India, April 30 -- As Marvel Studios gears up for the highly anticipated release of Thunderbolts, fans are preparing to dive into a darker, more complex corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), as reported by The Wrap.

The film brings together a lineup of morally ambiguous characters-some reformed, some still haunted by their past-making it one of the boldest team-ups Marvel has attempted so far, as reported by Total Film.

With new viewers eager to jump in and longtime fans hoping to refresh their memory, here's a guide to the essential MCU movies and shows that lay the foundation for Thunderbolts.

This film introduces three of the Thunderbolts' key players: Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, and Taskmaster. It explores Yelena's upbrin...