Who Are the Avengers Now? Thunderbolts Reveal the MCU’s New Team
Throughout Marvel’s Multiverse Saga, fans have been wondering: who exactly counts as an Avenger anymore? That question finally gets an answer in Thunderbolts, the movie that wraps up Phase 5. As it turns out, the Thunderbolts themselves have taken up the mantle—officially becoming the "New Avengers." That little asterisk next to their name now carries a lot more weight.
But what does this shift mean as we move into The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Avengers: Doomsday? What does it actually mean to be a “New Avenger,” and how does this development reflect Marvel’s comic book history? Here's a breakdown of what it all means.
The New Avengers: MCU’s Latest Team Assembles
Thunderbolts ends with a twist no one quite expected. After surviving a clash with Sentry (played by Lewis Pullman) and preparing to take on Valentina Allegra De Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), the group—led by Yelena Belova—finds themselves caught in a media trap. Valentina stages a press event and introduces them to the world as “The New Avengers.”
The full lineup includes:
- Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh)
- Red Guardian (David Harbour)
- Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan)
- The Sentry (Lewis Pullman)
- Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen)
- U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell)
Notably absent is Olga Kurylenko’s Taskmaster, who is killed early in the movie. The remaining Thunderbolts, having proven their worth in a high-stakes mission to save New York City, are now rebranded as Earth's newest defenders. It may not be the Avengers lineup fans predicted, but it’s the one the MCU seems to need right now.
However, this isn’t the only Avengers squad in play. Captain America: Brave New World closes with Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) finally deciding to form his own Avengers team. Whether that team is fully assembled yet is unclear. But in Thunderbolts’ post-credits scene, we learn Sam is not thrilled about the Thunderbolts using the Avengers name—especially since he legally owns the trademark.
The scene reveals the New Avengers have been active for 14 months and are now in a legal dispute with Sam over rights to the Avengers identity. This tension sets the stage for a likely showdown in Avengers: Doomsday.
What Does “New Avengers” Really Mean?
In Marvel Comics, the “New Avengers” concept was first introduced in 2004 following the collapse of the original team in Avengers: Disassembled. A new lineup emerged with familiar faces like Iron Man and Captain America, joined by unlikely heroes such as Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Luke Cage. These weren’t traditional Avengers, but they rose to the challenge in a new era.
Initially, the term simply reflected a changed roster. But over time, the New Avengers came to represent a more rebellious, underground team—especially after Civil War, when the superhero community split over government registration. Iron Man led the official Avengers, while heroes like Luke Cage and Spider-Man went rogue as the New Avengers.
Later, during the Dark Reign storyline, the idea evolved again. Norman Osborn formed a government-backed “Dark Avengers,” made up of villains posing as heroes—Bullseye as Hawkeye, Venom as Spider-Man, Daken as Wolverine, and so on. The Sentry was also a part of this lineup, manipulated by Osborn’s twisted influence.
This darker inspiration seems to echo in the MCU’s New Avengers. Many team members reflect fallen or alternative versions of iconic heroes: Yelena as Black Widow, U.S. Agent as a flawed Captain America, Red Guardian as Russia’s version of Cap. Valentina’s manipulative leadership strongly mirrors Osborn’s.
While the original New Avengers fought from the shadows against authoritarian forces, the MCU’s version is presented as the official team—though questions remain about their legitimacy and intentions.
What’s Next: New Avengers in Avengers: Doomsday
As we look ahead to Avengers: Doomsday, the division between Sam Wilson’s Avengers and Valentina’s New Avengers appears central to the story. One group is government-endorsed; the other is led by a beloved public hero. This conflict echoes the divide in Infinity War, where Tony Stark and Steve Rogers led separate teams. That lack of unity had devastating consequences.
With the arrival of the Fantastic Four and signs pointing to a collapsing multiverse, the MCU faces another catastrophic threat. It’s possible the only way to prevent disaster will be for both Avengers teams to unite. However, that’s easier said than done.
There’s even room for a twist—what if one team decides to side with a more extreme solution, possibly even aligning with Doctor Doom? The other might seek a more heroic path to saving reality. These competing ideologies could define the drama of Avengers: Doomsday.
And we haven’t even touched on how the X-Men might enter the picture.
Final Thoughts: A Pivotal Turning Point
Introducing the New Avengers at this stage in the MCU signals a significant narrative shift. This team—flawed, unconventional, and politically charged—could either rise as true heroes or become a source of internal strife just when unity is most crucial. Whether they live up to the legacy of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes remains to be seen.
