From Utah’s scorching deserts to Kuala Lumpur’s record-breaking skyscraper, here’s exactly where Marvel’s antihero misfits filmed their chaotic team-up.
Welcome to the gritty, grounded, and surprisingly globe-trotting world of Marvel’s Thunderbolts*.
This action-packed antihero adventure brings together a dysfunctional squad of Marvel castaways – Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, U.S. Agent, Ghost, and Taskmaster – trapped by CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine and forced into a black-ops suicide mission.
Their target turns out to be Bob, a fractured superhuman whose devastating alter-ego, The Sentry, threatens to unleash god-like wrath upon them all. To survive, this ragtag team must stop fighting each other, confront their deepest emotional trauma, and find genuine redemption.
Director Jake Schreier took a page from the ’70s thriller playbook, opting for practical stunts and real-world grit, making the film’s stunning visuals more about actual deserts, record-breaking skyscrapers, and some of the most impressive in-camera trickery the MCU has ever seen.
Join us as we break down exactly where this chaotic team-up was filmed, from the Utah desert to the heights of Kuala Lumpur.
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⛈️ Marvel Thunderbolts Filming Locations
From the scorching Utah desert to the dizzying heights of Kuala Lumpur and the bustling studio lots of Atlanta, here’s exactly where Marvel brought this antihero mayhem to life.
🏜️ Utah – The Desert Showdown
Marvel made history when it set up shop in the vast, otherworldly landscapes of Utah, marking the first time a Marvel Studios production has ever filmed in the state.
The Thunderbolts* crew dragged themselves to Emery and Grand Counties – because nothing says “ragtag assassins” like blistering heat and tumbleweeds.
Those haunting highway sequences and creepy gas station? Shot near Green River and Crescent Junction, where the only thing more desolate than the landscape is this team’s emotional stability.
Director Jake Schreier picked Utah specifically to drag the Thunderbolts out of Marvel’s usual CGI playground and into actual, sweat-inducing reality.
Production Designer Grace Yoon weaponized the desolate landscape to reflect the team’s emotional barrenness – because if you’re a bunch of traumatized assassins with zero communication skills, why not film somewhere that matches your interior void?
Marvel built an actual abandoned gas station set out there, looking like it had been rotting since the 70s. No CGI – just commitment and really, really hot sand.
What was filmed here:
- Green River, Utah: Desert highway chase sequence.
- Crescent Junction, Utah: Abandoned gas station standoff.
- Emery County, Utah: Vast desert landscape establishing shots.
- Grand County, Utah: Desert terrain sequences.
🌆 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – High-Altitude Mayhem
The Thunderbolts* crew went sky-high – shooting at Merdeka 118, the second-tallest building on the planet. Director Jake Schreier wanted a location that felt surreal yet real, and this needle-like skyscraper delivered both vertigo and vibes.
The team, alongside local Malaysian pros, pulled off practical stunts that’ll make your palms sweat. Florence Pugh was so desperate to jump off things that production brought in three separate engineering firms just to certify the roof wouldn’t collapse under her enthusiasm.
Those sweeping drone shots? Carefully crafted to make you feel every terrifying foot of height. The local Biscuit Films crew proved invaluable – because when you’re dangling off the world’s second-tallest building, you want experts who actually know what they’re doing.
But the real highlight? The food. Pugh called Malaysian cuisine “insane” and the best part of the entire shoot.
What was filmed here:
- Merdeka 118, Kuala Lumpur: Iconic tower jump sequence & rooftop fight scenes.
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Sweeping cityscape drone shots.
🎬 Atlanta, Georgia – The Studio Hub
Atlanta served as the MCU’s production hub at Trilith Studios and Atlanta Metro Studios – where the magic and chaos came together. The studios housed a full-scale, practical New York City’s 45th Street set for the third-act climax – complete with storefronts, fire escapes, and crumbling pavement.
The “Void rooms” were built practically too, using in-camera tricks like breaking walls and matching camera moves to transition between traumatic memories. Bucky‘s apartment interiors were also built here. Atlanta‘s well-oiled MCU infrastructure made it the perfect home base.
Book a tour:
What was filmed here:
- Trilith Studios, Fayetteville, Georgia: Full-scale NYC 45th Street set & Void rooms.
- Atlanta Metro Studios, Union City, Georgia: Bucky Barnes’s apartment interiors.
Trivia:
Yelena‘s bathroom scene with Bob used a real two-way mirror – Lewis Pullman was physically behind it, no VFX required.
Sebastian Stan and Wyatt Russell improvised a “Who’s on First?“-style argument about the “4” spaceship in the post-credits scene. It got cut. Fans are begging Marvel to release it.
🤔 Marvel’s Thunderbolts FAQs
Got questions about where the Thunderbolts fit in the timeline or where you can watch them? We’ve got you covered.
Where does Thunderbolts fit in the MCU timeline?
Captain America: Brave New World takes place in early 2027. Thunderbolts happens in late 2027. Bucky‘s a freshman Congressman. Post-credits jumps to late 2028, setting up Avengers: Doomsday. It’s Marvel Phase Five’s grand finale.
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021): Sets up Bucky, John Walker, & Val.
- Black Widow (2021): Introduces Yelena, Red Guardian, & Taskmaster.
- Ant-Man and The Wasp (2018): Quantum accident introduces Ghost.
- Captain America: Brave New World (2025): Sam Wilson stops Red Hulk.
- Thunderbolts (2025): Yelena’s team-up, Sentry showdown, Val‘s betrayal.
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025): Connected via the post-credits “4” spacecraft.
- Avengers: Doomsday (2026): Directly set up by the post-credits scene.
Is Thunderbolts a direct sequel to any MCU project?
Yes, Thunderbolts is a spiritual follow-up to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier – continuing Bucky, Walker, and Val‘s stories. It also pulls from Black Widow and Ant-Man and The Wasp.
What’s the Thunderbolts post-credits scene?
Russo brothers shot it on the Avengers: Doomsday set. Jumps 14 months ahead – team spots a “4” spacecraft entering Earth-616, directly teeing up Fantastic Four and Avengers: Doomsday.
Why the asterisk in the Thunderbolts* title?
The asterisk indicates the team’s rejection of “Thunderbolts” (Red Guardian‘s joke), rebranding as the “New Avengers.”
Who is the Sentry in the Thunderbolts?
The Sentry is Lewis Pullman’s Robert “Bob” Reynolds – a fractured superhuman with a devastating alter-ego. God-like power. Bad temper. The team must contain him or else.
Who is Taskmaster in Thunderbolts?
Taskmaster in Thunderbolts is Olga Kurylenko, who returns as Antonia Dreykov, the silent mimic who can copy any fighting style. She’s finally getting actual personality and dialogue this time around.
What makes Thunderbolts* filming different?
For Thunderbolts filming, Director Jake Schreier ditched heavy CGI for practical effects, real locations, and in-camera tricks. Grittier. Grounded. Sweatier.
What is “The Void” in Thunderbolts?
The surreal, interconnected “Void rooms” trap characters in their worst traumatic memories. The crew filmed them using in-camera tricks – breaking fake walls and seamless camera matching.
Why all the secrecy around the Avengers: Doomsday connection?
Marvel kept the Thunderbolts post-credits scene under wraps because the Russo brothers shot it directly on the Doomsday set – and it features a massive “4” spacecraft, setting up the Fantastic Four arrival.
What was the box office performance of Thunderbolts?
Solid, not spectacular. Stiff competition, mixed reviews, but it broke even. Not an Avengers-level smash, but proof there’s appetite for Marvel’s weirder, grittier side.
Who’s in the cast of Thunderbolts?
- Florence Pugh: Yelena Belova/Black Widow
- Sebastian Stan: Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier
- David Harbour: Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian
- Wyatt Russell: John Walker/U.S. Agent
- Hannah John-Kamen: Ava Starr/Ghost
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus: Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
- Lewis Pullman: Robert “Bob” Reynolds/Sentry
- Olga Kurylenko: Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster
- Geraldine Viswanathan: Mel (Val’s assistant)
📺 Where to Watch Thunderbolts
Wondering when will Thunderbolts be on Disney Plus, and other platforms? Here are your Marvel Thunderbolts streaming options:
- Amazon Prime: Available to rent or purchase in 4K UHD and HD.
- DVD/Blu-ray: Available for purchase on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD.
- Disney+: Now streaming for all subscribers with the standard plan.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just here for Florence Pugh sassing her way through near-death experiences, this antihero misfire-turned-triumph delivers chaos, catharsis, and zero team-building retreats.
Thunderbolts* proves even Marvel’s most dysfunctional family can save the world – eventually.
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is provided for entertainment purposes only. We don’t guarantee the accuracy of any of these facts and don’t recommend making important life decisions based on them. All referenced titles, names, and related intellectual property are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.
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