I’m ready to admit that I was gaslit by the various theories regarding Avengers Tower in the MCU, now thatThunderboltsis providing answers. Thestory of the MCU’sThunderboltscenters around the titular team being formed out of a group of misfits in the franchise. Naturally, thecast assembled forThunderbolts*is causing a great deal of excitement, primarily because it consists of fan-favorite actors and their characters like Bucky Barnes and Yelena Belova.
Moreover,Thunderboltsis causing excitement due to the MCU mysteries the film will answer. From the inclusion of the mysterious Bob in theupcoming Marvel movieto the true motivations of Val,Thunderboltsis expected to answer several lingering questions that the franchise has had for a while. Interestingly, one such mystery was answered in the most recenttrailer forThunderbolts*, though I admit the answer came as a disappointment to me. Somehow, though, I understand why Marvel made this choice as it makes more sense than the alternative, raising an interesting point about theory culture in modern Hollywood.
Who Bought Avengers Tower Has Been A Mystery Since Spider-Man: Homecoming
The theory in question is who bought Avengers Tower in the MCU. Avengers Tower was initially known as Stark Tower and was first introduced in 2012’sThe Avengers. After the climactic battle with Loki inThe Avengers’ending, Stark Tower became Avengers Tower, the central hub of the eponymous team in the MCU. Avengers Tower remained as such for the story ofAvengers: Age of Ultron, before the focus of the team shifted to the Avengers Compound located in upstate New York.
Forget The Dead Celestial, There’s An Avengers Mystery From 7 Years Ago Marvel Has Forgotten To Answer
The MCU has a habit of introducing big plots in the small details, but it can take years before these hints get resolved in later movies.
After the establishment of Avengers Compound, it was revealed that the Avengers Tower was being sold. This revelation came in 2017’sSpider-Man: Homecoming,with Happy Hogan telling the titular hero that Tony had found a buyer for the building. Since then, eight years of theories have been crafted over who now owns Avengers Tower, building on the idea that superhero fans - myself included - will theorize over absolutely anything to the point of absurdity (seeWandaVision’s endless MCU Mephisto theoriesas proof).
A Turning Point For The Avengers Tower Mystery
Eight years after these theories began, 2025 offered Marvel Studios three different options as answers to the enduring question: who bought Avengers Tower? The first, and perhaps most popular, was thatDaredevil: Born Again’s Wilson Fisk bought the building. Fisk returned to the MCU inHawkeye,with theupcoming Marvel TV showDaredevil: BornAgainbuilding on that, his appearance inEcho, and the three seasons of Netflix’sDaredevil.Given that he is running for the mayor of New York in the upcoming show and is known by his moniker of Kingpin, Fisk buying Avengers Tower to solidify his power made sense.
It could have been revealed that the old Avengers building would become the hub for Marvel’s First Family upon their integration to Earth-616…
Another theory was that the Avengers Tower was going to become the Baxter Building. In Marvel Comics, the Baxter Building is the home base of The Fantastic Four, a team that has long been gearing up to be introduced to the franchise. 2025 will see this finally happen withThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, and it could have been revealed that the old Avengers building would become the hub for Marvel’s First Family upon their integration to Earth-616. The final theory turned out to be the true answer to the question of who bought Avengers Tower, linking to 2025’sThunderbolts*.
Why The Reveal Of Val Buying Avengers Tower Is The Weakest Choice (But Actually Makes Sense)
Thunderboltsmost recent trailer revealed that Valentina Allegra de Fontaine was the person who purchased Avengers Tower in the MCU. After eight long years of theorization and three potential options, it can be argued that Marvel made the weakest choice in providing this answer. After all, it is unclear how Val fits into the future of the MCU beyondThunderbolts, yet Fisk is set to be a major villain and the Baxter Building could have been a mainstay for futureFantastic Fourstories.
All that said, despite being the weakest choice, Val being the buyer of Avengers Towermakes the most sense. As of 2025, The Fantastic Four does not exist yet in the MCU due toFirst Stepstaking place in another universe, and Fisk’s illicit activities have seen him mostly operate from the shadows. As such, either of the other two choices for this theory makes little sense. Therefore,I have been well and truly gaslit by the endless fan theories about Avengers Tower.
Fisk’s return to the MCU came four years after Spider-Man: Homecoming’s Avengers Tower reveal, poking another hole in the theory that many did not think about.
I was convinced that Fisk buying the tower was the best choice, and did not stop to think if it made sense within the universe or the stories at hand. The same can be said for the possibility of linking the tower toThe Fantastic Four.Overall, this raises the interesting discussion that fan theorization can reach immense levels, regardless of the logic behind it.Thunderbolts*proves this by having Val, a rich, influential character in the MCU, buy Avengers Tower. While it may not be as flashy or fancy a reveal, it is certainly a logical one.
Thunderbolts*
Cast
Thunderbolts follows seven disillusioned individuals who find themselves trapped in a perilous situation. Tasked with a daunting mission, they must face the most shadowy aspects of their histories to survive and achieve their goals.
