Marvel may be about to undergo a huge direction change with the release of Thunderbolts.

Marvel’s Thunderbolts will be released sometime in 2025 and is set to be one of the many films that’ll push the overall franchise over to the next phase. Headlined by Sebastian Stan, the movie features a star-studded cast and will see the comeback of several characters, such as Red Guardian and Taskmaster.

Among the montage of actors present in the cast is also Geraldine Vishwanathan, who will be playing the minor role of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s assistant, a character set to be portrayed by the utterly talented Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

According to Vishwanathan, the MCU is now, finally set to take on a riskier, darker form, something Thunderbolts is set to play a major role in. The same has been confirmed by Geraldine Viswanathan in a recent interview.

Deadpool & Wolverine only did right what the MCU has been trying, but doing wrong thus far

Marvel Studios has undoubtedly had a torrid time of late. A range of projects since Avengers: Endgame have not managed to generate the kind of success the bosses would have hoped for. However, one other, crucial aspect that has received regular criticism is the fact that movies tend to have a lighter, almost comedic tone, something which has already been said to have affected various narratives.

The character arcs of Thor and Hulk come to mind, with Love and Thunder often being criticized for reducing the Norse god to a bit of a ridiculous figure. Regardless, the overall tone of the MCU has also come under scrutiny, with the milder, comedic approach often coming into question.

That was also true with respect to Deadpool & Wolverine, which may have single-handedly led to a resurgence for the overall franchise. However, if anything, the Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman-starrer was the biggest laugh-riot that the MCU has released in recent years, although only a few fans will be seen complaining about it.

However, it seems as if Kevin Feige and co. are set to undergo a huge change in direction. Fans might want to get ready for a newer, grittier, and darker MCU, if Geraldine Viswanathan’s comments are anything to go by.

Geraldine Viswanathan promises a grittier, darker MCU starting from Thunderbolts

It seems as if the MCU is set to enter a darker phase. Gone will be the days when superheroes came out firing also with hilarious quips and fourth-wall-breaking comments. While Deadpool may continue to be an exception, Vishwanathan claimed that Thunderbolts does not feel like a typical Marvel movie: (Vanity Fair)

It felt a little bit edgier and fresher, more existential and dark.

That also seems to be the need of the hour, considering the range of superheroes who are set to grace the screens in the coming time, along with the criticism surrounding the depiction of some existing faces. Characters like Daredevil, the overall Thunderbolts team, and the introduction of X-Men, while exciting, will habitually force the Marvel bosses’ hands and force them to come up with darker and grittier narratives.

That seems to have already begun with Thunderbolts, which is set to hit theaters sometime in 2025.