With Marvel’s Thunderbolts officially hitting theaters this week, many fans are wondering one key thing: when exactly do the events unfold in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) timeline? Given the long gaps since the last appearances of key characters like Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), it’s a reasonable question.
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📍 Confirmed Timeline: 2027
Based on key details and context clues, Thunderbolts is set in 2027, placing it after the events of Captain America: Brave New World
, which took place during 2026–2027.
🔍 Evidence of Chronology
Several moments early in the film confirm this timeline placement:
- A presidential impeachment hearing references the chaos and fallout caused by Red Hulk (President Ross), a direct continuation of New World Order’s climax.
- Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) is now serving as a congressman, a role he was only campaigning for in the previous film.
- Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) confronts Bucky about a suspension “after less than half a term,” confirming that he’s held office for less than a year.
🔮 Setting Up Future Marvel Events
Perhaps the biggest clue comes from the post-credits scene — no spoilers here — but it confirms that the events of the upcoming Avengers: Judgment Day take place 14 months after Thunderbolts. That timeline suggests Judgment Day is set in 2028, continuing the MCU’s evolving storyline in a structured, forward-moving chronology.
So if you’re tracking Marvel’s complex timeline, Thunderbolts is a post-New World Order story, paving the road toward the next major crossover event.
