Rough Cut Reviews

Special Editions of “Thunderbolts” Arrive in Japan*

Marvel fans in Japan can look forward to a wave of exclusive home entertainment releases this summer. On 8 August 2025, Thunderbolts — the latest Marvel action film directed by Jake Schreier — will be released on physical media by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, distributed via Leonine. The film will be available on Blu-ray with a German Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 soundtrack and in a limited 4K Ultra HD Steelbook Edition featuring Dolby Vision and an included HD version.

This release follows the usual Marvel tradition of packing their home editions with bonus content. Extras include deleted scenes, bloopers, a full-length audio commentary, and four featurettes. As is often the case with MCU releases in Japan, fans can also expect special collector’s editions with various add-ons. Notably, many of these versions will include the film in Blu-ray 3D format.

Plot Overview: A Mission Turned Trap

In Thunderbolts, Valentina de Fontaine (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) assembles a covert strike team — Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), and John Walker (Wyatt Russell) — to extract the powerful super soldier Robert Reynolds (Lewis Pullman) from a high-security military facility.

However, once inside, the team discovers they’ve been set up. The mission was a calculated betrayal by Valentina, designed to paint them as terrorists targeting Reynolds. Her goal? To seize his powers. Despite the ambush, the squad survives and turns against their manipulative leader. But Valentina has one more card to play: she releases Reynolds’ alter ego, Sentry, whose unleashed power awakens a dark force capable of global destruction. It’s now up to this team of outcasts to stop the looming threat — but to do so, they’ll need serious reinforcements.

A New Chapter for the Fantastic Four

Marvel is also breathing new life into one of its most iconic franchises. The Fantastic Four: First Steps marks the official entry of the superhero quartet into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it comes with a bold, retro-futuristic style straight out of the 1960s.

In this thrilling new storyline, Earth faces annihilation from the cosmic god Galactus, who is joined by the Silver Surfer — now reimagined as the powerful Shalla-Bal, played by Julia Garner. The Fantastic Four must rely on both their powers and their familial bond to counter the threat. As the danger grows more personal, the team’s unity is put to the ultimate test.

A Reboot with Fresh Faces and Big Names

This isn’t the first time Marvel’s First Family has been adapted for the screen, but it’s the first time they’ve officially joined the MCU. And they’re doing it with a fresh cast and modern vision.

Here’s the main lineup for The Fantastic Four: First Steps:

• Pedro Pascal (49) as Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic

• Vanessa Kirby (36) as Sue Storm / The Invisible Woman

• Joseph Quinn (31) as Johnny Storm / The Human Torch

• Ebon Moss-Bachrach (48) as Ben Grimm / The Thing

• Ralph Ineson (55) as Galactus

• Julia Garner (31) as Shalla-Bal / Silver Surfer

Additional confirmed cast members whose roles are yet to be revealed include:

• Natasha Lyonne (46)

• Sarah Niles (38)

• Paul Walter Hauser (38)

• John Malkovich (71)

Female Power Takes the Lead

One of the most notable changes is the gender swap of the Silver Surfer. Traditionally portrayed as male, the character is now being reimagined as a powerful female presence. Julia Garner’s portrayal of Shalla-Bal reflects Marvel’s evolving narrative, where female characters no longer play supporting roles — they lead.

With Thunderbolts hitting home screens and Fantastic Four redefining the MCU’s future, Marvel continues to expand its universe while honouring the legacy of its beloved characters. Both releases signal a bold new era for superhero storytelling.