Marvel finally reveals some details about their top-secret new movie

This could be a bit of a game-changer for the MCU...

Usually, Marvel is quite upfront about what they're making, or at least planning on making - they've made huge events out of them showing off their upcoming timeline every year. The MCU's future is constantly being mapped out with multiple movies and now Disney+ shows being spaced out every few months across and literally a decade's worth of masterplans already drawn up. However, one project that has been kept oddly top-secret is Thunderbolts, which will see the MCU amass their own answer to The Suicide Squad as part of the phase four slate. [caption id="attachment_341313" align="alignnone" width="800"]

Credit: Marvel Comics[/caption]

Marvel's Thunderbolts explained

In the comics, the Thunderbolts are a group of former (or, in most cases, current) villains who are hired by General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (who was portrayed by the late William Hurt in the MCU), and sent on secret missions together by the government. However, if you've been watching the likes of Falcon and the Winter Soldier or the Disney+ debacle that was Black Widow, then you'll already know that Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) has been doing exactly that. Details on the project have understandably been kept very hush-hush, but Deadline has reported that the movie has already landed its writer and director.

Who's attached to the project?

Jake Schreier, of Paper Towns as well as Robot & Frank fame, is tipped to direct and the script is being headed up by Eric Pearson who wrote Godzilla vs. Kong and, most recently Scarlett Johansson's aforementioned standalone. While a full cast list is yet to be confirmed, judging by the current MCU rogues gallery, it is thought that Yelena (Florence Pugh), U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), the Abomination (Tim Roth) - recently confirmed to be in the upcoming She-Hulk show - Baron Zemo (Daniel Bruhl), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and, potentially, the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) could be involved. [caption id="attachment_341314" align="alignnone" width="1200"]

Credit: Getty/Marvel[/caption] The report states that Marvel has already been in contact with some of the potential stars, requesting they keep their schedules free during the summer of 2023, as that is when the movie will likely begin filming. With that in mind, it is unlikely we'll see Thunderbolts until at least 2024, which is likely to be the same year we'll see the new versions of the Fantastic Four and Blade hitting the big screens. The next few years are going to be big.