Summary
TheMarvel Cinematic Universewill continue to expand on the big screen this May when the franchise’sSuicideSquad-esque band of misfit anti-heroes and weaker villains go on their first mission inThunderbolts*. After years of waiting and fan speculation over whom the film’s characters will be, where the narrative will unfold, and who will die (let alone if anyone does),Thunderbolts*is roaring into theaters sooner than it may feel.
There is no doubt thatthe MCU has been in a narrative free fallfor over half the same time it was in its prime—fans are hopefulThunderboltswill turn things around. In recent marketing pushes that promise such a return to form (or a refreshing new direction),Marvel StudiosandDisneyhave revealed the cast and crew’s highlightable past achievements, particularly their work on A24 films and others like that studio’s. In bold letters,the indie-grit-editedThunderboltstrailercontains many pronouncements, such as “From the Stars ofMidsommar,A Different ManandYou Hurt My Feelings” and “The Writers & Director ofBeef”—Netflix’s hit series about rage alleviated by a psychedelic trip. Fortunately, one ofThunderbolts*' crew, cinematographer Andrew Droz Palermo, has not only worked on two episodes ofMoon Knighton top of his other A24 projects, but he collaborated specifically with the director pair Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead on those episodes, who also directed three episodes (two yet-to-be-released) episodes ofDaredevil: Born Again. This may allow those anxious about Marvel’s next big installment to sigh a little relief.
Thunderbolts*Looks Good, Thanks to Its Cinematographer
Andrew Droz Palermo’s Projects (Both MCU and Outside It).
Aside from the MCU,Thunderbolts*' cinematographer Andrew Droz Palermostill has an impressive resume. He was the cinematographer for A24’s fantasy filmThe Green Knight, the horror hitYou’re Next, and even docu-dramas such asRich Hill. He has more than proven his abilities behind the camera, utilizing backgrounds to isolate characters in their unnerving or dangerous environments.
Inside the MCU, Palermo shot two entire episodes on his own—episode 2, “Summon the Suit,” and episode 4, “The Tomb,” which were the Benson- and Moorhead-directed episodes—and was responsible for several other scenes, including the limited series' opening shot,as he relayed to Screen Rant.Moon Knightwas released to mostly positive praise, with its striking visual flair (minus its noticeably shoddy CGI) that captured Egypt’s ins and outs, whether its seemingly infinite grains of sand or inside the decrepit tombs of old Pharaohs. Premiering May 2nd, 2025, fans can rest assured that at least the film’s visual components are in good hands.
While Marvel Studios has been known to be careful with who it fills the crew and acting roles with, recent choices like making Chloé ZhaoEternals' director, have not resulted in astoundingly entertaining movies and TV. However, Palermo appears very picky with the projects he signs onto—Moon Knightis definitely notone of the projects stapled as an example of the MCU’s decline, andDaredevil: Born Again, which includes one of the three of that series' Benson-Moorhead-directed episodes released thus far, has received even higher praise in many respects—suggesting he would not have signed ontoThunderbolts*without confidence in the finished product.
This also ensures there will be some bits of consistency across recent MCU projects, a component sorely lacking in Phase 4 and 5’s divisive line-up so far. With the massive slowdown in content output, Marvel has taken the time to ensure more connectivity in front of and behind the camera. In Marvel’s prime, these behind-the-scenes connections are what gave the franchise its integrity. Jon Favreau, for example, directed the first twoIron Manfilms and has continued to play Tony Stark’s—and eventually, Peter Parker’s—right-hand man up through the hilariously metaDeadpool & Wolverine;Peyton Reed worked on all three MCUAnt-Manfilms; Taika Waititi made the first genuinely greatThorfilm withRagnarok, so Marvel kept him around forThor: Love and Thunder,which floundered backto the unserious qualities thatThor: The Dark Worldmade on-screen Thor so initially infamous for. While that method does not always bode well, it has worked more often than not, solidifying hopes that the connections betweenThunderbolts*,Moon Knight, andDaredevil: Born Againwill provide enormously entertaining, consistent, and perhaps meaningful storytelling for MCU fans yet again.
Time will tell whether Marvel Studios' massive slowdown and careful focus on select projects is worth it. WhileCaptain America: Brave New Worldis a weak start to this new era in the already new era of Marvel, series likeMoon Knight,Born Again,Agatha All Along, andLoki(a few episodes of which werealso directed by Benson and Moorhead) have taken fans by storm, surprising them with how much room Marvel has to grow despite their other recent flops.Thunderbolts*thus certainly has a lot going for it, as every MCU entry is a make-it-or-break-it kind of deal nowadays—but its strong crew overlaps with other MCU projects may suggest the film has more integrity than initially given credit for.
Thunderbolts*
Cast
Marvel’s Thunderbolts is a superhero movie based on the comic team of the same name. The movie acts as a part of the MCU’s fifth phase of films. The film sees the likes of Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell, the Red Guardian, and more as an unlikely group of heroes and villains brought together to fight for good.
