thunderbolts* serving as a first step forward in their development.

Our Take On Florence Pugh’s Thunderbolts* Post-Credits Scene Comments

From everything Pugh shared with ScreenRant about the connection between Thunderbolts* and Avengers: Doomsday, it will be fascinating to see how these characters not only fit in with the other heroes in the MCU who are showing up in the 2026 installment, but also how they approach a concept like the multiverse. With variants and alternative realities coming into play, the New Avengers will definitely be exposed to their biggest challenge yet. Hopefully, as Avengers: Doomsday is now in production, more clues about the place of the Thunderbolts* team will start to emerge.