How Kendrick Lamar Inspired "Thunderbolts": The Surprising Connection Unveiled

The inspirations for Marvel's Thunderbolts * The movie stands out due to Jake Schreier’s skillful creation of a rich storyline that delves into far more than mere acts of bravery and epic battles. Following its debut on May 1, 2025, which has continued to captivate audiences even in its second week, Schreier is now sharing insights into what inspired him behind the scenes. Thunderbolts* , notably Grammy-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar, whom the director has collaborated with previously.

Schreier has collaborated with Lamar and Baby Keem on several tracks before. During an interview, he shared details about a particular movie night where they went to see Christopher Nolan’s film together. Tenet , provided him with the motivation for shooting Thunderbolts* Talking to IMAX, Schreier indicated,

During the pandemic, I was working on some music videos, specifically long continuous single-take shots. I created one for Baby Keem and another for Kendrick. We had extra free time so I joined forces with pgLang and visited the IMAX headquarters where we all watched together. Tenet there together.”

He proceeded to mention that they had produced IMAX versions of the videos they recorded and got the opportunity to view them at the IMAX offices. Describing this experience as amazing, he pointed out that these music videos were captured in one continuous take across vast, unenclosed environments. According to him, seeing them with the complete 1.43:1 aspect ratio on an IMAX display added unprecedented dimensions and detail to the imagery. Schreier elaborated further:

That’s when it truly began. Discussing that topic and everything related to their exclusive technologies, which allow for practical applications at such a large scale and create significant impact. Then returning with an entire film ready to work on—it was quite remarkable.

The impact of Kendrick Lamar on the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)

Kendrick Lamar has previously won one Oscar and one Grammy for producing the soundtrack album for Black Panther (2018), which has now turned into one of the most recognizable soundtracks within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Black Panther soundtrack is historically significant and unique for how it blends both modern hip-hop as well as traditions of Africa, just as Wakanda blends futurism and tradition. As for Lamar, his lyrics lean more towards the implicit side, often politically charged and inspiring, which perfectly aligned with the artistic vision of the film, primarily its representation of Black culture.

Given its strong cultural resonance and critical acclaim, the soundtrack garnered several award nominations and played a key role in establishing "Black Panther" not just as a typical superhero movie but rather as a significant cultural phenomenon. Black Panther emerged as a social and cultural affirmation of Black identity on-screen thanks to the impact of Kendrick Lamar; it also showcased how a distinctive artistic perspective can be harnessed to educate audiences globally.

Black Panther can be streamed on Disney+. Thunderbolts* is now showing at movie theaters.

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