THUNDERBOLTS* VFX Video Reveals How The Films Visuals Came to Life
If you’ve been wondering how Marvel pulled off some of the visuals in Thunderbolts*, a new VFX breakdown from Framestore was released, and it’s packed with fascinating details. From high-altitude battles to surreal moments inside The Void, this video shows just how much artistry went into the film’s biggest scenes.
One of the standout elements in Thunderbolts* was Bob, played by Lewis Pullman, who doubles as Sentry and his terrifying alter ego, The Void. Bringing that duality to life took a combination of practical effects and heavy CG work.
The breakdown starts by zooming in on Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s secret vault, perched atop a mountain. This location is where our dysfunctional team first collides, only to discover Valentina has set them up to kill each other. The entire mountain-top structure and the army of guards outside was fully digital.
The reel also showcases Ghost’s signature phasing ability in action, like when she slides through the back of a jeep. Then we see Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova being launched through a wall inside The Void, landing on a table thanks to old-school wire work. The set’s practical curtains, are swapped out for CG elements that add a supernatural touch, creating the effect of the room itself attacking her.
Then, at the vault, we see Bob ascend high into the sky after taking fire from guards, his rise and dizzying fall back to Earth happen in a fully CG environment. Later, the sequence jumps to a sprawling lab, which was partially practical but digitally expanded and ultimately annihilated during Bob’s brutal clash with The Void.
Early concept shots reveal how the lab grew in scale and then crumbled in spectacular fashion. Yelena, meanwhile, dodges collapsing debris in a mix of wire-assisted stunts and CG enhancements.
This behind-the-scenes look reinforces just how much invisible work goes into making an MCU film of this scale. Thunderbolts* doesn’t just rely on CGI spectacle, it blends practical stunts, intricate digital artistry, and meticulous planning to create something that feels chaotic yet grounded.