The ending plot twist of Thunderbolts* was as effective as it was because of the MCU’s current Avengers secrecy. From the moment the Thunderbolts were announced, they were portrayed as a group of antiheroes who were not necessarily the good guys, but were going to do good anyway. Each Thunderbolts member was looking to redeem themselves in a way, and the film ends with all of them finding a newfound purpose in their respective lives. Even though it was predicted that Thunderbolts* would end with them joining the Avengers, Marvel set up a slightly different direction with the film’s ending.