After Thunderbolts* Revealed The New Owner Of Avengers Tower, I'm Disappointed This MCU Theory Was Officially Debunked

I’m disappointed by the reveal in Thunderbolts* regarding the Avengers Tower, as I think the posed theories would have been more compelling. Ever since Tony Stark sold Avengers Tower in Spider-Man: Homecoming, the mystery of its new owner has loomed over the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This question has fueled theories for years, with speculation pointing toward some intriguing Marvel characters. With Thunderbolts* revealing the new owner, the long-anticipated answer has finally arrived – and frankly, it’s underwhelming.

Avengers Tower, originally Stark Tower, was a symbol of innovation and heroism in the MCU timeline. First seen in The Avengers (2012), the building served as the team’s base before the Avengers Compound was constructed in upstate New York. When Tony sold the tower sometime before Homecoming, it kicked off a lingering subplot. Marvel intentionally left the idenтιтy of the new buyer a mystery. Over the years, this allowed fans to fill in the blanks – and Marvel, knowing its audience, leaned into that ambiguity without providing clear answers.

The Avengers Tower’s New Owner Has Been Subject To Intense Speculation

Avengers Tower Turned Watchtower Custom Thunderbolts Image

As the Avengers Tower had such deep ties to the Avengers and Stark Industries, viewers have long believed it would play a critical role in ushering in a new phase of the MCU. One of the earliest – and most popular – theories was that Norman Osborn had purchased the tower to transform it into Oscorp HQ. The Marvel Studios/Sony collaboration with Spider-Man made that feel plausible, and the idea of Oscorp looming over New York created a sense of impending danger that fit the franchise’s tone.

Another common theory was that Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four had bought the tower, setting the stage for the team’s future MCU debut. The building’s iconic status made it an ideal replacement for the Baxter Building, giving the Fantastic Four a base of operations already rooted in the MCU’s visual language. Then there were Kang-related theories.

With time travel and alternate timelines becoming central themes post-Endgame, some believed a variant of Kang (perhaps Immortus or Rama-Tut) had acquired the tower as part of his broader scheme to manipulate Earth’s heroes. It would’ve made for a poetic twist, tying Stark’s legacy to the multiverse’s central threat. Each of these theories offered rich storytelling potential. Instead, the actual reveal feels less like a major development and more like a recycled idea.

Thunderbolts* Revealed That Valentina Allegra de Fontaine Bought The Avengers Tower

Valentina making a drink in Avengers Tower in Thunderbolts*

According to Thunderbolts*, the tower was purchased by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. It has since been rebuilt into the “Watchtower,” a new high-tech HQ meant for her government-backed team of anti-heroes. In the film, the Watchtower is positioned as a the headquarters for the New Avengers.

It’s not necessarily a bad development – Val has been a rising power in the shadows of the MCU, ᴀssembling figures like Yelena Belova, U.S. Agent, and Taskmaster. Giving her a central base makes narrative sense. However, the decision to make that base the former Avengers Tower just feels like Marvel hitting the reset ʙuттon. The property has essentially gone from being Avengers HQ, to again being Avengers HQ, just with a different, morally gray roster.

I’m Disappointed This MCU Theory About Avengers Tower Was Debunked

While the reveal makes sense on paper, it’s a disappointing payoff for a mystery that’s been teased for nearly a decade. Audiences were led to believe the tower’s new owner would be a major player tied to the multiverse saga or the next generation of iconic characters. Instead, the reveal feels anticlimactic and too grounded, especially in a post-Endgame world where the MCU has leaned into increasingly cosmic and multiversal stakes.

The most frustrating part is how this reveal closes the door on more imaginative possibilities. Oscorp taking over the tower could’ve introduced Norman Osborn as a corporate power player and villain in one move. This would have been a compelling way to introduce the classic Spidey villain, whose evil machinations could have impacted the whole franchise. Instead, after Thunderbolts* everything is back where it started.