In the movie Thunderbolts (2025), the original Avengers are notably absent from the major conflict unfolding in New York City. The film explicitly states that the Avengers are not coming to help when the powerful threat of the Void, a dark alter ego of the superhuman Bob (the Sentry), engulfs the city in supernatural darkness
. The story centers on a new team initially called the Thunderbolts, consisting of characters like Yelena Belova, John Walker, Ava Starr, Taskmaster, Red Guardian, and Bucky Barnes. They are assembled by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine for covert missions but end up confronting the Sentry project and the Void. The original Avengers do not intervene, possibly due to political reasons like the Sokovia Accords or other unexplained circumstances within the MCU timeline
. By the end of the film, the Thunderbolts defeat the Void and save New York without Avengers' assistance. Valentina then rebrands this group as the "New Avengers," positioning them as the new protectors of the city. This new team is poised to have a significant role in the MCU moving forward, with some tension hinted between them and the legacy Avengers, as well as Sam Wilson preparing to form his own Avengers team
. In summary, the original Avengers are absent during the events of Thunderbolts , leaving the new team to handle the crisis alone. The Thunderbolts ultimately evolve into the New Avengers, marking a transition in the MCU's hero landscape
