One of the more prevalent updates surrounding Thunderbolts* was the addition of an asterisk to the MCU movie’s title, and I think I know what it means. In terms of excitement level, I have found myself to be anticipating Thunderbolts* more than most others. When the Thunderbolts’ MCU team members were announced, many criticized the lack of power due to the absence of Red Hulk or Abomination, while I found myself excited to see characters like Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, and John Walker interacting on-screen in the upcoming MCU movie.

My anticipation for the film was only piqued, admittedly strangely, by Thunderbolts* new title that was unveiled when production began. Thunderbolts* title update added an asterisk to the original team name, leading Kevin Feige to assure us Marvel fans that it was not a mistake and will become clear in due course. Naturally, I – among many others – began speculating about exactly what the asterisk could be included for, and my theorized conclusion is bad news for the MCU’s newest superhero team.