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

KPop Demon Hunters 2 is reportedly scheduled for 2029 premiere

That’s a pretty long wait.

Published

November 6, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

“Golden” must be the most popular song this year. Months after the launch of KPop Demon Hunters, the catchy song is still an earworm. Capitalizing on the hit’s success, Netflix is already considering a sequel. Now, KPop Demon Hunters 2 has reportedly been confirmed with a distant release window.

After less than a year, KPop Demon Hunters is already Netflix’s most-watched title ever. The platform was even confident enough to release the film (and a special singalong version) in select theaters. Soon after the success, Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix kept a potential sequel in mind.

Now, according to Deadline, Netflix has greenlit the sequel for production. KPop Demon Hunters 2, or whatever it might be called, will reportedly premiere sometime in 2029.

No, it’s not just you. Four years is a lengthy wait for a sequel. Then again, animated films take much longer to make. For example, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, coincidentally also coming from Sony Pictures Animation, will premiere in 2027, which is also four years after the previous film.

However, if the Spider-Verse trilogy is any indication, the longer production time can easily churn out a film that tops charts. Both Across the Spider-Verse and KPop Demon Hunters are easily the top animated contenders of its respective years.

Entertainment

Xolo Maridueña cast as Portgas D. Ace in Netflix One Piece Season 3

The Fire Fist joins production later this year

Published

November 6, 2025

GadgetMatch

Xolo Maridueña has been cast to star as Portgas D. Ace in Season 3 of Netflix’s One Piece adaptation.

The 24-year-old actor is known for his roles in Blue Beetle and Cobra Kai. He joins previously announced new cast member Cole Escola, who shall play Bon Clay. Additional cast will be revealed in the future.

Along with this update, Netflix has bared that One Piece will return into production later this year in Cape Town, South Africa. It wasn’t long ago when Netflix confirmed that the live action adaptation is getting another season.

That was when streaming giant also released the trailer for Season 2. Officially titled One Piece: Into The Grand Line, Season 2 features the Grand Line stretch of the bigger Arabasta Saga.

@onepiecenetflix

Fire Fist has arrived, Nakama!! 🔥👊🔥 We’re thrilled to welcome Xolo Maridueña to the crew as Portgas D. Ace in ONE PIECE: Season 3! 🏴‍☠️🔥

♬ original sound – One Piece Netflix – One Piece Netflix

Portgas D. Ace joining the Netflix’s One Piece sets up the live adaptation’s expansion with the broader Arabasta Saga for Season 3.

Ace, or Fire Fist, is a crucial character, and briefly appeared after the end of the Drum Island arc to meet Luffy and help the latter’s crew in Alabasta.

His introduction is important to set up the events of Season 3, as well as the future conflict with Marshall D. Teach, or Blackbeard.

But of course, as much as fans want to get ahead of themselves, Season 2 will also set up several events and open the live action world to wider horizons for every stop their favorite Straw Hat pirates make. There’s a lot to look forward to.

Season 3’s co-showrunners, writers, and executive producers are Joe Tracz and Ian Stokes.

Accessories

Samsung Sound Tower, Sound Sessions: When great sound meets great music

OPM takes the spotlight

Published

October 29, 2025

Rodneil Quiteles

I grew up surrounded by OPM. I spent years dreaming of being in a band and listening to songs I wish I wrote, which is why I appreciate it when brands highlight local talent instead of relying on specs alone. Samsung’s new Sound Towers arrive with that same approach—powerful audio paired with an even stronger push for Filipino music.

Instead of a standard tech launch, Samsung turned the debut of its latest Sound Towers into a celebration of OPM. Guests didn’t just hear product features; they heard live performances from Over October and The Itchyworms. For anyone (like me) who grew up with the latter, hearing their songs carried by deep, room-filling audio felt like the perfect match between familiarity and innovation.

Built for people who live through music

The ST50F and ST40F are made for moments when sound needs to fill a space and set the tone. The ST50F comes with a telescopic handle, built-in wheels, and up to 18 hours of battery life. You can bring it anywhere and still get the same bold, thumping sound. Its custom bass modes and adjustable party lights let you shape the atmosphere until it matches the playlist.

The ST40F leans into creativity. It has built-in DJ sound effects and samplers, plus ports for microphones and guitars for instant jam sessions. And when you want something bigger, Group Play links up to ten Sound Towers into a shared soundstage that feels like a small concert.

Both towers work with the Samsung Sound Tower App, so you can adjust settings, control the lights, or switch into Karaoke Mode straight from your phone.

Where hardware becomes a platform

Samsung followed the launch with Samsung Sound Sessions, an ongoing digital series that highlights top Filipino artists. The pilot features Over October, with more acts—including The Itchyworms—set to take the stage next.

The idea is simple: pair great music with great audio, then let the artists carry the experience. Instead of showing what the Sound Towers can do, Samsung lets you hear it through musicians you already connect with. For OPM fans, it turns the hardware into a platform that amplifies talent rather than eclipsing it.

Sound built to bring people together

Samsung’s new Sound Towers bring back the feeling of sharing music—whether it’s a weekend gathering or a living room turned into a stage. They can be loud and energetic or warm and intimate. They match the many moods and eras of Filipino music.