Marvel officially revealed at CinemaCon 2024 that the upcoming movie's title is now Thunderbolts*, including the asterisk. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige acknowledged the asterisk during the presentation but cryptically stated its meaning wouldn't be explained until after the movie is released.

The Nerdist article suggests this isn't just a stylistic choice but likely has in-universe significance related to the plot or the team's nature. The main theories explored are:

1. Comic Book Homage: It could reference the original Thunderbolts comic twist, where the team debuted as heroes but was secretly the villains known as the Masters of Evil in disguise. The asterisk might imply this team isn't what they appear to be, or their mission is deceptive.
2. Team Identity: The asterisk might be a commentary on the team members themselves – primarily anti-heroes and former villains (Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, US Agent, Taskmaster, etc.) assembled by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. It could signify they are not quite heroes, have conditions attached to their service, or it's an in-universe branding acknowledging their dubious status.
3. Provisional Status: It could hint that this iteration of the team is temporary, unofficial, or conditional, perhaps paving the way for a different team later or indicating their status is constantly under review.

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