The asterisk hullabaloo had everything to do with setting up The New Avengers ahead of Avengers: Doomsday ’s release next summer. While I wasn’t exactly surprised about the reveal when the movie reached its end (especially considering we already know the Thunderbolts* cast are part of the Avengers;

The 'Thunderbolts' post-credits scene sets up 'Fantastic Four' and 'Avengers: Doomsday' as the New Avengers are officially formed.

Robert Downey Jr. and Simu Liu shared the first official looks at (most of) the massive cast together for a Marvel screening. In the middle of saving (or trying to destroy) the world, the Avengers: Doomsday cast assembled for a star-studded screening of Thunderbolts*.