The much-delayed MCU team-up movie,Thunderbolts, is due to finally begin filming next spring. ActorWyatt Russell, who will reprise the role of John Walker, aka U.S. Agent alongside the likes of Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, aka The Winter Soldier, and Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, revealed the production plan when speaking withThe Hollywood Reporter.
“There’s so much to play with John, and there’s so much more to do with John. I’m so lucky to get to work with the kind of talent that I’m going to work with when Thunderbolts starts up in March or April.”
WhileThunderboltswas at one time given a release date of June 21, 2025, things have since changed to the now-concluded writers’ and actors’ strikes, with the movieshifting from Phase Five of the MCUto Phase Six with a release date of June 11, 2025.
Amidst the ongoing discussions and release date changes,Thunderboltsby Marvel stands out prominently. This isn’t merely another installment in Marvel’s vast universe, but rather a tale with its own essence, distinct from any perceived sequels. Marvel’s Cinematic Universe has consistently merged stories, interconnected characters, and bridged plots from various movies. With the introduction of characters such as Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, and Taskmaster inBlack Widow,speculation arose thatThunderboltswould follow in its footsteps. However, director Jake Schreier demystifies these speculations in a recent interaction withComicBook. He said:
“Yeah, I wouldn’t look at this as a sequel at all, and we don’t talk about it that way, and we’ve never really kind of approached it that way in any of the conversations we’ve had with Kevin or Brian in working on it. I think there’s a story to be told about a group of characters who can relate to each other in a certain way, or have gone through certain things, and we’re going to get into that.”
While acknowledging the brilliance of Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, he emphasized:
“And so much as… I mean, obviously, Florence has proved how captivating she could be in the MCU, and I think it’s great to have that as a reference point, but I think we’re all talking about making a movie. You can come, and if you’ve seen that stuff, then great. If you haven’t, there’s still going to be a complete story that’s being told in a movie that works on its own, for sure, while remaining part of the overall storyline.”
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While many specifics of the film remain under wraps, one revelation from Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige is that the leadership baton for the team rests with Bucky Barnes, famously known as the Winter Soldier. Highlighting the team’s unique dynamic, Feige expressed,
“What’s fun about that, and I sort of said this at D23, is that they are barely heroes. None of them would consider themselves heroes. When your de facto leader is Bucky Barnes, that’s sort of all you need to know. That’s the trickle down.”
Adding more sizzle to the casting cauldron,Steven Yeun joins the projectin a yet-to-be-revealed role. The rumor mill suggests a potential portrayal of The Sentry, a monumental character in the Marvel world. Additionally, Ayo Edebiri’s inclusion, although his role remains undisclosed, has added another layer of anticipation.
The stellar cast forThunderboltsshowcases an ensemble of talents: Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova,David Harbour portraying Red Guardian, the charismatic Sebastian Stan as Winter Soldier, Hannah John-Kamen embracing Ghost, Olga Kurylenko as the formidable Taskmaster, Wyatt Russell suiting up as U.S. Agent, and the legendary Julia Louis-Dreyfus donning the character of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. With such a cast, expectations are sky-high.
Its commitment to an independent tale and profound character journeys ensures it’s a gem for all, whether Marvel veterans or newcomers. Regardless of your familiarity with the MCU’s path,Thunderboltspromises a film experience that’s a must-see.
