Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
  • TotalFilm
  • Edge
  • Newsarama
  • Retrogamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Lewis Pullman as Sentry, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, and Wyatt Russell as US Agent in Thunderbolts
Marvel Movies Marvel star Lewis Pullman puts Avengers: Doomsday cameo overload fears to rest: "Every character has their moment"
Ghost, Bob, Yelena, and John Walker peeking around a corner in Thunderbolts
Marvel Movies Avengers: Doomsday star says the movie is like "the Met Gala full of superheroes": "I was truly flabbergasted"
She-Hulk
Marvel Movies King of Marvel spoilers Mark Ruffalo retains his crown by seemingly ruining which Avenger will be in Secret Wars
Brie Larson as Captain Marvel in The Marvels
Marvel Movies Nia DaCosta holds no ill will towards Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios after The Marvels flopped
Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Marvel Movies Chris Pratt says the Avengers: Doomsday trailers were "really exciting", but suggests Peter Quill won't be involved
David Harbour as Red Guardian in Thunderbolts
Marvel Movies David Harbour teases the scale of Avengers: Doomsday: "I thought that Stranger Things 5 was big"
Chris Evans as Cap in the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer
Marvel Movies "Not everyone" is in Avengers: Doomsday, as three Marvel actors reveal they'll be watching from the sidelines
Valkyrie in Thor: Love and Thunder
Marvel Movies MCU star Tessa Thompson is keen to return to that universe, it just might not be in Avengers: Doomsday
Chris Evans as Cap in the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer
Marvel Movies Thor star Chris Hemsworth praises Steve Rogers' surprise Avengers: Doomsday teaser
Halle Berry as Storm using her powers during the 2000s movie X-Men.
Marvel Movies Halle Berry "promises" Storm isn't in Avengers: Doomsday, but we've been here before with Spider-Man: No Way Home
Chris Evans as Cap in the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer
Marvel Movies Avengers: Doomsday release date, cast, plot, trailer, and more news
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina in Thunderbolts
Marvel TV Shows Daredevil: Born Again season 2 connects Valentina and Kingpin, with possible ramifications for the Thunderbolts
Ian McKellen as Magneto in X-Men
Marvel Movies X-Men star Ian McKellen teases Magneto role in Avengers: Doomsday in the most hilarious way: "I'm trying to be magnetic"
Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis in WandaVision
Marvel Movies MCU star Kat Dennings denies she's in Avengers: Doomsday, but jokes Marvel has scanned her, so "they could put [her] in anything they want"
Avengers: Secret Wars - three Spider-Men during the Marvel movie No Way Home
Marvel Movies Avengers: Secret Wars release date, cast, plot, and more news
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies
  3. Action Movies
  4. Marvel Movies
  5. Thunderbolts

Tom Holland, start taking notes: Thunderbolts star knew that big New Avengers twist for "many years": "I haven't said a thing to anyone"

News
By Bradley Russell published 19 June 2025

Marvel stars *can* keep secrets

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina in Thunderbolts
(Image credit: Marvel Studios)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
0
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Many MCU actors have been loose-lipped about major spoilers over the years. The likes of Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo have previously done the press rounds and revealed things they shouldn't have, including that Avengers: Infinity War snap.

But Thunderbolts star Julia Louis-Dreyfus is showing everyone else how it's done – after revealing she knew about the Marvel movie's big Avengers twist years in advance.

"I met with [Marvel Studios president] Kevin Feige and [executive producer] Louis D'Esposito many years ago, when they first pitched me this whole idea of playing Val, and they pitched me [The New Avengers]," Louis-Dreyfus told Entertainment Weekly.

You may like
  • Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Lewis Pullman as Sentry, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, and Wyatt Russell as US Agent in Thunderbolts Marvel star Lewis Pullman puts Avengers: Doomsday cameo overload fears to rest: "Every character has their moment"
  • Ghost, Bob, Yelena, and John Walker peeking around a corner in Thunderbolts Avengers: Doomsday star says the movie is like "the Met Gala full of superheroes": "I was truly flabbergasted"
  • She-Hulk King of Marvel spoilers Mark Ruffalo retains his crown by seemingly ruining which Avenger will be in Secret Wars

During the Thunderbolts ending, Val – her plot to use Sentry as her own golden goose having been foiled – hastily shuffles into a backup plan: re-christening the Thunderbolts group as her 'New Avengers'.

As we discover in the Thunderbolts post-credits scene, that's led to some tension between group member Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson, with the latter suing over naming rights.

Louis-Dreyfus added, "So I've really known for a long time. I haven't said a thing to anyone!"

Marvel even went to specific lengths to cover up the reveal. As lead Florence Pugh revealed, a fake scene was even shot to obscure the A-word, Avengers, from Val's big announcement.

The Thunderbolts are next set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, though Feige has confused matters with the revelation that the Doomsday tease of the Fantastic Four ship in the Thunderbolts post-credits scene might not be what you think it is.

"Their ship is the Excelsior, and there is a Fantastic Four ship entering the MCU...But I'm not sure they’re the same ship," Feige told Empire Magazine.

Next up in the MCU is Fantastic Four, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn as Marvel's First Family. That hits cinemas on July 25.

For more, be sure to discover the other upcoming Marvel movies on the way very soon. Then catch up on all 50-plus MCU projects with our complete guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

Bradley Russell
Bradley Russell
Social Links Navigation
Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Lewis Pullman as Sentry, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, and Wyatt Russell as US Agent in Thunderbolts
Marvel Movies Marvel star Lewis Pullman puts Avengers: Doomsday cameo overload fears to rest: "Every character has their moment"
 
 
Ghost, Bob, Yelena, and John Walker peeking around a corner in Thunderbolts
Marvel Movies Avengers: Doomsday star says the movie is like "the Met Gala full of superheroes": "I was truly flabbergasted"
 
 
She-Hulk
Marvel Movies King of Marvel spoilers Mark Ruffalo retains his crown by seemingly ruining which Avenger will be in Secret Wars
 
 
Brie Larson as Captain Marvel in The Marvels
Marvel Movies Nia DaCosta holds no ill will towards Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios after The Marvels flopped
 
 
Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Marvel Movies Chris Pratt says the Avengers: Doomsday trailers were "really exciting", but suggests Peter Quill won't be involved
 
 
David Harbour as Red Guardian in Thunderbolts
Marvel Movies David Harbour teases the scale of Avengers: Doomsday: "I thought that Stranger Things 5 was big"
 
 
Latest in Marvel Movies
James Marsden as Cyclops in Avengers Doomsday
Marvel Movies Avengers: Doomsday star James Marsden says he was "very proud" to wear comics-accurate Cyclops costume
 
 
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina in Thunderbolts
Marvel TV Shows Daredevil: Born Again season 2 connects Valentina and Kingpin, with possible ramifications for the Thunderbolts
 
 
Tom Holland as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Marvel Movies Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer has crossed 1 billion views faster than any movie in history
 
 
Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle AKA Punisher in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Marvel Movies Marvel's upcoming Punisher special is set to be the MCU's longest one yet
 
 
Anthony Mackie in Captain America: Brave New World
Marvel Movies Marvel fans discuss their wishlists for Captain America 5, and the top choice is “competent writing and dialogue
 
 
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
Marvel Movies Spider-Verse duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller reveal they were offered a live-action movie in the Spider-Man universe:
 
 
Latest in News
Steel Legion concept art against a plain background
Tabletop Gaming Fan-favorite Steel Legion returning to Warhammer 40K after Armageddon book closes out current edition
 
 
Armageddon Warhammer 40,000 box set on a black background
Tabletop Gaming Warhammer 11th Edition officially revealed, and your old Codex army books will still work
 
 
Hades 2
Hades "F*** me, I guess": Hades 2 actor Ben Starr "hated" himself while fighting the character he plays in the roguelike
 
 
Young, blond-haired girl smirks and makes a passive gesture
Simulation Games Disgaea dev's spooky new Stardew Valley-like is confirmed for a western release months after its Japanese announcement
 
 
Games Black Ops vet says his mystery PlayStation project wasn't a live-service game
 
 
Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock in Daredevil: Born Again season 2
Marvel TV Shows Charlie Cox says the ending of Daredevil: Born Again season 2 episode 1 will have big ramifications
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Steel Legion concept art against a plain background
    1
    Fan-favorite Steel Legion returning to Warhammer 40K after Armageddon book closes out current edition
  2. 2
    Warhammer 11th Edition officially revealed, and your old Codex army books will still work
  3. 3
    "F*** me, I guess": Hades 2 actor Ben Starr "hated" himself while fighting the character he plays in the roguelike
  4. 4
    Disgaea dev's spooky new Stardew Valley-like is confirmed for a western release months after its Japanese announcement
  5. 5
    Black Ops vet says his mystery PlayStation project wasn't a live-service game

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...