David Harbor has addressed the newest Thunderbolts* trailer and the unique way it markets the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. As the MCU timeline is finally about to bring the Thunderbolts team together in Phase 5, the ensemble film recently took a similar page out of A24’s book for its latest Marvel trailer by highlighting names from several acclaimed films over the last few years. This is one of the more unique ways that Marvel Studios has marketed one of their movies, with A24 even responding to the Thunderbolts*’ trailer and its references to some of their projects.

Harbour recently spoke with ScreenRant’s own Liam Crowley in a new interview for his upcoming film, A Working Man, where the MCU star got asked about how the Thunderbolts* trailer was honoring crucial players like the cinematographers, composers and giving the Phase 5 installment a very A24-feeling to it. As Harbour elaborated about Thunderbolts* being pitched as an A24-esque MCU movie, the Red Guardian actor was thrilled to see that the film is honoring the many talents that are involved, sharing the following:

David Harbour: Yeah, I would also like to take it even a step further: I am a Tony nominee. Tony-nominated David Harbour. So we have theater, we’ve done off-Broadway plays together. All of us are a bunch of film and theater nerds. I mean, look, Jake (Schreier) is a funny guy, and I think we’re all aware of how ridiculous this movie sounded to the Marvel community a year ago when it was presented. Like, these losers, you’re going to put them all in a film and have them run around with no reference to whatever?

And then I think that it allowed us a real freedom to do something different. And I think we really tried to do that. And so the gratifying thing has been with the trailers coming out, and I think having seen the movie, I think it’s exciting and I think that it’s a sort of sH๏τ in the arm for what’s next for Marvel, and yeah, it’s full of pretentious Oscar nominees like Florence Pugh. So what are you going to do? We have to highlight that. Sebastian Stan. I mean, the credits are insane. The awards, the glitter, it’s absolute pure cinema, Liam.

What David Harbour’s Thunderbolts* Comments Mean

While the Thunderbolts* cast consists of MCU characters who have been established in other releases, it’s crucial to remember this team is one of the more obscure groups in the franchise currently. The Thunderbolts name will, obviously, mean more to the MCU audience after the film has been released, especially if the team persists after it. Until then, marketing the team’s debut in this way is a clever move that highlights the people both in front of and behind the camera, as well as their big credits that more mainstream audience members may be familiar with outside the MCU.

Whether or not this is a strategy that Marvel Studios will implement more in future MCU movies and TV shows based on lesser-known characters remains to be seen, as this could simply be something they are doing for the Thunderbolts* film. Given Harbour’s comments about how different the movie is for the MCU, either route seems possible, especially since marketing things in this way allows for figures who don’t always get the same recognition as a film’s director or actors to also be recognized and celebrated.

Our Take On David Harbour’s Thunderbolts* Comments

As the movie is getting closer to its release, it’s encouraging to hear Harbour’s excitement about the film following the long development process for Thunderbolts*. With all the secrecy surrounding the Thunderbolts* story, in general, the wait will hopefully have been worth it. With less than two months left to go before Thunderbolts* opens in theaters, time will tell what Marvel Studios has in store with this group of characters.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

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  MCU Spider-Man 4

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  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

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  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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