Entertainment

What does the final Thunderbolts* post-credits scene mean?

And what does that asterisk mean?

Published

April 30, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

The Thunderbolts* hype is unbelievable. No other Marvel film since Spider-Man: No Way Home has received as much attention as this latest one about this band of misfit antiheroes. From promoting Florence Pugh’s jump off the Merdeka 118 tower in Malaysia to teasing the meaning of the asterisk in its title, Marvel feels very confident about Thunderbolts*. After watching the film, I can see why. There is so much to unpack.

Thunderbolts* feels like more than just a course correction for the ailing Marvel Cinematic Universe. It finally confirms that Marvel Studios knows exactly where it’s going next.

Now, if you want to know what I thought about the film by itself, read our spoiler-free review here. But, if you want to discuss all the neat teasers revealed throughout the film, then read on.

What does the asterisk mean?

Thunderbolts* has one of the strangest titles for a Marvel film. It has an asterisk in its name.

When the title was first revealed, I thought that Marvel Studios just didn’t have a final title for the movie yet. However, as the marketing cycle went into full swing, it was abundantly clear that they weren’t going to change the title at all.

Over the past few months, Marvel hinted that there are multiple reasons for the asterisk. One such reason states that it means the Avengers aren’t available at the moment. Another reason said that each spoke of the asterisk represents a member of the team.

Now, the film confirms why. It’s because it’s not their official name. Throughout the film, the team jokingly calls themselves the Thunderbolts after Yelena’s sports team when she was young. However, at the end of the film, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) does a last-ditch effort to escape arrest by the antihero team. In front of the media, she declares all members of the team her new superhero task force called… The New Avengers.

The film’s title card at the end rightfully replaces the “Thunderbolts*” with “The New Avengers,” complete with the classic Avengers font.

A clash between teams?

In the final post-credits scene, the New Avengers discuss copyright issues with the original Avengers team. Sam Wilson is even pursuing legal action against the new team.

Prior to Endgame, the MCU never had any major issues between different teams (except Civil War, of course). For the longest time, every hero on Earth was called an Avenger.

Now, the Universe is feeling the inevitable pressure of having more than one team existing in the same place at the same time. With the Fantastic Four also eventually making their way to the MCU (and, presumably, the TV team also has plans for the Defenders), a clash seems inevitable.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to predict whether or not the timeline has space for an interaction between the teams. After all, Doomsday and Secret Wars are just around the corner. Plus, if the latter is anything like the comics version of the event, Marvel Studios might reboot some of its franchises.

Having multiple superheroes in the same universe is exciting. There’s now a possibility for multiple superheroes between teams to interact. But everything will ultimately depend on Marvel’s greater plans after Secret Wars.

Who is on that ship?

The pedantic meaning of an asterisk is already a huge reveal coming from the film. The end of the aforementioned scene reveals an even bigger bombshell. More than a year since the events of the film, the New Avengers find themselves in the middle of an outer space mystery. An extraterrestrial ship has suddenly appeared, and it bears the logo of Marvel’s first family, the Fantastic Four.

Because The Fantastic Four: First Steps is right around the corner, a teaser is expected. But what kind of teaser did we actually get? Yes, the logo is right there, but who is on that ship?

Logically, it should be the whole team led by Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards. We just can’t know for sure. It could be just the partial team. It could even be Doctor Doom on that ship. Heck, with multiverse shenanigans on the horizon, it could be another version of the Fantastic Four. Anything is possible up until the moment we see that same ship travelling across the multiverse.

Finally, is Taskmaster dead?

Yes.

Maybe.

Who knows? Anything can happen in comic books (and comic book movies).

Entertainment

Crime on Prime: Streaming platform unveils powerhouse crime, thriller slate

Cross Season 2, 56 Days, Young Sherlock, Scarpetta, more

Published

March 9, 2026

GadgetMatch

Photos courtesy of Prime Video

Prime Video has unveiled “Crime on Prime”, a major programming rollout to kickstart the new year with a powerhouse slate of crime and thriller titles.

The lineup includes high-profile adaptations from bestselling authors James Patterson, Patricia Cornwell, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The season launched with the long-awaited return of the streaming platform’s hit crime thriller, Cross last month.

In its second season, stakes intensify as Cross pursues a ruthless vigilante targeting corrupt billionaire magnates.

A new series, 56 Days, portrays the story of a couple who fall dangerously fast in love, only for a decomposing body to be found 56 days later in one of the protagonist’s apartment.

The series is adapted from Catherine Ryan Howard’s novel of the same title. As its plot unravels, the question “Who killed who?” will be answered.

Meanwhile, Guy Ritchie’s re-imagining of the iconic character in Young Sherlock debuted on March 4. It stars Hero Fiennes Tiffin as a defiant, youthful Sherlock Holmes on his first case.

Furthermore, launching on March 11 is Liz Sarnoff’s gripping adaptation of the beloved Scarpetta novel series, starring Nicole Kidman as the medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta.

With skilled hands and an unnerving eye, she is determined to serve as the voice of victims, unmask a serial killer, and prove that her career-making case from 28 years prior isn’t also her undoing.

The lineup also includes a renowned list of local titles for the Filipino audience:

The Silent Noise (KD Omalin)
The Alibi (Kim Chiu, Paulo Avelino)
Cattleya Killer (Arjo Atayde, Jake Cuenca)
Sa Aking Mga Kamay (Christopher De Leon)
Roadkillers (Nadine Lustre)

Entertainment

New medieval action RPG, Echoes of Aincrad, out July 2026

Pre-orders now open

Published

March 9, 2026

GadgetMatch

Bandai Namco has announced a new action RPG set to release in July 2026: Echoes of Aincrad. A trailer has also been released.

This new title is set in the breathtaking floating castle of Aincrad from the Sword Art Online universe, where every battle could be one’s last.

Players get to create their own hero and dive into the game, where they will be trapped inside a deadly medieval MMORPG.

The vast living world will help them shape their fate, allowing them to customize their avatar with unique skills, gear, and abilities. This transforms how they fight and survive.

The fluid combat system requires mastering dodges, parries, and well-timed attacks. Throughout, players will face many challenges, explore epic quests, and join forces with companions who will share the peril.

The game will launch on July 9 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S before releasing the next day for PC via Steam.

Bandai Namco has already opened pre-orders for Echoes of Aincrad, available in three game editions.

The Standard Edition comes with the base game. Meanwhile, the Deluxe Edition also comes with an expansion pack and early access to Death Game Mode.

Lastly, the Ultimate Edition has all the inclusions under Deluxe Edition, plus the game’s bonus contents app which features special anime, digital artbook, and digital soundtrack. Players will also get an Armor Pack.

Entertainment

One Piece: Into the Grand Line unveils final trailer ahead of premiere

All 8 episodes dropping on Netflix this March 10

Published

March 4, 2026

GadgetMatch

Courtesy: Netflix

Netflix has revealed the final trailer for One Piece: Into the Grand Line, exactly one week before its March 10 premiere.

The clip opens with a monologue from Monkey D. Luffy, reminding the Straw Hat crew of how far they’ve come to make it to the gates of the legendary Grand Line.

He mentions that it is time for the pirates to see what’s in store for them in the legendary stretch of sea.

Of course, that’s the treasure they’re seeking albeit encountering bizarre islands, new enemies, and unpredictable danger.

The clip then again features the larger-than-life scale of Season 2, including the towering Red Line, giant whale Laboon, Little Garden’s dinosaurs, and the giant, Brogy.

For a brief moment, the protagonist is also shown in an encounter with Smoker. Tony Tony Chopper, shown in the official trailer, once again made a quick appearance.

Just as action-packed as previous trailers, this 1:44 clip then culminates with more combat. There’s Zoro defending the crew at Whisky Peak.

Wapol and his metal-transforming Munch-Munch powers was shown in the end against Monkey D. Luffy.

The entire trailer is also set to an upbeat remix of “Come Sail Away” in the background, continuing the excitement from Season 1.

All eight episodes of One Piece: Into the Grand Line will be made available by March 10.